We spend two days in Lhasa visiting the incredible religious sites. Visits to the Potala Palace , Jokhang Temple , and Barkhor pilgrim circuit occupy the first day. The growth of Lhasa has been remarkable from less than 3 km 3 in 1951 to 25 km in 1980.
Explosive growth continues.
It is a way to get some feeling for the large numbers of PLA personnel in the city, who hitherto have remained in the background. There are elaborate ceremonies in Peoples' Square opposite the Potala. We drive to the Drepung and Sera Monasteries, which are located on the outskirts of Lhasa, and visit the Norbulingka, which is the Dalai Lama's Summer Palace. Many Tibetans and Chinese wander the market in Barkhor Square before the Jokhang or follow the Barkhor pilgrims' route that encircles the building. Video cameras are mounted on the buildings surrounding the square and are used by Chinese security to monitor Tibetan activities in Barkhor Square, presumably to provide a record of those to arrest after any disturbances.