Old Lhasa: a Sacred City at Dusk is not merely a history book; it is an evocative portrait of a city caught between eternity and epochal change. Through a masterful blend of rare archival photographs and lyrical narrative, acclaimed author Ma Lihua opens a window onto Lhasa in the pivotal first half of the 20th century—a time when ancient traditions met the relentless tide of modernity.

This volume, part of the celebrated "Old Cities" series, guides you beyond the iconic Potala Palace to the pulsating heart of the city: the Barkhor Street. Here, the sacred and the secular intertwine. Witness the solemn rituals of monks alongside the bustling commerce of merchants, the dignified bearing of nobility crossing paths with determined pilgrims from the plateau. Ma Lihua’s keen ethnographic eye captures the full spectrum of society, documenting the delicate fabric of everyday life that persisted even as the political landscape shifted—from the twilight of the Dalai Lamas' theocratic rule to the administrative imprints of Qing and Republican officials.

More than a chronicle of events, this book is a poignant meditation on memory and place. It serves as a vital cultural record, preserving the textures, faces, and spirit of a traditional Lhasa at its "dusk." For anyone seeking to understand the soul of Tibet's holy city before it was forever transformed, Old Lhasa: a Sacred City at Dusk is an essential and deeply moving journey.

Profusely illustrated with black & white photos by China No. 2 Archives & Chen Zonglie,  text in English.

2003, Beijing, Foreign Languages Press, hardcover, 226 pp., good condition.