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86-435: The early Yarlung dynasty rulers are more mythological than factual, and there is insufficient evidence of their definitive existence. The Yarlung dynasty ruled presumably from 95 BC, which was situated on south-east Tibetan Plateau which included the areas of Yarlung , Kongpo , Nyangpo , Powo. The early history of the dynasty comes largely from local folklore and mythology. The debate is still on-going concerning who among

172-626: A British expeditionary force invaded and captured Lhasa during the British expedition to Tibet . The expedition's leader, Sir Francis Younghusband negotiated the Convention Between Great Britain and Tibet with the remaining Tibetan officials after the Dalai Lama had fled to the countryside. The treaty was subsequently repudiated and was succeeded by a 1906 Anglo-Chinese treaty . All Qing troops left Lhasa after

258-510: A failed uprising , the 14th Dalai Lama and his associates fled Tibet. Lhasa remained the political, economic, cultural and religious center of Tibet. In January 1960, Lhasa City was established. In 1964, the autonomous region and Lhasa city leaders jointly formed the Lhasa City Municipal Construction Command, led from the country's brother provinces and cities to mobilize the construction team, has built

344-444: A high standard. People mainly plant highland barley and winter wheat . The resources of water conservancy, geothermal heating , solar energy and various mines are abundant. There is widespread electricity together with the use of both machinery and traditional methods in the production of such things as textiles , leathers , plastics, matches and embroidery . The production of national handicrafts has made great progress. With

430-510: A number of nobles' houses including Tromzikhang and Jamkhang . There were four large incense burners ( sangkangs ) in the four cardinal directions, with incense burning constantly, to please the gods protecting the Jokhang. Most of the old streets and buildings have been demolished in recent times and replaced with wider streets and new buildings. Some buildings in the Barkhor were damaged in

516-478: A permanent collection of around 1000 artefacts, from examples of Tibetan art to architectural design throughout history such as Tibetan doors and construction beams. It is located in an L-shaped building west of the Potala Palace on the corner of Norbulingkha Road . The museum is organized into three main sections: a main exhibition hall, a folk cultural garden and administrative offices. The Monument to

602-505: A population of around 170,000. Official statistics of the metropolitan area report that 70 percent are Tibetan, 24.3 are Han, and the remaining 2.7 Hui, though outside observers suspect that non-Tibetans account for some 50–70 percent. According to the Sixth Population Census in 2010, the population of Tibetans is 429,104, accounting for 76.70% of the total population of Lhasa. The second most populous ethnic group

688-403: Is December at 0.3 millimetres (0.01 in) and the wettest month is August, at 133.5 millimetres (5.26 in). Summer is widely regarded the "best" of the year as rains come mostly at night and Lhasa is still sunny during the daytime. The 11th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica published between 1910 and 1911 noted the total population of Lhasa, including the lamas in the city and vicinity

774-501: Is June and July with a daily average of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F), though nights have generally been warmer in July. The annual mean temperature is 8.8 °C (47.8 °F), with extreme temperatures ranging from −16.5 to 30.8 °C (2 to 87 °F) on 17 January 1968 and 24 June 2019 respectively. Lhasa has an annual precipitation of 458 millimetres (18.0 in) with rain falling mainly in July, August and September. The driest month

860-692: Is a comprehensive university with the highest academic level in Tibet Autonomous Region . It is a member of the prestigious Project 211 , and is sponsored under the Double First-Class Construction initiative. Lhasa has been served by rail since 2006, when the Qinghai–Tibet Railway opened for passenger operations. Reaching an elevation of 5,072 metres above sea level, the Qinghai-Tibet railway

946-915: Is a local form of music and dance in Tibet. While the traditional Dui Huan in Tibet has only one instrument, the Dui Huan in Lhasa has four instruments: in addition to the Zainianqin and the Yangqin , there are the Jinghu , the bamboo flute, and the stringed bells that are specially used for playing the rhythm. Together with the singing, they play, pull, strum and sing. There are 2 universities of Tibet University and Tibet Tibetan Medical University and 3 special colleges of Lhasa Teachers College , Tibet Police College and Tibet Vocational and Technical College in

