China Travel Guide

Lhasa

Lhasa is a vacation destination set in a marshy valley and dominated by surrounding mountain peaks. It is the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region and one of the highest cities in the world, at an elevation of 12,000ft (3,658m). Lhasa has long been the religious, cultural and political center of Tibet, sheltered from the harsh winds of the Tibetan plateau in a spot that has been inhabited from at least 1500BC.

Today Lhasa has a population of more than 400,000. Being the religious center for Lamaist Buddhists since ancient times, flocks of pilgrims have made their way to Lhasa over the centuries to worship at the feet of the Dalai Lama. Now tourists on vacation are following in their wake to explore the surrounding mountains and investigate Tibet's unique culture and long history.

In 1959 Lhasa saw several days of warfare in a revolt against communist reforms being imposed by the Chinese administration. The Dalai Lama fled to India and communism was instituted in Tibet. Many historic and religious buildings were destroyed, and Tibetan traditional culture discouraged.

With political reform having taken root in China, however, economic progress has reached Lhasa as well and the city is currently enjoying a period of rapid modernization, while retaining its importance as a holy city for the realm of Lamaist Buddhism. The remaining historic buildings are drawing more and more vacation visitors to Lhasa.

Shigatse

The vacation destination of Shigatse is Tibet's second largest city, situated about 190 miles (300km) from Lhasa at the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu Rivers, in the south of the region.

Although Shigatse has undergone rapid development in recent years it offers few tourist facilities, but is nevertheless a popular vacation destination for adventure travelers and mountaineers, being within reach of Mount Everest.

One of the most colorful areas in Tibet, Shigatse is surrounded by grassland, snowfields, river valleys and even jungle. It is also a haven for pilgrims traveling from western Tibet to Lhasa. The city is 600 years old and is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, an important Tibetan spiritual leader and abbot of the Tashilhunpo Monastery. The city offers some interesting monasteries in its vicinity; Shigatse's old quarter is also worth a visit while on vacation, as is its colorful market.

Lhasa

Lhasa is a vacation destination set in a marshy valley and dominated by surrounding mountain peaks. It is the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region and one of the highest cities in the world, at an elevation of 12,000ft (3,658m). Lhasa has long been the religious, cultural and political center of Tibet, sheltered from the harsh winds of the Tibetan plateau in a spot that has been inhabited from at least 1500BC.

Today Lhasa has a population of more than 400,000. Being the religious center for Lamaist Buddhists since ancient times, flocks of pilgrims have made their way to Lhasa over the centuries to worship at the feet of the Dalai Lama. Now tourists on vacation are following in their wake to explore the surrounding mountains and investigate Tibet's unique culture and long history.

In 1959 Lhasa saw several days of warfare in a revolt against communist reforms being imposed by the Chinese administration. The Dalai Lama fled to India and communism was instituted in Tibet. Many historic and religious buildings were destroyed, and Tibetan traditional culture discouraged.

With political reform having taken root in China, however, economic progress has reached Lhasa as well and the city is currently enjoying a period of rapid modernization, while retaining its importance as a holy city for the realm of Lamaist Buddhism. The remaining historic buildings are drawing more and more vacation visitors to Lhasa.

Shigatse

The vacation destination of Shigatse is Tibet's second largest city, situated about 190 miles (300km) from Lhasa at the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu Rivers, in the south of the region.

Although Shigatse has undergone rapid development in recent years it offers few tourist facilities, but is nevertheless a popular vacation destination for adventure travelers and mountaineers, being within reach of Mount Everest.

One of the most colorful areas in Tibet, Shigatse is surrounded by grassland, snowfields, river valleys and even jungle. It is also a haven for pilgrims traveling from western Tibet to Lhasa. The city is 600 years old and is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, an important Tibetan spiritual leader and abbot of the Tashilhunpo Monastery. The city offers some interesting monasteries in its vicinity; Shigatse's old quarter is also worth a visit while on vacation, as is its colorful market.

