Known as the summer palace of Dalai Lamas, Norbulingka is a combination of Tibetan and Han cultures. Norbulingka in Tibetan language means "precious garden". It was first built in the 18th century by the 7th Dalai Lama, Kelzang Gyatso, and then expanded into the present size of 360,000 square meters in the 20th century.
The building complex has over 400 rooms of various sizes. The Norbulingka is the biggest and most magnificent and representative large-scale palace garden in Tibet. It is also a confluence of Tibetan quintessential arts of architecture, painting, statue and sculpture. As the political, religious and cultural centre of Tibet in the Qing Daynasty, the Norbulingka is a symbol of multi-ethnic cultural confluence.
The main part of the Norbulinka architecture complex includes Kelzang Potrang (palace), Chensel Potrang, and Tagten Migyur Potrang. Their color, style, and decoration feature in Tibetan traditional architecture characteristic; whereas, their layout and overall structure treatment absorb and take after Han style architecture. For example, the doors, windows and pillars style in Tibetan traditional architecture, but the emblazonry displays inland traditional Han style.
Norbulingka, both reflecting the ethnical, religious features of the Tibetan people and emboding the architecture style of inland China, was announced to be national key cultural relic protection unit in 1988 by the State Council, and was enlisted as world cultural heritage by the UNESCO in 2011 as an extension of
Potala Palace. During your
Tibet tour, Norbulingka is also a tourist site deserve your visit. You can meet many local people in the park.
About the Author - Master Catherine Jigme
With exceptional passion and outstanding leadership, Mrs. Catherine has dedicated herself to Tibet inbound tourism and China tour for 15 years. As one of the handful females who see great potential of Chinese inbound tourism, Catherine has made great contribution to promoting Tibet tourism and enhancing the employment of Tibetans and prosperity of local Tibetan community.
Over the years, she travelled overseas with Tibet Tourism Bureau many times to promote Tibet tourism. Currently, Catherine works as the marketing director of Tibet Vista, an opinion leader behind the whole team of Tibet Vista.
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