# Lhasa travel guide (拉萨) Tibet Autonomous Region · Southwest, China · 19 places Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/destinations/tibet/lhasa ## Quick itinerary - **Day 1:** Potala Palace → Yaowang Mountain (Medicine King Mountain) → Norbulingka → Drepung Monastery - **Day 2:** Barkhor Street (breakfast) → Jokhang Temple → Chongsaikang → Ramoche Temple → Sera Monastery - **Day 3:** Lhasa → Nyainqentanglha Mountains → Nagela Pass → Namtso Lake (overnight) - **Day 4:** Namtso Lake → Yangbajain → Tsurphu Monastery → Lhasa - **Day 5:** Lhasa → Ganden Monastery → Drigung Til Monastery ## The feel of the place - **Devout Pilgrims:** In Tibet you may witness this scene: a long, extraordinary mountain road, and a group of deeply devout pilgrims who prostrate themselves at every step. They have been travelling for years, aiming to touch the sacred land of Lhasa with their whole bodies in a single lifetime. - **Opening Business:** If you browse Barkhor Street early in the day and haggle with Tibetan vendors, you will hear the phrase "kaizhang shengyi" (opening business). By custom, Tibetan traders give the first and last customers of the day a price discount. When they say "opening business," it is as if they are telling you that you have bought a treasure worth far more than its price. They then slap the money they've received all over their stall, which is said to bring good luck. ## The feel of the place ### Altitude Sickness There have been cases where a cold developed into pulmonary edema and proved fatal. However, travel routes are now generally well connected, and major cities have hospitals that treat altitude sickness, so the likelihood of death from altitude sickness is extremely small. Note that travelers with heart or lung problems, or who are physically frail, are not suited to high-altitude travel. Upon first arriving in Tibet, avoid strenuous activity right away; it is best to rest for two days. If you get a headache, you can take pain relievers such as aspirin, and if the pain is severe, you will need to seek treatment at a hospital. Oxygen cylinders are also sold locally. ### Don't Tease Dogs In Tibet, especially in more remote areas, do not tease dogs, as you may encounter Tibetan mastiffs at any time. ### Areas of Tibet That Require a Border Travel Permit ### Shigatse City Zhongba, Saga, Nyalam (Zhangmu), Tingri, Kangma, Yadong, Gamba, Dinggyê, Gyirong ### Nyingchi City Medog, Lulang, Mainling, Zayü ### Shannan City Nagarze, Cona, Lhozhag, Lhünzê ### Ngari Prefecture Burang, Zanda, Rutog, Gar ### Preparation and Advice ### Climate and Travel Seasons From November to May of the following year, temperatures in Tibet are very low, and many areas are cut off by heavy snow. Because the air is dry in winter, altitude sickness is also more noticeable than in summer, so this period is not suitable for ordinary travelers. However, it is the best season for visiting Ngari, as there is no rainfall to wash out the roads. June to August is the rainy season in Tibet. Lhasa's rain is quite unusual: it usually falls at night, while the daytime is bright and sunny, with a strong sunlight that can truly be called blazing. Apart from some sunburn at midday, temperatures during this period are very pleasant. This is why people in Lhasa tend to feel lazy, and once they have adjusted to the altitude, they never want to leave. ### Health Altitude sickness is a process of adaptation, and whether you travel by road or by air, you will feel some degree of discomfort on arriving at the plateau. Symptoms are usually not at their most intense right after landing or when passing Tanggula Pass, because the oxygen stored in your blood cells is still sufficient at that point. The first night on the plateau is the hardest. Normal reactions include shortness of breath, chest tightness, headache, and nausea or vomiting, and the best approach is to be patient. Generally, you will largely adapt after 3 to 5 days, although the fatigue caused by oxygen deficiency cannot be eliminated in just a dozen or so days. ### Safety Because of language barriers, misunderstandings can easily occur. Please respect Tibetan people and avoid unintentionally causing trouble. Tibetans generally find travelers fresh and interesting rather than hostile, so you can rest assured on this point. ## Getting there & around ### Getting In and Out Among the means of transport, flying in and out of Lhasa may be the most suitable, as it saves time; yet it is also the least suitable, because it shortens the process of adapting to the altitude. ### Adjust Your Plans 1. When first arriving on the plateau, do not make overly rigid plans, as your physical condition cannot be guaranteed. Moreover, in Lhasa people naturally become languid; even sitting in a hotel corridor and sunbathing is a pleasure. 