Where to Go in Tibet Travel?

The Tibet Autonomous Region is located on the Tibetan Plateau, the highest region on Earth. In northern Tibet elevations reach an average of over 4,572 metres (15,000 ft). Mount Everest lies on Tibet (Xizang, in Chinese Pinyin)'s border with Nepal.

Xinjiang, Qinghai and Sichuan lie to the north and east of the region; Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh to the west; and Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Indian states of Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh to the south. Tibet also shares a short southeastern border with the PRC province of Yunnan.

The Tibet Autonomous Region is a province-level entity of the People's Republic of China. Tibet Autonomous Region is divided into one prefecture-level city and six prefectures.

The prefecture-level city:

• Lhasa

• Nagqu
• Ngari
• Nyingchi
• Qamdo
• Shannan
• Xigaze

For travelers come into Tibet by plane or by train, Lhasa will probably be their first stop. Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region and has long been the center of politics, economy, culture and religion in Tibet. Lhasa means "holy land" in Tibetan language. The history of city dates back to the 7th century AD, when the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo conquered many tribes, united Tibet, transferred the capital from Yarlung to Lhasa, and established Tubo Regime. The 11th century had seen the Buddhism spreading widely and Lhasa became the center for many eminent and learned monks to preach the religion. In the time of the 7th Dalai Lama, a very famous palace, Norbulingkha, 2 kilometers away from the Potala Palace, was built. From then on, the ancient section of Lhasa city was formed, with Potala Palace as its center, Barkhor Street and Norbulingkha Palace on both sides. Lhasa is one of the most charming cities in the Tibet, and also in China. The grand Potala, the blue sky, the clear water and the fresh air all add charm to the city.

For those come to Tibet by overland tour from Sichuan or Yunnan, they will probably meet Qamdo first. Tourists will definitely find the climate here most unpredictable. Bright sunshine, clean and fresh air, crystal clear sky, vast grassland, snow-capped peaks are the typical sceneries in Chamdo. There are many sacred mountains in the Kham area, most of which are located in Chamdo. The Holy Lakes, such as the Ra'og Lake in Riwoqe County, are reputed as "pools of precious jade in western sky" for their beauty. In Chamdo, there are many tourist sites located amid snow-capped mountains, fast-running rivers, thundering waterfalls, and dense forests. Then there are ancient monasteries, buildings, steles, villages and workshops---so many spots which can be dated back to ancient times. The Karub Ruins site in Chamdo (with a history of 4,000 to 5,000 years) is the first site of the Neolithic Age scientifically excavated in Tibet, displaying ancient civilization in the Lantsang River valley.

Qinghai-Tibet Highway is the easiest and most convenient road to Tibet. Travelers who choose this route will come to Nagqu as their first stay to Tibet. The natural wonders and the special folk customs have formed distinctive tourism treasures. The local people have created colorful religious legends for the mountains, lakes and rivers, which have retained their natural appearance. At the town of Nagqu sits the famous Shodain Monastery with a long history. Every year, the town will host the Nagqu Kyaggen Horse Race that is sure to draw crowds of local people. During the one-week horse racing festival, different kinds of sports activities will be held such as tug-of-war, carrying rocks, archery shooting and yak racing. Song and dance troupes from all parts of Tibet add to the fun. There are still more places worthy of visiting. Tourists will be impressed by the great grassland, the holy lake of Nam-tso, and the mysterious depopulated area in the northern Tibet. The Tsangdain Monastery at Sog County , the ruins of the Hor King's palace, the Duoduoga Skull Wall in Biru County are all worthy of visiting.

Located in the western Tibet Autonomous Region, Ngari is known as the "roof of the roof of the world". The highway that links Tibet and Xinjiang is considered the hardest one of the four highways to Tibet region. Mt Kailash is deemed the spiritual center of Buddhism, Hinduism and the indigenous religion-Bon. So, making the pilgrimage to Mt. Kailash (Gang Rimpoche in Tibetan) is a spectacular experience. Gang Rimpoche means the "treasures of the snow mountains" or the "sacredness of snow". It is said to be the place where the Buddhist patriarch Sakyamuni conducted the rites and it is the Sumeri Mountain in the Buddhism. It is also the temple of God Siva in Hinduism. The sacred Lake Manasarovar (Mapham Yutso in Tibetan) surrounded by snowy peaks is also magnificent. There are over 80 rivers and 60 lakes in the prefecture. Exploring the man-made tunnel through the mountain ruins of Guge Kingdom is also very interesting. Guge Kingdom is famous for its murals, sculptures and stone inscriptions. Forth, appreciating the well-preserved frescos in Donggar Village and Rutog County is also great.

Nepal has one thing in common with Tibet is the Tibetan Buddhism. Many travelers like to travel to Tibet via Katmandu, the capital of Nepal. Thus, Xigaze, or Shigatse will give them a warm hug. Shigatse is the most colorful area in Tibet with vast grasslands, fertile fields in river valleys, flourishing semitropical jungles and snowfields at high altitudes. The famous scenery spots include Yongzelucuo Lake, Tashilumpo Monastery, Palkor Monastery in Gyantse, Sakya Monastery, Pingcuolin Monastery, Juenang Monastery, Pala Manor and etc. Furthermore, the Everest Nature Reserve, with an area of more than 30,000 square kilometers, is around it. The annual Zhanfo Festival and Tiaoshen Festival in Tashilumpo Monastery, Ximuqinbo Festival in Shalu Monastery and Tibetan drama shows have won a high prestige in the world for their distinct styles.

Nyingchi is noted for its green mountains and clear water. Nyingchi boasts both gorgeous natural beauty and profound ethnic cultures. In recent years with the rapid advancement of economic reform and opening up, the tourist industry has turned out to be a pillar industry in the reaches of the Niyang River and the relevant networks and facilities have already taken their forms. Nyingchi has become an international forest park in "the third pole of the globe" where a wide variety of activities such as sightseeing, mountain hiking, rock climbing, exploration, white water surfing and scientific research are carried out. Its unique ethnic living customs, music and dances, sports and tournaments and so on and so forth are among the major tourist attractions. Two visiting routes are recommended as below: 1. Lhasa- the Basong Lake- the Bayi Township; 2. Lhasa- Nyingchi- Milin- Shannan- Lhasa (This is a highly recommendable route and viewed as a perfect blending of natural beauty, cultural relics and folk customs.)

Lhokha or Shannan is the most prosperous part in Tibet and has the longest history in Tibet. The well-known Tubo Regime (a historic period in Tibetan history) was derived from the agricultural civilization in Lhokha. Lhokha is also known as the source of the Tibetan civilization and has become the ruling center twice in Tibetan history. Ranges, lakes, springs and river valleys constitute the featured landscapes. Yarlong Scenic Spot is the only national scenic spot in Tibet. You can find scenes of different types, snow-capped Mountains and glaciers, farming land and grazing land, Holy Mountain and sacred lakes, historic relics and simple folkways. All of these form a mysterious and wonderful picture. Yarlong is really a dazzling pearl in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

You may also be interested in...

• What to see in Tibet?
• How to get into Tibet?
• How to get Tibet Permits?
• How to start Tibet Travel?
• How to book Tibet tour?