【Preface】
There is a "Tibet" in everyone's heart. They carry your deepest yearning, which is a distant place and an ideal country.
It could also be where dreams begin.
And the "Tibet" in my mind is Dali. Traveling in my youth is very similar to love. I embark on a journey alone and take a green leather train for dozens of hours. and fearless.
And in those years, I have always had an unspeakable emotion for Tibet. I have met seniors who have been riding into Tibet with tambourine backpacks all year round. I have met many brave and fearless friends. Many, many stories are related to Tibet. But there was only a sliver of connection, and that sliver of expectation made me embark on this journey.
It is said that Tibet is the starting point for backpackers. Many people met in Lhasa or on the way to Tibet, and experienced a life related to music and ideals together, and then returned, never forgetting.
It's finally here,
I enter this snowy plateau in winter, in the last few days of October.
- I point -
Friends, if you read the guide, you can directly scroll down. For the convenience of viewing, I also made a lot of pictures (as shown in the collection below). If you like it, you can add a thumbs up~
I will continue to write hard~
- schedule map -
10.29-11.8
10.29 Xining - Lhasa, on the train to Tibet
10.30 Arrive in Lhasa, the first night - Barkhor Street
10.31 Drink sweet tea—eat Tibetan noodles—go to the Potala Palace to bask in the sun—Jokhang Temple
11.1 Apply for a Nepal visa - Norbulingka - drink butter tea
11.2 Potala Palace basking in the sun—Yaowang Mountain—eating barbecue at the night market
11.3 Potala Palace - Barkhor Street - Old Guangming Sweet Tea House - Jokhang Temple - Hot Pot
11.4 Potala Palace - Yanghu Lake
11.5 Send postcards and gifts - Jokhang Temple
11.6 Ramoche Temple - Canggu Temple Sweet Tea House - Shigatse singing
11.7 Bus - Geelong Town
11.8 Geelong port - Kathmandu
(You can jump directly to the strategy section)
【Travel part】
The green leather train to Tibet with only 150 people
It is now October 29, 2019.
We had just finished riding on Qinghai Lake, and we took this green leather train to Tibet in some uncomfortable situations.
The train to Tibet passes through Xining, Delingha, Golmud, and Hoh Xil. After crossing the Tanggula Mountains, it arrives in Tibet, passes through Amdo, Nagqu, and finally arrives in Lhasa.
There are so many beautiful names on this road that make one want to read them several times, or get off the bus and see the place for themselves.
Although the Northwest in winter is not the most beautiful season, the grasslands turn yellow, the valleys have a sense of decay, and there are few cars passing through no-man's land. Unlike summer, winter may be more lonely and more dangerous. This danger comes from loneliness, no one has no car or signal, only you and the magnificent snow mountain ice lake, of course, you are safe on this train.
Looking at the golden weeds and snow-capped mountains slowly passing by outside the window, I realized that this is Tibet in autumn and winter.
Tanggula Mountain is the highest place on the Qinghai-Tibet Line, and it is also an important bridge separating Qinghai and Tibet. It has snow all the year round, and it has been talked about for many years, perhaps because of its altitude, and I because of its name.
This train is known as the most beautiful train in Tibet. It departs from Xining at 9:30 in the evening and arrives in Lhasa at around 7:00 the next night. This means that the most beautiful location, from Golmud to Lhasa, is during the day, if you happen to sit on the right seat, it will be even better.
I missed the train due to my negligence the night before, so I changed my ticket to the next one. After getting on the train, I made up the ticket to Lhasa. The flight attendant said that the train would pass through the Tanggula Mountains. If I had a severe cold, I would go into a coma. Let me think about it. After negotiating with the train captain, a doctor will come for an examination when we arrive in Golmud at four o'clock in the morning. If the condition is good, we can continue. If the condition is normal, we have to give up this train and go to Golmud to recuperate. can continue.
Now the train has arrived at Amdo slowly, and the highest point of Tanggula Mountain has passed by. When it slowly descends two kilometers, it will arrive at Lhasa. The car was lonely, and there were only about 150 people in the whole train.
I drank a lot of water and took some medicines. The air pressure of the plateau caused the capsules to fall off and open, and the colored particles inside were directly exposed, which would be a little bitter.