2. July and August are the peak tourist season in Tibet. During this period, hotel and vehicle prices rise, and flight tickets are also harder to get. ### Avoid Contact Lenses The air in Tibet is extremely dry, so travelers who are nearsighted should avoid wearing contact lenses. Pharmacies throughout Tibet stock rhodiola; taking it starting two weeks before entering Tibet can help prevent altitude sickness, but it cannot cure it. ### Qinghai-Tibet Railway 1. To minimize the impact on the original habitat of wildlife such as Tibetan antelopes, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has a total of 33 wildlife crossings along the entire line, with a cumulative width of nearly 60 kilometers. Along the line there are also many bridges, low embankments and livestock passages for wildlife to cross. 2. Because trains on the Qinghai-Tibet Line are fully enclosed and supplied with oxygen after entering Tibet, passengers cannot open the windows, so littering does not occur. Every station along the railway has a waste collection point, and all rubbish is transported to Golmud for disposal. 3. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway can bring more employment opportunities to Tibetan farmers and herders. ### Travel Tips Travelers heading onto the plateau are advised to consider taking a sleeper train from Golmud. You can also charter a vehicle; there is no standard price, but a one-way trip can generally be arranged for around ¥200. Sometimes you can also catch a new vehicle heading to Lhasa for just over ¥100 per person, but the safety level is not high. ### By Air Gonggar Airport is located in Jiazhulin Town, Gonggar County, Shannan City, about 60 kilometers from downtown Lhasa. Airport buses run to downtown Lhasa, with a fare of about ¥25 and a journey of about 1 hour. The bus terminal is at the Niangre Road CAAC Hotel beside the Potala Palace. A taxi from downtown to the airport costs about ¥200. ### By Rail Travelling to Tibet by train has outstanding advantages. First, the altitude of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway rises gradually as the train advances, which helps your body adapt step by step to the plateau. Second, you can enjoy scenery unique to the Qinghai-Tibet Line that cannot be seen by air, such as the source of the Yangtze River, the Tuotuo River, the Tanggula Pass at an altitude of 5,231 metres, the Qingshui River Bridge where Tibetan antelopes often cross, and the mysterious uninhabited region. Oxygen supply in the carriages starts from the Golmud section, and the journey from Golmud to Lhasa takes only about 12 hours. The trains run during the day, so passengers can enjoy all of these sights. From downtown, you can take Bus No. 1, 9, 10, 14 or 30 to Lhasa Railway Station. Trains to Lhasa currently run from cities including Beijing, Lanzhou, Xining, Chengdu, Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shigatse. ### By Road The highways into Tibet include the Qinghai-Tibet, Yunnan-Tibet, Sichuan-Tibet, Xinjiang-Tibet and China-Nepal Highways. The Yunnan-Tibet and Sichuan-Tibet Highways may be cut off by landslides during the rainy season each year, while the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway does not even have regular bus services. The China-Nepal Highway is an important route for foreign travellers entering Tibet. The Qinghai-Tibet Highway runs 1,164 kilometres from Golmud in Qinghai to Lhasa. Its road conditions are the best of the five highways into Tibet, it carries 80% of the freight transported into Tibet each year, and it is the preferred overland route for independent travellers. The route crosses Tanggula Pass, and long-distance sleeper buses take 24 to 36 hours. Because the journey is so long, tyre blowouts and bad weather may occur along the way, so punctual arrival cannot be guaranteed. The two major long-distance bus stations in Lhasa are the North Suburb Bus Station and the Liuwu Bus Station. ### Long-Distance Bus Stations and Departure Destinations ### Getting Around the City Taxis in Lhasa now run on metered fares, with a flag-fall of ¥10 for the first 3 kilometres and ¥2 per kilometre thereafter. Because the urban area of Lhasa is quite small, most trips can be completed within the flag-fall fare. However, trips to suburban sites such as Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery will exceed the flag-fall fare. Pedicabs, which charge by distance, generally have a flag-fall fare of ¥3. Minibuses and buses are also the main means of transport in Lhasa; city buses cost ¥1 and minibuses cost ¥2. - **Airport Information Desk** — - **North Suburb Bus Station** — (No. 11 Zhaji Road, Lhasa) - **Liuwu Bus Station** — (Next to Lhasa Railway Station; a newly built long-distance bus station) ## Eat & drink Milk tea and highland barley wine are foods you will encounter throughout a trip to Tibet. However, compared with other areas, Lhasa is the most bustling city, offering very good Tibetan-style dishes as well as a wide range of other cuisines. If you have the budget, you can enjoy excellent food here. ### Lhasa Hospital Emergency department 0891-6322200 Emergency department 0891-6822115 ### Recommended Restaurants Lhasa offers food from many regions, including Tibetan cuisine, Cantonese, northern Chinese and Hunan dishes. Sichuan cuisine is the most common and is very popular