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Affected by the global economic wave, the international gold price has soared like a wild horse, reaching new highs repeatedly, and the retail price of gold has also risen like a tidal wave.
Recently, the soaring price of gold has set off a craze in China, and the most eye-catching one is the Potala Palace, a scenic spot.
People often talk about the price of gold in grams, but the construction of this temple actually consumed an astonishing 30 tons of gold. According to the latest international gold price, its value has exceeded 16 billion yuan, which is jaw-dropping.
It is the most dazzling pearl in China – the Potala Palace, known as the “most luxurious” scenic spot.
Previously, we only knew that this pearl was left in the sky on earth. It illuminated Tibet, not only China but also the whole world. However, now we are even more amazed by its luxury and splendor.
When I came to the Potala Palace, my faith was sublimated in this thin air.
Whenever we look at it, we seem to see the embodiment of faith. It is deep, restrained, full of tolerance and mystery. No matter the sunshine during the day or the starlight at night, it can’t cover up its dazzling light.
But what many people don’t know is that this palace is actually a veritable “golden palace”.
Although it is just a joke to say that “half of the world’s gold is in the Potala Palace”, the fact that it did take a lot of gold to build is undoubtedly shocking.
The top of the Potala Palace is glittering and made of gold. Five of the pagodas are paved with gold and inlaid with tens of thousands of gems and pearls, which are dazzling.
The 200,000 Buddha statues, candlesticks, and ritual instruments in the temple are also inlaid with gold, demonstrating endless luxury and nobility.
According to historical records, up to 30 tons of gold and tens of thousands of gems were used in the construction of the Potala Palace, and its cost may have reached hundreds of billions.
In order to protect this human treasure, close visits to many places are prohibited, and armed police are closely guarding the surrounding areas. Huge amounts of money have been invested in subsequent maintenance.
However, these 30 tons of gold and 100,000 gems seem so insignificant in front of the countless treasures of the Potala Palace.
Because the value of the countless treasures stored in this art treasure house cannot be measured by money.
Whether in terms of cultural value or real investment, the completion of the Potala Palace is a masterpiece in the history of human architecture. It shines with the light of human wisdom and faith and has become an eternal legend.
Around the Potala Palace, white snow-capped mountains stand tall, long lakes flow quietly, and the sound of Zen lingers. Time and faith are intertwined here to form a picture that cannot be more concrete.
Every brick and every tile tells a thousand-year story, and every ray of sunshine is filled with the radiance of faith.
Faith, it has a form
●Jokhang Temple
People often say that the beginning of the Jokhang Temple is the beginning of the city of Lhasa.
This temple was built by Songtsen Gampo to commemorate Princess Wencheng’s entry into Tibet. It houses a twelve-year-old life-size statue of Sakyamuni who accompanied Princess Wencheng into Tibet. It is this statue that gives Lhasa the “Holy Land” “The name.
In the hearts of Tibetans, the holiness of the Jokhang Temple even surpasses the splendor of the Potala Palace.
The Jokhang Temple combines Tibetan, Tang, Nepalese and Indian architectural styles and has become an eternal model of Tibetan religious architecture.
The golden dome of the main hall shines in the sunlight, just like the light of Buddha, which is awe-inspiring.
Climbing up to the third floor platform and overlooking the Potala Palace, historical changes are flowing before our eyes, but the piety is as unforgettable as the first sight.
●Gaden Monastery
Ganden Monastery, along with Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery, are listed as the three major monasteries in Lhasa.
Among them, Ganden Monastery is the ancestral temple of the Gelug Sect. It was personally planned and built by the founder of the Gelug Sect, Tsongkhapa. Its status in the Tibetan Buddhist community is of great importance.
The temple stands next to the mountain and goes up the stairs. Looking from a distance, among the high mountains and ridges, a red hall stands solemnly, occupying almost the entire half of the mountain. It is solemn and sacred.
Although there are few tourists here, there is an endless stream of Tibetans who come to worship. If you want to appreciate the most original aspect of Tibetan Buddhism, Ganden Monastery is a place not to be missed.
●Drepung Monastery
Drepung Temple is located on the mountainside. Its white buildings stretch all over the hillside. From a distance, it looks like a huge pile of rice, hence the name Drepung Temple.
This temple is the most prestigious temple of the Gelug Sect and the largest temple in Lhasa and even in Tibet.
Climbing from the foot of the mountain to the entrance of Drepung Monastery is physically demanding, but along the way you can see wild yaks grazing comfortably in the mountains, which is also a beautiful sight. When you come to Drepung Monastery, the most intuitive feeling is its grand scale.
The palaces are connected one after another, and there is a wider space waiting to be explored. Looking down from a high place, the spectacular architectural complex intertwined with the strong religious color is shocking.
