The Gandain Monastery in Dagze County was first built by Zongkapa, founder of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, in 1409. The halls of the monastery spread across the top of Mountain Wangbur give the impression of a mountain town when viewed from a distance. The three-storey Coqen Hall is the major section of the monastery and is large enough to hold a gathering of 3,000 lamas, who use the hall for the recitation of sutras. West of Coqen Hall is Yangbagyain Hall which houses a suit of armor worn for many years by Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong who later presented it to the monastery. The armor is inlaid with gold, silver and gemstones, and also bears inscriptions in the Han, Manchurian, Mongolian and Tibetan languages. Coqen Hall incorporates the Buddhist Guardian Hall, the Master's Hall, the Mandala Hall, the Sidongkang Hall for the Holy Stupa of Zongkapa, and the Hall for the Holy Stupas of the Gandain Chiba Abbots. The holy stupas for Zongkapa contains the master'sremains. The body of the stupa was cast from silver and then wrapped in sheets of gold. Zongkapa lived for many years and died in Chidorkang Hall.

The name Gandain Chiba refers to the head abbot of Gandain Monastery. Since Gandain Monastery is the ancestral monastery of the Gelug Sect, the Gandain Chiba is also the head abbot of the Gelug Sect. He is next only to the Dalai Lama and the Pachen Erdeni in terms of his status in Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery also incorporates Xaze and Jamze Zhacangs, i.e., colleges for studying the stras. At the foot of Gandain Monastery is Lhamo Monastery. In the past, the Lhamo sorcerer, one of the four Buddhist guardians of the local Tibetan government, practiced divination at Lhamo Monastery. The monastery maintains close ties with Gandain Monastery.

Admission fee: RMB ￥ 15 per person
Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00
Traffic: You can take a mini bus in the square in front of the Jokhang Monastery. The bus leaves for the Gandain Monastery at 6:30 and back at 14:00. It costs 35 yuan for going and back and takes two hours one way.

On the slope of the wuze Hill in Genbei five kilometers northwest of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery was built in 1416 and is the largest of the monastery of the Gelug Sect. It covers and area of 250,000 square meters. In its heyday, it had more than 10,000 monks. The monastery has trained a large group of talents for Tibetan Buddhism. The Fifth Dalai Lama lived here before he moved to Potala Palace. It houses plenty of historical and cultural relics and Buddhist classics. In the exciting Shoton Festival, “Sunning the Buddha” by the monastery has been one of the most magnificent religious activities in Tibet.

Every year in early August, Tibetans celebrate their major festival——Shoton, the Yogurt Festival. The most important event of this festival——Giant Buddha Show is held in Drepung Monastery.

Admission fee: RMB ￥ 35 per person
Opening Hours: 9:00-16:00

The Dragon King Pool refers to the Zongjaolukang or the Temple of the Dragon King behind the Potala Palace. when the 5th Dalai Lama decided to rebuild the Potala Palace, stone and clay were collected and gradually a pool full of water was formed. During the time of the 6th Dalai Lama, the Temple of the Dragon King was built on a small island in the center of the pool and was intended to house the statue of the Dragon Maid Seqen in Maizhokunggar, hence the name the Dragon King Pool. In the following years, numerous trees were planted, and pavilions and bridges were built in the area. During the Dawa Festival that falls on the 15th day of the 4th month in the Tibetan calendar, the people of Lhasa sail boats in the pool or picnic on its banks.

The center of the old Lhasa, Barkhor is a circular street, which is the oldest street in Lhasa and remains very traditional. It is a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble and a place to which a visit must be paid. It was said that in the seventh century when Songtsen Gampo, the first Tibetan King (617 or ?-650) who unified Tibet, married Chinese Princess Wencheng and Nepal princess Tritsun. Later Princess Tritsun built Jokhang Temple to accommodate the Jowo Sakyamuni aged 12 brought to Tibet by Princess Wencheng. Barkhor is the road which pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple through centuries. Buddhist pilgrims walk or progress by body-lengths along the street clockwise every day into deep night. They comprise most of Lhasa's floating population. Careful visitors may find there are 4 columns, on which colorful scripture streamers are hung flying over the street. All pilgrims walk outside of them to show respect. The custom started in Tubo period (633- 877). To the west of the north street of Barkhor, there is a juniper hearth, in front of which ceremony will be held annually to hail Maitreya (Buddha of the Future). Tibetans also pray before the hearth to expect fortune in the next year. A yamun, which used to be the office of Lhasa magistrate, squats nearby. A small lane northward nearby leads to a market, which has longest history in Lhasa. There is a three-story temple, which was set up in the Tubo period, and its pantheon still remains Tubo style after many renovations. It was said that Tibetan characters were invented in the temple. Barkhor, the sacred pilgrim path, is also a marketplace where shaggy nomads, traders, robed monks and chanting pilgrims join together. Shops and stalls, clustering, sell printed scriptures, cloth prayer flags and other religious vessels, jewelry, Tibetan knives, ancient coins and etc.

Built in 1187, the Curpu Monastery is located in the Doilungdeqen County, 70 kilometers away from Lhasa. It is the main monastery of the Black Cap Group of the karma Sect. The system of succession to grant the living Buddha was originated here and has become popular among various sects of the Tibetan Buddhism.

Admission fee: RMB ￥ 30 per person
Opening Hours: 9:00-14:00