| Tibet is the referred real Shangri-la, the | | | | the world. Pelkor Chode Monastery and Gyantse |
| forbidden land, the roof of the world and the | | | | Fort (built atop a massive rock) are other |
| holy land of your innermost desire. Tibet has | | | | major sights here. |
| snowy mountains and grasslands, scattered | | | | |
| herds of yak and nomads on the plateau, | | | | Driving from Lhasa to Gyantse is a long, yet |
| spectacular monasteries and unsophisticated | | | | spectacular drive. Along the way, you will |
| smiles, tranquil lake and transparent blue | | | | get unforgettable views of the Yamdrok-Tso |
| sky. These are just a few of the reasons | | | | Lake and Mt Nojin Kangtsang. |
| visitors to Tibet often find themselves | | | | |
| coming back. | | | | Shigatse (3,900 m) lies some 274Km to the |
| | | | west of Lhasa and is the second largest city |
| The first stop for most Tibet tours is | | | | in Tibet. The highway runs alongside the |
| inevitably Lhasa, the capital of Tibet | | | | Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river passing |
| Province. Colorful and historic, the holy | | | | through narrow gorges and broad river |
| city of Lhasa lies in a small valley 3700 | | | | valleys. Farmers plowing their fields with |
| meters above sea level. The Potala Palace and | | | | yaks, sheep grazing on the vast plains, |
| Jokhang are the must-see destinations for | | | | awesome sand dunes and rocky hills in the |
| visitors to Lhasa. | | | | distance are the scenic rewards of this |
| | | | journey. |
| Â | | | | |
| | | | The Tashilhunpo Monastery, built in 1447 by |
| Potala Palace is the symbol of Tibet. This | | | | the first Dalai Lama, is Shigatse's most |
| palace is sacred in Tibetan people hearts. | | | | important cultural and religious site. The |
| With its majestic splendor, the Potala Palace | | | | main structures found in the Tashilhunpo |
| would impress the inhabitants of any world | | | | Monastery are The Maitreya Chapel, The |
| capital. Thus the humble Tibetan pilgrim, who | | | | Panchen Lama's Palace and The Kelsang Temple. |
| has always lived in a yak hair tent, must | | | | Tashilhunpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama |
| view the Potala Palace with great reverence. | | | | since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in |
| It is hard to believe that this 13-storey | | | | the monastery, and there are now nearly 800 |
| edifice containing 999 rooms was built on a | | | | lamas. |
| steep mountain as long ago as the seventh | | | | |
| century. Touring it just like a huge | | | | Tsetang: During the long years, Tsetang has |
| labyrinth. It makes you keep going and going. | | | | had many "first", for instance, the first |
| It is hard to find the way out if let you | | | | king Nyatri Tsenpo, the first palace Yumbu |
| wander alone there. | | | | Lhakang, the first temple Tradruk, the first |
| | | | cropland Syarisotang, the first Tibetan Opera |
| Jokhang monastery, built in 647, is the | | | | Pakhapu and the first Buddhist scripture |
| earliest wood-and-masonry structure still | | | | Pangkong Chagya. Tsetang is also the place |
| existing in Tibet. It is the center of the | | | | where King Songtsan Gampo united the whole |
| Tibetan Buddhism and the sacred land of | | | | Tibet and once lived with Princess Wencheng. |
| Buddhist followers. Thousands of pilgrims | | | | The Tangka made and embroidered by Princess |
| come here for worship everyday. Many of the | | | | Wencheng herself is still kept in Tradruk |
| pilgrims were crawling on the ground. | | | | Temple, which is a great treasure house of |
| Apparently, on their pilgrimage from their | | | | culture and art. |
| homes, pilgrims prostrate themselves on the | | | | |
| ground after walking two steps and then | | | | Samye Monastery is Testang's most important |
| repeat the process again and again. Many | | | | cultural and religious site. Samye monastery |
| others were spinning prayer wheels. | | | | was built in the mid-8th century. Samye is |
| | | | first formal Buddhist Monastery for the monks |
| Within the city, are many sites that must be | | | | in Tibet. The magnificent and unique Central |
| visited; the huge university monasteries of | | | | Hall is three-story high. The first floor is |
| Drepung and Sera, the Barkhor pilgrim circuit | | | | of the Tibetan architectural style, the |
| and Tibetan Museum. | | | | second the Han style and the third the Indian |
| | | | style. The halls in the monastery house many |
| Besides city Lhasa, Gyantse, Shigatse and | | | | statues and murals. |
| Tsetang in Tibet also remain mystical in many | | | | |
| people's minds. | | | | Tibet has so many destinations, too numerous |
| | | | to mention, which makes visitors keep coming |
| Gyantse was once of major importance as a | | | | back. It is a province unique in China for |
| trading center on the routes between India, | | | | its magnificent temples, snow-capped peaks, |
| Sikkim, Bhutan, Tibet and China. Gyantse's | | | | nomad camps, pilgrims and ethnic culture. It |
| symbol is the Kumbum Stupa which is 32 m high | | | | is a truly a place to stir the senses and |
| and contains 77 rooms and 100,000 images of | | | | nourish the soul - of all the destinations in |
| the Buddha. Kumbum Stupa is the finest | | | | China. |
| example of 15th century Newar art extant in | | | | |