Tibet travel guide
The morning sun, rising over Mount Niseri, first illuminated the golden roof before slowly setting on the red walls and stone paths. Several elderly Tibetans, carrying prayer wheels, walked clockwise along the outer wall of the monastery. Tourists stopped to take pictures, but they maintained their pace, as if they passed through here every day.
Namcha Barwa is a suitable addition to any itinerary that includes Nyingchi, the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, Sosong Village, Zhibai Village, or the Sejila Pass. For tourists from Singapore and Malaysia, the real challenges lie simultaneously in terms of visibility on the snow-capped mountains, altitude acclimatization, transportation connections, and obtaining permits to Tibet.
We chartered a car from downtown Lhasa and drove east along the Lhasa River Valley. The mountains outside the car window gradually changed from yellowish-brown to ochre red. About an hour later, the driver dropped me off at the end of a sandy road and said, "We're here. Walk up yourself."
One morning, you stand at the entrance to Barkhor Street and see a group of elderly people in Tibetan robes, holding prayer wheels and chanting the six-syllable mantra, slowly making their way along the stone-paved road. Their steps are unhurried, their expressions focused, as if they are walking a path only they can reach. Vendors along the roadside are just beginning to display brightly colored coral bead strings, and the smoke from Tibetan incense gently drifts in the cool morning air. This street needs no introduction.
At 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a queue had already formed at the small shop in front of Zhaqi Temple in Lhasa. This scene repeats itself every week, with participants including Tibetan businessmen, merchants from mainland China, and Nepalese...
At 3:30 a.m., before dawn in Lhasa, the foot of Drepung Monastery was already crowded with people. Most had arrived the night before, spreading out blankets and sitting on the hillside waiting. Not far away, some people were [...]
At 5:30 a.m., before dawn in Lhasa, a group of people with cameras had already gathered on the Chakpori Hill viewing platform. They weren't waiting for the sunrise, but rather for the view that would allow the Potala Palace to […].
Winter travel to Tibet: avoid the crowds and enjoy a leisurely trip on a minimal budget. This guide compiles winter travel deals, best ways to experience Tibet, and more.
Nestled on the southern slopes of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang lies a mysterious place known as the "Hometown of Chinese Falcons": Akqi County. This is the ancestral home of the Kyrgyz people, and the place where falcons have been tamed for millennia…
Why is the Karola Glacier worth a visit? On the mysterious snow-covered plateau of Tibet, there lies a breathtaking natural wonder: the Karola Glacier. Compared to those requiring a long journey...
A Deep Dive into the Karola Glacier: A Blue and White Dragon on the Tibetan Plateau Read More »