Tips

  • Tiibet’s official currency is the Yuan. A Yuan equals $ 0.20 U.S. and 0153 Euros. In Lhasa. It’s easy to exchange Euros or dollars into Chinese currency. Local ATMs may get Chinese money, and cards are only accepted in some parts of Lhasa.
  • The capital, Lhasa, is the highest in the world. It is recommended not to exert your efforts in the first days of your stay. In case of persistent discomfort, you should see a doctor. At this altitude, the sun also deserves attention. Protection is recommended. Use sunscreen and sunglasses to filter ultraviolet rays as well as a hat or cap.
  • The climate is semi-arid in most areas. Rain is more frequent in the southeast, but the drylands are dominant. The average rainfall is 380 mm per year. In the highlands and mountains the temperature is cold and blizzards are frequent throughout the year. The temperature can drop significantly at sunset.
  • Shops are open daily from 9am to 7pm, and some until 10pm. Banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Holidays are, the New Year which lasts for two days. The New Year Tibetan lunar calendar which dates vary based on the lunar cycles and the Chinese calendar. Labor Day is May 1st. and the National Day is the 1st of October.

 

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Tops

  • In Tibet today, you can appreciate a past that you can hardly see along with an emerging future . There is a contrast between the Tibetan culture and the Chinese modernity. The communities are still permeated with the atmosphere of simplicity and serenity emanating from rural life and the high level of religiosity of the country.
  • If you have the time and the mood, you should make a journey in the modern train, allowing you to admire from a unique perspective the valleys, pristine lakes, the Yang Tze River and the most impressive mountain range in the world.
  • There are over 1,700 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. The Potala Palace is the main religious building. It is distinguished by its large size, and because it crowns the mount  Hongshan, from there, it dominates Lhasa with its white bright color. Nearby are the Jokhang Monastery, with its roofs and golden ornaments, the simple Sera Monastery and Norbu Lingka Palace, with large and immaculate gardens.
  • In local cuisine, several restaurants are a must. The Shangrila, Lhasa Namaste, Snowlands, Kyichu, Shambala and Lhasa Kitchen. The Dunya Restaurant and Eat Lovers are the best in international menu as well as those located at the international hotel chains.

 

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Text: AMURA ± Photo: ilopdie / DAVID G