Wandering the World (1476) Six Visits to Tibet – Part Three: Norbulingka and the Night View of Potala Palace Square

📍 Lhasa · 👁 497 reads

In early to mid-April 2021, during a trip to Tibet, I visited Norbulingka in Lhasa. The photo shows the Happiness City Sculpture in front of Norbulingka.

Norbulingka means 'Treasure Garden' and was once the summer retreat of the Dalai Lamas. UNESCO has listed Norbulingka as an extension of the Potala Palace on the World Heritage List, making it a World Cultural Heritage site. The photo shows the stone marker indicating Norbulingka's inclusion on the World Heritage List.

Norbulingka is a national key cultural relic protection unit, located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, Tibet. Construction began in the 1740s (during the Seventh Dalai Lama's time), and it served as the summer residence and administrative center for successive Dalai Lamas. It is a classic Tibetan-style garden. The photo shows the sign marking Norbulingka as a national key cultural relic protection unit.

After over 200 years of expansion, Norbulingka covers an area of 360,000 square meters with more than 100 plant species. It not only features common flora from Lhasa but also rare flowers and grasses from the northern and southern slopes of the Himalayas, as well as precious plants transplanted from inner China or introduced from abroad—truly a high-altitude botanical garden. The photo shows a panoramic view of Norbulingka.

The garden is divided into three sections: the eastern entrance area includes the main gate and the forecourt before the Weizhen Sanjie Pavilion. The photo was taken at the main gate of Norbulingka.

This is the ceiling of Norbulingka's main gate.

This is an interior view of the main gate.

The central area is the core palace zone, consisting of several palace buildings such as Gesang Pozhang, Jinse Pozhang, and Dadeng Mingjiu Pozhang. The photo was taken in the palace zone of Norbulingka.

Photography is not allowed inside the palace zone, so this was taken at the entrance.

All buildings in Norbulingka are primarily constructed of wood and stone, with neat layouts and distinct Tibetan architectural styles. The photo was taken in Norbulingka.

The main structures are Gesang Pozhang, Jinse Pozhang, and Dadeng Mingjiu Pozhang, with a total of 374 rooms. It is the largest, most scenic, and historically richest man-made garden in Tibet. The photo shows one of Norbulingka's beautiful gates.

The western area features the natural woodland charm of the Golden Grove. The photo was taken in Norbulingka.

Each section, according to its functional needs and the natural environment, creates different landscapes. The photo was taken in Norbulingka and shows an introduction to the garden.

The garden has neatly trimmed flower beds and lawns, exquisite pavilions and waterside gazebos, as well as a stage and wooden tables and benches. Photo taken in Norbulingka.

The layout of Norbulingka blends the characteristics of the Tibetan plateau with traditional Chinese garden techniques, using architecture, rockeries, water features, and trees to craft varied moods. The photo shows the colorful stone lions in front of a gate.

Now opened as a public park, Norbulingka has been renovated and looks brand new. It contains 49 types of trees like pines and cypresses, 62 kinds of famous flowers such as peonies and Chinese herbaceous peonies, and 15 species of birds and animals. Photo taken in Norbulingka.

During holidays, Norbulingka is a favorite place for Lhasa residents to 'enjoy the lingka,' which means going to the park for picnics and camping. On ordinary days, it is also a popular spot for photo shoots and wedding pictures.

Some people dress in traditional Tibetan costumes for photos.

Some wear modern Han-style clothing for photos.

Others wear ancient Tang-style garments, and combined with the exquisite architecture of Norbulingka, the results are truly impressive!

Leaving Norbulingka, we went to the wetland behind the Potala Palace. The view of the Potala Palace from here feels different.

On the cliffs near the wetland behind the Potala Palace, there is a colorful set of Buddhist images.

Before dark, we arrived at Potala Palace Square. In a small park within the square, there's a great spot to capture the reflection of the Potala Palace's night view. Even before dusk, it was already crowded with photography enthusiasts.

In that small park, some people were also taking portrait photos.

Many people were waiting to shoot the night scene in the small park.

Potala Palace Square is located directly opposite the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. It is the highest city square in the world. The square is also an important part of the World Heritage Site – the Potala Palace. It's a key venue for the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region and the city of Lhasa, and a major tourist attraction for visitors from home and abroad, integrating leisure, culture, and assembly functions into a modern square. The photo shows the Potala Palace taken from the square.

The square is 600 meters long from east to west and 400 meters wide from north to south, with a total area of 18,000 square meters, capable of holding 40,000 people for large gatherings. The photo shows the Potala Palace taken from the small park.

At the south end of the square, there is a musical fountain. People leisurely watch the ever-changing dance of the water jets, while melodies like 'Heavenly Road' and 'Take the Train to Lhasa' play in the background. The photo shows the small park as the lights begin to glow.

To the south of the square stands the Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet. Built in 2001, the monument is backed by distant mountains and green trees, and stands 350 meters from the majestic Potala Palace to the north. The main body is greyish-white, with a total height of 37 meters. On the south face, above the inscription, five golden bands represent the 50th anniversary of Tibet's peaceful liberation. The shape of the monument is an abstract Mount Everest, symbolizing its towering reach and eternal presence alongside heaven and earth.

Tonight, the wind was a bit strong, so the reflection of the Potala Palace came out a little blurry, but overall the effect was still good.