After a while, I felt a little sleepy, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the train, as if hypnotized, I leaned my head against the window and fell asleep after a while. I don’t know if it was Nagqu or Lhasa when I woke up, or maybe some other unknown village.
Barkhor Street Ancient City - First Impression
After a long train journey of one day and one night, I finally arrived at Barkhor Street at 20:29 on the evening of the 30th.
We simply put down our luggage, first climbed up to the roof of the top floor, and then slowly navigated to the Jokhang Temple. The locals in Barkhor Street do not call it the ancient city, they call it the old house, and we happened to live in these old houses.
The outline of Barkhor Street is pronounced as "gua" here, and Tibetan architecture has been brought into full play here. We shuttled through these streets every day. My first impression of Lhasa was not the vastness and tranquility of Yanghu Lake and its beautiful scenery, but the congestion and heavy traffic. The hotel did not have a large yard where we could drink tea, chat and play the piano as imagined.
Maybe my expectations were too high, or maybe because it was winter, I didn’t see any young travelers setting up stalls on the side of the road, nor did I see craftsmen playing guitars and tambourines. Mar hotel, also did not find eighty cents a cup of sweet tea.
There are many intersections to enter the Jokhang Temple, each of which requires security checks and ID cards. After entering, it is another world. Tradition and modernity are combined. Together with many worshiping Tibetans, we walked clockwise. This road has been passed down for 1,300 years. Cultural Old Street.
We will stop when we encounter interesting shops. For example, this low-rise postcard shop is pasted with a note, "In Tibet, the low door of the house is a means to prevent zombies from intruding. According to the characteristics of zombies that cannot bend down , Specially designed and built houses with low doors are obstacles for zombies. Unless it is a child, ordinary people have to bow their heads to enter and exit, even if the gods come, they have to bend."
The most lively area in Lhasa can be said to be Barkhor Street, and the Jokhang Temple is the soul of Barkhor Street. The barkhor street means a circle in Tibetan, and of course the center of the circle is the Jokhang Temple. The pilgrims who came from all over the world, the old Tibetans who turned their scriptures, and ordinary tourists like us constitute a unique cultural charm.
There are very few pedestrians on Barkhor Street at ten o'clock at night, and Tibet in winter is also very cold.
Sweet tea, Tibetan noodles and Potala
Noon the next day.
It was snowing, we drank sweet tea and chatted in the teahouse.
There are many teahouses in Lhasa, the most famous one is the old Guangming Sweet Teahouse, which is said to cost 80 cents a cup.
In the slow life of Lhasa, drinking sweet tea is a good way. Just find a small tea shop to sit down, make a pot of sweet tea, bask in the sunshine pouring from the window, sit with a book for an afternoon, or Old friends chat about past life or love while drinking tea.
We wandered around Barkhor Street, found a small restaurant that looked very local, went in, ordered a bowl of Tibetan noodles and tasted it. I savor it carefully. The taste of Tibetan noodles is a bit like highland barley, which is hard and topped with beef. I smiled and said to my friend: "It's worth it, and there is beef for five yuan."
I heard that eating local food can prevent high fever, so next time you come to Tibet, eat Tibetan noodles and buttered tea for a few days first.
Miss barley cakes.
Passing through the market on Barkhor Street, we slowly walked towards Beijing East Road, which is a main road running through Lhasa from east to west. The famous Potala Palace and Barkhor Street are along this road, and there are many backpackers gathering place.
The description of Beijing East Road I read in "Lotus" is lively and leisurely. I thought I would be like the ancient city of Dali. I can find a small shop to drink and write an article, or I can sit quietly with a cocktail at the bar Looking at the scenery outside the window. And the main road separated by the overpass in front of me is the Beijing East Road in my mind.
There is a lot of traffic and business noise. I finally realized that Lhasa is not a poem or a distant place, it is also a city, a modern city, just a little far away.
Walk along Duosenger Road to Linguo East Road, and then arrive at the Potala Palace.
This is our first visit to Bugong, and we didn't expect that in the next few days, we will come here once a day, just like going to Jokhang Temple once a day.
There are many places to go in Lhasa, but we are still reluctant to leave. We go to the Jokhang Temple every day but never want to go in and take a look. Every time we stand outside and silently watch those Tibetan grandmothers who worship.
