The People's Republic of China (in Chinese Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo) is a very large country in the east of Asia (the third largest in the world) with a total surface of 9596960 sq. km. China is also with currently 1.3 billion inhabitants the most populous country in the world. Its official language is Chinese although there are 56 distinct ethnic groups, each with its own language.
China is one of the oldest civilisations in the world with a history spanning back to 5000 years ago. China originated in the third millenium BC as a series of separate states which were finally unified in a large empire in 221 BC. China has since then been ruled by a series of dynasties until 1911, when it became a republic. The Communist Party of China has been ruling the country since 1949. Currently China is going through a very rapid growth phase with yearly growth rates exceeding 10%, which is rapidly transforming China from a developing country to a developed country. As a side effect of this rapid economic growth, China is currently suffering from a severe pollution problem, with polluted skies and waterways. The continued expansion of deserts, particularly the Gobi Desert, is also a cause of concern.
Tibet is a region encompassing an immense plateau lying between 4000 and 5000 metres a.s.l. Tibet was a strong empire between the 7th and 10th centuries, which was later incorporated into China's Yuan Dynasty the 13th century. The capital of Tibet is Lhasa.
Lhasa, the traditional capital of Tibet and the capital of the autonomous region of Tibet, lies at 3700 metres a.s.l. in southeastern Tibet. According to the legend the second Tibetan emperor Songtsen Gampo made Lhasa his capital. But contemporary documents show that the empire was actually ruled from a moving capital. Tourism is nowadays a main source of income for Lhasa, as the city has a number of attractions including the Potala Palace, the Jokhang temple and a number of monasteries and temples. Lhasa is the base from which to explore the surrounding region.
Built at an altitude of 3,700 m, the Potala Palace in Lhasa was once the centre of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. Today the Potala Palace is a state museum of China and a popular tourist attraction. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This gallery contains some panorama views of the Potala Palace taken at different times of the day. The palace itself lies on a hill overlooking Lhasa.
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