The Potala Palace is the world's highest and most magnificent palace complex. Construction began in the 7th century as the "Red Mountain Palace," built by Songtsen Gampo to welcome Princess Wencheng. Rebuilt in the 17th century, it became the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas and the center of power in Tibet's theocratic system. It is now a renowned World Heritage Site and the inspiration for the design on the back of the fifth series of RMB 50 banknotes. 🏰 Architectural Layout: Built against a mountainside, the Potala Palace mainly consists of the White Palace and the Red Palace: White Palace: The winter palace of the Dalai Lamas, and also where the Tibetan local government handled government affairs and held major political and religious ceremonies. Red Palace: The core of the palace complex, mainly housing Buddhist statues, the stupas of the Dalai Lamas, and various religious halls and rituals. 💎 History, Culture, and Collections: The Potala Palace is not only a religious holy site but also a vast treasure trove of Tibetan culture and art. It houses approximately 70,000 registered artifacts, including eight golden stupas of the Dalai Lamas. A vast collection of Thangka paintings, Buddha statues, murals, porcelain, and gold and silver artifacts. Up to 60,000 volumes (scrolls) of precious religious and historical texts. 🗺️ Travel and Practical Information: Location: Located on Marpo Ri (Red Hill) in the center of Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Building Scale: Covering an area of ​​approximately 130,000 square meters, the main building has 13 floors and over 2,000 rooms. Visiting Experience: Due to the high altitude (approximately 3,700 meters), visitors should take precautions against altitude sickness. For more information on opening hours and travel tips, please refer to "Dreaming Back to Tibet".