It is not enough to go to the Jokhang Temple, and Barkhor Street can also be walked every day.
Like the Potala Palace, lying on the ground of the square, letting the plateau sun shine on your face and feeling the breath of the wind is very satisfying.
Apply for Nepal visa in Lhasa
November is here, and on this day we decided to apply for a Nepal visa.
During the days when I stayed in Lhasa, I basked in the sun every day to keep my cold away, and occasionally read a book and went out for a walk. Another day passed.
We went out and waited for a long time for the bus, and got on the wrong bus stop. We originally planned to arrive at the embassy at ten o'clock, but we were late for a long time, but luckily we submitted the visa application before eleven o'clock.
Because I forgot to prepare a copy of the ID card, we were charged five yuan each for printing outside the door.
I met carry, who was one year younger than me, at the embassy, and then we met again in Nepal.
The visa officer is very cute and can speak simple Chinese. He asked: "ni zhuan duo shao". We couldn't understand it, so he spelled it out in crooked pinyin, which is extremely cute.
We were also very surprised to learn that we could get the visa that afternoon, so we decided to take advantage of the sunshine and go to the nearby Norbulingka Park and Tibet University first.
I received a flower in Norbulingka
I stumbled into Norbulingka Park by mistake, and the current season does not charge tickets. The sun is very dazzling, we sat outside first, the sun makes people lazy.
Norbulingka used to be the "summer palace" of nobles and dignitaries, and now it is called the "Summer Palace" in Lhasa. We wandered freely in it, light and shadow, tree shade, flowers, yellow walls and red tiles, and many hard-working Tibetan aunts.
They were carrying the flower pots, and I saw a small flower on the ground and picked it up with joy. When I looked up, a Tibetan aunt smiled and picked the biggest and most beautiful flower from the flower pot and gave it to me.
The sun seems to be warmer today.
Before walking out of the park, I secretly put this flower in a flowerpot again.
It's coming home.
We went out and walked towards Tibet University. On the way, we saw a car wash shop called "Baoshijie". We kept it clean all the time. Will ignore, because they are small details, people with things on their minds are hard to detect.
Romantic sentiments are always present.
The navigation took us along a mysterious path, with dirt, weeds, blue sky, white clouds, hey, why is there a rust door, is it possible to turn over it? Just as I was gearing up for a try, my friend gently pushed the locked door, end.
We looked at the students playing on the playground at Tibet University. I wondered if this is the university with the highest altitude in the world. After watching it silently for a while, I went to their cafeteria to find food. I was a false student for another day. It was great.
Give yourself a Tibetan name and clothing
My friend and I put on the newly bought Tibetan clothes, finished our makeup, and put on a cool pair of sunglasses.
During the few days we stayed in Lhasa, we each gave ourselves nice Tibetan names. My name is Dosen Ruotong, and my friend’s name is Tongyao Yangcuo.
I met a group of Tibetan children on the road, they all came over and clapped my hands to say hello when they saw me, and then ran away shyly, is it because my sunglasses look like Ultraman?
Originally, we were supposed to go to the Potala Palace on this day. Unexpectedly, when we rushed over at noon, we were told that today’s appointment was full and we wanted to come back tomorrow. Then we changed our strategy and continued to lie in the square to bask in the sun.
We took a lot of photos and took a lot of selfies.
Then at sunset, I walked along the Potala Palace to the distance, and I arrived at Yaowang Mountain. I happened to meet a couple who were taking wedding photos. Everyone dispersed consciously, and everyone smiled. Yingying looked at them.
It's all about blessings,
The sunset is so nice.
We bought two very small prayer wheels on the way to Tianhai Night Market, and they were always by our side every day in Lhasa.
We took it and turned it around, and the moon is so beautiful.
Potala Palace basking in the sun
The white walls of the Bu Palace are painted with a local white lime powder mixed with a lot of milk. The red wall is made of ocher-red white horse grass unique to Tibet, which looks like it is woven with plush.
After queuing up early to get the reserved tickets, we still had a few hours to go and we decided to eat first.
Passing by a steamed stuffed bun shop, a white dog kept following us, I greeted it, bought a meat bun for it but it refused to eat it, I ate it myself. I bought another egg for it, and the shop owner said it was a stray dog here, and it had no home.
