Travel Notes | Come to Lhasa, come to Potala

In Tibet, there are living beings and gods, fireworks and beliefs, holy places and snow-capped mountains, common people and super-ego. There are several necessities in life, and a trip to Tibet is one of them. Taking advantage of the benefits provided by my old employer, I decided to stop in Lhasa for my trip. I had been nervous since September, fearing high altitude sickness, but as October approached, I calmed down. People who have been to Tibet say that a good attitude is to cope with it. The best way to get high resistance , don’t deceive me.

Table of contents

travel arrangements

Main itinerary

Little homework

Travel thoughts

After arriving in Lhasa and resting in the hotel, we found that we were all in good condition. We made a temporary reservation for Princess Wencheng's live performance that night, and went to Barkhor Street for a walk while there was still time.

Barkhor Street is a famous place in Lhasa. Surrounding the Jokhang Temple, there are "Majiami" of Tsangyang Gyatso and local people holding prayer wheels. There are many small shops on the street, and many unique handicrafts are dazzling. Although I know nothing about beeswax, turquoise, and cinnabar, I still have an eye for it. There are many Tibetan clothing photo and photography shops in Barkhor Street. If you walk a few steps, you can meet "Dolma" and "Tashi" who take photos. Walk slowly and feel the customs and customs of the snowy plateau.

The outdoor stage built against the mountain relies on real scenes to create an atmosphere. The moon is full and bright in the mountains. It is a very shocking performance. The stage is beautifully decorated, with a large number of actors and a coherent plot. You can see Guozhuang dance, Aga, Tibetan opera, and various celebratory dances with unique Tibetan characteristics. Outside the theater are rows of small art shops. It is recommended to arrive early before the performance time to have a browse. Friendly reminder to arrange the car back to the hotel as soon as possible after the performance. We queued up with more than 70 people on Didi, and we were exhausted from waiting.

From the theater, you can overlook the Potala Palace. The Potala Palace under the lights at night is particularly holy. The moon is full on August 15th, this is the place closest to the moon.

The Potala Palace is the most sacred place in the snow-covered plateau and a must-see during this trip. I arrived at the Potala Palace Square early in the morning and followed the crowd through the security check. I wanted to see it for myself, but after seeing the instructor's explanation, I thought twice about inviting a tour guide and followed everyone to worship the Potala Palace. On the road, there were mostly tourists and a small number of Tibetan compatriots. Most of the Tibetan compatriots were older grandmothers. They climbed the stairs all the way. They walked around and took a rest. Some of them were carried up the mountain by others. This made me cherish this trip even more. journey.

The Potala Palace has a total of 13 floors, consisting of the Red Palace and the White House. The Red Palace is the Buddhist hall and the Dalai Lama's stupa hall; the White House is the Dalai Lama's winter palace, with the main hall, office and living room; Xuecheng once It is a village and town below the Potala Palace. It is now an important part of the architectural system of the Potala Palace. It is an administrative and judicial office, an institution that provides daily services to the ruler, and a residence for monks, laymen, nobles, and officials.

The Dalai Lama's pagoda is enshrined in the Potala Palace. The pagoda is wrapped and inlaid with gold and precious stones, and contains countless magical treasures. But in the Potala Palace, the most precious thing is not the things that can be measured in value, such as gold and gems, but the things that cannot be measured in value, such as scriptures and the spirit of asceticism. Tibetan Buddhism cultivates the afterlife and suffers in this life, but hopes to be in the Paradise of Paradise in the next life.

The Jokhang Temple is located in the center of the old city of Lhasa. After visiting the Potala Palace, we arrived here on foot. The Jokhang Temple has a history of more than 1,300 years. It is "Juekang" in Tibetan and is the destination of pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhist believers. "First there was the Jokhang Temple." , followed by the city of Lhasa."