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1032-486: Is about 300 millimetres (12 in) to 500 millimetres (20 in), mostly falling between July and September. The term "Chengguan District" is the administrative term for the inner urban area or the urban centre within a prefecture, in this case the Prefectural-city of Lhasa. Outside of the urban area much of Chengguan District is mainly mountainous with a near nonexistent rural population. Chengguan District

1118-492: Is also the traditional hub of the Tibetan trading network. For many years, chemical and car making plants operated in the area and this resulted in significant pollution, a factor which has changed in recent years. Copper , lead and zinc are mined nearby and there is ongoing experimentation regarding new methods of mineral mining and geothermal heat extraction. Agriculture and animal husbandry in Lhasa are considered to be of

1204-433: Is at the same administrative level as a county. Chengguan District of Lhasa was established on 23 April 1961. It currently has 12 fully urban subdistricts. Owing to its very high elevation, Lhasa has a cool semi-arid climate ( Köppen : BSk ), bordering on both a monsoon-influenced subtropical highland climate ( Köppen : Cwb ) and a humid continental climate ( Köppen : Dwb ), with frosty winters and mild summers, yet

1290-483: Is based on the Indian vihara design, and was later extended resulting in a blend of Nepalese and Tang dynasty styles. It possesses the statues of Chenresig , Padmasambhava and King Songtsan Gampo and his two foreign brides, Princess Wen Cheng (niece of Emperor Taizong of Tang ) and Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal and other important items. Ramoche Temple is considered the most important temple in Lhasa after

1376-461: Is bordered by Doilungdêqên District to the west, Dagzê County to the east and Lhünzhub County to the north. Gonggar County of Lhoka (Shannan) Prefecture lies to the south. Chengguan District has an elevation of 3,650 metres (11,980 ft) and covers 525 square kilometres (203 sq mi). The urban built-up area covers 60 square kilometres (23 sq mi).The average annual temperature of 8 °C (46 °F). Annual precipitation

1462-845: Is formed by Yarlung Chu, a tributary of the Tsangpo River in the Shannan Prefecture in the Tibet autonomous region of China. It refers especially to the district where Yarlung Chu joins with the Chongye River, and broadens out into a large plain about 2 km wide, before it flows into the Tsangpo River. It is situated in Nedong District of the Shannan Prefecture and includes the capital of

1548-424: Is situated in the west side of Lhasa, a short distance to the southwest of Potala Palace and with an area of around 36 hectares (89 acres), it is considered to be the largest man made garden in Tibet. It was built from 1755. and served as the traditional summer residence of the successive Dalai Lamas until the 14th's self-imposed exile. Norbulingka was declared a 'National Important Cultural Relic Unit", in 1988 by

1634-622: Is the Han Chinese, with a population of 121,065, accounting for 21.64% of Lhasa's total population. These two ethnic groups account for the vast majority of Lhasa's total population, while other ethnic minorities account for only about 1.66% of Lhasa's total population. Lhasa has an elevation of about 3,600 m (11,800 ft) and lies in the centre of the Tibetan Plateau with the surrounding mountains rising to 5,500 m (18,000 ft). The air only contains 68 percent of

1720-455: Is the administrative division that contains the urban area of Lhasa (i.e. the actual city). The urban area is populated by ethnic Tibetans, Han, Hui and other ethnic groups. The 2000 official census gave a total population of 223,001, of which 171,719 lived in the areas administered by city street offices and city neighborhood committees. 133,603 had urban registrations and 86,395 had rural registrations, based on their place of origin. The census

1806-403: Is the flagship of CITS's installations in Tibet. It accommodates about 1000 guests and visitors to Lhasa. There are over 450 rooms (suites) in the hotel, and all are equipped with air conditioning , mini-bar and other basic facilities. Some of the rooms are decorated in traditional Tibetan style. The hotel was operated by Holiday Inn from 1986 to 1997 and is the subject of a book, The Hotel on

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1892-466: Is the highest commercial brewery in the world at 11,975 feet (3,650 m) and accounts for 85 percent of contemporary beer production in Tibet. The brewery, consisting of five-story buildings, cost an estimated US$ 20–25 million, and by 1994, production had reached 30,000 bottles per day, employing some 200 workers by this time. Since 2000, the Carlsberg group has increased its stronghold in

