Four kilometers north of Lhasa lies Sera Monastery, one of the three Gelugpa monasteries. Sera was largely spared from the Cultural Revolution's destructive tendencies and so remains one of the oldest original structures important to Tibetan Buddhism. It is here that the resident monks famously debate Buddhist doctrine in a highly stylized manor with ritualized clapping and stamping to designate starting and stopping points. During most afternoons (around 3:30), you can witness this fascinating procedure. The hill behind Sera is the only place near Lhasa where sky burials still take place. These are not advertised and not open to the public, but if you are lucky enough to happen upon one, keep your distance and remain respectful of this extremely sacred act.   more >>

Any trip to Lhasa will warrant a few visits to Barkhor Square—the religious heart and market center of the capital. The plaza itself was created and paved not too long ago and by the Chinese, but the Tibetans have embraced the space, and despite electronic eyes (look for the rooftop cameras) keeping watch, the place still seems to have an authentic feel. The square is a popular place for protests and demonstrations (though these are becoming rare and small due to strict surveillance), so while it may seem that the Chinese have taken over the Barkhor by creating this clear-cut, they have instead created a kind of stage for tradition to play on. Take a ride with the circumambulating pilgrims—their clockwise-moving, chanting mass is sure to sweep you up, or shop to your enlightened heart's content at a variety of traditional handicraft-selling stalls. There are plenty of p... more >>

Ganden Monastery is an important monastic university—the first of the three large Gelugpa spiritual and educational centers built in the early 15th century. The monastery complex is located about 40 kilometers from Lhasa but is worth the trek. The Red Guard did a thorough job destroying much of Ganden in 1959 (the thousands of resident monks were forced to dismantle many of the buildings themselves by hand) and almost finished it off in 1966 with firearms and explosives. Much of the sect moved to India to rebuild the monastery in a safe-haven, but the original Tibetan location is also being rebuilt—quite rapidly—so that there is plenty to visit today. Many ruins from the original structures remain, too, creating a whole picture of the place's history. The founder of Buddhism's Gelugpa sect, Tsongkhapa, who had the Ganden Monastery built, spent much of his time her... more >>

The Norbulingka palace complex was built by the Seventh Dalai Lama (1708-1757) to house Tibet's government officials during the hot summer months, providing a cool shady retreat from Potala Palace's exposure to the sun. The procession from Potala to Norbulingka was an important spectacle for many years, marking summer's arrival in Lhasa. In the 1950s, the current Dalai Lama built the New Summer Palace, an addition to Norbulingka, where he eventually had to hide out (this turned into a permanent vacation) when the Red Guard invaded Lhasa in 1959. Norbulingka wasn't spared the Cultural Revolution's destruction and was eventually reduced to ruins. It has since been reconstructed and renovated by the Chinese and turned into a tourist site complete with a zoo (one of China's most depressing) and souvenir shops. The palace complex is still in much disrepair, but the New Summer Palace ret... more >>

A palace was originally built at this site in 637 by Songtsen Gampo, and even though none of that original structure remains, it's clear that the place had some spiritual draw because the Fifth Dalai Lama built the present-day Potala Palace in the same spot in the late 17th century. The massive palace was at one time the largest building in the world and remains a spectacular imposition to Lhasa's landscape today. It's hard to keep your eyes off the palace's many levels and hard not to wonder what went on in all those rooms (over a thousand) over the centuries. It was for hundreds of years a self-contained fortress of religious and political significance.   The only real activity going on in the palace today is tourist activity and the place is buzzing with Chinese and foreign visitors. With the Dalai Lama in exile and Tibet under Chinese governance, there's no political or ... more >>

Lhasa's premier temple, considered the most sacred Buddhist building in all of Tibet, has been impressively restored in recent decades, making it nearly impossible for an untrained eye to detect what dates from the latter 20th century and what goes all the way back to 647, when Tibetan ruler Songstän Gampo initiated contstruction of this powerful symbol of Tibetan faith. That symbolic power has made it a flashpoint in recent unrest, and travelers should be conscious of the fact (if they somehow have managed the nearly impossible and are already not) that the temple is one of the most politically sensitive spots within the boundaries of today's People's Republic. As for the site's history, you're likley to hear two competitng tales explaining the choice of Jokhang's location. The first is that Songstän Gampo's Nepalese wife chose the most diff... more >>

Yumbulagang's origins are shrouded in mystery. The site is reputedly more than 2,000 years old, commissioned by a king who descended to Tibet from the sky. More solid history about the palace comes from the 7th century when Songtsen Gampo used the site as a summer home. Most of what you'll see there today can be firmly dated to 1982, which maybe detracts from the mythology, but the palace does have a spectacular location on a craggy ridge above the valley floor near Tsetang. There's still a handful of monks living at Yumbulagang, and the interior walls' murals, while not old, tell of Tibet's early mythological history. The hike to the site is easy and pleasant, but there's always the option of riding a yak for around 15 RMB if you're into pack animals. more >>

To get to the Samye Monastery from Lhasa, you'll have to take an early morning bus to the Samye ferry (recommended) or Tsetang bridge to get across the river. Most pilgrims and tourists hitchhike the 9 kilometers from the crossing to the monastery. Despite this rather troublesome journey, most visitors to Samye are pleasantly surprised by this out-of-the way attraction. It is, after all, the oldest monastery in Tibet, built more than 1,200 years ago, and a symbol of Buddhism's triumph over Bon, the previous religion of the Tibetan plateau. The first Buddhist structure in the region was designed to reflect the shape of the universe and blends Tibetan, Chinese and Indian architectural styles. Like all religious buildings in Tibet, Samye has incurred damage and destruction, but restorations over the years ensure your enjoyment of site and lasting impressions.   more >>

Nam-tso (Heavenly Lake/Namucuo), is the highest salt water lake in the world, situated at an elevation of 4,718 meters (15,479 ft.) above sea level. The clear, sapphire blue waters, encircled by snow-capped mountains make the scenery even more breathtaking than the altitude.  Covering a total area of 1,900 km², the Nam-tso Lake is one of Tibet's holy four, making it a necessary destination for pilgrims and tourists alike. Prayer flags and Sanskrit rock carvings abound, evidence of the lake's importance in Tibetan culture.  Although inhospitable weather conditions prevail during the winter months, many pilgrims still make the journey to the lake. Sub-zero temperatures freeze the water and provide access to the lake's 5 islands, each situated more than 3 km (1.9 mi) from the nearest bank. In years gone by, devout pilgrims would brave the elements and cross t... more >>

Lhasa guide | Lhasa flights | Lhasa hotels | Lhasa tours & activities  Tibet on the China Travel Blog Lake Yamdrok-tso (Yangzhuoyong Hu 羊卓雍錯) presents itself to most visitors as a gloriously vivid turquoise-blue apparition glimpsed as their bus or tour van turns the bend on the old highway linking Lhasa, Shigatse and Gyantse, nearly 4,800 meters above sea level. Jaws drop, eyes are rubbed, photos compulsively snapped: Yes, it's real... it really does glow in midday sun amidst the bleak Tsang Province's dun summer mountainscape like an otherworldly gem. No wonder it's one of Tibet's four holy lakes. Nor is it difficult to see why this astonishingly beautiful body of water is believed to be the earthly home of the Buddhist reincarnation of Dorje Pakmo ("The Diamond Sow"), the third-ranking figure in Tibetan Lamaism after the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lam... more >>