Name in Chinese: 拉萨 Lā Sà [la:sa:]
Location: Central Tibet, China, GMT+8
Population: 558,900 as a Prefecture, 330,000 living in the city proper
Telephone Code: +86819
Keywords: Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple, Namtso Lake
Lhasa is a city in Central Tibet that is the holiest city of Lamaism, being the place where Potala Palace is situated. It is the capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region. Its altitude is about 3,650 meters(12,000 feet) above sea level. The sun is blazing hot in the daytime in Lhasa. That is the reason why Lhasa is well-known as the City of Sunshine. The city was founded by King Songtsan Gambo in 633. The name of Lhasa City is a Tibetan word which means the sacred land of Buddhas in English. It is a place of pilgrimage where Tibetans must go at least once in a lifetime.
Attractions
Potala Palace
Potala Palace is a huge castle situated on the Red Hill. It was originally built in the seventh century by King Songtsan Gambo. The king built it for his two wives, namely Princess Wencheng from the Tang Empire and Princess Khridzun from Nepal. The castle was reconstructed in 1645 by the Fifth Dalai Lama. Then, Potala Palace became Dalai Lamas’ official residence. It was added to the list of world cultural heritage sites by UNESCO in 1994.
Jokhang Temple
Jokhang Temple is the most sacred Buddhist monastery in Tibet. It was built by King Songtsan Gambo in the seventh century. The temple houses the statue of Sakyamuni which was brought to Lhasa by Princess Wencheng. It is one of the must-go attractions in Lhasa.
Barkhor Street
Barkhor Street lies in the center of downtown Lhasa. It is the oldest traditional Tibetan styled street encircling Jokhang Temple. The street could be traced back to the seventh century. It is a place where visitors can bargain with the local Tibetan vendors for handicrafts which are rear to be seen elsewhere in the world. Barkhor Street is a very important path along which Buddhist pilgrims have walked to Jokhang Temple for centuries.
Drepung Monastery
Drepung Monastery is situated in the west suburb of Lhasa, about 10 kilometers(6.2 miles) to the downtown. It plays the most important role in the Ge-lug-pa Sect of Lamaism. Lamas in Drepung Monastery were responsible for training Dalai Lamas. The monastery was founded in 1416 by Jamyang Choje Tashi Palden, one of Master Tsongkhapa’s disciples. It is one of the top three lamaseries in Lhasa and one of the six most famed Ge-lug-pa lamaseries in China.
Sera Monastery
Sera Monastery is also one of the top three lamaseries in Lhasa and one of the six most famed Ge-lug-pa lamaseries in China. It was constructed in 1434 by Jamchen Choje Shakya Yeshe, one of Master Tsongkhapa’s disciples. It is famous for its daily debate on Buddhist doctrine.
Ganden Monastery
Ganden Monastery is one of the top three Ge-luge-pa Lamaseries in Lhasa. It is located in Dazi District, 55 kilometers(34 miles) to the east of downtown Lhasa. The monastery was built in 1409 by Master Tson-Kapa, the founder of Ge-lug-pa Sect. It is well-known as the Oldest Ge-lug-pa Lamasery and has topped the list of Six Most Famed Ge-lug-pa Lamaseries in Mainland China.
Norbulingka Summer
Norbulingka Summer Palace is located about 2 kilometers(1.2 miles) to the west of Potala Palace. It was built by the Seventh Dalai Lama in 1755. It used to be the summer house of Dalai Lamas. The compound is hidden by trees. It covers an area of 36 hectares(89 acres). Nowadays, Norbulingka Summer Palace has become a garden and a museum open to the public. It is also the place where local people celebrate some grand traditional festivals.
Namtso Lake
Namtso Lake lies about 240 kilometers(149 miles) to the north of downtown Lhasa. It is the third largest salt lake in Mainland China, is a vast alpine lake with the highest altitude in the world. Its altitude is 4,718 meters(15,479 feet) above sea level. Visitors need to stay in Lhasa for a few days before heading for Namtso Lake, so that they would have acclimatized themselves to the high altitude. The lake measures 70 kilometers(43 miles) by 30 kilometers(19 miles), and covers an area of 1,920 square kilometers(741 sq.mi). It is 120 meters(394 feet) at its deepest point. Namtso Lake is considered as one of the most holy pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists. It is also one of the most beautiful lakes in Tibet.
How to Get to Lhasa
Lhasa Kongga International Airport is located 65 kilometers(40 miles) to the southwest of downtown Lhasa. It takes about one and a half hours to get to the city from the airport by car. Currently, the airport operates flights to 47 domestic cities, such as Chengdu, Xi’an, Chongqing, Xining, Kunming, Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. There is only one international flight operating between Lhasa and Kathmandu(Nepal). Tourists may also travel to Lhasa from Xining or Chengdu by train.
Food
The barley is the main crop grown by Tibetans. The steamed or roasted dough made from barley flour is called tsampa. It is the staple food of Tibetan people. The yak beef and mutton are the main meat Tibetans have in their daily life. The dried beef is their favorite food. They also stew fresh meat with potato and spices. Tibetan people drink butter tea every day. They usually boil the tea leaves with salt and butter. The barley wine(or qingke wine) is a kind of alcohol which is quite popular among Tibetans. It tastes a little sweet and sour.
Weather Conditions
Attributed to its high altitude, Lhasa has a cool semi-arid climate which features the temperature extremes occurred respectfully in the daytime and the nighttime. However, Lhasa is still one of the mildest cities in Tibet. The city lies in a valley which protects it from intense heat or cold and high winds. Its temperature may ascends to 28℃(82.4°F) in summer, but plummet to minus 15℃(5°F) in winter. The best time to visit Lhasa is between April and October. visitors should pack winter clothes and try to decrease the risk of catching a cold, even in the summer.
How to Avoid Acute Mountain Sickness
The City of Lhasa is at an elevation of some 3,650 meters(12,000 feet) above sea level. Most of the tourist will suffer from the Acute Mountain Sickness(AMS). Tips for you to prevent the AMS include keeping hydrated, avoiding a cold, acclimatizing to altitude gradually, avoiding rapid ascent and strenuous exercise, restraining from smoking and drinking alcohol.
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Author: Tina Luo
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