Today the Potala Palace history has been converted into a museum by the Chinese.The building measures 400 metres east-west and 350 metres north-south, with sloping stone walls averaging 3 m. thick, and 5 m. (more than 16 ft) thick at the base, and with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes.Thirteen stories of buildings – containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues – soar 117 metres (384 ft) on top of Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 m (about 1,000 ft) in total above the valley floor.Tradition has it that the three main hills of Lhasa represent the "Three Protectors of Tibet."

The western part of the platform is White Palace. Going into the lobby of White Palace, you will see a small and steep wooden ladder. Please note, you must go up via the side ladders of either side, the middle ladder is to be used only by Dalai Lama and the minister of Ch'ing Dynasty in Tibet.

On the lobby wall, there's drawing of the scene of the story of the princess Wencheng entering Tibet. The south of lobby is the law book sealed by the Fifth Dalai Lama. This law book is very precious and it is a historical clue of studying the Tibetan history in 17th century.