Lhoka Prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region is situated at the south of the Gangtise and Nyanchen Tangla ranges, along the middle and lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Lhoka has been known as the birthplace of the Tibetan group. In today's program, we introduce you a little bit about the history and attractions in this area.

Reporter:

Lhoka is a prefecture in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region. "Lhoka" means "south of the mountain". It contains the ancient region of Yarlong, the birthplace of Tibetan civilization.

Covering an area of 80,000 square kilometers, Lhoka has a population of 320,000, of which 96 percent are Tibetans.

Legend has it that a sacred monkey was the ancestor of the earliest member of the Tibetan race who was born at Mount Gongpori in Tsedang. Tsedang is Tibet's third largest town and capital of the prefecture. Hence this mountain has become a sacred place for pilgrimage and for honoring ancestors.

With its long established history and culture, Lhoka is an important place in Tibetan politics and history. It boasts a series of beautiful scenic attractions and historical sites.

Yumbu Lakhang is famed as the first Tibetan palace. It was originally built in the 2nd century BC for Nyatri Tsenpo, the first king of Tibet. The palace is located on the Zhaxi Ciri Mountain, five kilometers south of Naidong County.

Yumbu Lakhang is also the place where King Singtsan Gampo united the whole of Tibet and once lived with Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty in central China. Later after the Potala Palace in Lhasa was constructed, Yumbu Lhakhang was turned into a monastery. Tourism Bureau chief of Lhoka, Qiu Lin explains how the monastery got its name.

"In Tibetan, Yumbu means a doe. That's because the mountain where the palace is located looks like a doe. Lakang means holy palace."

Tsering Nyima, a Tibetan young man, says Yumbu Lhakhang is a must-see for travelers.

"Yumbu Lhakhang is the first palace in Tibet. During the years, the place has had many 'firsts'. For instance, the first piece of farmland, the first village, the first Buddhist Sutra, and the first king of Tibet."

Tsering Nyima says each year, the monastery is attracting tens of thousands of pilgrims from the western part of China to pay homage to Buddha.