Potala Palace

he construction history of the Potala Palace spans 13 centuries, and the various architectural style[...]

he construction history of the Potala Palace spans 13 centuries, and the various architectural styles and cultural relics found within it reflect the political, economic, and cultural exchanges and integration among different ethnic groups in our country. Particularly during the expansion of the Potala Palace in the 17th century, craftsmen from various ethnic groups, including Tibetans and Han Chinese, participated and absorbed the excellent traditional culture and skills of different ethnic groups. The vast collection of cultural relics in the palace, especially scriptures, thangkas, statues, silk textiles conferred by emperors of various dynasties since the Ming and Qing dynasties, appointment decrees and proclamations, official seals for the appointment of local officials in Tibet, as well as imperial plaques and tablet inscriptions, provide strong evidence that Tibet has always been an integral part of our country.

The Potala Palace has a high historical, scientific, and artistic value. Since the peaceful liberation of Tibet, the central government and the State Council have attached great importance to the protection of the Potala Palace and allocated special funds for its annual maintenance. The palace has undergone two large-scale renovations, ensuring its preservation and showcasing the full implementation of national policies on ethnic, religious, and cultural heritage protection in Tibet. In 1961, the Potala Palace was announced as one of the first batch of national key cultural heritage sites by the State Council. In 1994, it was listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2013, it was rated as one of the first batch of national 5A-level tourist attractions in Tibet.