Three Potala Palaces in Tibet

The First Potala Palace: The Potala Palace in Lhasa

The 360 m long and 270 m wide Potala Palace, covering an area of 360,000 sq m, enjoys a history of 1,300 years. The main building which contains 13 stories (117 m high), is a combination of the style of a palace, a castle and a monastery. It is at the highest altitude above sea level. This grand architecture was designated by UNESCO as one of the World Cultural Heritage sites in 1994. And the Chinese government has also done certain measures to protect and renovate the palace.  

The second Potala Palace: Sangzhutse Fortress

Due to natural erosion and artificial damages, the Sangzhutse Fortress which is one of the earliest architecture in Xigaze Prefecture of Tibet, were left with ruined walls. Thus, the government , at the end of 2004, launched a project of renovation for the fortress. When finished, the fortress, also known as the "small Potala Palace", will become a cultural cultural exhibition center in Rear Tibet.  



The third Potala Palace: Tsenden Monastery

Built in 1667 and reconstructed in 1985, the Tsenden Monastery, Located on a hill in southern Sog County,  is one of the famous Gelug Sect of the Tibet Buddhism. The palace resembles the Potala Palace in that it is also a style of the monastery,  composed of  a white palace and a red one.

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