1978-616: Is the world's highest railway by elevation. It connects Lhasa with Xining , the capital of Qinghai Province , some 2,000 km (1,200 mi) away, and ultimately links Lhasa with other major cities with China's extensive railway network. Five trains arrive at and depart from Lhasa railway station each day. Train number Z21 takes 40 hours and 53 minutes from Beijing West , arriving in Lhasa at 13:03 every day. Train Z22 from Lhasa to Beijing West departs at 15:30 and arrives in Beijing at 08:20 on

2064-576: The 1959 Tibetan uprising , the government converted the palace into a museum. The site was used as a meditation retreat by King Songtsen Gampo , who in 637 built the first palace there in order to greet his bride Princess Wen Cheng of the Tang dynasty of China. Lozang Gyatso , the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, started the construction of the Potala Palace in 1645 after one of his spiritual advisers, Konchog Chophel (d. 1646), pointed out that

2150-596: The Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara . The Jokhang Temple was also greatly expanded around this time. Although some wooden carvings and lintels of the Jokhang Temple date to the 7th century, the oldest of Lhasa's extant buildings, such as within the Potala Palace, the Jokhang and some of the monasteries and properties in the Old Quarter date to this second flowering in Lhasa's history. By the end of

2236-592: The Gregorian calendar . The Barkhor is an area of narrow streets and a public square in the old part of the city located around Jokhang Temple and was the most popular devotional circumambulation for pilgrims and locals. The walk was about one kilometre (0.6 miles) long and encircled the entire Jokhang , the former seat of the State Oracle in Lhasa called the Muru Nyingba Monastery , and

2322-539: The Jokang , the Norbulingka Summer Palace and surrounding large monasteries as well the spectacular Himalayan landscape together with the many wild plants and animals native to the high altitudes of Central Asia . Tourism to Tibet dropped sharply following the crackdown on protests in 2008, but as early as 2009, the industry was recovering. Chinese authorities plan an ambitious growth of tourism in

2408-674: The Jokhang (or Rasa Trülnang Tsulagkhang) and Ramoche Temples in Lhasa in order to house two Buddha statues , the Akshobhya Vajra (depicting the Buddha at the age of eight) and the Jowo Sakyamuni (depicting Buddha at the age of twelve), respectively brought to his court by the princesses. Lhasa suffered extensive damage under the reign of Langdarma in the 9th century, when the sacred sites were destroyed and desecrated and

2494-663: The Qiang , Sumpa , Asha and other Tibetian tribes in the north-eastern periphery began in 7th century. In 634, Tibet attacked Dangsyan . On 12 September 638, Tibet invaded a village in Xuizhou district which was inhabited by Dangsyan. In December 640, the Tibetan dignitary Tontsen Yulsung brought five thousand liangs of silver and hundreds of gold objects to Chang'an . Songtsen Gampo would eventually abdicate and rulership passed on to his son Gungsong Guntsen , but at age eighteen he would die, forcing Songtsen Gampo to once again take

2580-478: The Tibet University , produces traditional Tibetan rugs that are exported worldwide. It is a modern factory, the largest manufacturer of rugs throughout Tibet, employing some 300 workers. Traditionally Tibetan women were the weavers, and men the spinners, but both work on the rugs today. The Lhasa Brewery Company was established in 1988 on the northern outskirts of Lhasa, south of Sera Monastery and

2666-664: The Xinhai Lhasa turmoil in 1912. On November 2, 1949, the local Tibetan government sent a letter to Mao Zedong (then Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party ) expressing its desire for talks. Tsepon Shargyalpa and Tsejang Khenpo Tubten Gyalpo were sent as representatives, but no consensus was reached. On October 7, 1950, the Chinese People's Liberation Army launched the Battle of Chamdo . After

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2752-608: The highest cities in the world . The city has been the religious and administrative capital of Tibet since the mid-17th century. It contains many culturally significant Tibetan Buddhist sites such as the Potala Palace , Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka Palaces. Lhasa literally translates to "place of gods" ( ལྷ lha , god; ས sa , place) in the Tibetan language . Chengguan literally translates to "urban gateway" ( Chinese : 城关 ; pinyin : Chéngguān ) in

