Potala Palace (布達(dá)拉宮)

The Potala Palace is considered to be a model of Tibetan architecture. Located on the Red Hill in Lhasa, it covers more than 360,000 square meters and has 13 storeys. In 641, Songtsan Gambo, ruler of the Tubo Kingdom, had the Potala Palace built for Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, his future bride. This structure was later burned to the ground during a war and rebuilt in the 17th century by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Over the past three centuries, the palace gradually became a place where the Dalai Lama lives and works and a place for keeping the remains of Dalai Lamas.

Admission:100 yuan (Nov. 1-Apr. 30); 200 yuan (May 1-Oct.31)

Opening hours:9:00 - 16:00 except holidays and major events

Travel tips:Only 2300 tickets are issued each day, among which 1600 are for the travel agents and 700 for individual tourists.

Also seetop 10 treasures inside Potala Palace.