Editor's note: The Potala Palace, built in the seventh century by Tubor ruler Songtsen Gampo, crowns Mount Marpori (Red Hill) at 3,600 meters above sea level in central Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang autonomous region. Today, this magnificent architectural complex stands as a landmark of the city and one of the most iconic cultural symbols of Xizang.

Visible from all directions across Lhasa, the palace rises strikingly beneath cloudless, crystal-blue skies. From various vantage point throughout the city, people can appreciate its seasonal beauty and the grandeur of its red-and-white structure. It is not only an essential destination for visitors, but also an inseparable part of daily life for local residents.

Visitors photograph the Potala Palace beneath clear skies at Potala Palace Square, Lhasa, southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, Oct. 21, 2025. [Photo by Li Congrong/China.org.cn]