Lhasa has the best accommodation in Tibet for travelers, and, as a result of Tibet's growing popularity among travelers over recent years, conditions have continued to improve in order to meet a more demanding market. Visitors can enjoy cuisine from all over the world, including, of course, authentic Tibetan dishes. The flavor of Tibetan food is typically fresh, light, and tender and the main ingredients include salt, onion, and garlic.

Tsamba

Tsamba is a traditional staple food of Tibetan and is a kind of dough made with roasted highland barley, pea and water. Tibetan butter tea, sour milk or Chang can also be enjoyed alongside this delicacy.

Air-dried Mutton and Beef

Dried meat is an extremely characteristic Tibetan food. At the end of every year, Tibetans cut red meats into small pieces or strips and then hang the strips in a shaded, covered area when the temperature falls below freezing. The meat remains edible until the following February/March, when it will be crisp and full of flavor.

Chang

Chang is a Tibetan alcoholic drink made from barley. It is loved by Tibetan people of all ages and both sexes, and is also a requisite drink during happy events and festivals. Although Chang has a light-fruit-like flavor, it is actually very strong. During a banquet, the host (whether male or female) would propose a toast while singing the toasting song.

Street Food

Deji Road is a famous food street in Lhasa where travelers could taste all style of dishes such as Tibetan and Chinese foods as well as the exotic Indian, Nepalese and Western diets.

Lhasa is the administrative capital of Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China.

Abbreviation:
Coordinates: 29° 39′ 17.4″ N, 91° 7′ 6″ E
Country: China
Mayor: Doje Cezhug
Population: 0.62Million people with 0.16 million non-permanent residents at the end of 2007.
Currency: Yuan (Renminbi)
Language: Tibetan Language
Time Zone: China Standard Time (UTC+8)
Area: 53 square kilometers
Administrative Divisions: 1 districts and 7 counties
City Flower: Rose
Main Rivers: Brahmaputra River, Lhasa River
Sister Cities： Boulder

Lhasa Location

Lhasa is located at the foot of Mount Gephel and on the north bank of Lhasa River, a tributary of Brahmaputra River. The coordinates of Lhasa are 29° 39′ 17.4″ N, 91° 7′ 6″ E. See map of China to view the exact location of Lhasa.

Lhasa Districts

Lhasa has totally 1 districts and 7 counties under its administration.

1 District: Chengguan Districy

7 Counties: Lhünzhub, Damxung, Nyêmo, Qüxü, Doilungdêqên, Dagzê, and Maizhokunggar

Lhasa Codes

Lhasa Postal Code: Lhasa zip codes range from 850000 to 850600. However, not all within the range are in use.

Lhasa Area Code: Internal dialing code is 0891while international telephone calling code is +86-891.

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Getting There and Away

By Air

Lhasa’s Gonggar Airport is 97 kilometers away from Lhasa City. It takes about 2 hours to get to downtown Lhasa by bus and the fare is 20 yuan. Buses from Shigatse or Tsetang to Lhasa also stop at the airport. At Gonggar Airport, there are flights to Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Xi'an, Xining, Guangzhou, Chamdo, Kunming and Katmandu. Gonggar Airport flight information: Tel. 0891-6246465.

The Lhasa Express is the world’s highest railway line. It runs from Xining in Qinghai Province, past China’s largest lake, Qinghai, to Golmud. Oxygen is released into the cabins at Golmud to prevent altitude sickness and is on hand in canisters for the Golmud to Lhasa leg. This leg of the journey offers breath-taking scenery, and takes in a couple of railway world records: the highest passenger railway (Tanggula Pass, 5072m) and the highest railway tunnel (Fenghuoshan, 4905m). There are trains to Lhasa from Beijing (48 hours), Xi’an (36 hours), Chongqing (47 hours), Chengdu (48 hours) and Xining (25 hours).

Lhasa Long Distance Bus Station is located at the junction of Minzu Road and Jinzhuzhong Road.

