Date with 20 cultural heritage sites at Cultural and Natural Heritage Day (2)

2. Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace, Lhasa

Decorations are hung from a tree in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Feb. 12, 2018, to greet the Spring Festival and Tibetan New Year. (Xinhua/Chogo)

The Potala Palace, winter palace of the Dalai Lama, has symbolized Tibetan Buddhism and its central role in the traditional administration of Tibet since the 7th century.

The complex, made up of the White and Red Palaces with their ancillary buildings, is built on Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley, at an altitude of 3,700 meters.

The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple Monastery and Norbulingka were added to the list respectively in 1994, 2000 and 2001.