Famous Landmarks in Tibet

Famous Landmarks in Tibet can be considered the name cards of the very area, which can be magnificent architectures and grand national wonders, etc. Like the Potala Palace, Mt. Everest and Namtso Lake, each of them is somehow, described a certain character or role that Tibet played to the world. Come with TopChinaTravel, to witness and appreciate the landmarks in Tibet.

Potala Palace, Lhasa
 

 

Built against the Red Hill, Potala Palace perched high above much of Lhasa, is the landmark of the city.

 

The history of this awe-inspiring construction can be dated back to the 7^th century, some 1,300 years ago that built by King Songtsen Gampo. With an area of over 360, 000 square meters, Potala Palace is a spectacular castle-like building complex of Lhasa, which is used to be the unification centre of political and religious of Tibet.

 

It is a great palace of art with creative designing and gorgeous decoration, which is mainly comprised by 4 parts: the White Palace, the Red Palace, the Dragon King Pool Park (Longwang Tan Park) and several affiliated buildings. Its conservative religious atmosphere, precious scriptures, murals, jewels and antiques housed inside, earning it a place on UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site list.
 

Jokhang Temple, Lhasa
 

 

Potala Palace is the historical and political symbol of Tibet, while the Jokhang Temple, is the irreplaceable representative of Tibetan religion. Located in the center of old Lhasa city, this majestic temple, which with the Barkhor Street surrounded, formed the “heart” of ancient Lhasa. It is said that Jokhang Temple occupies an unchallengeable position of Tibetan Buddhism.

 

Built in 647 by Songtsen Gampo, Jokhang Temple is the oldest civil-structure building in Tibet that has a history of more than 1,300 years. It well mixed Tibetan, Tang-Dynasty, Nepalese and Indian style of architecture together, initiated a new space layout model for Tibetan monastery.

 

As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Lhasa, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace'. 

Tashihunpo Monastery, Shigatse
 

 

Tashihunpo Monastery is one of the six big monasteries in Tibet that located in the centeral area of Shigatse. It is the oldest monastery in Shigatse area which was constructed in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama. But actually the monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas, the second highest ranking tulku lineage in the Gelukpa tradition, only after the Dalai Lama.

 

In Tibetan language, the full name of this monastery means means: "all fortune and happiness gathered here" or "heap of glory".

 

Standing on the entrance of Tashihunpo, you can see the grand buildings with golden roofs and white walls. The remarkable Tangka wall which is nine-floor high, displays the images of Buddha on the 14th, 15th and 16th of May every year following the Tibetan Lunar Calendar.

 

Since the early 1980s parts of the Tashilhunpo monastery have been open to the public and it is an important tourist attraction in Tibet today. 

Yumbulagang Palace, Shannan
 

 

Distance from the main tourism line, Yumbulagang Palace is the first palace of Tibet, which enjoys a quiet relaxation among majestic landscape. Shannan (Tsedang), where the palace locates, is just the home land of the mysterious Tibetan Group, the birthplace of the early Tibetan Regime.

 

Yumbulagang Palace, 11km away from Shannan Town, stands on Zhaxi Ciri Mountain. It is the first imperial palace of Tibet and the former political center till the early 6^th century, when the 33^rd King of Tbiet Srongtsen Gampo moved the capital to Lhasa. This grand palace consists of two parts - multistoried main building and square high-rise fort-like watch tower. During Dalai the fifth (1617-1682), the watch tower was renovated by adding a four-cornered golden top, thus the palace became a temple of Gelug school. 

Mt. Everest, Shigatse
 

 

Mt. Everest, or Qomolangma in Tibet, is the highest mountain of the world. It locates at the south part of Tingri County in southern Tibet, the international border between China and Nepal runs across the precise summit point. With a height of 8,848 m above sea level, this mountain is permanently covered with snow . Its body assumes the shape of a pyramid with its peak stabbed the sky. Its snow peak sends out silver radiance year after year. Its waist is hidden in the clouds.

 

With a challenging height, it is the ultimate goal of every mountain lovers. The optimum weather to visit Mt. Everest is from April to June, a golden period for mountaineers. But due to its complicated and volatile natural environment, it is actually a tough job even for those well-experienced mountaineers. 

Namtso Lake, Nagqu
 

 

Namtso Lake is the second largest salt lake in China that covers an area of over 1,920 square meters. With an elevation of 4,718 m, it is also the highest lake of this kind on earth. Moreover, Namtso Lake is one of the three Sacred Lakes in Tibet, along with Yamdrok Lake in Shannan and Lake Manasarovar in Ngari.

 

Located on the border between Damxung County and Baingoin County, Nagqu, Tibet, Namtso is renowned as one of the most beautiful places in the Nyainqêntanglha mountain range with pure clean water which reflected the color of the sky. Thus the local people named it Nam as in Tibetan language, Nam means “Sky”.

 

There are 5 islands lie on the water, which is said that they are embodiments of gods. Every year, hundreds of thousands pilgrims come here to worship the Holy Spirit it represented. 

Mount Kailash, Ngari
 

 

Mount Kailash, also known as Gangs Rin-po-che in local, is one of the sacred mountains in Tibet. With a height of 6,721 meters, it is the main peak of the Gangdisê Mountains, which are part of the Transhimalaya in Tibet. Standing in Pulan County, Ali Region, it has entitled the “Top of Ali”, while Tibetan Buddhists called it "precious jewel of snows".

 

The peak is very pointed and looks like a pyramid piercing the sky. Seen from the south the vertical ice trough and horizontal rock formation combine as the Buddhist symbol Swastika ' 卐 ', which represents the eternal power of Buddha.

 

More often that not, clouds will gather above the peak, so clear days are thought to be a blessing because local residents can get an unimpeded view.