●Sela Monastery
Sera Monastery, as the latest one to be built among the three major monasteries, may not be as grand and colorful as Ganden Monastery and Drepung Monastery, but its sutra debate activities are a major attraction.
Debate is a discussion of Buddhist knowledge and a learning method for lamas. Every day at three o’clock in the afternoon, the monks of Sera Monastery will hold scripture debate activities, attracting many audiences to watch.
If you want to catch a glimpse of the debate, it’s best to get a good seat early.
●Norbulingka
Some people call Norbulingka the “Summer Palace of Lhasa”. This place was the summer palace of the Dalai Lama of the past dynasties. After continuous construction and expansion, it formed the Tibetan style garden we see today.
Its scale is equivalent to half of the Forbidden City in Beijing. Its red walls, yellow tiles, and golden roof have some similarities with the Forbidden City. The new palace inside is even more unique, like browsing the essence of the entire collection of buildings.
Walking there, you can not only feel the profound heritage of Tibetan culture, but also appreciate the beauty of traditional techniques of mainland gardens.
●Bakuo Street
Barkhor Street is the most lively, charming and famous turning road in Lhasa.
Tibetans call it the “Holy Road”. Its existence is like a mirror, reflecting the mystery, rise and fall of the land of Tibet, and the changes of the times.
On the streets, Tibetans can often be seen devoutly performing prayer turning ceremonies. Their figures and prayers are intertwined, forming a moving picture.
At the same time, Barkhor Street is also the commercial center of Lhasa.
There are a dazzling array of small shops on the roadside, offering Tibetan clothing and handicrafts for people to choose from, as well as authentic Tibetan delicacies that will make you forget to leave.
Here, you can fully feel the prosperity and vitality of Lhasa, and also taste the profound cultural heritage of this land.
Time, it is imprinted on the mountains and seas
●Lhasa River
The Lhasa River, called “Happy River” or “Happiness River” in Tibetan, is like a silver chain connecting the joy and happiness of the plateau.
It originates from Norbrula on the north side of the middle section of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. It winds down like a giant dragon, flows through Mozhugongka County and Dazi District, and finally merges into the embrace of the Brahmaputra River, leaving a trace of splendor in Qushui County, Lhasa City. ‘s tail shadow.
With a total length of 568 kilometers, it is not only one of the five major tributaries of the Brahmaputra River, but also one of the highest rivers in the world due to the towering peaks on both sides, with an altitude between 3,600 and 5,500 meters. , showing the majesty and grandeur of the plateau.
Strolling through downtown Lhasa, next to the Qinghai-Tibet Sichuan-Tibet Highway Monument, you can have an unobstructed view of the magnificent scenery of the Lhasa River.
The river is open and gentle, like a mirror, reflecting the blue sky and the white clouds.
If you want to experience this beautiful scenery more closely, you might as well board the Sun Island in the Lhasa River and immerse your body and mind in the embrace of nature.
●Namtso
Namtso is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and the third largest saltwater lake in China. No matter who comes here, Namtso is always a stop they cannot avoid.
The lake is boundless, with waves rising in the wind, lapping at the shore, and snow-capped mountains in the distance. The sound of water and wind interweave into ancient and mysterious songs, telling the legend of this land.
On the lakeside, Mani stones are piled up. After years of baptism, they stand like pyramids on the snow-covered plateau.
The fluttering prayer flags and Mani piles complement each other, adding a mysterious color to this desolate plateau.
●Yamdrok Yongcuo
In the hearts of Tibetans, Yamdrok Yongcuo is endowed with a beautiful meaning – “the goddess’s scattered turquoise earrings”.
The scenery here is just as described in that poem: “The fairyland in the sky, the Yangzhuo in the world, the stars in the sky, and the sheep by the lake.”
The blue of the lake is breathtaking.
Under the sunlight, the lake water appears with distinct layers of blue, changing every second, as if it is the color palette of nature.
The lake sparkles, ripples appear, the reflected shadow becomes blurred, and all worries are cleared away, leaving only tranquility and peace.
●Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain
The Nyainqentanglha Mountains, one of the main mountain ranges of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, stand tall and majestic.
In ancient legends, the Nyainchen Tanggula mountain god leads the Tanggula Mountains across northern Tibet and is an important member of the world’s protector gods.
Both Bon and Buddhist believers regard this mountain as a holy place for practitioners.
In Tibetan stories, Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain and Namtso Mountain are described as a loving couple, with sacred mountains and holy waters, leaning on each other, and jointly guarding this magical land.
When the incense that lingers all day long and the ever-lasting butter lamps flow here, the ancient inheritance becomes within reach, and people can deeply feel the inextricable connection between this place and their faith.