2838-515: The 17th century, Lhasa's Barkhor area formed a bustling market for foreign goods. The Jesuit missionary, Ippolito Desideri reported in 1716 that the city had a cosmopolitan community of Mongol, Chinese, Muscovite, Armenian, Kashmiri, Nepalese and Northern Indian traders. Tibet was exporting musk, gold, medicinal plants, furs and yak tails to far-flung markets, in exchange for sugar, tea, saffron, Persian turquoise, European amber and Mediterranean coral. The Qing dynasty army entered Lhasa in 1720, and

2924-549: The 2008 unrest. The Jokhang is located on Barkhor Square in the old town section of Lhasa. For most Tibetans it is the most sacred and important temple in Tibet. It is in some regards pan-sectarian, but is presently controlled by the Gelug school. Along with the Potala Palace , it is probably the most popular tourist attraction in Lhasa. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Ensemble of

3010-750: The Chinese had a crowded burial-ground at Lhasa, tended carefully after their manner and that the Nepalese supplied mechanics and metal-workers at that time. In the first half of the 20th century, several Western explorers made celebrated journeys to the city, including William Montgomery McGovern , Francis Younghusband , Alexandra David-Néel , and Heinrich Harrer . Lhasa was the centre of Tibetan Buddhism as nearly half of its population were monks , Though this figure may include monks from surrounding monasteries who travelled to Lhasa for various celebrations and were not ordinarily resident there. The majority of

3096-410: The Chinese language. Ancient Tibetan documents and inscriptions demonstrate that the place was called Rasa ( ར་ས ), which meant "goat's place", as it was a herding site. The name was changed to Lhasa, which means "place of gods", upon its establishment as the capital of Tibet , and construction of the Jokhang temple was completed, which housed a holy statue of the Buddha. Lhasa is first recorded as

3182-559: The Chinese market and has become increasingly influential in the country with investment and expertise. Carlsberg invested in the Lhasa Brewery in recent years and has drastically improved the brewing facility and working conditions, renovating and expanding the building to what now covers 62,240 square metres (15.3 acres). Lhasa has many sites of historic interest, including the Potala Palace , Jokhang Temple , Sera Monastery and Norbulingka . The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and

3268-459: The Chinese wife of Trisong Detsen 's father, Me Agtsom . Chokpori , meaning 'Iron Mountain', is a sacred hill , located south of the Potala. It is considered to be one of the four holy mountains of central Tibet and along with two other hills in Lhasa represent the "Three Protectors of Tibet.", Chokpori ( Vajrapani ), Pongwari ( Manjushri ), and Marpori ( Chenresig or Avalokiteshvara ). It

3354-418: The Jokhang Temple. Situated in the northwest of the city, it is east of the Potala and north of the Jokhang, covering a total area of 4,000 square meters (almost one acre). The temple was gutted and partially destroyed in the 1960s and its famous bronze statue disappeared. In 1983 the lower part of it was said to have been found in a Lhasa rubbish tip, and the upper half in Beijing. They have now been joined and

3440-577: The Lhasa City YuTuo Road, KangAng East Road, NiangJe South Road, JinZhu East Road, DuoSen South Road and Beijing West Road. Lhasa local officials paved more than 100,000 square meters of asphalt. The new city center of Lhasa is three times larger than the old city center, and the population of the city has increased by more than 20,000 people. In September 1965, the Tibet Autonomous Region was established, and Lhasa became

3526-525: The Lhasa city. Tibet University ( Tibetan : བོད་ལྗོངས་སློབ་གྲྭ་ཆེན་མོ་) is the main university of Tibet Autonomous Region . Its campus is located in Chengguan District, Lhasa, east of the city-centre. A forerunner was created in 1952 and the university was officially established in 1985, funded by the Chinese government . About 8000 students are enrolled at the university. Tibet University

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3612-476: The Norbulingka are UNESCO world heritage sites. However, many important sites were damaged or destroyed mostly, but not solely, during China's Cultural Revolution of the 1960s. Many have been restored since the 1980s. The Potala Palace , named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara , was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama . After the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during

3698-733: The Peaceful Liberation of Tibet was unveiled in the Potala Square in May 2002 to celebrate the 51st anniversary of the Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet , and the work in the development of the autonomous region since then. The 37-metre-high concrete monument is shaped as an abstract Mount Everest and its name is engraved with the calligraphy of former CCP general secretary and PRC president Jiang Zemin , while an inscription describes