On Barkhor Street outside the Jokhang Temple, many locals are holding prayer wheels and turning. There are dark-skinned men in long robes; there are women holding children with their braids decorated with gems; there are also women carrying butter and walking unsteadily. elder. How many devout believers have traveled thousands of miles to Lhasa with their life-long heads bowed, just to visit the 12-year-old life-size Buddha statue of Sakyamuni in the temple during their lifetime. The Buddha statue has kind eyebrows and kind eyes, looking at all living beings from a distance. Thank you for visiting me.

Photography is not allowed in the temple. Simply put, "Photography is allowed where you can see the sky, but photography is not allowed where you can't see the sky." When visiting a temple, you need to listen to the history quietly. Feel the story of this land.

On the third day, we started heading towards Shigatse and passed by Xie Zhulin Monastery, which is located in Gonggar County, Shannan, Tibet and is a Gelug sect monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. In the temple, there is the only physical statue of the Heavenly Mother that has survived a thousand years ago in the whole of Tibet. It is said that she passed away a thousand years ago and was only twelve years old. After her death, her body naturally shrank to only one cubit in height. Take a seated position of Tara. Legend has it that she is the true incarnation of Green Tara in the auspicious heavenly body, and was later enshrined by believers in this temple. The room is not big, and the auspicious heavenly mother is enshrined in a Buddhist niche on the left side. She is as big as a five or six-year-old girl. There is a hymn to this girl in "Praise to Atisha":

The girl from Zhaxi, Qinru, offered her headdress and committed suicide to show that she had done so.

The good girl was reborn in the Pure Land world and prayed in front of the venerable person who saved her from this life.

Since then, she has gone to Tushita Heaven and respectfully respects me for all kinds of things.

When we meet in Tushita heaven, we will tell you in detail, and we will show you the future and pray in front of you.

There are many things that cannot be explained with the knowledge I know. For these, I choose to be in awe and respect.

Yamdrok Yumcuo is the "Goddess' scattered turquoise earrings" in the hearts of Tibetans. She, Kongmu Cuo, Shen Cuo and Bajiu Cuo are linked hand and foot in the huge lake basin and are inseparable, winding for more than 130 kilometers in the mountains. . Under a clear sky, it looks blue and dreamy, perfect for drone aerial photography.

There are local people bringing yaks and Tibetan mastiffs next to Yanghu Lake, where you can take pictures. The Tibetan Mastiff cubs are so cute and fluffy, but I still don’t have the courage to take a photo, so I can only take a close look to satisfy my eyes. Yanghu Lake is very long, and several spots are set up for tourists to watch and take photos.

After coming out of Yamdrok Lake, we crossed the 4330-meter Smila Pass and came to the ice tongue of Karola Glacier. The front edge of the glacier tongue is 5,560 meters above sea level and is one of the three largest continental glaciers in Tibet. "Lonely Planet" said: The reason why Tibet is called the land of snow is precisely because it is nourished by countless snow-capped mountains and glaciers, and has highland barley and yaks, horses and beauties, prayer flags and hada. As fate would have it, the Tibetan people regard the snow-capped mountains as their gods and come to visit them every year.

This time it was just a quick glance, I hope I can take a closer look next time.

Gyatso La Pass is 5248 meters tall, also known as Dingrijie. It is the pass of Mount Everest National Nature Reserve and the only way to Everest National Park. There is sparse vegetation above 4000 meters above sea level, the sky is delicate and soft, and the mountains are rough. Hard, the upper half of the field of vision is pure tile blue, and the lower half is monotonous ocher red and grayish yellow.

When we got here, the wind was very strong and I was shivering. When the altitude reached 5,000 meters, my teammates' altitude sickness began to become serious and they needed oxygen from time to time. Colorful prayer flags flutter in the wind on the high mountains. Snow-capped mountains are looming in the distance, and the altitude gradually rises.

After much hesitation when planning the itinerary, many people advised us to start in Linzhi first and then go to the base camp after getting used to it. After much deliberation, we decided on the itinerary for Everest Base Camp.

