The Top Things to Do in Lhasa
Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, is the political, economic, cultural, scientific and technological and tourism center of Tibet. It is located on the Tibetan plateau, surrounded by the Himalayan mountains. It has a history of more than 1,300 years, which is why there are countless cultural relics in this mysterious land. In this article we are going to present some things to do in Lhasa so that tourists have an opportunity to acquire an unforgettable experience.
Visit the Potala Palace
Located on the Red Mountain in central Lhasa, the Potala Palace is one of the most beautiful and iconic attractions in Tibet. Originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century, the imposing Potala Palace is the symbol of the city. The palace is made up of the white and red palaces, plus additional structures inside. The palace as a whole has a thousand rooms with some relics, allowing you to appreciate Tibetan culture and heritage. The tomb of the 5th Dalai Lama is particularly impressive. The monks work and live in the palace, and because many areas are not open to the public, visitors must follow certain routes. No photography of any kind is allowed inside the palace.
Appreciate Lake Yamdrok
Yamdrok Lake, also known as Yamḍok Yumtso, is an important lake in China, one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. It has an area of 638 square kilometers and more than 72 kilometers long. The lake is surrounded by many snow-capped mountains and is fed by numerous streams. According to local mythology, Lake Yamdok is the transformation of a goddess. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Yamdrok Lake is regarded as a sapphire plateau, with ever-changing colors of rich blue layers, showing a blue dream world to all people. On the map, Yamdrok is a goat standing in the mountains, and like a scorpion holding a pair of tweezers and a pair of earrings embedded in the mountain's ear. Going to Yamdrok Lake has to be one of the best things to do in Lhasa.
Take a step down the street
A busy market and sacred pilgrimage route, Barkhor Street is a good area to take a walk, discover local culture and traditions, and shop for souvenirs. There are 120 craft shops and more than 200 street stalls. It is a good option not to be missed by tourists coming to Lhasa, so you can buy anything related to Tibet, from bags of incense, pieces of yak butter to monk suits. Shopping on Barkhor Street is undoubtedly an ideal place during your trip in Lhasa.
Drink Sweet Tea
Just like you should visit the tea house in Chengdu, take a Hutong tour in Beijing, drinking sweet tea is a thing to do in Lhasa. Sweet tea takes the first place in Lhasa daily life, and the sweet tea houses in every corner are the closest to Lhasa life. Sweet tea is made from black tea, milk or milk powder and white sugar mixed together, it has a sweet and delicious taste and is rich in nutrients. You can opt for a Tibetan tea house, where it is the most popular place in Lhasa, order a cup of Tibetan sweet tea, killing the entire afternoon's time leisurely. The existence of Tibetan tea houses teaches people how to enjoy life.
Try traditional Tibetan foods
Lhasa food is the combination of Tibet and Sichuan food. Typical Lhasa snacks are very tasty, such as sweet tea, yogurt, Tibetan noodles, barley wine. We recommend three places that are very popular among domestic and international tourists to taste traditional foods: Deji Street of the West District, Potala Palace Square and Beijing Middle Street.
