A look at the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Xizang

Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty married into Tubo, known today as Xizang or Tibet, in 641 AD, to promote cultural exchanges between the Han and Tibetan peoples.

The Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Lhasa in Tibet(Xizang) which witnessed this history, are now UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites, and have become popular tourist attractions.

It took Princess Wencheng more than two years to reach Lhasa and marry Songtsen Gampo.

The Potala Palace, standing at an altitude of 3,700 metres, was built by Songtsen Gampo to welcome his bride. The palace features red and white as its main colors.

The "White Palace" once served as the place of government meetings, while the "Red Palace" was used for religious activities such as enshrining Buddha statues.

Visitors must cope with altitude sickness, which can cause dizziness and headaches.This tourist says there is a lack of oxygen but not a lack of faith.Since she is getting older, she must come and see it while she is still able to walk.Another tourist views the Palace as a sacred place.She says people from all over the country and the world yearn to come here.

The Jokhang Temple holds a revered place in the hearts of Tibetans because it enshrines a Buddha statue that Princess Wencheng brought with her when she entered Tibet(Xizang).

The Barkhor Street surrounding the temple is now home to more than 20 ethnic groups.It is a place where believers perform long prostrations in worship.This visitor spent more than 100 yuan to rent Tibetan clothing, hoping to better immerse herself in local customs.She has been longing to come to Tibet(Xizang) for years.She picked through many outfits and chose something like a wedding dress, which makes her feel like she is marrying herself.

Visitors in the Jokhang Temple must follow the rules and walk clockwise, as a sign of respect to the Tibetan Buddhist etiquette.

Currently, Hong Kong and Macau residents can travel freely in Tibet(Xizang) with their Home Return Permits, but foreign and Taiwanese tourists must arrange their trips through travel agencies and obtain a Tibet(Xizang) Travel Permit before entering the region.