3784-412: The Potala Palace," and a spiritual centre of Lhasa. This temple has remained a key center of Buddhist pilgrimage for centuries. The circumambulation route is known as the "kora" in Tibetan and is marked by four large stone incense burners placed at the corners of the temple complex. The Jokhang temple is a four-story construction, with roofs covered with gilded bronze tiles. The architectural style

3870-568: The Qing government sent resident commissioners, called the Ambans , to Lhasa. On 11 November 1750, the murder of the regent by the Ambans triggered a riot in the city that left more than a hundred people killed, including the Ambans. After suppressing the rebels, Qing Qianlong Emperor reorganized the Tibetan government and set up the governing council called Kashag in Lhasa in 1751. In January 1904,

3956-521: The River in a large boat containing traders and their donkeys. Lhasa Lhasa , officially the Chengguan District of Lhasa City , is the inner urban district of Lhasa City , Tibet Autonomous Region , Southwestern China . Lhasa is the second most populous urban area on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining and, at an altitude of 3,656 metres (11,990 ft), Lhasa is one of

4042-515: The Roof of the World . Another hotel of note is the historical Banak Shöl Hotel , located at 8 Beijing Road in the city. It is known for its distinctive wooden verandas . The Nam-tso Restaurant is located in the vicinity of the hotel and is frequented especially by Chinese tourists visiting Lhasa. Lhasa contains several businesses of note. Lhasa Carpet Factory , a factory south of Yanhe Dong Lu near

4128-707: The State council. In 2001, the Central Committee of the Chinese Government in its 4th Tibet Session resolved to restore the complex to its original glory. The Sho Dun Festival (popularly known as the "yogurt festival") is an annual festival held at Norbulingka during the seventh Tibetan month in the first seven days of the Full Moon period, which corresponds to dates in July/August according to

4214-415: The arrival of Chinese troops are not correct." From the fall of the monarchy in the 9th century to the accession of the 5th Dalai Lama , the centre of political power in the Tibetan region was not situated in Lhasa. However, the importance of Lhasa as a religious site became increasingly significant as the centuries progressed. It was known as the centre of Tibet where Padmasambhava magically pinned down

4300-666: The battle, the PLA ceased military operations, released all Tibetan prisoners, and expressed its hope for a settlement through peace talks. At the invitation of the Central Government, the Dalai Lama and a Tibetan government delegation traveled to Beijing for peace talks, and in April 1951, a five-member delegation headed by Ngapo-Ngawang Jigme traveled to Beijing and reached a consensus on peace talks . In 1959, following

4386-589: The capital of the region. Of the 22 parks ( lingka s) which surrounded the city of Lhasa, most of them over half a mile in length, where the people of Lhasa were accustomed to picnic, only three survive today: the Norbulingka , Dalai Lama's Summer Palace, constructed by the 7th Dalai Lama ; a small part of the Shugtri Lingka, and the Lukhang . Dormitory blocks, offices and army barracks are built over

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4472-557: The capital to Lhasa after greatly expanding his territories and power. The valley, often referred to as the "cradle of Tibetan civilisation", is only 72 km (45 mi) long, but contains a number of important castles, monasteries, temples, meditation caves, peaks and stupas . There are three renowned power places ( ne-sum ), Sheldrak, Tradruk , and Yumbu Lagang or ( Yungbulakang Palace ). Also, there are three major stupas which serve as receptacles for sacred relics ( ten-sum ): Takchen Bumpa, Gontang Bumpa, and Tsechu Bumpa. Just below

4558-610: The centre of his administration to Lhasa in 1642 with the help of Güshi Khan of the Khoshut . With Güshi Khan as a largely uninvolved overlord, the 5th Dalai Lama and his intimates established a civil administration which is referred to by historians as the Lhasa state . The core leadership of this government is also referred to as the Ganden Phodrang , and Lhasa thereafter became both the religious and political capital. In 1645,

4644-444: The district, where bilingual or wholly Chinese teaching was common in the schools. Competitive industry together with feature economy play key roles in the development of Lhasa. With the view to maintaining a balance between population growth and the environment, tourism and service industries are emphasised as growth engines for the future. Many of Lhasa's rural residents practice traditional agriculture and animal husbandry . Lhasa