The mountain road is long and winding, and it is bumpy and wandering on the edge of motion sickness and high altitude sickness. Holding back a breath of fairy spirit, we arrived at the small mountain village under the base camp, and then transferred to a scenic vehicle to arrive at the monument of the base camp. Looking at Mount Everest towering in front of me, it feels like everything is worth it. A sense of awe for nature arises spontaneously. Mount Everest is not just a mountain, but a national pride brought by generations of climbers who have the courage to face the challenges of nature and challenge themselves.

The accommodation conditions at Everest Base Camp are relatively simple, all in Datongbu. Friends who are going, please be mentally prepared and have enough oxygen bottles.

The full name of the Rongbuk Monastery is "Latucha Rongbutong Aquling Monastery". It was founded in 1899 and is a temple of the Nyingma sect. It is located at the foot of Mount Everest at an altitude of 5154 meters. The terrain is high and cold. It is the highest temple in the world. The Rongbuk Monastery was once It is large in scale and once had more than a dozen affiliated temples, some of which are still in Nepal but were later destroyed due to historical reasons. When you come to Everest Base Camp, you must visit Rongbuk Temple. I was a little out of breath climbing up and down the Rongbuk Temple, and I rested for a long time before recovering. Don't overestimate yourself, you will feel much better after breathing oxygen for a while.

"The majesty, weirdness, and extraordinary sights of the world often lie in the dangers and distances that are rarely visited by people."This sentence is particularly suitable for Qilin Gorge. Qilinxia Scenic Area belongs to the Everest Reserve. We drove here after leaving Everest Base Camp the next morning. Qilinxia Scenic Area is a karst landform formed by tens of millions of years of glacial snow erosion and cutting. It is about 15 kilometers long and 500 kilometers wide. meters, about 200 meters deep, is a typical stone forest canyon landform. There is a river in the canyon. The snow water from the snow-capped mountains melts and gathers here, dividing the canyon into two. It is particularly shocking when you are immersed in it.

Tashilhunpo Temple is the largest temple in Shigatse, Tibet. It is the political and religious center of "Houzang" and the place where the Panchen Lama has been stationed since the fourth generation. Together with the "three major monasteries" Ganden Monastery, Sera Monastery and Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, they are collectively known as the "Four Major Monasteries" of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. When you come to Shigatse, you must visit Tashi Lhunpo Temple. Tashi Lhunpo Temple is large in scale and has 57 sutra halls. The Cuoqin Hall in the temple can accommodate 2,000 people to chant sutras. The entire temple is built on the hillside.

The temple has a complete management system, including schools and hospitals. The old monks and young monks take special care of them. As the sun sets, the bells ring from the main hall. The monks put on their outer robes and walk towards the main hall. The sound of chanting can be heard in the distance. This is the original appearance of the temple.

In order to make it easier to visit Norbulingka, we specially booked the hotel for our last night next to it. Norbulingka is the place where the Dalai Lama of past dynasties spent their summers and governed. It is a large Tibetan-style garden and the largest man-made garden in Tibet. Walking among the woods and flowers, it makes people forget that this is a plateau with an altitude of more than 3,000 meters. There are major architectural structures such as Kelsang Phodrang (built by the 7th Dalai Lama), Golden Phodrang (built by the 13th Dalai Lama), Daden Mingjiupodrang (built by the Central People's Government for the 14th Dalai Lama), etc. Compared with the rooms in the Potala Palace, this place is brighter and more comfortable. There are a library and a palace in the middle of the lake. The pools, lawns, trees and houses complement each other. The pavilions and pavilions are almost entirely in the Han architectural style. Walking here feels like walking into a southern garden.

It used to be a summer palace where dignitaries rested, but now it has become a place where locals bring tents and snacks to relax together.

When I saw the photos of Tibetan clothes on Barkhor Street, I couldn't help but try them out. I followed my eyes and walked into a store. After asking about the price, I was even more determined to take the photo. The price was very favorable, and all the negatives were given, with 10+ polishes. Zhang, for girls, this cannot be refused.

I chose the most classic red Tibetan dress. Because I was tired, I was not in good condition during the shooting. However, the result was unexpectedly good and I will keep it as a souvenir.

