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| lhasa city |
Located on the northern bank in the middle and lower reaches of Lhasa River, one branch of Brahmaputra, Lhasa has a long history of more than 1,300 years and acts as the political, economic, cultural and religious center of Tibet. The city name of Lhasa, the holy land?and Buddhist land?in the hearts of Tibetans, derives from Jokhang Monastery.After accomplishing the great task of unification in the 7 century, Songtsen Gampo made Lhasa the capital of Tubo moving from Tsetang of Lhoka. By founding his regime in Lhasa Songtsen Gampo was able to consolidate the new slave regime and more effectively enforce the administration on the whole of Tibet. It was said that when Princess Wencheng reached Lhasa, the city was just a wild land. With the establishment of Jokhang Monastery and Ramoche Monastery, some inns and residence were built around them and the embryo of the old city took into shape. At the same time with the enlargement of the palace in Red Mountain (the present Potala Palace) by Songtsen Gampo, lots of palaces and houses were built in succession and there from the plateau city famous home and abroad came into being.
Besides the famous Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, Norbulingka, Three Great Monasteries (Drepung, Sera and Gandan), Hebalin Mosque and , some other scenic spots of rich ethnic characteristics such as temples, hot springs and grassland scenery are open to the tourists gradually. Now, tourism has become the pillar industry of Lhasa city. |
| next : Lhasa River |
| Before : Jiama Palace |
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