BEIJING, Nov. 25 -- Barkor Street is an old and traditional shopping street in the center of Lhasa, capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region. It is also a place where Tibetan culture, economy, religion and arts assemble and a place to which a traveler must visit.

    Barkor Street is the road on which pilgrims tramped out around Jokhang Temple through centuries. Buddhist pilgrims walk by body-length kowtow along the street clockwise every day into deep night.

    As one of the key parts of Lhasa, the Barkor Street has not only been a favorite place for visitors, but also the dream of others who have never been to Tibet.

    The street carries a history of more than 1,300 years. To better protect the ancient street, several investments were invited to repair and renovate it. With the changes of history, the old street has undergone a striking change.

    In a winter afternoon, the 59-year-old Wangchug Dorje, younger son of 10th Temo Living Buddha as well as member of Tibet Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, narrated the development of the Barkor Street to journalists from China Tibet Information Center.

    In his childhood memory, the Barkor Street was not only a religionary venue, but a marketplace where traders, robed monks and chanting pilgrims joined together. At that time, the Grand Summons Ceremony would be held in the Jokhang Temple of Barkor Street on the 4th day of the first month according to the Tibetan calendar, attracting more than thousands upon thousands monks. The ceremony will last for 21 days. During that period, few people would visit the Barkor Street unless it was really necessary since the monks at that time were rampaging about around the street.

    The Barkor Street is the center of the businessmen. Traders of Islam from inland China gather in the east of the street while businessmen from Nepal assemble in the north. The street sold all kinds of commodities, from home made to foreign products.

    According to Wangchug Dorje, also vice chairman of the Association of Tibet Photographers, Lhasa didn't have access to electricity until the 1940s and was only available to a few people like some nobles, including himself. With years passing by, many places in Lhasa have gradually access to electricity. With 1,300-year development, it has now become a place centralized by the Jokhang Temple and Ramoche Monastery.

    Before the renovation, Lhasa old city zone was an unenlightened and unregulated place where roads were bumpy, fire hazard prevention was poor, drinking water could be a problem..., because of historical problems and geographic location.

    Wangchug Dorje told us the first renovation of the Barkor Street was in the early 60s, followed by the second time in 1972 and the third time in 1985. The renovations laid a strong emphasis on protection of the ancient Tibetan architectures and improvement of people's living condition while sticking to two rules-the whole layout of the street as well as outer scene of traditional architectures of high historical value should not be changed.

    On the other hand, Wangchug Dorje thought there was still something deficient. He pointed out that Lhasa would have access to fuel gas, optical fiber and cable and ect. In the near future. Under such circumstances, howbeit, their under pipes seem a bit thin. On the other hand, there exists some inefficient renovation projects and the departments concerned are seeking for the solutions.

    Speaking of his personal feeling toward the renovation, he said the repair of the Barkor Street was to better protect and carry forward the cultural relics rather than resume the cruel feudal serfdom. The Barkor Street is a place for generations to trace history.

    (Source: China Tibet Information Center)