Tibet Province

Early Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo’s capital, Lhasa truly stands as the spiritual, economic and cultural heart of Tibet for over 1400 years. Averaging an elevation of 3658m, the historical Lhasa city lies peacefully in the fertile plain of Lhasa valley, with dazzling Lhasa River running from its northeast to southwest.

To the first-timers of Tibet, Lhasa is a realm of spirituality, inexplicably holy and mysterious. The first building that comes to your sight has got to be the imposing vista of Potala Palace, perched on Red Hill.

As you move closer to the downtown, esp. old district of Lhasa, you find the city is teeming with activities.

The local Tibetans, young and old, either prostrating or walking the kora around holy Jokahang Temple, and Potala Palace; old folks constantly mumbling Buddhist mantra while spinning their hand-held prayer wheels in clockwise fashion; locals mingling with international tourists sipping Tibetan sweet tea in the boisterous tea houses; street vendors and shop owners of lines of small boutiques touting exquisite souvenirs, jewelry and thangka paintings in bustling Barkhor bazaar; novice Tibetan monks debating vigorously with each other in Sera Monastery, etc.

Old and new, religious and secular find perfect blend in this ancient city. As you roam the old street of Lhasa and tour its prestigious Tibetan monasteries and holy lakes like

Yamdrok Lake and Namtso Lake away from the city, your fantasy of exploring a dreamy religious world would be fully granted.