Hey there! Have you ever wondered what makes some buildings so special? In southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, there’s a magical place called the Potala Palace that holds some colorful secrets!
White Walls Painted with Yak Milk? 🐮
Yes, you read that right! The Potala Palace has stunning white walls that aren’t just painted with regular paint. They’re coated with a special mixture of lime and yak milk! Yaks are big, furry animals that live high up in the mountains. Their milk helps make the walls shiny and bright.
Red Walls Made from Reeds 🌾
The palace also has beautiful red walls. But they’re not just painted red. They’re actually made from dyed bundles of plants called phragmites reeds, known locally as baimacao. These reeds are stacked together to create the walls and then dyed a rich red color.
The Layers Show Who’s Important 👑
But here’s the really cool part: the number of layers of reeds in the walls tells you how important the building is! For example, aristocratic manors (that’s a fancy word for big houses of important people) were allowed three layers of reeds. But the Red Palace, which is the most special part, has four layers. That shows it’s the top spot in Himalayan architecture!
A Palace Filled with History 📜
The Potala Palace isn’t just about cool walls. It’s a place full of history, culture, and amazing architecture. Next time you think about buildings, remember how even the walls can tell a story!
Have you ever seen a building with a secret like this? Share your thoughts with your friends!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
