Lhoka Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Reign is situated south of Gangtse and Nyainchen Tanglha ranges, along the middle and lower reaches of Yarlung Tsanpo River. It is bounded by the capital city Lhasa to the north, Shigatse to the west, Nyingchi to the east and India and Bhutan to the south. With a boundary line of more than 600 kilometers, it has great strategic importance and serves as China's southwestern border area.

Lhoka was the renowned cradle of the Tibetans, a wonderful local myth tells that Avalokitshvara descended on the country in the form of a monkey and married a demoness to produce the first member of the Tibetan race at Gongpori of Lhoka. Therefore, this mountain has become a sacred place for pilgrimage and for honoring their ancestors.

Boasting numerous firsts during its long history, Lhoka was been called "the hub of Tibetan civilization". For example, the first king Natri Tsanpo; the first palace Yumbulakang Palace; the first cropland Suodang 'the first Buddhist sutra Panghonchaja and the first Tibetan opera Pakghapu are all associated with Lhoka.

Lhoka, with its long-established civilization, plays a key role in Tibetan politics and history. It was here that the Tupo Kingdom was first established and unified the whole Tibet. It is the birthplace of Tibetan. The first King, palace, slave system regime, temple, farm, sacred book, and Tibetan drama are brought from Lhoka. Singing, dancing, painting, clay sculpture, wood and stone inscription, and literature are more unique mysterious delicateness.

Lhoka, a glorious place with remarkable people, is the cradle of Tibetan civilization. The famous king Songtsangampo who unified Tibet and created a splendid Kingdom here. No matter you come for tourism, mountain-climbing or investing, you will feel that Lhoka is really worth visiting.


Samye Monastery
On the northern bank of the Yarlung Zambo River in Chanang County, Lhoka Prefecture, the monastery was built in 779 under the supervision of Master Padmasambhava and Tibetan King Trisong Detsen.

Samye is the first monastery for the monks in Tibet. The magnificent and unique Central Hall is three story high. The first floor is of the Tibetan architectural style, the second the Han style and the third the Indian style. The halls in the monastery house many statues and murals. The monastery has bronze bells, carved marble lions and tablets marking the development of Buddhism. All these are valuable cultural relics.

The central temple represents Mt. Sumeru, the mythical mountain at the centre of the cosmos. Around it are four temples called 'ling', which represent the four continents (ling) situated in the vast ocean to the north, south, east, and west of Sumeru. To the right and left of each of these are smaller temples, called 'ling-tren', representing sub-continents. Four great stupas, in four colours (white, red, blue and green) stood facing the (south-east, south-west, north-west, and north-east, respectively) corners of the main temple, and are being reconstructed.

The accounts of the outcome of the debate are ambiguous, both sides claiming victory. The actual outcome, though, is beyond doubt: The Indian view was favoured, and from then on the Chinese influence waned. Hoshang had to leave Tibet, and the Ch'an tradition was effectively proscribed

Yombulakang
Yumbulakang is the oldest-known dwelling in Tibet, its construction surrounded by various myths and legends associated with the founding of the Tibetan civilization.

Yumbulagang, "palace of mother and son" in Tibetan dialect, is the first palace and one of the earliest buildings in Tibet and it has a history of more than 2,000 years. It's said that it was built for Nyatri Tsanpo, the first Tibetan King by Bon believers in the 2nd century BC. Then it became the summer palace of Songtsan Gampo and Princess Wencheng. The 5thDalai Lama changed it as the monastery of Old-Yellow Hat Sect.

Unfortunately, during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Yumbulakang was severely damaged. Much of the outer walls were destroyed and its interiors were gutted. Consequently, much of the Indian inspired inner fittings have been lost. With the exception of the building's ancient foundations, much of the present structure dates to the reconstruction of 1982.

The Yumbulakang complex, positioned dramatically on the crest of a hill, consists of three components: the tower, the chapels and the monks' quarters. The three-storied tower, located at the east of the complex, contrary to its appearance is only 11 meter high. Each floor contains a small chapel located within its limited interior space. The main chapel building was also originally three stories high. The final component of the structure, the monks' quarters, are located to the south of the chapel building. The Nyingma sect monks, whose duty it was to upkeep the castle and chapel, were quartered on the first floor, while the second floor room, adjacent to the chapel's second floor, was reserved for the use of the Dalai Lama.

About 400 meters in the northeast from the mountain, there is an ever-flowing spring called "Geer spring". It's said that the spring can cure any diseases, so most people who come to Yumbulagang to worship will come here to have a drink and take a bath.

Changzhu Temple
Standing by the highway on the east bank of the Yalong River in Nedong County, Shannan Prefecture, this monastery was built in the seventh century and has been repaired in various historical periods.

In Tibetan, "Chang" means a big roc bird and "Zhu" means dragon, that is how the monastery got its name.

Originally, the Changzhu Monastery was the villa of the Tibetan king Srongtsan Gamio and the imperial concubine Wencheng Princess. Its main construction is the Cuoqin Palace enshrined the Sakyamuni Buddha and the Guanyin Bodhisattva Buddha, inside the palace there is a winding corridor, and many scriptures are carved on the wall inside the winding corridor, very graceful and solemn.

There was once a famous hanging bell which was made by the Chinese monk Renqing Master in late of the 8th century, on the bell there are 12 Tibetan sentences, praised by the people at that time. Later in Ch'ing Dynasty when China was invaded by big powers, the Tibetan areas were influenced, they destroyed the Changzhu Monastery. Those 12 Tibetan sentences bell were gone at the same time, but the two Indian style Buddhist tower behind the monastery was preserved perfectly till now.

Yamdrok Yumtso Lake
Yamdrok Yumtso (or Yamdrok-tso), one of the three holiest lakes in Tibet, lies at Nhagartse, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the southwest of Lhasa. It is an outflowing lake which is connected with the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

Yamdrok Yumtso takes a shape of paper fan and stretches roughly from northwest to southeast, while the south is wide and the north is narrow. Along the lake, there are many branches of the lake winding their way into the mountains. There is lush pasture around the lake with an area of 10 million square hectares and is one of the most famous pasturelands in Tibet.

Yamdrok Yumtso has an elegant view and it is said that a fairy maiden left the Heaven and turned into the lake on earth. There are more than 10 islands in the lake, the large ones can hold 5 to 6 households while the small ones are only 100 square meters or so.

Yamdrok Yumtso is a salt lake of low consistency and it begins to freeze every mid-November and the ice can be as thick as 0.5 meter. The lake abounds in small scale fishes, Tibetan fish, plateau carps etc, with an yearly production about 200 to 300 million kilograms. Every winter flocks of birds are flying here from the south. Along the banks and on the islands there are large numbers of swans, pigeons, yellow ducks, cormorants and barhead goose.

The holy lake is also a pilgrimage site for Tibetans. Every summer, gangs of pilgrims trek there to pray and receive blessings. Pilgrims believe that its water can make the old young again, grant the middle-aged a longer life and make the children smarter. Being a sacred lake, the color of its water may be taken by the devout as having spiritual meaning. Tibetans will usually visit the lake before making important decisions. On one of the islets, stands a Nyinmapa monastery.