Bishu Shanzhuang Imperial Palace - Temple of the Potaraka Doctrine Putuozoncheng Miao

The Temple of the Potaraka Doctrine (Putuozoncheng Miao) to the north of the villa is the largest of the Eight Outer Temples and is modeled on the Potala Palace in Lhasa. It was built between 1767 and 1771 to mark the 60th birthday of the Qianlong Emperor Hongli. The main building is the 43m/140ft high Great Red Terrace (Dahongtai). The history of the Turgut tribe from Mongolia is inscribed on large stone tablets; in 1770 this tribe, which had spread as far as the Volga, undertook the 5000km/3000mi trek back to China. The impressive main building encloses an inner courtyard which itself houses the "Golden Hall", covered with gilded copper tiles. In the surrounding galleries, Buddhist works of art are exhibited.