Getting Around

Taking a minibus is the cheapest way to get around in the city. The fare is 2 yuan no matter how far you go. Both buses 1 and 2 run from Norbulingkha to Lhasa Long Distance Bus Station. Buses 3 and 5 bus go to Dreprung Monastery and 4 goes to Sera Monastery. There are privately run minibuses or jeeps following certain fixed routes and the fare is also 2 yuan. Most of them stop at Tibet Hospital in Jokhang Square.

Taking a taxi should cost you 10 yuan no matter where you go in the city. But if you want to go out of town, you'd better negotiate with the driver over the price. For Dreprung Monastery, you ought to pay about 20 yuan.

Tricycle cabs on the streets of Lhasa are an interesting sight. If you want one, just wave your hands. Riding a tricycle is a good way to enjoy the appearance of the city at a slow pace. A tricycle usually takes two people and the price varies from 4 yuan to 7 yuan. Before getting on it, don't forget to negotiate the price.

Tibet Travel Permit

Due to the special geographical environment and politics in Tibet, the Chinese government regulates that the non Chinese citizens including foreign tourists, Taiwan tourists and overseas Chinese must carry a Tibet Travel Permit as well as a valid passport and a visa to visit Tibet. Our China offices are able to assist you to process all of those documents if you book a Tibet Tour with us. Meanwhile, the foreign diplomats and journalists are not allowed to travel Tibet unless getting the permitting of the relative department. In addition, the government encourages group tours to Tibet and the overseas tourists can not go to Tibet as an individual. If you really want a Tibet trip, you’d better join a tour group.

Mountain Sickness

Generally speaking, an elevation over 3,000 meters is defined as high altitude. The city of Lhasa has an altitude of 3658 with rare air and dry climate. Therefore, tourists in Lhasa easily suffer the Acute Mountain Sickness, also called Altitude Sickness. The mountain sickness is a natural physiological phenomenon due to the decreasing availability of oxygen, with the symptoms of headache, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of appetite and disturbed sleep. Different people will experience different symptoms of mountain sickness upon their arrival in Tibet and then the symptoms will commonly gradually decrease as time went by. The mils mountain sickness will not influence travelers’ mild activity generally. However, if the mountain sickness is severe, one should better go to hospital and ask for help from doctors. In general, persons who suffer from serious high blood pressure, heart disease, tracheitis, or the diabetes had better not enter the Tibet.

Food and Drinks

Travelers should not eat too much at Lhasa, otherwise the overindulgence clogs body and make more serious to the intestines and stomach. The vitamined Vegetables and fruit are the best food here so as to better adapt to the plateau environment. Referring to the drinks, the salted butter tea, Tibetan barley beer and sweet milk tea are all worth a trying.

Potala Palace Restrictions

Every traveler should follow the taboo of the Tibetan Buddhism as visiting the Potala Palace. For example, do not wear a hat and trample the door sill. It is not allowed to take a picture inside the palace. However, tourists can take some outer door scenery freely. Please notice that all the tourists need to finish their visiting within one hour.

Shopping in Lhasa

There are many special local products in Lhasa such as the Tibetan Thangka, Tibetan silver ornaments, Dzi beads, aweto, yak wool, Tibetan liquor and Lhasa sweet tea, as well as a variety of distinctive national style handicrafts. Every traveler to Lhasa will undoubtedly find some unique treasures to take as memorable souvenirs of a spectacular trip.

Tibetan Thangka is a type of scroll painting which has complicated lines, rich color and is replete with religious imagery and color and a truly unique artistic style. Most Thanga follow the themes and influence of Tibetan Buddhism and are highly prized among Tibetan people. Some Thangka have portraits of the Buddha, while some illustrate the history and folk customs of Tibet. The method of creating a Thangka is extremely special and intricate: First, take a kind of opaque mineral and plant, and then add some animal glue and ox-gall to it. As a result of this preparation, your Thangka will maintain its vivid colors for thousands of years.

Traditional Tibetan medicines are well-known all over the world, and tourists should make the most of their opportunity to purchase such rare medicinal herbs such as glossy ganoderma, aweto, Tibetan sheep's horn, Saussurea, as well as other special Tibetan medicines made by lamas and local doctors.