Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings
Yaowang Hill (Yaowangshan) lies to the right of the Potala Palace and is one of the ideal spots for photographing the full view of the Potala.…
Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings, Lhasa
Key facts
- Admission
- Free
- Opening hours
- 7：00—19：00
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Getting there
- Take a city bus and get off at Yaowangshan Vegetable Market stop (药王山菜市场站), or walk from the Potala Palace.
- Guidebook rating
- 4 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 530. Open in Google Maps
About Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings
Yaowang Hill (Yaowangshan) lies to the right of the Potala Palace and is one of the ideal spots for photographing the full view of the Potala. The cliffs on the back of the hill are carved with more than 5,000 Buddha images, large and small, the most in Tibet. There is a folk custom in Lhasa: if a poor family loses a relative and cannot afford a thangka for the funeral rites, they can buy some pigment and go to Yaowangshan to repaint the rock-carved Buddha images. This is said to bring the same merit as a funeral thangka of Buddha images.
Tips from the guidebook
- 1. The mountain gate is hidden among residential buildings. Walk west along the main road in front of the Potala Palace and enter at the first clearly visible west-facing junction.
- 2. Watching sunrise and sunset from Yaowang Hill is excellent. Photographing the Potala Palace from Yaowang Hill gives the best angle.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings cost?
Admission to Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings is Free, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings?
Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings is open 7：00—19：00.
How do I get to Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings?
Take a city bus and get off at Yaowangshan Vegetable Market stop (药王山菜市场站), or walk from the Potala Palace.
How long should I spend at Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings?
Plan on 1–2 hours for Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings.
Where is Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings?
Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings is in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, in the Southwest of China.
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