The image depicts a narrow, ascending stone stairway within the Potala Palace complex in Lhasa, China, framed by textured walls

The image depicts a narrow, ascending stone stairway within the Potala Palace complex in Lhasa, China, framed by textured walls. In the left foreground, a roughly mortared stone wall is painted a vibrant deep red, meeting a perpendicular section of textured wall painted bright yellow. On the right, a rough, off-white, weathered wall forms the other side of the passage. A single individual, dressed in a long, dark red robe characteristic of a monk, walks uphill on the uneven stone steps, facing away from the viewer, towards the background. Beyond them, a multi-storied building with a deep red facade and multiple dark-framed windows featuring decorative grates rises, built upon white foundational levels. At the upper left, a golden roof finial is visible against a blue sky with scattered clouds. A vertically striped fabric banner hangs from the structure on the right side of the passage.