Lhasa

Lhasa is a vacation destination set in a marshy valley and dominated by surrounding mountain peaks. It is the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region and one of the highest cities in the world, at an elevation of 12,000ft (3,658m). Lhasa has long been the religious, cultural and political center of Tibet, sheltered from the harsh winds of the Tibetan plateau in a spot that has been inhabited from at least 1500BC.

Today Lhasa has a population of more than 400,000. Being the religious center for Lamaist Buddhists since ancient times, flocks of pilgrims have made their way to Lhasa over the centuries to worship at the feet of the Dalai Lama. Now tourists on vacation are following in their wake to explore the surrounding mountains and investigate Tibet's unique culture and long history.

In 1959 Lhasa saw several days of warfare in a revolt against communist reforms being imposed by the Chinese administration. The Dalai Lama fled to India and communism was instituted in Tibet. Many historic and religious buildings were destroyed, and Tibetan traditional culture discouraged.

With political reform having taken root in China, however, economic progress has reached Lhasa as well and the city is currently enjoying a period of rapid modernization, while retaining its importance as a holy city for the realm of Lamaist Buddhism. The remaining historic buildings are drawing more and more vacation visitors to Lhasa.

Shigatse

The vacation destination of Shigatse is Tibet's second largest city, situated about 190 miles (300km) from Lhasa at the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu Rivers, in the south of the region.

Although Shigatse has undergone rapid development in recent years it offers few tourist facilities, but is nevertheless a popular vacation destination for adventure travelers and mountaineers, being within reach of Mount Everest.

One of the most colorful areas in Tibet, Shigatse is surrounded by grassland, snowfields, river valleys and even jungle. It is also a haven for pilgrims traveling from western Tibet to Lhasa. The city is 600 years old and is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, an important Tibetan spiritual leader and abbot of the Tashilhunpo Monastery. The city offers some interesting monasteries in its vicinity; Shigatse's old quarter is also worth a visit while on vacation, as is its colorful market.

Lhasa

Lhasa is a vacation destination set in a marshy valley and dominated by surrounding mountain peaks. It is the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region and one of the highest cities in the world, at an elevation of 12,000ft (3,658m). Lhasa has long been the religious, cultural and political center of Tibet, sheltered from the harsh winds of the Tibetan plateau in a spot that has been inhabited from at least 1500BC.

Today Lhasa has a population of more than 400,000. Being the religious center for Lamaist Buddhists since ancient times, flocks of pilgrims have made their way to Lhasa over the centuries to worship at the feet of the Dalai Lama. Now tourists on vacation are following in their wake to explore the surrounding mountains and investigate Tibet's unique culture and long history.

In 1959 Lhasa saw several days of warfare in a revolt against communist reforms being imposed by the Chinese administration. The Dalai Lama fled to India and communism was instituted in Tibet. Many historic and religious buildings were destroyed, and Tibetan traditional culture discouraged.

With political reform having taken root in China, however, economic progress has reached Lhasa as well and the city is currently enjoying a period of rapid modernization, while retaining its importance as a holy city for the realm of Lamaist Buddhism. The remaining historic buildings are drawing more and more vacation visitors to Lhasa.

Shigatse

The vacation destination of Shigatse is Tibet's second largest city, situated about 190 miles (300km) from Lhasa at the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu Rivers, in the south of the region.

Although Shigatse has undergone rapid development in recent years it offers few tourist facilities, but is nevertheless a popular vacation destination for adventure travelers and mountaineers, being within reach of Mount Everest.

One of the most colorful areas in Tibet, Shigatse is surrounded by grassland, snowfields, river valleys and even jungle. It is also a haven for pilgrims traveling from western Tibet to Lhasa. The city is 600 years old and is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, an important Tibetan spiritual leader and abbot of the Tashilhunpo Monastery. The city offers some interesting monasteries in its vicinity; Shigatse's old quarter is also worth a visit while on vacation, as is its colorful market.