Tibet's "Potala Palace" has a cultural history of thousands of years. It was rebuilt in the 17th century and is divided into two types: the "White Palace" and the "Red Palace". It is one of the ancient architectural relics protected by the state. In 1944, it was awarded the title of "World Cultural Heritage" and attracted worldwide attention.
Although I have never been to Tibet or the Potala Palace, I have heard many legends about "it", which makes me very curious, so I will definitely go there myself if I have the opportunity. Take a tour. Many friends around me have been there and have different opinions. Maybe it’s because everyone’s appreciation level is different, and their views on “beauty” are also different! Some people said that after going there, they felt that the scenery there was so beautiful that they made people yearn for it. But some friends said that it was bare and there was very little grass there, like a barren mountain with nothing to see. (Below are photos taken when they went to play, I just selected a few of them, aren’t they beautiful).
Now let me briefly explain the Potala Palace! It's not very detailed because I haven't actually been there. I just learned about it from friends and some online platforms, but I can give it a listen. Friends who have been there said that the inside of the Potala Palace is not as gorgeous and grand as the exterior of the building, but it is still very shocking to go inside, which is covered with a heavy historical and cultural charm. Because there are different murals everywhere on the walls inside, the paintings are almost all kinds of gods and bodhisattvas, which are very representative. There are also monasteries, schools, squares, etc. Since the viewing time is limited, it is only one hour, so there are many things that I have not finished watching. Of course, the most important thing is that it is a pity that I cannot take pictures.
Walking into the "White House", the decoration inside is relatively rich and gorgeous. There is a passage on the top floor that leads to the "Red Palace". There are various rare treasures placed on the "altar" in both places. "City Hall", where there are many enshrined Buddha statues. Of course, there is also a worship hall where lamas from all centuries are enshrined. There is also a "spiritual pagoda hall" where various treasures and magical instruments are enshrined. The center of the Potala Palace is the "Holy Avalokitesvara Hall", which enshrines the statue of Guanyin, the "Goddess of Mercy". People are in awe. (It’s a pity that there is no picture introduction)
At that time, I heard that there were many folk stories about the Potala Palace, which were quite interesting to share with everyone.
① First, some people say that there is a passage to the Paradise in the "Potala Palace". Of course, this is just a folklore and has no authenticity. It is said that many gold and silver jewels were buried under the palace by previous generations, but no one has ever found them. Even if they have seen them, they may not be able to come out alive (just a joke).
②Second, some people say that there are many rooms there, and they are renovated every year, but they can’t count how many rooms there are, and there are no detailed books. It's puzzling what's going on?
③Third, many people know that because the weather and climate in Tibet are very bad, many things are easily damaged, but why can the architectural appearance of the "Potala Palace" be preserved to this day? There is no damage at all, which is puzzling.
Okay, let’s get down to business. Let’s briefly explain why you can’t take photos in the Potala Palace, right?
1. Because the "Potala Palace" is a very holy place, in order to avoid the damage of cultural relics and the real experience of tourists, it is forbidden to take pictures, and there is also a fear that some tourists will trample them just to take pictures. Some buildings will cause damage to cultural relics and monuments, so the gain outweighs the loss.
2. There is also a local custom in Tibet. Taking pictures in most temples is not allowed, because taking pictures means disrespecting the statues of gods.
3. However, there should be certain relevant personnel such as archaeologists who can take photos at a professional level. Otherwise, we will never know more cultural history and details about "it". It's a secret.
Finally, let me tell you a more interesting piece of trivia about the toilet in the Potala Palace. Someone used two lines from Li Bai’s "Wanglu Mountain Waterfall" to describe it, "Floating down. "Three thousand feet, it is suspected that the Milky Way has fallen into the sky." It is also called "the toilet with the largest drop in the world" by some tourists. Friends who are afraid of heights are not recommended to try it, otherwise they may be frightened and dizzy. Because when you squat on the toilet, you will see an empty cliff below, and after a long time, you will hear the echo of your convenient stuff falling to the ground. And because the Potala Palace was built on top, there is no one to clean up our excrement, so we can only rely on natural weathering.