Potala Palace in Southwest China's Tibet closing to counter local virus outbreak
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File photo: VCG

The Potala Palace will be temporarily closed to the public from Tuesday in response to a COVID-19 outbreak in Lhasa, the capital city of Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lamas, and the Tibet Museum in Lhasa will also be temporarily closed from Tuesday.

The Potala Palace is a model of ancient architecture and home to over 100,000 cultural relics. It was built by Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century and expanded in the 17th century by the fifth Dalai Lama. The Palace was included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Tibet.

Located on the western outskirts of Lhasa, Norbulingka was built in the mid-18th century. It was a place where the Dalai Lamas practiced religious activities and spent their holidays.

(Compiled by Sun Shulang)