It is very good, we took pictures with it, I said: "Dabai, goodbye", my friend said: "You can't give it a name, you have to be responsible for it if you give it a name."
But we still have to go to Nepal, and we can't travel with a dog.
The shop owner said to it: "Aren't you going to give it away? I'll give you eggs."
It followed silently, we let it go back, but it refused to leave, we hid quietly while it was not paying attention, and then breathed a sigh of relief, when we turned around, we found that it was watching us silently behind us, suddenly Very sad.
We looked at each other for a while, and I said softly: "Goodbye, Dabai", it turned its head and walked away after watching it for a while.
When the appointment time came, we were running on this snowy plateau, and finally entered the Potala Palace after going through multiple security checks. I was still a little out of breath facing the high and high steps. The Tibetan aunties with baskets of white lime powder for wall painting formed a lovely landscape.
I think it is not unreasonable for the Bu Palace to be free of tickets in the near future, because there are few tourists and the walls need to be painted. The Cloth Palace is the highest palace in the world, and the stories related to the princess are always romantic and extraordinary.
My friend and I took out our small prayer wheel on the big table above, and turned it and turned it in the sun.
The golden light shone down, and we squinted.
Architecture can be photographed, but the interior cannot be photographed.
The ancient buildings, white rough walls, and crimson tiled roofs, if you look closely, there will be white lime paint left on them, dotted like a natural oil painting.
The sky in Tibet is different every day, the clouds are erratic, the buildings are magnificent, and the sunshine is there every day.
I pressed the shutter and took a photo of the workers standing on the roof. One of them waved to me, and I waved back. Although I was far away, I seemed to see his smile.
So, I laughed too.
Walking down from the palace, we met an Anyi cat, which was basking in the sun with its eyes squinted, we went to it to block its sunlight,
It got up and lay silently next to an old grandmother, squinting its eyes and basking in the sun.
The cats and dogs near the Potala Palace should be very happy.
The touch of Lao Guangming sweet tea for one dollar
When we returned to Barkhor Street, the atmosphere in the market was very strong, with all kinds of voices heard all over the place. After walking for so long, we still couldn’t find our way back. It was really like a maze.
We went back to the hotel to rest for a while, and then I continued to go out to shoot material. Photographs of local residents passing by on bicycles, children playing ball, grandmothers walking slowly with children on their backs, Tibetan grandpas chatting, these rich and charming street scenes of life.
so charming
Old Bright is just as charming.
I arrived at the old Guangming Sweet Tea House half an hour before closing. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the crowds of Tibetans and had nowhere to sit. Finally, I chose to sit next to a few Tibetan aunts. I got the cup, but not Know how to drink sweet tea.
Old Guangming has been around for some time, and it is also the favorite teahouse for locals. Exquisite Tibetan-style architectural appearance, rough factory-like interior, one yuan a cup, sit at random, put the change on the table, drink tea silently, after drinking a cup, look up and find that the cup is filled again, everything Natural and casual.
I looked through my backpack and only found a 50 yuan one. I took it out with embarrassment, but was rejected. I was a little disappointed and wanted to leave. At this moment, the Tibetan aunts sitting next to me paid me a cup with the change on their table. I was suddenly moved, and I was a little overwhelmed, so I smiled.
The aunts packed up and prepared to leave. They smiled and left me another one yuan note.
Sweet tea is so sweet,
The Tibetan aunts are also so sweet.
Old Soup Hot Pot
After leaving the sweet teahouse to meet with friends, I waited for her at the gate of the Jokhang Temple.
During this period, many children came to me to buy things, and they kept pestering me. I said I bought it, and some children left angrily. After a while, another child came over and we started chatting. I told her that I was going to another country. She asked what the other country was like. Did she say the same thing? I said you can go there when you grow up. Yes, she said her mother told her to be a chef or Amitabha when she grew up, I smiled.
My friend came, and I said goodbye to her, and these children entangled another boy around my age next to me.
We went for a walk to the bar street in Lhasa, but it was terribly deserted. Because our bodies were cold, we decided to have a hot pot to warm ourselves up. We ordered a health-preserving bone soup hot pot, and packed two boxes back after eating with the principle of not wasting , I said: "This hot pot is like milk", we laughed together.
