Beijing, Dec. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The unique culture and long history makes Lhasa in Tibet a shining pearl on the snow-covered plateau. Being the Tibetan center of Buddhism throughout the centuries, Lhasa boasts row upon row of magnificent Buddhist buildings, including the well-known Jokhang Temple, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Ganden Monastery.
Jokhang Temple
Located in the center of old Lhasa city, Jokhang Temple is the prime seat of the Gelugpa (Yellow) Branch of Tibetan Buddhism. Originally built in 647, the site of the temple was carefully chosen by the Tang (618-907) Princess Wen Cheng, the wife of the King Songtsan Gampo. She built the temple to counteract evil forces. "Jokhang" means "the House of Buddha". The craftsmen from Tibet, other parts in China and Nepal built it together and so it features different architectural styles.
Jokhang Temple is a four-storey building complex. Its architectural style is a combination of the Tang Dynasty, Tibet and Nepal. Every year, a large number of prostrating Tibetan pilgrims and tourists at home and abroad go there pray or visit. The annual Great Prayer Festival, the ceremonies of initiation for the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama are also held in the temple.
Chinese name: Da Zhao Si
Admission fee: 70 yuan
Opening hours: 09:00 – 17:00
How to get there: visitors can walk, take three-wheeler or taxi to the downtown center in Lhasa.
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Drepung Monastery
Situated at the foot of the Mountain Gambo Utse, ten kilometers (3.1 miles) to the western suburb of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is the most important monastery of Gelugpa in Tibetan Buddhism. Together with the Ganden Monastery and the Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery is taken as one of the "Three Great Monasteries" in Lhasa.
In Tibetan, "Drepung" means rice pile. It is so named because the grand and white construction makes the monastery looks like a heap of rice when seen from afar. The meaning also symbolizes prosperity. Covering an area of 250,000 square meters, it once held nearly 8,000 and owned over 500 pastures in its heyday. Today, it houses many precious cultural relics and attracts crowds of visitors.
Chinese name: Zhe Bang Si
Admission fee: 55 yuan
Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00
Transportation: taxi
Sera Monastery
Located at the foot of Tatipu Hill in the northern suburb of Lhasa, the Sera Monastery is one of the three famous monasteries in Lhasa together with the Drepung Monastery and the Ganden Monastery. It is also one of the six monasteries dedicated to the Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect, which is a branch of Tibetan Buddhism.
Sera Monastery was first built in 1419 and finished in 1434 in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). In Tibetan, "Sera" means wild rose, it is so named because the hill behind the monastery was covered with wild roses after it was built. Covering an area of nearly 115,000 square meters, the magnificent monastery is mainly composed of the Zhacang (college), Kamcun (dormitory) and Coqen Hall. There were over 8,000 monks living in the monastery in its heyday. Its scale ranks next to Drepung Monastery.
The debating of Buddhist doctrines is the highlight of Sera Monastery. Besides, the Shoton Festival (June 30 to July 6 in Tibetan calendar) and the Buddha-Unfolding Festival is also held in the temple.
Chinese name: Se La Si
Admission fee: 55 yuan
Opening hours: 09:00 - 16:00
Transportation: taxi
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Ganden Monastery
Located on Wangbur Mountain, on the southern bank of Lhasa River in Tagtse county, 57 kilometers to Lhasa, the Ganden Monastery is one of the largest Buddhist monasteries in Tibet. It was built by Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), a famous teacher of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder of Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.
Together with the Sera Monastery and the Drepung Monastery, Ganden Monastery is one of the "Three Great Temples" in Lhasa. The Buddha Painting Unfolding Festival which is one of the grandest Buddhist activities held in the monastery attracts crowds of followers and visitors each year.
Chinese name: Gan Dan Si
Admission fee: 45 yuan Opening hours: 09:00 - 16:00
Transportation: taxi
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