Ramoche Temple
Ramoche Temple is far less busy with incense than the Jokhang. Built in the mid-7th century under the supervision of Princess Wencheng to house the 12-year-old life-size statue of Shakyamuni,…
Ramoche Temple, Lhasa · Taken by Fanghong · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Admission
- ¥30
- Opening hours
- For local believers: 8:30–15:00; for tourists: 15:00–16:00
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Getting there
- Take bus routes 1, 2, 3, 4 or 14 and get off at Ramoche stop (热木其站), or walk about 10 minutes from the Jokhang Temple.
- Guidebook rating
- 3 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 534. Open in Google Maps
About Ramoche Temple
Ramoche Temple is far less busy with incense than the Jokhang. Built in the mid-7th century under the supervision of Princess Wencheng to house the 12-year-old life-size statue of Shakyamuni, its main gate faces east to express her longing for her homeland.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. Architectural style: The original building was in Han Chinese style, but after repeated rebuilding it took on its present Tibetan style. It covers 4,000 square metres and now houses the 8-year-old life-size statue of Shakyamuni brought by the Nepalese princess.
- 2. Optional visit: This temple usually has few visitors. If time is limited, skipping it will not be a great loss.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Ramoche Temple cost?
Admission to Ramoche Temple is ¥30, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Ramoche Temple?
Ramoche Temple is open For local believers: 8:30–15:00; for tourists: 15:00–16:00.
How do I get to Ramoche Temple?
Take bus routes 1, 2, 3, 4 or 14 and get off at Ramoche stop (热木其站), or walk about 10 minutes from the Jokhang Temple.
How long should I spend at Ramoche Temple?
Plan on 1–2 hours for Ramoche Temple.
Where is Ramoche Temple?
Ramoche Temple is in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, in the Southwest of China.
More places in Lhasa
Jokhang Temple
The Jokhang Temple holds a supreme position in Tibetan Buddhism and is the highest-ranking temple of the Gelug (Yellow Hat) school. In 643 CE, the 18-year-old Princess Wencheng arrived in Lhasa carrying a life-size statue of Shakyamuni at age 12. It is said to have been modelled on Shakyamuni himself and consecrated by him personally, which makes it the most precious. To house the statue, Songtsen Gampo built Ramoche Temple for Princess Wencheng, and built the Jokhang for the Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti, who had married him earlier. In the time of Princess Jincheng, the statue was moved to the Jokhang, and the temple was then continually expanded until it reached its present scale.
¥85 · 1–2 hours
Potala Palace
A treasure house: you may never see as many treasures in your lifetime as you will here, and seeing them up close is dazzling. The Potala Palace stands on Marburi Hill (玛布日山) in the centre of Lhasa and is the largest and most complete palace complex in Tibet. 'Potala' is Sanskrit for 'Sacred Place of Avalokiteśvara'. In the 7th century, the Tubo king Songtsen Gampo built a palace here when he married Princess Wencheng of the Tang dynasty; it was later destroyed in wars. It was rebuilt in the mid-17th century. It covers 130,000 square metres and was the political centre of the former Tibetan region. The whole complex is built of wood and stone, with gilded roofs. The Potala Palace was the venue for large-scale religious and political ceremonies. The 7th floor at the top was the Dalai Lama's winter residence; because it receives abundant sunlight, it is known as the East and West Sunlight Halls. The Red Palace houses mainly the stupa tombs and chapels of successive Dalai Lamas, with eight stupa tombs in total, distributed among the halls on different floors. The largest is the stupa of the 5th Dalai Lama, 14.85 metres tall and inlaid with diamonds and agate. Its topmost gem, a heavenly bead (tianzhu), is said to be the most precious in the world. There is also a gem said to have formed in an elephant's brain, and the gold used alone amounted to 5,500 kilograms. This hall is the largest in the Potala Palace, covering 725 square metres.
¥200 (peak season, May–October); ¥100 (off-season, November–April). The Snow City and Treasure Hall at the foot of the mountain can be visited free of charge; the Golden Roof is not open to visitors. · 3–4 hours
Namtso Lake
For many people who have been to Namtso, it is one of the most majestic places they have ever seen. If you can visit only three places in Tibet, travellers who have been there recommend Namtso, the Himalayas and Mount Kailash (Kangrinboqe). Namtso is China's second-largest saltwater lake after Qinghai Lake, and it is the highest saltwater lake in the world. Five islets dot the lake, and the massive Tashi Peninsula is visible from far away. On Tashi Island, two small hills rise. If you climb to the summit of the taller one, you will see a huge pile of mani stones and prayer banners, along with a line of small mani stone piles stretching for hundreds of metres. This is the highest point of Namtso, with the vast lake spreading out around you like a sea. Along the shore stand snow-capped mountains, and on clear days you can see the main peak of the Nyainqêntanglha Range.
¥145 in low season (entry ticket + sightseeing shuttle); ¥210 in peak season (entry ticket + sightseeing shuttle) · 1–2 days
Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery are known together as Lhasa's Three Great Monasteries. Sera, the most recently built of the three, was founded in 1418 by Sakya Yeshe, one of the eight great disciples of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is divided into three dratsang (monastic colleges): Jangtse, Mey and Ngakpa, and 29 khang (monks' residential compounds). Sera Monastery is famous for its monastic debates. Debate is not only a form of academic exchange among monks but also a contest of spirit and wisdom, and it draws many visitors and devotees.
¥50; ¥10 after 17:00 · 3–4 hours
Drepung Monastery
Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery in Tibet, covering 200,000 square metres, and has four dratsang. It was founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa. The Great Assembly Hall is the main building, supported by 183 pillars, and can hold 9,000 monks for scripture recitation. The Tsomchen Hall houses the stupas of the first to fourth Dalai Lamas. Ganden Phodrang, formerly known as Tusita Palace, meaning 'Palace of the Heavenly Gods', is located inside Drepung Monastery. It was home to the first to fifth Dalai Lamas before they moved to the Potala Palace.
¥60 · 2–3 hours
Tibet Museum
The museum's exhibition halls are made up of four sections: prehistoric culture, an inseparable history, culture and art, and folk culture. Through Tibet's history, culture, art, religion and folk customs, they present the captivating splendour and long history of the Tibetan people. The thangka is a distinctive form of painting in Tibetan culture and history, and the most representative treasure of Tibetan art. To understand a place, visiting its museum first is the best way.
Free · 1–2 hours