Tibet, with abundant natural and cultural recourses, is always a charming mysterious land that attracted tourists from all over the world. TopChinaTravel would like to introduce some of the Best Places to visit in Tibet, to help you find your way to explore the unspoiled beauty of this highland area. Where to visit in Tibet? Travel with us, you will have chance to visit the majestic monasteries, experience the unsophisticated custom, and even get closer to the highest mountain on earth to appreciate its tremendous momentum, etc.
Originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century, the awe-inspiring Potala Palace, perched high above much of Lhasa, is the landmark of the city.
Built against the Red Hill, Potala Palace is a spectacular castle-like building complex of Lhasa, which is used to be the unification centre of political and religious of Tibet. Covered an area of over 360, 000 square meters, it is a great palace of art with creative designing and gorgeous decoration. Its conservative religious atmosphere, precious scriptures, murals, jewels and antiques housed inside, earning it a place on UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site list.
Jokhang Temple, is the irreplaceable representative of Tibetan religion. One can even say that this temple occupies an unchallengeable position of Tibetan Buddhism. The Jokhang Temple, which located in the center of old Lhasa city, with the Barkhor Street surrounded, formed the “heart” of ancient Lhasa.
Built in 647 by Songtsen Gampo, Jokhang Temple is the oldest civil-structure building in Tibet that has a history of more than 1,300 years. It well mixed Tibetan, Tang-Dynasty, Nepalese and Indian style of architecture together, initiated a new space layout model for Tibetan monastery.
As one of the most popular tourist attractions in Lhasa, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site 'Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace'.
Recommended Tour: Lhasa Tours
Stood at the south part of Tingri County in southern Tibet, Mt. Everest, or Qomolangma in Tibet, is the highest mountain of the world. With a height of 8,848 m above sea level, this mountain is permanently covered with snow. Its body assumes the shape of a pyramid with its peak stabbed the sky. Its snow peak sends out silver radiance year after year. Its waist is hidden in the clouds.
As the earth’s highest mountain, it is the ultimate goal of every mountain lovers. The optimum weather to visit Mt. Everest is from April to June, a golden period for mountaineers. But due to its complicated and volatile natural environment, it is actually a tough job even for those well-experienced mountaineers.
Recommended Tour: Mt. Everest Tours
Located in the center of Shigatse, Tashihunpo Monastery is one of the six big monasteries in Tibet. It founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama, is the oldest monastery in Shigatse area. It is the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second ranking person in the Gelugpa Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy, after the Dalai Lama.
Standing on the entrance of Tashihunpo, you can see the grand buildings with golden roofs and white walls. The remarkable Tangka wall which is nine-floor high, displays the images of Buddha on the 14th, 15th and 16th of May every year following the Tibetan Lunar Calendar.
Since the early 1980s parts of the Tashilhunpo monastery have been open to the public and it is an important tourist attraction in Tibet today.
Recommended Tour: Shigatse Tours
Yamdrok Lake is one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet, along with Namtso Lake and Lake Manasarovar. In Tibetan language, Yamdrok Lake means “jade lake” or “swam pool”. Surrounded by grand snow-capped mountains, this lake is fed by numerous small streams. With an area of 621 square kilometers, this fan-shaped lake with vast lakeside grassland, is also a fertilized highland pasture. According to local mythology, Yamdrok Lake is the transformation of a goddess.
There are shoals of fish living in Yamdrok Yumtso lake, which are commercially exploited by local population. From April to October, fish caught from this lake are sold at markets in Lhasa. Besides, the lake's islands serve as rich pasture land to local herdmen.
Namtso Lake is the second salt lake in China, which located on the border between Damxung County and Baingoin County, Nagqu, Tibet. The lake lies at an elevation of 4,718 m, thus it is also the highest lake of this kind on earth.
Namtso is renowned as one of the most beautiful places in the Nyainqêntanglha mountain range with pure clean water which reflected the color of the sky. Thus the local people named it Nam as in Tibetan language, Nam means “Sky”. It is also one of the three sacred lakes in Tibet, along with Yamdrok Lake and Lake Manasarovar.
This lake is one of the 4 scared lakes of Tibetan Buddhism. There are 5 islands lie on the water, which is said that they are embodiments of gods. Every year, hundreds of thousands pilgrims come here to worship the Holy Spirit it represented.
Lake Manasarovar or Mapam Yumco is a fresh-water lake in Ngari, 2,000 km from Lhasa. It lies at 4,556 m above mean sea level, making it the highest fresh-water lake in the world. Like Mount Kailash, Lake Manasasarovar is a place of pilgrimage, and it is one of the 3 scared Lakes in Tibet, along with Namtso Lake and Yamdrok Lake.
The lake, in Hindu religious belief, the lake was first created in the mind of the Lord Brahma. It is also supposed to be the summer abode of swans. Considered as sacred birds, the swans represent wisdom and beauty. It attracts religious people from Tibet, India, Nepal, and the other neighboring countries.
Mount Kailash or known as Gangs Rin-po-che in local, is the main peak of the Gangdisê Mountains, which are part of the Transhimalaya in Tibet. Standing in Pulan County, Ali Region, with a height of 6,721 meters, it has entitled the “Top of Ali”, while Tibetan Buddhists called it "precious jewel of snows".
The peak is very pointed and looks like a pyramid piercing the sky. Seen from the south the vertical ice trough and horizontal rock formation combine as the Buddhist symbol Swastika ' 卐 ', which represents the eternal power of Buddha.
More often that not, clouds will gather above the peak, so clear days are thought to be a blessing because local residents can get an unimpeded view.
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