the Lhasa Potala Palace

The Potala Palace is located on the Red Mountain more than 3,700 meters above the sea-level at Lhasa in Tibet . In 1994 , it was put on the World Cultural Heritages List by UNESCOWHC. 　　In the seventh century , Songzanganbu , the ruler of Tibet , married Princess Wenchen Princess Wenchen of the Tang Empire . He built a palace with 999 rooms along the mountain side , which occupies a total area of 410,000 sq.m. and has a building area of 130,000 sq.m. It is the best ancient Tibetan architecture , and is divided into the White Palace and the Red Palace  . The main hall of the Palace is 115.703m. high , consisting of 13 storeys. The roofs of the halls are covered with gilded copper tiles, glittering wih golden sheen . These place buildings are majestic and are reputed as the "Majestic Palace on the Plateau". He design and construction of the palace took into consideration and conditions of sunlight on the plateau . The foundation of the palace is wide and solid , with a network of tunnels and vents . The rooms and halls are framed with pillars , brackets , beams , rafters , etc . The ground and the roofs are paved with a layer of a sort of hard soil . On the roofs of the halls and bedrooms are skylights to let in fresh air and sunlight . On the pillars and beams are carved various patterns . On the walls are painted various colorful frescos . Since the ancient times , the Tibetans have had the custom of painting various patterns on wooden and ceramic articles . The frescos in Potala Palace cover a total area of 2,500 sq.m. 　In Potala Palace there are stored iron , bronze , gold , silver , copper and other metals as well as metal ware smelted and made in ancient Tibet . Besides , there are stored helmets , armors , weapons , offerings , handicraft leather , handicraft textiles , paper , etc .,? together with the gold certificates , seals title mandates , porcelain , emerald , carved jade articles , etc ., bestowed on the Dalai Lamas by emperors in the different dynasties .

 

2010-12-13

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