Lhasa

Lhasa, China

A rippling maze of snow-clad mountains and valleys heaves into view while your plane is descending, and Lhasa, the capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, is nestled within one of the valleys but perched at an altitude of 3600 meters. Distant mountains enveloped by fluffy clouds provide a dazzling backdrop for Lhasa.

This is a place of extreme purity and spirituality. Literally, Lhasa means “holy land”. As the spiritual anchor of the Roof of the World, Lhasa is truly holy. It's steeped in mysticism and defined by Buddhism. Prayer flags, prayer wheels, sweet incense and yellow robes are everywhere. Devout pilgrims prostrate themselves and kowtow all the way as they travel hundreds or even a thousand kilometers towards this hallowed destination in years. It's a step-by-step journey of untold hardships and tribulations. Why? Going to the holy city of Buddhist worship at least once is a big lifetime dream.

Getting around

• Potala Palace

  Hats off to the ancient builders who pulled it off up there. Though moored in modern buildings, the iconic, arresting and holy palace still exudes overwhelming regality in its ancient sublimity, gazing down at the hectic vehicular and pedestrian traffic that flows irresistibly in different directions. It contains over 2000 rooms spread out in 130,000 square meters' worth of interior space.

• Jokhang Temple

  It was built by Tibetan ruler Songsten Gampo during the 7th century for his wife Princess Wencheng who came from Tang dynasty (608-907) and is one of the world's oldest surviving wooden structures. The holy site is worshipped by all of Tibet's religious sects, while each of the other temples is the domain of a single sect.

• Chagpori Hill

  The 3700-meter-high peak is the best vantage point for photographers and photography aficionados looking for some of the best shots of Potala Palace, especially as the sun begins its slow creep. Buddhist grottos carved on cliffs and a wall with Buddhist iconography are worth a gander.

• Norbulingka

  The garden of Tibetan style built in the 18th century used to be a traditional summer retreat for the successive Dalai Lamas.

• The Barkhor

  The open circuit 1,000 meters in circumference is one that every local pilgrim wants to circumambulate at least once in their life. Some visitors also join the circumambulating crowds. Some pilgrims prostrate themselves and kowtow as they go around – lying full-length on the ground and then picking themselves up and repeating the act – advancing one body length with each prostration. But the Barkhor is more than a spiritual site – it's also a thriving market. Streets and lanes are flanked by shops and stalls that sell interesting souvenirs like prayer flags, prayer wheels, good-luck charms and statues.

  
  
  
• Nam-Tso Lake

  As your car nears it, a blue line comes into sight. But that blue line is just a warm-up for what is to come moments later. Aquamarine, azure, indigo, sapphire - Namtso Lake deserves many adjectives that mean blue. No, no, no! Forget about all these. Namtso is just so blue that you need a special talisman to avoid being seduced by its blue. Seagull-like birds are flitting across the sky aboard their outstretched wings or bobbing on water. White-crested waves are lapping lakefront rocks. The reds and golds melt into each other as the sun sinks, throwing an orange glow on the nearby cliffs.