This old soup hot pot, two people, ate three meals in total. To be precise, they ate one meal and drank two meals.
We can also be regarded as people who have "cooked" in Lhasa.
Yamdrok Cuo and Postcard Gifts
Yanghu is like a jelly, Q bomb Q bomb.
Ask the hotel owner to help book a car to go to Yanghu Lake, depart at noon, and arrive at Yanghu Lake at two o'clock in the afternoon.
The wind is strong, the lake looks delicious.
The valley is yellow, I think if it snows, the pure white world may be more beautiful. Very close to the lake, there are local people holding yaks as the background for taking pictures. They should also be very cold. The white khata is tied to the railing and flutters in the wind.
The journey was a bit long, and most of the time was spent in the car. In addition to the yak with many ornaments on its body, I also saw a Tibetan mastiff wearing sunglasses, which had the taste of a domineering president.
When I returned to the Potala Palace at sunset, I saw green clouds.
The cold is almost gone. I went back to the hotel and booked the departure ticket. I went to Shigatse first, and then transferred to the bus to Geelong.
I didn't go out until the next afternoon. I stayed in the postcards for a long time, wrote some postcards, put them in envelopes, and then handed them into the small green mailbox outside the door. I went to choose gifts to give to some people who I want to thank recently, and finally packaged and mailed them.
I should be in Nepal when you receive it, I think so.
Lhasa - Shigatse - Jilong Town
Pack your things, send some unnecessary items home, make photocopies of your ID, passport, etc., and you can leave when you are ready. My friend and I accidentally stumbled into Ramoche Temple on the way, and finally went to Canggu Temple to order a pot of tea, bid farewell to Bugua, the girl who shared the same room with the hotel, and left Lhasa with our bags on our backs.
The train from Lhasa to Shigatse is very beautiful, the name is Tangfan Ancient Road, and the purple seats and ethnic-style car decoration are very beautiful. After arriving at the hotel to rest, it was already dark, and the bus station could no longer buy tickets. The hostel owner told us to find the Mingzhu Hotel. There is a Geelong teahouse next to it. Go there and ask.
We set out with these two leads as if we had secret intelligence.
The city is so quiet, after returning at night, my friends and I sang loudly on the road, trying to melt away the cold during this time.
It takes a long time from Shigatse to Jilong Town, and the remote southwest town is still dark at eight o'clock in the morning.
After getting on the bus until Geelong, we passed many border inspections along the way. We were the only tourists in this car. I gave the pillow to the Tibetan aunt next to me, and the aunt gave us their snacks.
Along the way, I looked at such street signs: there are still xx kilometers away from the Everest Base Camp.
When we arrived in Jilong County, we changed the car to Jilong Town. The car was driving on the ring mountain road, which was thrilling and exciting.
When approaching Jilong Town, the car was passing through the valley, with snow-capped mountains on both sides. It was the most beautiful scenery encountered along the way, and the most beautiful scenery was always fleeting, and it disappeared before the shutter was pressed.
Before it got dark, I captured a little bit of sunset Jinshan,
A moment of beauty.
Let's go to Nepal
I looked at this small town at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, breathed the still somewhat thin air, and knew that the journey had already begun at this moment.
I didn't meet any fellow travelers along the way, and the coldness of the off-season made me extraordinarily rational. At 9:30 in the morning, the driver took us to the police station to file a record, and then waited. There were very few people going to the port in the off-season, and he pulled a friend from Nigeria, and the car set off before it was full.
The road was a bit detoured, and my friend was a little dizzy. Passing a checkpoint, we rubbed two oranges with my little brother.
I originally planned to take the noon bus to Canada, but there are only three trips a week, so I am curious.
The car was parked in the middle of the mountain, a place that didn’t look like an entry-exit place. We got out of the car and picked up our backpacks in a daze, and passed the inspection of the Chinese customs quickly in a daze. Smile.
The moment we stepped out of the domestic customs, we saw the Nigerian people with different faces from us, the valley in the distance and the manual security checkpoint built with sheds. We lost our sense of security, and the unknown and freshness came over us. .
In this way, we started this trip to South Asia.
【Strategy part】
- Tibet Practical Raiders -
[Best travel time] The peak season is May-October, the climate is best from July-September, and you can go to Nyingchi to enjoy the peach blossoms in April-May.
