Tibet has long fascinated the West. Steeped in myth, and enveloped by time, Tibetan culture has a unique and enigmatic sense about it. And with the "Tibet: Treasures From the Roof of the World" now on at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California, culture buffs have a chance to experience a Tibet, never before seen outside of China.

These treasures from the snow－capped plateau present Americans a vivid picture of Tibetan culture. They record the history of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties in the region, over the last 700 years. Most of the artifacts are from three sites: the Potala Palace, the Tibet Museum and Norbuglingka.

Among the items on show are a gilt silver prayer wheel that once held thousands of individual inscriptions, or mantras. Devotees hold the prayer wheel, spinning it as they recite mantras. A seal of the fifth Dalai Lama, made of sandalwood and inscribed in Tibetan, Chinese and Manchu is also on view. It's the first time such objects have been exhibited outside their native Tibet. They give the outside world a rare glimpse of nearly 200 Buddhist objects used in ceremonies and daily rituals at the Potala Palace by the Dalai Lamas and their courts.

The exhibition will last eighteen months. Following the Santa Ana show, it will tour Houston, New York City and San Francisco.

(CCTV.com October 15, 2003)