with both visitors and locals. Deji Road and Beijing Road bring together food from across China, with Sichuan dishes, hotpot, a variety of snacks, and even Western food and bars. Many visitors to Lhasa make a point of trying them. - **Tibet Autonomous Region People's Hospital** — (Located on North Linkuo Road) - **Tibet Autonomous Region Second People's Hospital** — (Located at No. 119 East Jinzhu Road) - **Lhasa People's Hospital** — (Located on East Beijing Road) - **Tibet Military Region General Hospital** — (Located on North Niangre Road) - **Lhasa Maternity and Child Health Hospital** — (Located at No. 12 Jiangsu Road) - **Lhasa Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention** — (Located on South Duodi Road) - **Tibetan Food** — Tibetan cooking does not involve elaborate techniques; the flavour comes from the natural juices of the ingredients. Those who do not eat much meat may find it hard to enjoy, and it takes a certain boldness to eat it. Tibetan tableware has no chopsticks, only knives. As for highland barley wine and butter tea, sample them first before drinking, as stomach discomfort in Tibet can be a real nuisance. The Minzu Hotel in Lhasa serves excellent local dishes, so you can sample a wide range there. Below are a few good places to try Tibetan food. - **Snow God Palace Tibetan Restaurant** — With an elegant setting, this is one of Lhasa's top-end Tibetan restaurants, staffed entirely by young Tibetan women. The Tibetan dishes are authentic, including raw meat paste, blood sausage, fried lamb ribs and Tibetan baozi. (Located at the western end of the Potala Palace wall, 0891-6531556) - **Maji Ami Western Restaurant & Bar** — A very famous restaurant where you can experience a distinctive atmosphere. (Opposite the telecom bureau at the southeast corner of Barkhor Street, 0891-6328608) - **Ruyi Kalin Tibetan Restaurant & Bar** — No trip to Tibet is complete without trying yak meat, and the yak hotpot here is outstanding, with tender beef and a rich, flavourful broth. (Room 26, 2nd floor, City 118 Chain Hotel, Yutuo Road, 13989082006) ## Nightlife Lhasa has many entertainment and leisure venues, including cinemas, karaoke lounges, dance halls, bars, nightclubs, teahouses and bowling alleys. Along the streets you will also find simple bars run by Tibetan locals, such as sweet tea houses, Tibetan restaurants and hot springs. Many restaurants in the city also offer colourful ethnic song and dance performances. ### Recommended Bars Viva Villa: Sipping a cocktail while looking at the Potala Palace at night and listening to lovely folk music is one of the best ways to unwind. It is definitely worth a visit. - address: No. 28 Jiangsu Road (6th floor, Zhefei Hotel, Guangdong Guild Hall) - **Cuifang** — What is it like to drink at a bar at an altitude of 3,666 metres? This hidden-away bar is well regarded for its many types of whisky, and its building retains a strong Tibetan style. (No. 16, Second Lane, Xiasasu Road) - **The Little House Music Bar** — A well-known small bar in Lhasa. It is very quiet during the day, and it is pleasant to sit with your laptop and get online. The owner plays excellent music, including records from China, India, Nepal and other regions, all carefully selected. - **Lhasa Song** — Buy the most expensive oxygen, dance at the highest-altitude disco. After 10 p.m., when the night has deepened, the lively atmosphere is only just getting started. People from all over the country gather here to raise their glasses and sing the song "Houlai" together. (Xianzu Island Chengtou Binhe Park Phase II, 4-8-1, Binhe Road) ## Shopping No one can resist the lure of Barkhor Street. It is a street encircling the Jokhang Temple, where thousands of vendors call out to you in a variety of languages. ### How to Choose Tibetan Jewellery Most of what's sold here is Tibetan accessories: earrings, necklaces, bangles, rings, and all sorts of curious and quirky items. Street stalls rarely sell genuine gold or silver, and the gemstones are even less likely to be real. The craftsmanship is rough, but the colors and styles are distinctly Tibetan and hard to find elsewhere. That makes them ideal for buying in bulk as gifts for friends and colleagues, priced from a few yuan to over ¥10. On the streets behind the Jokhang Temple, some small shops sell genuine silver jewelry, weighed on electronic scales at about ¥25 per gram. - **Tibetan Knives** — Another must-buy, though the craftsmanship is extremely rough, so these knives are best displayed in a cabinet and admired for their shells. They are usually about a foot long (roughly 33 cm), though occasionally you'll find one a full meter long. Post offices can ship parcels for you, and even if you buy a Green Dragon Crescent Blade, they will pack it up and send it home. - **Thangkas** — Thangkas come in printed and hand-painted versions. Printed ones feature Buddhist images on silk. Hand-painted ones are carefully rendered on canvas by skilled artisans and Tibetan Buddhist monks using natural pigments. Because the pigments contain toxins, insects won't bite