Top 8 attractions in Lhasa

In Tibetan language, Lhasa means the "Holy Land" or the "Buddha Land". It is the center of Tibet's politics, economy and culture. The city has also been appointed as one of the 24 historical and cultural cities of China. The splendor and grandeur of the Potala Palace remains a world-famous symbol of the enigmatic power of politics and religion in this region.

Potala Palace

As the top must-see attraction in Lhasa, Potala Palace is the highest palace in the world and one of the most famous architectural works in the world. Located at an altitude of 3700m on the top of a rocky Red Hill, it is the navigation light in the snow-covered plateau guiding all the pilgrims.

Jokhang Temple

As the spiritual heart of Lhasa, Jokhang Temple is a 4-story wooden complex with roofs covered with gilded bronze tiles. Tibetan people from all over the world come here to kowtow in the front of the entrance with their pure heart. Pilgrims come and go; the butter lamp never extinguish.

Sera Monastery

Located 5 km northern suburb of Lhasa, Sera Monastery is one of the three great monasteries (Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Ganden Monastery) in Lhasa. One of the features of Sera Monastery is the debating tradition. Monks will gather in the central courtyard and debate the points of Buddhist learning. This scene has become the symbolic picture of Sera Monastery, which attracts countless travelers to watch it.

Barkhor Street

Located in the old town of Lhasa City, Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always doing kora around it. As a symbol of Lhasa, for visitors, Barkhor Street is a magical place paved by hand-polished stone boards, accommodating thousands of local people and tourists every day. There are countless shops and vendors standing on the both sides of the street where you can buy suvenirs like prayer wheels, long-sleeve 'chuba' (the Tibetan people's traditional clothes), Tibetan knives and some religious articles for sale. Furthermore, some shops sell 'Thangka' (the Tibetan scroll painting), which is a unique art of Tibet with the themes of religion, history, literature, science and customs. 

Notice: Goods like knife and animal bones are not allowed to take abroad. Please kindly consult with our guide before buying.

Drepung Monastery

Drepung Monastery sits on the slope of the Wuze Hill in Genbei 5 kilometers northwest of Lhasa. It was built in 1416 and is the largest of the monastery of the Gelug Sect, covering an area of 250,000 square meters. In its heyday, it had more than 10,000 monks, which had trained a large group of talents for Tibetan Buddhism, housing plenty of historical and cultural relics and Buddhist classics.The fifth Dalai Lama lived here before he moved to Potala Palace. If you have limited time but want to know the history and culture of Tibet, doing the Lhasa City tour would be a good choice as it covers most of the highlights in the Lhasa City.

Ramoche Monastery

Ramoche Monastery is located in the northwest of Lhasa, covering a total area of 4000 square meters. The original complex was first built by Han Chinese architects in the middle of the 7th century (during the Tang Dynasty). Therefore, the temple is a wonderful combination of Han and Tibetan architectural styles. Nowadays, Ramoche Monastery has become the very place for the Tibetan monks to study sutra.

Norbulingka

The Norbulingka, literally "Jewel Garden" in Tibetan language, was the summer palace for the Dalai Lamas, locating in the west suburb of Lhasa. It was built in the 40's of the 18th century and covers an area of 36 hectares. At that time, the high commissioners of the Qing Dynasty stationing to Tibet built the first palace for the 7th Dalai Lama. Consequently, the 8th, the 13th, and the 14th Dalai Lamas had their palaces built here. Through 200 years expansion and management, it has become a large garden and palace today. During every holiday, people come here dressing in their best clothes and bring their tents to eat and have fun with friends and families, singing and dancing till night. When in Shoton Festival, Tibetan opera will be performed in the Norbuingka as well. You can check the Tibet Festivals when planning the trip to Tibet accordingly.

Yangpachen Hot Spring

Though not as famous as other scenic spots such as the Potala Palace in Tibet, Yangpachen attracts visitors for its unique resources: hot springs. About 87 kilometers (54 miles) away from Lhasa and covering an area of 40 square kilometers (2,471 acres), Yangpachen gains its fame from the abundant geothermic heat which provides people with much to explore. First exploited in the 1970s, one generating plant was built which now provides up to 45% of Lhasa's total electricity. If you join in the Namtso Lake tour, on the way back to Lhasa city, we will experience the hot spring with local peoples. Please kindly remember to bring your own swimming suit as well!

Check the Weather in Lhasa before planning your Tibet trip and prepare suitable clothes accordingly! or check the FAQs, which can help solve your problems