4730-569: The division of the emergent empire into six provinces, and the reorganization of the military. He is also the patron of Tibet's writing system, giving Thonmi Sambhota the task of inventing and developing what would become the Tibetian script which he created after closely studying various Indian scripts. The script is believed to be based on both the Brahmi and the Gupta script . The integration of

4816-499: The earth demoness and built the foundation of the Jokhang Temple over her heart. Islam has been present since the 11th century in what is considered to have always been a monolithically Buddhist culture. Two Tibetan Muslim communities have lived in Lhasa with distinct homes, food and clothing, language, education, trade and traditional herbal medicine. By the 15th century, the city of Lhasa had risen to prominence following

4902-497: The empire fragmented. A Tibetan tradition mentions that after Songtsen Gampo's death in 649 C.E., Chinese troops captured Lhasa and burnt the Red Palace. Chinese and Tibetan scholars have noted that the event is mentioned neither in the Chinese annals nor in the Tibetan manuscripts of Dunhuang . Lǐ suggested that this tradition may derive from an interpolation . Tsepon W. D. Shakabpa believes that "those histories reporting

4988-421: The founding of three large Gelugpa monasteries by Je Tsongkhapa and his disciples. The three monasteries are Ganden , Sera and Drepung which were built as part of the puritanical Buddhist revival in Tibet. The scholarly achievements and political know-how of this Gelugpa Lineage eventually pushed Lhasa once more to centre stage. The 5th Dalai Lama , Lobsang Gyatso (1617–1682), unified Tibet and moved

5074-399: The growth of tourism and service sectors, the sunset industries which cause serious pollution are expected to fade in the hope of building a healthy ecological system. Environmental problems such as soil erosion , acidification , and loss of vegetation are being addressed. The tourism industry now brings significant business to the region, building on the attractiveness of the Potala Palace,

5160-802: The leader of the Tibetan Empire that had risen to power in the Yarlung Tsangpo River (whose lower reaches in India is known as the Brahmaputra River ) Valley. After conquering the kingdom of Zhangzhung in the west, he moved the capital from the Chingwa Taktsé Castle in Chongye County ( pinyin : Qióngjié Xiàn), southwest of Yarlung , to Rasa (Lhasa) where in 637 he raised the first structures on

5246-413: The name, referring to the area's temple of Jowo, in a treaty drawn up between China and Tibet in 822 C.E. In some old European maps, where Tibet is depicted, a town under the name Barantola can be come up with; this town has mostly been suggested to be Lhasa, at other times to refer to modern Bulantai/Boluntay in the western part of the Qinghai province. By the mid 7th century, Songtsen Gampo became

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5332-415: The north. Ingress and egress roads run east and west, while to the north, the road infrastructure is less developed. Chengguan District is located on the middle reaches of the Lhasa River , a tributary of the Brahmaputra River , with land that rises to the north and south of the river. It is 28 kilometres (17 mi) from east to west and 31 kilometres (19 mi) from north to south. Chengguan District

5418-408: The oldest known example of Tibetan writing. The pillar contains dedications to a famous Tibetan general and gives an account of his services to the king including campaigns against China which culminated in the brief capture of the Chinese capital Chang'an (modern Xi'an ) in 763 CE during which the Tibetans temporarily installed as Emperor a relative of Princess Jincheng Gongzhu (Kim-sheng Kong co),

5504-510: The other hand, puts the population of Lhasa in 1952, at "some 25,000–30,000—about 45,000–50,000 if the population of the great monasteries on its outskirts be included." The total population of Lhasa Prefecture-level City is 521,500 (including known migrant population but excluding military garrisons). Of this, 257,400 are in the urban area (including a migrant population of 100,700), while 264,100 are outside. Nearly half of Lhasa Prefecture-level City's population lives in Chengguan District, which

5590-507: The oxygen compared to sea level. The Lhasa River , also Kyi River or Kyi Chu, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River (Brahmaputra River), runs through the southern part of the city. This river, known to local Tibetans as the "merry blue waves", flows through the snow-covered peaks and gullies of the Nyainqêntanglha mountains, extending 315 km (196 mi), and emptying into the Yarlung Zangbo River at Qüxü , forms an area of great scenic beauty. The marshlands, mostly uninhabited, are to