[Clothing guide] The temperature difference between day and night is relatively large, so pay attention to adding or removing clothes appropriately, and sunglasses and sunscreen are necessary.
[Consumption Index] A serving of Tibetan noodles is 5 yuan, a pot of sweet tea is about 4 cups at 5 yuan, a meal is about 20-30 yuan, and the price of a youth hostel is about 25-50 yuan a night, but the tickets for scenic spots are expensive, and the transportation fee It is a big head, and the price will fluctuate in low and peak seasons.
[Time difference] The longitude problem, it is bright and dark at night, the time difference is about one and a half hours.
[Tickets] Tickets for many scenic spots in Tibet are about half cheaper in winter, so bring your ID.
[Express delivery] The first weight of express delivery is 15 yuan, and the additional weight is also 15 yuan, which is not as expensive as imagined.
[Special food] Highland barley wine, buttered tea, Tibetan noodles, sweet tea, yogurt, tsampa, jelly, yak meat.
[Recommended accommodation] Barkhor Street, Beijing East Road.
【Necessary documents】
1. ID card: In Tibet, you must carry your ID card at any time for inspection at any time, such as the Jokhang Temple.
2. Student ID card: half price for some scenic spots.
3. Passport: It is best to have a passport. You can go to the border area without having to apply for a border pass, and you can also apply for a visa to Nepal.
[Areas that require border defense certificates]
Shigatse Region: Zhongba County, Saga County, Nyalam County, Tingri County, Kangma County, Yadong County, Gangba County, Dingjie County, Jilong County
Shannan Region: Cuona County, Longzi County, Luozha County, Langkazi County Linzhi Region: Milin County, Lang County, Zayu County, Medog County
Ngari Region: Pulan County, Zada County, Ritu County, Gar County
Attachment: PDF version of Tibet Raiders, private me if you want it.
- Must see! What should I pay attention to when entering Tibet for the first time? -
1. Lhasa is known as the "City of Sunlight", with strong ultraviolet rays, so pay attention to sun protection.
2. Due to the low air pressure on the plateau, the lid will be easily broken if it is screwed properly. Don't ask me why.
3. Change some change in advance before entering the temple.
4. Tibet is very popular, so prepare more batteries and memory cards.
5. Don't give money to children.
6. Be careful when taking pictures of animals in scenic spots, you know.
7. When the altitude exceeds 4000 meters, it is best not to activate the computer.
8. The Jokhang Temple circles around the center, which is called "turning the scriptures", remember clockwise.
9. Sweet tea is made from boiled black tea, milk or powdered milk, and sugar. It tastes better than butter tea.
10. Taking a taxi in Lhasa is very expensive.
11. It is best not to go to Tibet if you have a cold.
12. If you go to Lao Guangming to drink sweet tea, you must prepare some change.
【High anti】
1. When you first arrive in the plateau area, do not exercise vigorously.
2. High counter is normal and random, don't be afraid.
3. Keep warm, drink plenty of water, and take less baths (it is best not to wash on the first night of arrival).
4. Keep a good attitude and ensure enough rest time.
5. Drugs for alleviating high reaction: Sedum safflower capsules, take it at least 7-10 days in advance.
6. However, those with severe cardiopulmonary disease and high blood pressure are not suitable to enter the plateau, please ask your doctor for details.
7. Use less oxygen bottles, there will be dependence.
8. Butter tea and local food also have a certain effect on alleviating altitude sickness.
9. If you have a cold, you must take medicine and see a doctor in time, otherwise it will easily turn into emphysema.
【custom】
1. Don't touch Tibetans' heads or pat them on the shoulders.
2. Tibetans do not eat dog meat, monkey meat, horse meat and donkey meat, and some areas do not eat fish meat.
3. When receiving khata, you should take it with both hands. If the other party wears it directly around your neck, please do not take it off immediately.
4. According to the rituals of Tibetan Buddhism, you should walk around the temple in a clockwise direction, turn around the scriptures, and turn around the hall.
