Yongbu Lakang is also known “Yongbu Lhakhang“. It is the 1st palace of Tibet with history of over 2,000 years, and being built for Princess Wenchen to live when Princess Wen-Chen of Tang Dynasty married to Tibet King Songtsen Gampo. Yongbu Lakang now still houses statues of Tibet King Songtsam Ganpo and Princess Wen-Chen.
Brief
The palace is more like a castle stands on a hill on the eastern bank of the Yarlung River, approximately 160 kilometers southeast of Lhasa and just within 10 kilometers south of Tsetang county. It is separated into front and rear parts which the front part is a three-story building while the rear is dominated by a tall tower, like a watching-tower which the similar style building can be found in Danba county in the eastern Tibet of Kham
According to Bon tradition that Yungbu Lakang was erected in the 2nd century BC for the 1 st Tibetan king – Nyatri Tsenpo, who descended from the sky according to legend. Then after, Yungbu Lakang became the summer palace of the 33rd Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo (604-650 CE). Yungbu Lakang finally became a shrine after Songtsan Gampo transferred the seat of his authority to Lhasa.
Yongbu Lakang Data
Address
Tashi Ci-Ri mountain, 11 kilometers from Tsetang
Opening hour
09:00 am – 18:00 pm
Altitude
3,550 meters
Entrance fee
RMB 60 per person
How to get to there
Yongbu Lakang is some 11 kilometers south of Tsetang township, in general there are three ways to get there
By Taxi
It usually costs RMB 60 – 70 per trip
By Chartered vehicle
It usually costs RMB 100 – 150 for round trip for a 7 seats minivan
By bus
It takes about 1 hour ride, with rate of RMB 3.00 per person
From the entrance of Yongbu Lakang you can choose to walk up or to ride on the horse-back to get in;
The fee for riding on horse back:
Ascending to the palace: RMB 20.00 per person per ride
Descending from the palace: RMB 10.00 per person per ride
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