5676-462: The pre-1950 Chinese population of Lhasa were merchants and officials. In the Lubu section of Lhasa, the inhabitants were descendants of Chinese vegetable farmers, some of whom married Tibetan wives. They came to Lhasa in the 1840s–1860s after a Chinese official was appointed to the position of Amban . According to one writer, the population of the city was about 10,000, with some 10,000 monks at Drepung and Sera monasteries in 1959. Hugh Richardson, on

5762-570: The prefecture, Tsetang , one of Tibet's largest cities, 183 km southeast of Lhasa . 29°12′N 91°46′E  /  29.200°N 91.767°E  / 29.200; 91.767 It was originally well-forested and suitable for agriculture. The Tsetang district is famous for its apples and pears. The Yarlung and the adjoining Chongye Valley formed the original seat of the Yarlung dynasty of Tibetan kings and controlled important ancient trade routes into India and Bhutan . The first Tibetan Emperor, Songtsen Gampo (605 or 617? - 649), moved

5848-399: The reconstruction of the Potala Palace began on Red Hill. In 1648, the Potrang Karpo ( White Palace ) of the Potala was completed, and the Potala was used as a winter palace by the Dalai Lama from that time onwards. The Potrang Marpo ( Red Palace ) was added between 1690 and 1694. The name Potala is derived from Mount Potalaka , the mythical abode of the Dalai Lama's divine prototype,

5934-418: The region aiming at 10 million visitors by 2020; these visitors are expected to be domestic. With renovation around historic sites, such as the Potala Palace, UNESCO has expressed "concerns about the deterioration of Lhasa's traditional cityscape." Lhasa contains several hotels. Lhasa Hotel is a 4-star hotel located northeast of Norbulingka in the western suburbs of the city. Completed in September 1985, it

6020-436: The rest. The Guāndì miào (關帝廟) or Gesar Lhakhang temple was erected by the Amban in 1792 atop Mount Bamare 3 kilometres (2 miles) south of the Potala to celebrate the defeat of an invading Gurkha army. The main gate to the city of Lhasa used to run through the large Pargo Kaling chorten and contained holy relics of the Buddha Mindukpa. In 2000 the urbanised area covered 53 square kilometres (20 sq mi), with

6106-402: The settlement and build a royal castle on mountain Marpori overlooking what would later be named the city of Lhasa , Tibet's traditional capital. During the reign of Songtsen Gampo , Tibet briefly became one of the main powers in Central Asia. His reign saw multiple developments in Tibetan society such as the establishment of a structured system of land use, the formal creation of state funds,

6192-533: The site of what is now the Potala Palace on Mount Marpori. In CE 639 and 641, Songtsen Gampo, who by this time had conquered the whole Tibetan region, is said to have contracted two alliance marriages, firstly to a Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal, and then, two years later, to Princess Wencheng of the Imperial Tang court. Bhrikuti is said to have converted him to Buddhism , which was also the faith attributed to his second wife Wencheng. In 641 he constructed

6278-502: The site was ideal as a seat of government, situated as it is between Drepung and Sera monasteries and the old city of Lhasa. The palace underwent restoration works between 1989 and 1994, costing RMB55 million (US$ 6.875 million) and was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. The Lhasa Zhol Pillar , below the Potala, dates as far back as circa 764 CE. and is inscribed with what may be

6364-500: The socioeconomic development experienced in Tibet in the past fifty years. There are four mosques in and around Lhasa. The earliest mosque, called Khache Lingka , dates to 1650 and is located west of the city, and consists of two compounds. The Lhasa Great Mosque is the most prominent and built by the early 1700s. The Dokdé Mosque, north of Lhasa, has an adjacent cemetery and is dated to 1716. The fourth mosque, commonly known as "Small Mosque" (but also Barkor or Rapsel Alley Mosque),

6450-481: The statue is housed in the Ramoche Temple, which was partially restored in 1986, and still showed severe damage in 1993. Following the major restoration of 1986, the main building in the temple now has three stories. The Tibet Museum in Lhasa is the official museum of the Tibet Autonomous Region and was inaugurated on 5 October 1999. It is the first large, modern museum in the Tibet Autonomous Region and has

