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History of Lhasa - Palaces & Monasteries

Lhasa is a city with some 1,400 years of history. In AD 633, the Tubo Tsampo Songtsan Gambo moved the capital from Yarlung of Shannan Region to today's Lhasa. He ordered the construction of the Potala Palace, the Jokhang and Ramoche monasteries, turning the place into the most populous town on the Tibet Plateau and laid the foundation for Lhasa.

Since the Tubo Kingdom collapsed in the late half of the 9th century until the early Ming Dynasty in the 14th century, Lhasa was controlled by different regional powers and developed slowly. However, the circular pilgrim route around the Jokhang Monastery gradually flourished, forming the embryo of the city. In time it would become known as the Barkhor Bazaar.

In the late Ming Dynasty, three major monasteries of the Gelug or Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism were constructed in Lhasa. Especially in the 17th century, with the support from Qing Dynasty rulers, the Dalai Lama reincarnation system gained the supreme political and religious power of Tibet and set up the Gandain Phodrang local regime. As Lhasa rose to be the power centre of Tibet again, the Potala Palace and Jokhang Monastery also gained renovation after centuries of devastation in warfare. Since then until the early 20th century, residential houses, shops, hotels and restaurants mushroomed to form busy streets surrounding the old pilgrim route around the Jokhang Monastery.

As the city became Tibet's most important commercial centre, the population also grew quickly. Under the feudal serf system which combined religion with politics, splendid monasteries, the grand Potala Palace, as well as prominent nobles' residences dwarfed the shabby cottages or tents of the common people. In 1951, when Tibet was peacefully liberated, Lhasa had a population of less than 30,000, including beggars and tramps. The urban area was no more than 3 square kilometres nearby today's Barkhor Bazaar. Among the haggard houses, the narrow streets were strewn with rubbish. All sorts of diseases were rampant in the city.

In 1960, Lhasa became a city, and then in 1965, when the Tibet Autonomous Region was set up, Lhasa became the capital of the region.

Over the past 30 years, the rebuilding of the old Lhasa has been carried out under the principle of maintaining the city's traditional appearance. Electricity, tapped water and underground sewage disposal systems were completed one by one in the sphere of the old city. At the same time, heavy construction has been carried out to the north and west of the old city. Well-equipped Tibetan and modern-style architectures quickly rose to modify the skyline of Lhasa. After China entered the opening and reform era, especially in the past 10 years, Lhasa has been changing rapidly every day. While maintaining the regional and ethnic colours, the city has been updating its infrastructure including social services, public cultural, education and hygiene facilities, transportation and communications. A modern city is already taking shape. At present, the urban area of Lhasa covers 45 square kilometers.

In 1982, Lhasa became one of the first 24 historical and cultural cities in China declared by the State Council. The Jokhang Monastery, Potala Palace, Norbulingka, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Gandain Monastery are world-famous tourism attractions. At the centre of the old city, the Barkhor Bazaar (due to the Sichuan dialect, the place was called "Bajiao" Bazaar in the past) has faithfully maintained the old city's appearance. It was the pilgrims circulating the Jokhang Monastery who first trekked out this street. It is fair to say that Barkhor Bazaar had appeared long before the city of Lhasa came into being. Nearby the Barkhor Bazaar are over 100 historical and cultural relic sites. To name just a few: the Ramoche Monastery built at the same time with the Jokhang Monastery; the oldest bazaar in Lhasa - Chongsaikang; the old Lhasa official building before the democratic reform and the old residence of Qing Dynasty officials to Tibet. Over the past centuries, Barkhor Bazaar has been the largest trade centre of Tibet. Today, it still takes up an important place in the trade of small commodities, especially ethnic and traditional handicrafts. The bazaar is lined up with stands selling daily necessities, traditional handicrafts, religious items and antiques. Amid the bustling atmosphere of commerce, the streams of pilgrims presenting their holiest worship to the Jokhang Monastery add solemnity to the business centre.