China Wants Dalai Lama's Palace to Be Admitted World Heritage

The Chinese government hopes that international community would add the Dalai Lama's summer palace, known as Norbu Lingka in Lasha, to the prestigious World Cultural Heritage list.

Sources revealed that the government of Tibet Autonomous Region has completed an application form in both Chinese and English, and the State Cultural Relics Bureau will send it to the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.

Norbu Lingka, the largest palace garden in Tibet, was built in 1751 by the 7th Dalai Lama. Every Dalai Lama lived there learning Buddhism until he was 18 years old. After he came into power, he moved into the Potala Palace, but from March to October he would still return to Norbu Lingka to perform his administrative and religious duty.

In 1954, the Chinese government set up a new palace in Norbu Lingka for the Dalai Lama.

In 1988, China announced the palace a key historical site under state protection.

After hundreds of years of renovation, the picturesque garden has become a museum of authentic Tibetan culture and religion. The palace now contains 30,000 relics and attracts thousands of visitors every year.



Please visit People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/