Named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara, Potala palace is one of the most popular tourist sites in Lhasa. It is located at an altitude of 3,700 m, on the side of Marpo Ri hill, the Red Mountain in the center of Lhasa Valley.  It was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the Chinese invasion. It was inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 and was named as the "New Seven Wonders" by American media. Today the Potala Palace is a state museum of China.