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LHASA
At a glance | General Information | Cuisine | Travel | Visa Permits | Climate | Folk Festivals | Attractions
Tours originating: Lhasa

Lhasa Attractions: Potala Palace | Jokhang Temple | Barkhor | Gandan Monastery | Drepung Monastery | Sera Monastery | Norbulingka (Summer Palace) | Tashihunpo Monastery | Sakya Monastery | Xialu Monastery | Kubum Monastery & 10,000 Buddha Pagoda | Mt Qomolangma (Mt Everest) | Yungbulakang Castle | Sangsu Monastery | The Changzhu (Pearl) Monastery | Gyantse | Shigatse | Tsetang | Tombs of the Tobu Kings | Guguo Kingdom Relics | Lhasa Carpet Factory | Tibetan Traditional Hospital | Yangpachen

Lhasa at a glance:

The capital of Tibet Autonomous Region and center of Tibet's politic, economy, culture and religious activities. Lhasa, the beautiful capital city of this Tibet Autonomous Region, (TAR), is situated in the South Central part of the region, on the North bank of the Kyichu River, (Lhasa River), in a mountain-fringed valley. At an elevation of 3,658 m, (12,000 ft), the city, nicknamed Sunlight City, is the highest city in the world. This ancient sprawling city, settled 1,300 years ago, covers 30,000 sq. km, (3,000,000 hectares), with a population of 400,000, of which 87% are Tibetans. The urban population is 180,000. The city has many Buddhist monuments and was the seat of the Dalai Lama, so that flocks of pilgrims have been making their pilgrimage to the city for centuries. More and more tourists from every corner of the world have been attracted to explore this vibrant city and its mysterious culture as well. Its unique scenery, long history, exotic culture, mysterious religion and spectacular monuments, make your stay a life long memory.

General Information:

Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, is located at the north bank of the Kyichu River, a tributary of the Yarlong Tsangpo River, at an altitude of 3,650m above sea level. It has been the center of politics, culture, and religion in Tibet for more than 1,300 years. Its name "Lhasa" means "the land of gods" in Tibetan. Palaces and temples abound!  It snows only once or twice a year in Lhasa, and due to the perpetual bright sunshine, daytime temperatures are not harsh even in the coldest winters. Buddhism was influenced by the local religion, called Bon, and developed into a form called Lamaism. By the10th century, the religious movement began to assert political leadership as well. In 1573, a reincarnation of Tsongkapa, the founder of the "yellow hat" sect devoted to religious reform, became the first Dalai Lama. With a long history and unique natural environment, Tibet boasts of rich ethnic folklore and magnificent highland scenery. However, long ago, the land now known as Tibet was just a vast expanse of sea. Only at the time of the Himalayan orogenic movement did Tibet evolve to become the highest plateau on the earth. The Tibetan People: Religion seems to be almost everything to these people. Many live for the next life, not the present. They accumulate deeds of virtue and pray for their final liberation, which is enlightenment. The lips and hands of the elders are never still; their lips are often busied in murmuring the six-syllable mantric prayer, Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum (Hail the Jewel in the Lotus); their hands work in rotating hand prayer wheels or counting prayer beads. Pious pilgrims from every corner of Tibet gather at the Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street, offering donations and praying for themselves, their friends, and even their friends’ friends. Selected Tibetan Costumes and Ornaments:  Formerly, Tibetan people wore different kinds of clothes according to their occupations. Whatever the style, the outfits were generally bright-colored and included a hat, a robe, and a pair of shoes. The most gorgeous and expensive clothes and ornaments were worn by nobles and officials or by people participating in religious rituals. On these pages, China Pictorial presents selected Tibetan clothes from the times of past dynasties. Frequent visitors to Tibet can distinguish people from different regions by noting costumes and dialects. People from agricultural regions dress in woolen home-woven gowns; those from the grassland wear sheepskin. The men from Chamdo wear huge tassels of black or red silk, which had been used in the old days for protection in battle, while the Lhasa residents are more stylish and modern. The Tibetan language has four major dialects: Lhasa, Tsang (Shigatse and Gyantse), Chamdo, and Amdo. Popular things to buy here are carpets, daggers, jewelry, aprons and hats, all of which can be found in the famous Barkhor street. The vendors on the street outside the Holiday Inn have basically the same range, but in smaller quantities and at higher prices. Besides this, plenty of department stores line the Yuthok Lu, selling more routine articles. Those interested with Chinese herbal medicines also have the chance here to pick up some potions rarely seen in other Chinese cities.

