Potala Palace restoration project commences with local community involvement

The Potala Palace, a UNESCO world heritage site, began its annual whitewash painting project starting on Wednesday, and the work is scheduled to be completed in about one week, according to the palace's management office.

Located in the heart of Lhasa, capital of the Tibet autonomous region, the Potala Palace is a landmark of the city. It was built in the seventh century by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, and underwent a large expansion project under the direction of the fifth Dalai Lama and his regent Desi Sangye Gyatso in the 17th century. It has been regularly renovated by the central government in the last few decades thanks to heavy investment.