6536-466: The third day, taking 40 hours, 50 minutes. Trains also arrive in Lhasa from Chengdu , Chongqing , Lanzhou , Xining, Guangzhou , Shanghai and other cities. To counter the problem of altitude differences giving passengers altitude sickness , extra oxygen is pumped in through the ventilation system and available directly on each berth with close open control by a flap for convenience of passenger, and personal oxygen masks are available on request. Within

6622-445: The throne. It is believed that an internal power struggle would occur at this time. The northern territories of Burma (modern-day Myanmar) are believed to have been annexed by the Tibetan empire at this time as well as Nepal by 640. In 663, Tibet defeated and occupied Tuguhun . This Tibet -related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Yarlung Valley Samding Dorje Phagmo The Yarlung Valley

6708-433: The town of Tsetang there once was a 14th-century iron suspension bridge built across the Yarlung Tsangpo River or Brahmaputra by the famous engineer Tangtong Gyalpo , with a span of 150 to 250 metres, but only five large stone supports are left today. A modern bridge has been built a few kilometres downstream at Nyago. Even when Sarat Das visited in 1879 it was in such a state of disrepair that he had to ferry across

6794-513: The traditional forty-two kings attributed to the dynasty are real and who are mythical. According to folklore, Nyatri Tsenpo and his six immediate successors ascended to heaven by a "sky rope", so the location of their tombs are not to be found. The tomb of the eighth king Digum Tsenpo , however, has been found and is located in Kongpo , in U-Tsang . The first mention of the dynasty outside Asia

6880-462: The valley location protects the city from intense cold or heat and strong winds. Monthly possible sunshine ranges from 53 percent in July to 84 percent in November, and the city receives nearly 3,000 hours of sunlight annually. It is thus sometimes called the "sunlit city" by Tibetans. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) and the warmest month

6966-573: Was 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) long enclosing Old Lhasa, the Potala and Chokpori hill. In former times it was crowded with men and women covering its length in prostrations , beggars and pilgrims approaching the city for the first time. The road passed through willow-shaded parks where the Tibetans used to picnic in summer and watch open air operas on festival days. New Lhasa has obliterated most of Lingkhor, but one stretch still remains west of Chokpori. The Norbulingka palace and surrounding park

7052-483: Was about 30,000, A census in 1854 made the figure 42,000, but it is known to have greatly decreased afterwards. Britannica noted that within Lhasa, there were about a total of 1,500 resident Tibetan laymen and about 5,500 Tibetan women. The permanent population also included Chinese families (about 2,000). The city's residents included traders from Nepal and Ladakh (about 800), and a few from Bhutan, Mongolia and other places. The Britannica noted with interest that

7138-411: Was built in the early 1900s. There are some night spots that feature cabaret acts in which performers sing in Chinese , Tibetan , and English . Dancers wear traditional Tibetan costume with long flowing cloth extending from their arms. There are a number of small bars that feature live music, although they typically have limited drink menus and cater mostly to foreign tourists. Duihuan (སྟོད་གཞས་)

7224-618: Was in " Geography " by Claudius Ptolemy (87-165 AD). The country was named as "Batai" derived from the Tibetian word "Bod" Tibet was traditionally fragmented into various local polities until Kings Tagri Nyensig and Namri Songtsen (570-620) unified the plateau after a series of wars and revolts. Namri Songtsen would later establish a capital in the Kyichu valley which would form into the Rasa settlement. Successive rulers would continue to expand

7310-404: Was taken in November, when many of the ethnic Han workers in seasonal industries such as construction would have been away from Tibet, and did not count the military. A 2011 book estimated that up to two-thirds of the city's residents are non-Tibetan, although the government states that Chengguan District as a whole is still 63% ethnic Tibetan. As of 2014 , half of Tibet's Han population resided in

7396-551: Was the site of the most famous medical school Tibet, known as the Mentsikhang , which was founded in 1413. It was conceived of by Lobsang Gyatso , the "Great" 5th Dalai Lama, and completed by the Regent Sangye Gyatso (Sangs-rgyas rgya-mtsho) shortly before 1697. Lingkhor is a sacred path, most commonly used to name the outer pilgrim road in Lhasa matching its inner twin, Barkhor. The Lingkhor in Lhasa

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