*Viewing: Barkhor Street

1. Potala Palace

Ticket reservation: Tickets for the Buda Palace need to be booked on the "Potala Palace Ticket Reservation and Booking System" applet 1 day in advance. One person can only book 1 ticket, and you need to go to the ticket office to purchase tickets during the reserved period.

Tour guide: Every plant and thing in the Bu Palace has a rich history. It is recommended to ask a tour guide to explain it. There are many personal tour guides outside the Bu Palace. We chose one at random, but the explanations were average. The tour guide next to me was very good! It is recommended that you hire a good tour guide. The experience of visiting and the knowledge you gain will be completely different. The same goes for Jokhang Temple, which also requires a tour guide to explain.

2.Princess Wencheng’s live performance

Ticket booking: It is recommended to book through agency channels, you can get tickets at about 50% off. We were contacted through the help of friends. Thank you to our friends in Tibet.

Equipment: The performance is in an open-air theater and starts at 21:00. It will be cold in the second half of the performance. It is recommended that you wear more clothes to save money on renting a coat. If you don’t have much to wear, there are people who rent coats at the entrance of the theater.

Transportation: It is very convenient to take a taxi in Didi in Lhasa. We took a taxi to the theater and planned to take a taxi back. But I miscalculated the number of people taking a taxi, and the queue reached 70+. I waited until the end of time, and then I took a ride down the mountain from a staff member. It is recommended that you call a taxi or arrange transportation back in advance.

3.Tibetan clothing photo

There are many photo shops near the Brada Palace and Jokhang Temple. The clothing and prices are similar, and 1V1 shooting is available. We chose a store directly based on luck. You can do your homework in advance, or you can do the same as us and just look at fate and don’t worry too much.

*Price for reference: 399 yuan/set, 1V1 shooting, all negatives sent, 10+ photos refined.

4. Everest Base Camp

It is recommended to buy portable oxygen bottles in stores in Lhasa in advance. Don’t overestimate yourself and be fully prepared. Accommodation conditions near the base camp are limited, so it is recommended to prepare sleeping bags in advance so that you can sleep better.

5.Accommodation experience

There are three five-star hotels in Lhasa, Intercontinental, St. Regis, and Shangri-La. Those with sufficient budget can choose from. We gave up because hotel prices were too high during National Day. I chose a Tibetan-style hotel and the accommodation experience was pretty good. The hotel has diffused oxygen supply and special oxygen equipment at the bedside (paid). Free unlimited Rhodiola rosea is provided at the front desk. You can take a bottle back to the room to drink. .

Their Tibetan restaurant tastes very good. We had our first meal here in Lhasa and the impression was very good.

*Lhasa Snow Dragon Manor Hotel

Tibet is a place worth visiting again and again. The first time is just a peek, a small understanding of the local customs and customs, and I look forward to a deeper experience when I come back.

The night before leaving Lhasa, I sat on the ground in the square with my teammates and looked at the Potala Palace quietly. Under the night lights, the Potala Palace was particularly sacred. The thoughts in my heart are constantly churning, including thoughts about life, gains from this trip, and quietly feeling the mood of the moment. On the way to the base camp, I experienced bumps and high altitude sickness. My body was very tired, but my mind was extremely clear. We only have one life, and when we have the ability and choice, we should try to make it as colorful as possible.

The world is so big, we should go out and walk more.

2020 is a year of twists and turns, but also an extremely rich year. Job hopping across industries, a family trip to Zhuhai-Macau, a trip to Singapore wearing short-sleeves to celebrate the New Year, relaxation in Xiamen, and this time in Lhasa. I have experienced epidemic prevention and control without leaving home, and I am also constantly learning in new positions. Go out for a walk and feel the vastness of the world and the insignificance of yourself. Among all living beings, we are just a drop in the ocean.

Life has infinite possibilities, but we all need to take the initiative to go out on our own. Only if you strive for it can you get it. Work hard and live well.

We hope that our lives will be colorful and successful in everything.