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Lhasa

Lhasa is the capital of the autonomous region of Tibet, located in southwestern China. The city's most famous attraction is the Potala, the former residence of the Dali Lama. It is an impressive palace built on a ridge overlooking the city. Rich in history, some of it very recent by the region's standards, Lhasa was occupied by the Chinese Communists in 1951. It was in 1959 that the Dali Lama fled the country, thus marking the beginning of the 'Free Tibet' movement. Many of the religious and cultural treasuers were damaged or destroyed in the late 60's during the Cultural Revolution, but many of Lhasa's treasures still remain.