Cuisine:
Although Lhasa is the capital of Tibet, tourists will still find that the food available here is largely what can be found in other parts of China. Among this, Sichuan style cooking is very popular. The standard of restaurants and cooking here has vastly improved in recent years here and Tibetan food is becoming increasingly popular with visitors. The local staples are tsampa (roasted barley bread), momo (dumplings filled with vegetables and meat) and thukpa (noodles with meat). There are so many restaurants in Lhasa that it is possible to eat in a different place every night! The most popular area to search around is the Tibetan quarter near Barkhor Square. Tashi Restaurant, Kailah Restaurant, the Third Eye Restaurant, the Alougang Restaurant and the Snowland Restaurant are all good places to sample some of Tibet's more unusual cuisine. The restaurant in the Banak Shol Hostel is as good a place as any to eat, and the Yak burger with fries (¥16) is extremely delicious. There is a roof top restaurant in the Barkhor Cafe which is always very crowded in the summer. Internet can also be found here (¥40 per hour), although a student price of ¥30 can usually be negotiated. Another internet cafe with the same prices, is situated 50 yards west of the Banak Shol, on the other side of the road.

Travel:
By air: Most foreign travelers arrive in Tibet by plane. From China, Chengdu is the easiest and most popular starting point. Daily flights carry tourists to Lhasa in about 2 hours and cost ¥1200. Chongqing, a neighboring city, also has flights to Tibet. However, there are only two flights every week. It is also possible to go from Beijing and Xi'an (only one flight every week). Luckily, Flights from Shanghai are new, operating on Wednesdays and Sundays. Travelers in Nepal may also fly from Katmandu. Gonggar Airport is 98km south of Lhasa city. Airport buses take tourists to the city soon after they arrive. The drive costs foreigners ¥40 and takes about two hours. Taking a taxi costs ¥250 to ¥300. Minibuses from Shigatse to Lhasa also stop outside the airport to make extra money. By bus: The only overland way out of Lhasa is to Golmud in Qinghai Province. The journey takes between 30 to 50 hours, depending on road conditions. Tickets for Golmud can be bought at the main bus station, south of the Lhasa Hotel. Prices are ¥424 for a Japanese sleeper bus or ¥244 for a clapped-out Chinese bus. It is also possible to continue the journey all the way to Xining, the capital of Qinhai Province. Long-distance buses also go to other places in Tibet, such as Shigatse, Tsetang, Chamdo and Bayi, although this can be difficult and expensive for western travelers. The bus station in Lhasa is located southwest of Barkhor Square and has departures to Medro, and Gungkar to visit Drigung Til Monastery and Lhundrub to visit Talung Monastery. Thanks to the increasing number of tourists, minibus, as mentioned above, has become a booming industry in Tibet. The area south of Barkhor Square is where minibuses set off for Tsurphu Monastery and Deprung Monastery. Another place to look for a minibus is in front of the Kirey Hotel, where there are daily minibuses to Naqu, Samye and Shigatse. Rented Vehicles:  Many foreigners have realized the convenience and comfort of traveling in Tibet by rented vehicle. The most popular route is from Lhasa to the Nepalese border, Zhongmu, past Yamdrok-tso, Gyantse, Shigatse, Sakya, Everest Base Camp and Tingri. Other good ideal destinations include Mt Kailash and Nam-tso. Since traveling by Land Cruiser is more expensive than by bus, it is advisable to talk to other travelers to get the latest information on which agencies are offering good deals and which are ripping people off. Land cruisers have the capacity for up to five travelers, along with the mandatory guide who will do nothing of the sort, and the driver, who will appear to be doing his best to run both you and all other vehicles off the road. The land cruisers cost ¥1,000 per day, so it is of course most economical to travel in a group of five. An itinerary must be decided upon and submitted to the PSB for approval before travelers are allowed to leave Lhasa. Usually the PSB will approve any route along established tourist sites. However, once the route is fixed and stamped, there is to be no deviating from it. If in doubt whether to include something in your tour, include it. The agony of leaving Tibet, and feeling that one did not see or do enough is far worse than the subsequent hole in one's pocket. Getting around the city: The best way to travel from one place of interest to another is by minibus (fare: ¥2). Taxis in Lhasa are not equipped with a meter, and tourists are generally charged ¥10 when they want to go within the city. For a destination out of the city, they should first negotiate with the driver. Pedicabs can serve two travelers at a time for between ¥4 to ¥7. Most hotels also rent bikes to travelers (¥2 per hour or ¥20 per day for ordinary bikes and ¥3 per hour, ¥30 per day per day for mountain bikes.)

