Lhasa is a city with a long history. As early as in the early 7th century, it was set up by Songzan Gambo as the capital of his empire Tobut in present-day Tibet. Songzan Gambo then said, "None of my ancestors was related to a large country by marriage. Now I am wedded to Princess Wen Cheng, I'd build a city as reminder to later generations". This is how Lhasa came to be built, centring as it was on Jokhang Monastery established in the Tang Dynasty.
  Lhasa, which means the "Sacred Land" or "Pure Land" in Tibetan language, is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region with a population of 90,000..

  Lamaism, an offshoot of Buddhism, is a common belief among the Tibetans. There are many famous monasteries, scenic spots and historic sites in Tibet.
The original Potala Palace was set up by Songzan Gambo in the 7th century. The 13-story Potala Palace we see today was formally constructed in the 14th year of the Congzhen reign of the Ming Dynasty (1641).

  Built of wood and bricks, 110 metres high, it consists of lesser palace, Buddhist halls, sutra rooms and courtyards. The main building of the palace is formed of three stories and eight sacrificial halls each with a pagoda covered with gold leaves and mounted with jade and gems, containing the dead bodies of the 5th to 13th Dalai Lamas.

  A magnificent sight is presented by the palace, with upturned eaves and gold top, painted columns and carved beams. There is a one-metre-high Buddhist pagoda formed of pearls in the palace. Statues of Buddha built of gold, silver, bronze, or jade number as many as more than ten thousand, along with rare Buddhist classics found in China and India.
  Behind Potala Palace is Dragon King Pool. In the middle of the pool there is an islet, on which stands the Dragon King Hall. During the reigns of Emperor Kang Xi (1662--1722) and Emperor Qian Long (1736--1795), two steles were set up to mark the defeat of alien invaders.

  Jokhang Monastery in the centre of Lhasa means "Skayamuni" in Tibetan language. It was said that the Jokhang Monastery, with more than two dozens of halls, a round gold top and yellow glazed tiles, was the first one built by Songzan Gambo in the 7th century to mark Princess Wen Cheng's arrival in Tibet and as the site to spread Buddhism. It houses the gold statue of Skayamuni taken to Tibet by Princess Wen Cheng and more than 300 Buddhist statues, in addition to sculptures from the 7th century including the sculpture of Songzan Gambo and that of Princess Wen Cheng, and 108 sets of the Tripitaka.
  Scheduled flights are established from Beijing via Chengdu or Golmud to Lhasa.

  Tibetan carpets, boots and wooden bowls are available in Lhasa. Lhasa Hotel and Tibetan Hotel serve tourists all year round.