5. You cannot sit on stones with scriptures engraved on them, nor can you cross over places where prayer flags are hung.
6. Do not point to Buddha statues when visiting temples, and do not wear suspenders, shorts, or short skirts.
7. When entering the Buddhist hall, you must take off your hat and sunglasses.
- How to apply for a Nepal visa in Lhasa -
【Nepal visa processing and process】
[Location] Consulate General of Nepal in Lhasa.
[Address] No. 13, Norbulingka Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa.
[Application time] Monday to Friday: 10:00-12:30 (best before 11:00)
【materials needed】
1. The original passport (valid for more than 6 months), if you have an old passport, you can also bring it.
2.1 two-inch passport photo with white background.
3. Application form (fill in English, and the embassy will collect it for free).
4. Original price and photocopy of ID card.
[Cost] 0. No visa fee is required, and you can pick it up in the afternoon or the next day. (Postponed on holidays)
【Website】 Website of Nepal Embassy in China: nepalembassy.org.cn
- Land transportation to Nepal -
【My route】
Lhasa - Shigatse (train) - Jilong Town (bus) - Jilong Port (carpool) - Kathmandu (carpool)
There are 2 ways from Lhasa to Jilong Port.
1) Lhasa - Jilong Town (direct carpool)
[Time] The whole journey is about 17 hours.
[Cost] 280 yuan/person in off-season, 480 yuan/person in peak season.
[Advantages] Save worry and trouble, and avoid the hard work of reversing.
[Disadvantages] A lot of experience is missing, and the freedom is low, similar to group tours.
Carpool at the gate of the Nepalese embassy to Gyirong town.
2) Lhasa - Shigatse - Geelong Town (train - bus)
a. Lhasa - Shigatse: There are trains and cars to choose from.
b. Shigatse - Jilong Town: take a bus at the passenger terminal, there is only one bus per day.
[Time] The drive takes about 17 hours and takes two days.
[Cost] 280 yuan/person in off-season, 480 yuan/person in peak season.
[Advantages] Freedom is high, and you can stay more when you meet your favorite places. The train from Lhasa to Shigatse is very beautiful and unique.
[Disadvantages] It is tiring to travel by boat and car, and it is hard to reverse and transfer.
See below for details.
【Summarize】
The prices are about the same, students who value experience, have enough time, and like DIY can choose the second option, and students who have little time and are afraid of trouble can choose the first option. (Those who can go to Nepal by land are more of the second type, friends who like the first type have all flown to Nepal)
1 Lhasa - Shigatse
There are trains and cars to choose from.
①Train: 2 trains per day (Z8801/Z8803)
[Fare] The hard seat fare is 40.5 yuan.
[Time] Z8801: 2 hours and 55 minutes (08:30-11:25), Z8803: 2 hours and 39 minutes (15:20-17:59)
②Car: every 30 minutes, the journey takes about 5-6 hours. (Both Lhasa North Suburb Passenger Station and West Suburb Passenger Station have buses to arrive)
2 Shigatse - Geelong Town
[Time] Departs at 8:00 in summer and 8:30 in winter, and the whole journey takes about 12 hours.
[Fare] 196 yuan, it is recommended to buy tickets one day in advance.
【Precautions】
1. Take a bus at the passenger station, there is only one bus per day.
2. If you arrive late in Shigatse, you can go to the Jilong Tea House next to the Pearl Hotel, and the proprietress will contact the driver to come.
3. Note that it is Jilong Town, not Jilong County. The distance between the two is about 70 kilometers.
4. The price and time are for reference only, and will fluctuate depending on local conditions.
3 Jilong Town - Jilong Port
There is still about 23 kilometers away from Jilong Town to Jilong Port. It is recommended to contact the carpool to the port the next day one day in advance, 50 yuan per person, and the journey takes 1 hour.
In the morning, go to the Jilong Town Public Security Bureau to handle the exit form and report (the door opens at 9:30).
【Precautions】
1. From Lhasa to Gyirong, from Gyirong Port to Kathmandu, there are many, many, many checkpoints along the way. (too much to doubt life)
2. The security check in Nepal is to take out the bag manually, and you have to stuff it back by yourself.
3. Put on the waterproof cover of the mountaineering bag, and you will thank me when you arrive in Kadu.
4. There is only one bridge between Gyirong Port and Nepal. After crossing the bridge, you will be in Nepal.
4 Jilong Port - Kathmandu
The whole journey from Jilong Port to Jiadu is about 160 kilometers, and the journey takes about 8 hours.
