Lhasa: Culture, History and Tea Culture

The Potala Palace, the monastery at Jokhang Temple, Norbulingka, the Xizang Museum and the sweet tea houses offer concrete points of reference.

The Potala Palace in the Lhasa Valley

The Potala Palace rises on Red Hill in the center of the Lhasa Valley, at an elevation of 3,700 meters. Its location brings together a striking mountain and the valley landscape. Since the 7th century AD, the palace served as the Dalai Lama’s winter palace. Its collections include 698 murals and almost 10,000 painted scrolls. These figures describe different forms of visual art and show that, alongside its former function as a palace, the murals and scrolls are also defining themes of the site.

Jokhang Temple and Religious History

At Jokhang Temple, the monastery and its religious imagery take center stage. It was founded in the 7th century to promote Buddhism. The monastery houses more than 3,000 depictions of Buddha, as well as other deities and historical figures. In contrast to the Potala, whose former function as a winter palace offers insight into its historical role, the focus here is on the monastery’s founding and its depictions.

The UNESCO inscriptions can also be distinguished chronologically from the construction and founding histories: the Potala Palace was added to the World Heritage List in 1994, Jokhang Temple in 2000 as an extension to the World Heritage Site, and Norbulingka in 2001 as a further extension. These years refer to inclusion in the World Heritage Site, not to the construction of the buildings or the founding of the monastery.

Norbulingka: Former Summer Palace

Norbulingka is the Dalai Lama’s former summer palace and was built in the 18th century. Historically, the site was used for contemplation and the signing of political agreements. Together with the Potala’s former function as a winter palace, this highlights a concrete difference between the histories of the two palaces: Norbulingka was the summer palace, while the Potala was the winter palace. This makes it possible to compare their historical roles without conflating them.

Xizang Museum: Exhibitions and Facilities

The Xizang Museum’s permanent exhibitions cover the history and culture of Xizang, as well as Xizang’s folk culture. The museum opened in October 1999; in July 2009, it became free to the public. Its facilities include an experience hall for children, a hall for cultural and creative offerings, a 4D cinema and an observation deck. The museum focuses on the history and culture of Xizang, while its facilities offer a range of experiences. Check the current opening arrangements before visiting.

Sweet Tea Houses and Local Food Culture

Lhasa has many sweet tea houses. Tibetan noodles and hot sweet tea are typical fare. This food culture adds an everyday aspect of city life to the historical and museum-related themes. One specific place to visit is the Guangming-Gangqiong Sweet Tea House: it is a few hundred meters from Jokhang Temple and is a long-established local spot appreciated by residents and visitors. The place connects the local sweet tea culture with a well-known temple in the cityscape, without requiring a particular order of visits.

Discover more destinations: Rikaze, Qamdo, Ngari, Nimu, Shannan, Nagqu, Nyingchi.

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