Photo shows the Barkhor Street in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Photo shows the Barkhor Street in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region.

Xizang is the yearning place of countless people. As the capital of southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Lhasa has always topped the list of "the destinations you must visit in your lifetime." When it comes to Lhasa, the Barkhor Street cannot be overlooked. Centered around Barkhor Street, the Barkhor Ancient City is the birthplace of Lhasa. With a history of over 1,300 years, the Barkhor Ancient City exudes a strong cultural atmosphere. Strolling through the streets, one can witness the exchange and fusion of various ethnic cultures. People of all ethnic groups living here together harmoniously.

"Barkhor," which means "middle circle" in Tibetan language, refers to the circular street formed around the Jokhang Temple. Its history can be traced back to the 7th century AD. People would circumambulate the Jokhang Temple in a clockwise direction as religious practice. Over time, a path encircling the temple has been formed by their footsteps and surroundings has gradually developed into a multifunctional area integrating culture, commerce and residence.

Barkhor Street is not only rich in history but also imbued with a strong cultural atmosphere, serving as a vivid microcosm of the exchange and fusion of various ethnic cultures. The ancient city area is inhabited by residents of more than 20 ethnic groups, including Tibetan, Han, Hui, Menba and others. For thousands of years, people of all ethnic groups live together in harmony with mutual respect. Currently, there are 56 ancient courtyards in the Barkhor Ancient City, including 8 national key cultural relics protection units and 10 national intangible cultural heritage sites.

Barkhor Street is always bustling with activity regardless of seasons. Every spring, summer and autumn, tourists from all over the world flock here. In winter, people from remote agricultural and pastoral areas come here to visit and do new year's shopping. Especially with the launch of the "Winter Tour in Xizang" campaign in 2024, Barkhor Street has become crowded with visitors. Stepping into Barkhor Street, the Tibetan-style architectures, the dazzling array of folk custom commodities and the constant stream of tourists presenting a unique and harmonious scene together. Here, commerce and culture coexist, tradition intertwines with modernity, allowing tourists immerse themselves in the cultural heritage while enjoy the convenience and diversity of modern commerce.

Due to its unique historical and cultural value and charm, Barkhor Street has received widespread recognition and protection. In 2009, Barkhor Street was selected as one of the "Famous Historical and Cultural Streets in China". In 2023, it was listed in the third batch of National Tourism and Leisure Blocks. In order to further improve the production and living conditions of residents in the ancient city area and better protect the historical and cultural heritages, Lhasa officially launched the construction of the ancient city protection project on Dec 20, 2012, which involved the renovation of drainage and power lines, and the preservation of the architectural style of buildings along the Barkhor Street.

Today, Barkhor Street has become a traditional cultural street with unique ethnic characteristics and charm, attracting tourists from home and abroad. Li Yue, a tourist from Wuhan, said that, "Xizang is a place you must visit in your lifetime. After our wedding ceremony, we chose the City of Sunlight, Lhasa, as our honeymoon destination. Stepping into Barkhor Street, it feels like we've traveled through a time tunnel. The vibrantly colored buildings representing different ancient stories. Barkhor Street is a place where you can see different colors, cultures, languages, architectures and attires. Everything here is so unique."

Reporter: Yangjen

Translator: Tenzin Seldron, Jia Dan

Review: Hu Rongguo, Dong Xiuli