Central Tibet, the province of U in particular, the seat of the 1000-year Yarlung dynasty, is what most people think of as 'Tibet', whereas in reality it is the most 'sininized' (Chinese influenced) part. Because Lhasa was the prize, the heart, the symbol, the Chinese have spent most effort here, transforming it into a Chinese city, putting the first Mig to fly into Lhasa on display in front of the Potala (middle photo). They destroyed most of the ancient monasteries, using the gompas as cannon targets and prohibiting monks, but the United Nations intervened at least to the extent of preventing the destruction of the 1400 year-old Jokhang Temple (top left and right). Monkish activity has only lately resurfaced legally, such as the daily debating at Sera Gompa (mid right). Although most of Central Tibet is forbiddingly bleak, there are pine and rain forests in the east (mid left) although, as in Kham, they are heavily logged.