Lhasa, Tibet, all about my memory and travel tips

It had long been a dream of mine to travel to Lhasa and I was fortunate to make that dream come true in the end. Four years ago In 2006, just after the Qinghai-Tibet Railroad (QTR) having been constructed, I went to Tibet and have been there for fourteen days. The life in Tibet is an unforgettable memory to me, which has influenced me a lot. Lhasa to me is a city of wonder and a place for dreams to realize.

Lhasa, as is known to all, is the heart and soul of Tibet, for centuries the abode of the Dalai Lamas and object of devout pilgrimage. While Lhasa has emerged as a surprisingly sprawling city in recent years, orienting yourself is still a relatively simple affair. The city divides clearly into a western section and an eastern section (Chinese section and Tibetan section respectively). The Chinese section holds most Chinese restaurants and bars, while the Tibetan eastern end of town is more colorful and has all the budget and mid-range accommodation popular with travelers from all around the world.

The city is a meaningful Holy City for Tibetan and seems like a place for travelers from all over the world to acquire more about Tibetan culture. While the Potala dominates the Lhasa skyline and, as the residence of the Dalai Lamas, serves as a symbolic focus for Tibetan hopes of self-government, it is the Jokhang, some two thousands kilometers to the east of the Potala, that holds the spiritual heart of the city. An otherworldly mix of somber darkness, wafting incense and prostrating pilgrims, the Jokhang is the most sacred and active of tibet’s temples. Encircling it is the Barkhor, the holiest of Lhasa’s devotional koras, and it is here that most visitors first fall in love with Tibet. The crowding pilgrims, the stall-holders hawking everything from prayer flags to jewel-encrusted yak skulls and the devout tapping their foreheads to the ground at every step is an exotic brew that few newcomers can resist.

After adopting the climate there, I fell in love with Lhasa. At the breezy and shiny day, I would just walk along the road, feeling the refreshing breeze on my face. I think everybody here may have the same feeling like me, and I believe you will also love here if you get here someday.



Here are some tips that may be useful to you:

Transportations: You can get in Lhasa in several methods. Traveling by air is fast, though you might feel sick if flying straight into there. Going by train seems like a better way I recommend, as you may also enjoy the fantastic sightseeing along your way.

Mountain Sickness: If flying straight into Lhasa, you would feel really uncomfortable because of acute mountain sickness. But it is much better if you go by train. Actually, I still felt breathless just
after getting there, more or less, suffering from headaches and sleeping poorly.

Medical Services: It is of significance to get know about the address of hospitals and clinics in case of emergencies. The Military Hospital is at Nangre Beilu, where travelers who have received medical attention confirm can have the best treatments in Tibet there.

Banks: It is not so convenient to find a ATM in Lhasa. There is one by the Xiaofan guesthouse, on the east of Potala Square. Actually, it really took me a lot of time to get to the right place. I believe you can’t miss it.

Post: The main post office is the right place. The counter is in the far left corner as you walk through the main doors sells stamp and packaging for parcels. You can post your own postcards to your friends all over the world, as Tibet may be a place of wonder for them.

Guest house: The Chinese section holds most accommodations, as well as Chinese restaurants and bars. Most travelers find their place here. As for me, the Post guesthouse was nice and comfortable, while it was also a good deal to set down there.