them no matter how long they're kept. Several shops on Barkhor Street specialize in making thangkas, and some stores stand outside the gate of the Potala Palace. Thangkas are works of art, so prices are high: even small ones cost several hundred yuan. As for the half-mountain thangka at Drepung Monastery, its value is easy to imagine. ## Where to stay Lhasa is Tibet's largest city and the tourism hub of the entire Tibetan region, so accommodation is no worry. There are luxurious, comfortable hotels, such as the Lhasa Hotel, which has oxygen supply equipment like a large hospital. There are also plain collective hostels that offer nothing beyond a bed and a TV. Travelers are best off staying at a few well-known traveler hubs, where it's easy to find fellow travelers to share a car rental and exchange information. Many backpackers prefer small guesthouses similar to youth hostels, which are generally located near Barkhor Street. Most youth hostels have a public message board covered with travel information, most of which is about chartering vehicles. Chartering through these boards can be 10%–50% cheaper than through a travel agency, and you can also find fellow travelers heading to more remote routes such as Medog and Ngari. - **Banak Shol Hotel** — Established in 1984, this hotel is very popular with travelers and is one of Lhasa's longest-running and most famous guesthouses. (No. 8, Beijing East Road, 0891-6563777) - **Linchang Boutique Hotel** — An old mansion with a fresh look, originally the residence of a tutor to the Dalai Lama. The furniture is sourced from antique markets, including old Tibetan cabinets. From the rooftop you can see the golden roof of the Jokhang Temple and the peaks surrounding Lhasa. (No. 38, Lugu 1st Lane, Chengguan District, Lhasa (near Jiangsu Road), 0891-6899991) ## Things to see - **Potala Palace** (★★★★★): Admission ¥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.; Opening hours 9：40—15：20; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/potala-palace - **Yaowangshan Cliff Carvings** (★★★★): Admission Free; Opening hours 7：00—19：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yaowangshan-cliff-carvings - **Norbulingka** (★★★): Admission ¥60; park admission ¥10; main gate ¥3; each hall ¥7; Opening hours 9：30—18：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/norbulingka - **Tibet Museum** (★★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tibet-museum - **Zhaji Temple** (★★★): Admission Free; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/zhaji-temple - **Jokhang Temple** (★★★★★): Admission ¥85; Opening hours 12：00—18：00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/jokhang-temple - **Ramoche Temple** (★★★): Admission ¥30; Opening hours For local believers: 8:30–15:00; for tourists: 15:00–16:00; Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/ramoche-temple - **Sera Monastery** (★★★★): Admission ¥50; ¥10 after 17:00; Opening hours Opens at 7:00. Debate starts at 15:00. The main assembly halls close after 17:00.; Time needed 3–4 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/sera-monastery - **Drepung Monastery** (★★★★): Admission ¥60; Opening hours 9:00–16:00. Debates start at 14:30. Most of the halls are closed in the afternoon.; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/drepung-monastery - **Chongsaikang** (★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/chongsaikang - **Barkhor Street** (★★★): Time needed 1–2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/barkhor-street - **Princess Wencheng Live Performance Theatre** (★★★★): Admission ¥380–¥1,280, depending on seat location; Time needed 2 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/princess-wencheng-live-performance-theatre ## Day trips & beyond - **Ganden Monastery** (★★★★): Admission ¥50; Opening hours 7：00—17：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/ganden-monastery - **Drigung Til Monastery** (★★★★): Admission ¥30; Opening hours 6：00—16：00; Time needed 2–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/drigung-til-monastery - **Drak Yerpa Monastery** (★★★): Admission ¥40; Opening hours 9：00—17：30; Time needed 1 hour — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/drak-yerpa-monastery - **Namtso Lake** (★★★★★): Admission ¥145 in low season (entry ticket + sightseeing shuttle); ¥210 in peak season (entry ticket + sightseeing shuttle); Time needed 1–2 days — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/namtso-lake - **Tsurphu Monastery** (★★★★): Admission ¥35; Opening hours 9：00—14：00 — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/tsurphu-monastery - **Mila Mountain** (★★★): Time needed 1–3 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mila-mountain - **Yangbajain** (★★★★): Admission Peak season ¥198 (1 May–14 October); off-season ¥128 (15 October–30 April). Bring your own swimsuit.; Opening hours 9：00—21：00; Time needed 4–5 hours — https://cnatrip.com/en/places/yangbajain --- Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), pp. 521–551. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.