Lhasa City

Lhasa, Capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region, is located on the north bank of Lhasa River, a sub-branch of Yarlung Tsangpu River. Standing at 3,648m above sea level, it gets 3021 hours of sunshine annually and thus also named "Sunlit City". "Lhasa" means "Holy Land" in Tibetan language. Since Songtsan Ganpu, one of Tibetan Kings established his capital here in the 7th century, Lhasa has then acted as the center of Tibet politics, economy, culture, transport as well as a sacred place of Tibet Buddhism.

Potala Palace

Potala Palace is the essence of ancient Tibetan architectural art and a symbol of Tibetan people's wisdom and power. It is located on the western part of Lhasa City. In 641, Songtsan Ganpo decided to build this grand palace for his wife - Princess Wencheng of Tang dynasty. However, it was later destroyed by some ightening strike and warfare in Landama's reign. Only in the 17th century, the Fifth Dalai Lama rebuilt it. And, then the thirteenth Dalai Lama expanded it to today's scale. The palace is more than 117 meters high and 360 meters wide. Standing on the top of Mt. Putup , it looms over the entire Lhasa city. In 1994, Potala Palace was added to the list of world cultural heritage sites by UNESCO.

The Jokhang Temple

Located in the center of the old Lhasa city, Jokhang Temple is the first monastery for most pilgrims to visit as it is widely recognized as the spiritual center of Tibetan Buddhism. It was built in 647. Everyday many pilgrims trek a long distance here with some even prostrating by body length. Around the temple is the famous Barkhor Street where you can get a close touch with local Tibetan people . The Barkhor Street: A circular street around the Jokhang Temple in the center of the old section of Lhasa, it is the oldest street in a very traditional style in Tibet, where you can enjoy bargaining with the local Tibetan vendors for the handicrafts which are rare to be seen elsewhere in the world. Barkhor Street is one of the most important religious paths along which pilgrims walk around Jokhang Temple while turning prayer wheels in their hands through centuries. Buddhist pilgrims walk or progress by body-lengths along the street clockwise every day into deep night. where you can enjoy bargaining with the local Tibetan vendors for the handicrafts which are rare to be seen elsewhere in the world. Barkhor Street is one of the most important religious paths along which pilgrims walk around Jokhang Temple while turning prayer wheels in their hands through centuries. Buddhist pilgrims walk or progress by body-lengths along the street clockwise every day into deep night.

Norbulingka Park

Norbulingka means "Jeweled Garden", built in 1751 AD as a summer palace for the Dalai Lama where they handled political affairs and practiced religious activities. Now a large-scale palace complex and garden in Tibetan style covering an area of 40 hectares, the whole park has 370 rooms of different sizes and lawns shaded by green trees and enclosed by various flowers. Before 1959, commoners had no access to this park. Nowadays, on festivals and holidays, the local people in their colorful costumes come here with food and tents to sing and dance overnight. Sera Monastery: Sera means "Wild Rose Garden" in Tibetan because lush wild rosewoods once grew around it, the monastery is one of the three largest monasteries in Tibet. Located at the northern outskirts of Lhasa, it was built in 1419 AD by Jamchen Choje (or Sakyayeshe), one of the eight disciples of Tsong Khapa who was the founder of Gelugpa Sect. Sera Monastery houses three colleges built in 15th and 16th centuries respectively as well and it is famous for the "Buddhism Scriptures Debating"

Drepung Monastery

It is the largest monastery in Tibet. At its peak time, there were more than 10,000 monks. It was founded in 15th century at km to the western suburb of Lhasa, and once served as the living palace of Dalai Lama before reconstruction of Potala Palace. Here, you can find great murals, Buddhist scriptures and crafts Ganden Monastery: It is the first Gelupga monastery in Tibet (Gelupga is Panchen Lama and Dalai Lama's order). It was founded in 1409 in Taktse County, about 45 kilometers east of Lhasa. There are extremely delicate murals and sculptures. In 1961, it was listed as one of historical relics subject to state protection by the State Council. Namtso Lake: It is one of the three most sacred Lakes in Tibet, located at the northern Lhasa, Dangxung county, you can get there from Lhasa in 3 hrs. It is just like a crystal gem inlaid on the vast Qiangtang Plain. The Nyaiqen Tanglha mountain ranges with peaks over 7000m tower over the lake to the south. Thawed snow from this range makes the body of the lake, so the water is a miraculous shade of turquoise blue, and there are magnificent views of the nearby mountains. The wild open spaces are intoxicating and dotted with the tents of local nomad herders.

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