China Guide
Tibet
With its spellbinding scenery and intense religious practices, Tibet (Bod to Tibetans, Xizang to the Chinese) has exerted a magnetic pull over travellers for centuries. But look just a little below the surface and it is all too apparent that Tibet's past has been tragic, its present is painful, and the future looks bleak. Tibet today is a sad, subjugated colony of China. While foreign visitors are perhaps more worldly than to expect a romantic Shangri-la, many are surprised by the heavy military and civilian Chinese presence and the modern apartments and factories. This doesn't mean you should stay away, however: many people, the Dalai Lama included, believe that travellers should visit Tibet to learn all they can of the country and its people.
The massive Tibetan plateau, averaging 4500m above sea level, is one of the most isolated parts of the world, guarded on all sides by towering mountain ranges – notably the Himalayas to the south and the Karakoram to the west. The Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) covers a phenomenal 1.2 million square kilometres. Lhasa and Shigatse offer the most accessible monasteries and temples and are also tourist-friendly cities with the biggest range of facilities in the region. The Potala Palace in Lhasa remains an enduring image of Tibet in the Western mind, and should on no account be missed. Father afield, the ancient walled monastery of Samye is another highlight while the tourist corridor along the Friendship Highway between Lhasa and Zhangmu on the Nepalese border offers side-trips to the huge Mongolian-style monastery at Sakya and to Everest Base Camp.
Officially, you need only a Chinese visa to travel to Tibet. However, the authorities control entry into the country by insisting that independent travellers purchase a "permit" when they buy travel tickets for the region.
Almost every visitor is affected by altitude sickness, as most of Tibet is over 3000m, with plenty of passes over 5000m. For your first two or three days rest as much as possible and drink plenty of water.
Highlights
1 The Jokhang, Lhasa Shrouded in juniper smoke and surrounded by prostrating pilgrims, it's hard not to be affected by this, one of the world's most venerated sites.
2 Samye Remote walled town encapsulating Tibet's first Buddhist monastery.
3 Namtso Lake Lies bright as a jewel beneath muscular peaks.
4 The Friendship Highway This undulating road connecting Lhasa and Nepal cuts through some of the region's best and certainly most accessible sights.
5 Mount Everest Base Camp Breathe deep and gaze up at the jagged, snow-blown peak of the world's highest mountain.
6 Mount Kailash The world's holiest mountain, its very remoteness an intrinsic part of its appeal.
Read more ▼
- Practical Information ▼
- Region(s) ▼
- City/Town ▼