Visit Permits
Foreigners have to apply for Tibetan Tour Visa from travel providers to assist their plane ticket booking. Although the government encourages group tours, tourists do need a Tibetan entry permit, issued by the Tibet Tourism Bureau, in addition to a Chinese visa.

Climate:   See our Weather Page.
Lhasa is situated close to the border of Nepal and China, on the northern flanks of the Himalayas and 3,600 m from the banks of the Lhasa River. This area is fairly inaccessible for tourists between December and January due to the heavy snowfall and poor weather conditions. August is the rainy season here when landslides are common. The hottest month here is June, with high temperatures of 22C. The sun here can be very strong too, so make sure you take plenty of sunblock and a hat to protect from the harsh rays. The coldest time here is January when temperatures can drop to minus 10C.

Folk Festivals
Tibetan New Year (February or March) is the greatest festival in Tibet. In ancient times, the blossoming of the peach tree was considered the start of a new year. Since the systematization of the Tibetan calendar in 1027 AD, the first day of the first month became fixed as the new year. On New Year's Day, families would gather to exchange the auspicious words of greeting--"tashi delek." Saga Dawa Festival (May or June) is the holiest festival in Tibet because of the coincidence of Buddha's birth and Buddha's enlightenment on this day. Almost every person in Lhasa joins in a circular walk around the city and then spends the late afternoon at a picnic at Dzongyab Lukhang Park at the foot of Potala. Gyantse Horse Race and Archery Festival (May or June) is the most prestigious horse race and archery contest, having hosted the first event in 1408. In those early times, contests included the horse race, archery, and shooting on gallop, followed by a few days of entertainment and picnicking. In more modern times, ball games, track and field events, folk songs and dances, and barter trade have been added to the original schedule of events. Changtang Chachen Horse Race Festival (August 10th) is the most important festival in northern Tibet during the golden season on the grassland. Thousands of herdsmen throng to Nakchu riding fine horses and carrying local products. They erect a tent city south of Nakchu town. They celebrate with a thrilling horse race, archery contests, and demonstrations of horsemanship. Song-and-dance troupes from all parts of Tibet add to the festivity. Shoton Festival (August) is the great opera festival. In ancient times, pious folk went to mountain hermitages to do penance. On the last day of this ritual time, they were served a meal of yogurt and entertained with folk songs and dances. Since the seventh century, opera performances have been held for several days at a time in Norbulingka. Presently, opera contests last for seven days. Harvest Festival (September) is a time for the farmers in Lhasa, Gyantse, and Shangnan to celebrate the end of harvest time with horse-racing games, archery contests, costumed fashion shows, songs and dances, and, of course, food. Bathing Week (September) coincides with the appearance in the sky of Venus, considered a sacred planet. Tibetans believe that at this time the water in the river becomes its purest and has curative powers. Therefore, Tibetans consider it opportune to take advantage of this one-week period each year to bathe in the river!  Kongpo Traditional Festival (November or December) originated long ago at a time when Tibet was in danger of a large-scale invasion. News of this threat occurred during the month of September, and the soldiers worried that they might miss the New Year celebration with its highland barley wine and other good things. Therefore, the Kongpo people declared an early New Year for October 1st. The festival continues to this day and memorializes the brave soldiers who were prepared to defend their homeland and miss the New Year celebration. The festival begins with the presentation of three sacrifices and then continues nonstop with such entertainment as Kongpo dancing, horse racing, archery, and shooting.

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