The Potala Palace is the crystallization of the wisdom and hard work of the Tibetan people. Situated on Red Hill in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in China, it is a world‑renowned complex of ancient palatial fortifications and one of the finest examples of traditional Chinese architecture.

Construction of the Potala Palace began in the 7th century AD under the patronage of Songtsen Gampo, the 33rd king of the Tubo Dynasty. Historical records indicate that the original palace complex was vast in scale, featuring three concentric walls and over a thousand official chambers. However, after the 9th century, due to warfare, fires, lightning strikes, and other disasters, the Potala Palace suffered severe damage and was largely abandoned. In the 17th century, with the support of the Qing central government, the Fifth Dalai Lama undertook the reconstruction of the Potala Palace, establishing it as the political and religious center of Tibet. Over time, the Potala Palace underwent gradual expansion, eventually taking shape by the 1930s into a sprawling complex covering approximately 400,000 square meters, with a total floor area of roughly 130,000 square meters. The main structure rises to a height of 115.703 meters, encompassing a diverse array of functional spaces—including assembly halls, stupa halls, Buddhist chapels, administrative offices, monastic schools, and monks’ residences—totaling 1,267 individual rooms.

In an effort to faithfully recreate the overall appearance of the Potala Palace, we drew upon 228 on-site survey drawings and aerial photographs. Given the sheer volume of data involved and the incomplete nature of some of the source materials, certain areas were modeled based on personal conjecture, while specific details were simplified for practical reasons. Nevertheless, the overall result remains remarkably true to the original at this print scale.

This model can serve as a handy, pocket-sized reference for your visit to the Potala Palace. In the image below, I’ve marked the locations and names of several key architectural features:

The survey drawings used as references were created in the 1980s; we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the pioneering surveyors whose tireless dedication and meticulous work laid the foundation for this project.