Legend has it that when Tang Dynasty Princess Wencheng first came to Lhasa, she calculated that Lhasa had superior geographical conditions, with a white dragon in the east, a green tiger in the south, a rose finch in the west and a holy turtle in the north. After hearing her calculations, Tubo King Songtsan Gambo conducted a survey of the northern suburbs of Lhasa himself, and actually found a giant rock resembling a reclining turtle in the Nyangri Gully. As a result, a castle five-stories high was erected on the giant rock and named Giant Rock Castle, or Pabangka in Tibetan. Legend has it that the castle rose nine stories high, had stone walls cemented together with smelted iron, and was bound tightly to the rock with iron chains.

The Six Syllable Prayer Words, written by Tubo Minister Tome Sangbozha, were carved on the giant rock. Legend has it that when the Tubo minister returned from his studies in South Asia, King Songtsan Gambo arranged for him to create the Tibetan script, and then studied the script from the minister, who was appointed “the standardization tutor”.

The rock castle was damaged when Lang Darma suppressed Buddhism in Tubo in the mid-9th century. In the 11th century, however, Pangdowa and Zhadowa, two monks from the Gardain Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, built a two-story monastery called Pabangka on the ruins to facilitate their practicing of Buddhism. Because of its long history and significance in Buddhist study, the small monastery is now so famous that Dalai Lamas of various generations came to the monastery for celebrations after taking vows or winning Geshi, the highest degree in Buddhism.

The monastery has been restored to its old grandeur.

Perched at the eastern slope of Mountain Yaowang in Lhasa, Pharla Lhufo was carved during Songtsan Gambo's reign in the 7th century, according to a Tibetan history book. Legend has it that Songtsan Gambo's concubine Moya Yuyungsa had a statue of a heavenly god carved in a grotto at the Pharla Lhufo Mountain. Artists involved with the work were paid in salt, the amount of salt paid equivalent to the amount of stone dust created by the carving. When the stone statue was created, she had a stone corridor created for her to take ritual walks in the grotto. Though the grotto monastery has been in existence for more than 1,000 years, it is still well preserved for Buddhist activities.

The grotto is in the shape of a rectangle and covers an area of 27 square meters. It has a central pillar at the entrance to support the top. Between the central pillar and the stone wall is the corridor for taking ritual walks. The corridor is flanked by carved statues of deities and legendary heroes, including Tubo King Songtsan Gambo, Tang Dynasty Princess Wencheng, Nepalese Princess Bhributi, and Tubo Ministers Tome Sangbozha and Gar Tongtsan. Flickering butter lamps in the cave add mystery to the environment.

Located in the northern part of the old city of Lhasa, the klukang Monastery was built in the middle seventh century. It was damaged and rebuilt several times. The monastery houses many murals and the statues of Sakyamuni, Maitreya and others. The main hall houses a gilded full length statue of the eight year old Sakyamuni brought to Tibet by the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti. The monastery is the location of the Tantric College of the Gelug Sect in Tibet.

A tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo, Lhasa River is a place for Tibetan to have a bath and wash their clothes in the seventh month of the Tibetan calendar. During this Bathing Festival from Garmagun in the east to Sahu in the south and Rainbow Spring at the foot of the Sera Monastery, people are enjoying their bathing and washing.

A legend says during the festival the Lhasa River water is good as the holy water. If you like you can join the local people to have a bath in this holy water. In addition, on the southern bank of the river you can see a reflection of the Potala Palace in the river. Some photographers and funs wait here for this wonderful scene. The Tablet to Mark the Construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway stands on the bank in front of the Long Distance Bus Station in city proper. Also visitors can hire a canoe sewn up with pieces of cattle hide to cross the river here.

A row of monasteries stands by the xoirung River in Maizhokunggar County, east of Lhasa. It is said that there were once 30 monasteries arranged in accordance with the 30 symbols of the Tibetan written language. Seven monasteries still remain, including Zhigungti Monastery which is the central monastery of the Zhigung Gagyu Sect. Built by Zhigungpa Renqenbai in 1179, it was composed of majestic hall spreading along the mountain slope. Unfortunately, it was almost completely destroyed during the war between the Zhigung Gagyu Sect and the Sagya Sect. The monastery that exists today is a later reconstruction. It is currently home to some 300 monks. On top of the mountain behind Zhigungti Monastery is the Zhigung Celestial Burial Ground, the most famous of its kind in Tibet. Hidden away in a mountain gully is the Dezong Buddhist nunnery. The Dezong Hot Spring in the vicinity has an ample supply of hot spring water which is said to cure a wide range of diseases. It attracts numerous visitors who take a dip in the hot spring. Along the lower reaches of the Xoirong River are the Yaragang, Zongze, Zhaxoi and Garze monasteries.