# Jokhang Temple (大昭寺)

Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region · Southwest, China · Guidebook rating: 5/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jokhang-temple
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** ¥85
- **Opening hours:** 12：00—18：00
- **Time needed:** 1–2 hours
- **Getting there:** Take a city bus and get off at Lhasa Maternal and Child Health Hospital stop (市妇幼保健院站), or walk from Barkhor Street.
- **Good for:** Temples

## About Jokhang Temple

The Jokhang Temple holds a supreme position in Tibetan Buddhism and is the highest-ranking temple of the Gelug (Yellow Hat) school. In 643 CE, the 18-year-old Princess Wencheng arrived in Lhasa carrying a life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age 12. It is said to have been modelled on Shakyamuni himself and consecrated by him personally, which makes it the most precious. To house the statue, Songtsen Gampo built Ramoche Temple for Princess Wencheng, and built the Jokhang for the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti, who had married him earlier. In the time of Princess Jincheng, the statue was moved to the Jokhang, and the temple was then continually expanded until it reached its present scale.

## Tips from the guidebook

- 1. Worship and listen to scriptures: The life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age 12 is the most sacred image in the hearts of Tibetans. In the evenings, Tibetan Buddhist monks chant scriptures here, and you may go and listen.
- 2. Tang–Tibet alliance stele: At the main entrance of the Jokhang, don't forget to look at this stele and the Tang willow tree; they are symbols of the ancient friendship between the Han and Tibetan peoples.
- 3. Rooftop views: It is said there is an open-air toilet on the rooftop, surrounded by golden roofs with limitless views. It is worth going up to see for yourself.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 532. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.