ChinaRoam
ChinaRoam
Metro routes that work, tickets you can actually book, food you can order, and the payment hacks no guidebook prints — city by city.
The roof-of-the-world capital — the Potala Palace, the Jokhang pilgrimage circuit, and prayer-flag-covered valleys at 3,600 m.
Fly into Gonggar Airport (LXA) — road transfers into Lhasa take ~1h. The Qinghai–Tibet Railway from Xining (20h) is the legendary overland route with oxygen on board.
Foreigners MUST travel with a Tibet Travel Permit + licensed guide/tour, arranged before arrival via a registered agency. You cannot book the Potala Palace ticket or fly in independently. Budget 2–3 weeks of lead time.
Taxis and DiDi in the city; your tour provides transport to out-of-town sites.
The iconic 13-storey winter palace of the Dalai Lamas — a labyrinth of chapels and tombs. Limited daily tickets, arranged through your tour.
Reserve: Required — via licensed tour
The holiest temple in Tibet, encircled by the Barkhor pilgrimage kora — join the pilgrims walking it clockwise.
Reserve: Via tour
The old town circuit of prayer wheels, incense and Tibetan craft shops around the Jokhang.
Reserve: None
Famous for the monks' debating in the courtyard every afternoon — lively and photogenic.
Reserve: None
Once the world's largest monastery, spread across a hillside above the city.
Reserve: None
Salty butter tea — the staple, warming at altitude (an acquired taste).
Roasted barley flour with tea — the classic Tibetan fuel.
Steamed or fried dumplings with yak or vegetables.
Dried yak and yak hotpot at the family-run restaurants.
3,600 m. Ascend slowly, hydrate hard, and take it easy for the first 48h. Oxygen canisters are sold everywhere; diamox helps if you plan ahead.
Book a licensed guide/tour BEFORE flying — solo independent travel is not allowed for foreigners. This is non-negotiable.
Walk the kora clockwise, don't photograph monks without asking, and don't touch religious objects.
April–October; the high season is July–Sept. Winter is cold and thin-air but less crowded.
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