Renovation at the Guge Kingdom Ruins

The Potala Palace was first built in the seventh century and was re-built into its present size in the early Qing Dynasty. Located in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, it is a magnificent building complex combining a monastery, palace and castle at an elevation of 3,700 meters. It had been the political and religious center of Tibet from the 17th century.

The Jokhang Monastery was built in the mid-17th century and has been rebuilt and expanded many times since. Besides the Tibetan and Han styles, it has absorbed the influence of Nepalese and Indian architecture. At the center of the main hall is the life-size gilded bronze figure of Sakyamuni at the age of 12. The monastery stores a large number of cultural relics from the Tang Dynasty onwards, together with historical items like the TangTubo Peace Pledge Monument and the Princess Willow.

Night scene of the Potala Palace

The Gandain Monastery, built in the seventh year of Emperor Yongle (1409) during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), is the first monastery of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism founded by Zongkapa. Located in Dagze County, it had long been the center and seminary of the Gelug Sect.

The Sagya Monastery, located on the Zongqu River in Sagya County, began construction in the sixth year of Emperor Xining (1073) during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and was completed in the Yuan Dynasty (1271 -1368). Originally, it included the south and north parts, but today only the south part remains well preserved. It had been the center of the Sagya Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. In the Yuan Dynasty, it was also the political and religious center of Tibet.

Dharma wheel on the roof of the Jokhang Monastery

The Tashilhunpo Monastery, located at the foot of the Nyiserab Mountain in south Xigaze, was built in the 12th year of Emperor Zhengtong (1447) during the Ming Dynasty. Covering a large area, it houses a large number of cultural relics. During the Qing Dynasty, it had been the residence of the Panchen Erdeni and a political and religious center of Tibet.

The Qamzhol Monastery, located in the south of Nedong County, is one of the earliest monasteries in Tibet that were built under the supervision of Tubo King Songtsan Gambo. It was used to store a large quantity of exquisite sculptures and murals and other artifacts of historical value but was seriously damaged later. Most of the existing buildings are renovated after the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Part of the Sagya Monastery

The Gyangze Zongshan Anti-British Battle Ruins are located in the seat of Gyangze County. In the 30th year of Emperor Guangxu or 1904 during the Qing Dynasty, patriotic armies, monks and secular people in Tibet constructed barbettes and other defense systems in front of the Zongshan Mountain to resist the British invaders. Although they fought bravely against the aggressors, they paid a heavy cost.

The Tombs of Tibetan Kings, located in Qonggyai County, are the burial sites of Tubo kings from the seventh to ninth century. Up to now, nine tombs have been found on the ground, covering about 3 million square meters. They are all square shaped and flat on top. Built with earth and stones, they are of different sizes, the highest being dozens of meters. Stone tablets and stone lions erected in front of the tombs are of the Han style.

The Tashilhunpo Monastery being renovated

The Guge Kingdom Ruins, located on a hilltop by the Xiangquanhe River in Zhada County of the Ngari area, date back to the 10th-12th century. Covering about 180,000 square meters, it had been the capital of Guge Kingdom established by the descendants of the last Tubo king. Stretching for 300 meters from the bottom to the top of the hill, the site embraces ruins of more than 600 houses, pagodas and grottoes. It is an underground treasure-house filled with rich cultural relics.

The Zhaibung Monastery, located five km northwest of Lhasa, was built by Gyayang Qu, a disciple of Zongkapa, founder of Tibetan Buddhism, in the 14th year of Emperor Yongle (1416) during the Ming Dynasty. Covering an area of about 250,000 square meters, it had over 10,000 monks during its prime. The main buildings are well preserved, storing a large number of cultural relics.

The Sera Monastery, located at the foot of the Sera Wuze Mountain in the northern suburbs of Lhasa, was built by Jangqing Qoigyai, a disciple of Zongkapa, in the 16th year of Yongle (1418) during the Ming Dynasty. It is one of the three major monasteries in Lhasa, the other two being Gandain and Zhaibung monasteries. It had exerted a great impact on Tibet's politics and religion during the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China (1911-49).

The Gyangze Zongshan Anti-British Battle Ruins

The Norbu Lingka, located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, was built under the supervision of the Seventh Dalai Lama in the 1740s. Covering an area of about 350,000 square meters and combining a monastery, palace and garden, it was the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas. During April and September, the Dalai Lamas handled political and religious affairs there. Now it is open to the public as a tourist attraction.

The Xalhu Monastery, located in southeast Xigaze, was built in the second year of Emperor Yuangu of the Song Dynasty. During the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the Gye family in charge of the monastic business was promoted as the 10,000-household official. The Gyes invited the eminent monk Purden Rinqenzhol (1290-1364) to take charge of the monastery. The monastery was then rebuilt and expanded. Centering around the monastery, the Xalhu Sect (also known as the Purden Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism was established. The existing buildings are well preserved, integrating Tibetan and Han architectural styles.

The Norbu Lingka has become a holiday resort for ordinary Tibetans since the democratic reform

The Samye Monastery, located at the foot of the Habu Mountain on the north side of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Chanang County, was built in the seventh century. A major monastery during the Tubo Kingdom period, it was designed according to the Buddhist concepts of the universe. Its main building Wuze Hall is world famous for its integration of the Tibetan, Han and Indian architectural styles.

The Palkor Monastery, located at the foot of the Zongshan Mountain in the northwest of Gyangze County, was built during 1418-36. A typical Tibetan monastery, it ingeniously integrates pagodas with the monastery. The existing well-preserved exquisite murals not only blend Tibetan and Han artistic styles, but are obviously influenced by the Nepalese, Indian and Kashmir artistic styles. It is praised by experts in Tibetan studies and art historians at home and abroad as a monumental masterpiece of Tibetan Buddhist art.

The Zhatang Monastery, located in the seat of Chanang County, was built during 1081-93. It was designed and constructed according to Mandala of the Tantric Sect of Buddhism. Due to old age, many buildings have collapsed. Many of the exquisite murals on the walls of the relatively well-preserved Buddha Hall were painted when the monastery was built.

The Toding Monastery, located by the Xiangquanhe River in Zhada County of the Ngari area, was built in the 10th century by Yexi'o of the Guge Kingdom and Rinqen Sangbu, a master in translating Buddhist scriptures. It was expanded by Master Adixa in 1036. The architectural layout is in a belt shape, consisting of three parts—the sutra hall, the monk dorms, and the pagoda forest. The Gyasa Hall was built in the style of the Samye Monastery, which depicts the Buddhist concepts of the universe through the language of architecture. The pagoda forest consists of two groups. Each group has three magnificent long zones comprising of dozens or hundreds of smaller pagodas, stretching from dozens to hundreds of meters.

The Karnub Ruins are located in Karnub Village about 12 km from the county seat of Qamdo in eastern Tibet. Discovered in 1977, it was excavated in 1978 and 1979. Covering an area of 1,800 square meters, the ruins were found to have 28 house foundations, two roads, three wall sections, two circular stone terraces, three stone enclosures, in addition to over 10,000 articles of stoneware, pottery and bone implements. Research has shown that the Karnub Ruins date back 5,000 years.

Buddhist statues in the Samye Monastery