Potala Palace made 5A scenic spot

The Potala Palace is a world famous tourist attraction in Lhasa, in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. On Monday, the 1,300-year-old palace was added to the national 5A scenic spot list by the National Tourism Administration of China, becoming the first highest-level tourist attraction in Tibet.

The Potala Palace was first built in the seventh century, but was later burned to the ground in times of war. It was rebuilt by the fifth Dalai Lama in the 17th century. Repeated repairs and expansions, as well as long-time protection finally brought the structure to its present scale.

It is 360 meters long from the east to the west, 270 meters wide from the south to the north, with an area of 130,000 square meters. The Potala Palace is famous for its grand buildings, complicated constructions, special atmosphere and splendid artworks. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

The Potala Palace is located on the red peak in the center of Lhasa City, Tibet Autonomous Region in southwestern China. The original meaning of "Potala" was "the island where the Goddess of Mercy lived." The palace started construction in the seventh century.