① Carpooling: After crossing the border, you can choose to carpool with others to the capital of Nepal - Kathmandu Tamil area, 150-180 yuan per person. (Recommended plan, free time, it is recommended to leave the country early, the road will be delayed for a long time, try to reach Tamil early)
②Take the shuttle bus: depart from Gyirong Port to Kathmandu, Nepal every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The departure time of the Geelong Port-Nepal Resus Bridge on the China-Nepal border is at 12:00 noon, and the one-way fare is 2,500 rupees, equivalent to about 140 yuan.
【Precautions】
1. Most of the journey from the port to Canada is winding mountain roads, and the road conditions are very bumpy.
2. The off-road vehicle wanders among the cliffs, which is absolutely exciting.
3. The fare can be paid in RMB, book the accommodation in advance and download the offline map.
4. You can go to the Chengdu Hotel in Tamil to exchange money the next day after arriving in Kadu, the exchange rate is high.
5. Prepare to be dusty and achy.
Congratulations, you have successfully arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal, so stay tuned for Nepal Raiders.
- Guide to Lhasa Attractions -
(1) Snowy Plateau - Potala Palace
【Know the Potala Palace】
1. The Potala Palace is the highest and most majestic palace in the world, and the most important symbol of Lhasa and even Tibet.
2. "Potala" is Sanskrit, also translated as "Putuo", originally referring to the residence of Guanyin Bodhisattva.
3. The Potala Palace is a holy place in the hearts of all pilgrims.
4. In 641 A.D., Tubo Songtsan Gampo built the Potala Palace on Maburi Mountain. It is said that it was to marry Princess Wencheng from Chang'an.
5. The Cloth Palace is mainly composed of the Red Palace and the White House. The highest Red Palace in the middle is an important place for religious ceremonies, and the surrounding White House is mainly a place for lamas.
6. There are pagodas, statues, murals, thangkas and scriptures in the collection of Bugong, among which the eight stupas since the fifth generation are the most striking.
7. The viewing platform of Yaowang Mountain on the southwest side of the Potala Palace, the artificial lakeside of Zongjiao Lukang Park, and the Potala Palace Square are the best locations for shooting the Potala Palace.
8. There is a toilet with the highest altitude in the world in the Potala Palace.
[Traffic] You can walk there from Beijing East Road, and you can reach the Potala Palace Station by bus.
[Tickets] Look at the real-time guide, the prices are different in winter and summer, and occasionally there will be free tickets (I went for free in the winter of 2019).
Summer May-November: RMB 200
Winter November-May: RMB 100
【Precautions】
1. Don't wear skirts.
2. Closed on Mondays. (to be confirmed)
3. Do not bring water in.
4. You can prepare more change by yourself.
5. Photography is not allowed in some places.
6. Bring your ID card.
7. The security check is relatively strict.
8. Make an appointment in advance and leave a good time.
【Practical tips】
At that time, it was catching up with the free tickets, and the Tibetan aunts were painting the walls. I dared to guess whether this was the reason for the free tickets~
1. The Potala Palace requires an appointment. It is recommended that you make an appointment in the morning. The first time we went to make an appointment, we went at noon, so... you know, it was not on the list!
2. Another thing is to leave a good time. There are still a few hours before the appointment is completed, and it depends on the arrangement.
(2) Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street
【Know the Jokhang Temple】
1. Jokhang Temple is "Juekang" in Tibetan, and it is the terminal station of pilgrimage for Tibetan Buddhist believers. The sacred status of Jokhang Temple in the hearts of Tibetans is not inferior to that of the Potala Palace.
2. Every year, the Butter Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the Tibetan calendar and the Auspicious Tianmu Festival on the 15th day of the October month in the Tibetan calendar are the busiest times for Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street.
3. The Jokhang Temple was built by Songtsen Gampo to commemorate the princess's entry into Tibet. People often say that "there was the Jokhang Temple first, and then there was the city of Lhasa".
4. The biggest attraction of the Jokhang Temple is the 12-year-old statue of Sakyamuni brought by Princess Wencheng when she entered Tibet. It is said that the reason why Lhasa is called the "Holy Land" is related to this Buddha statue.
[Time] 09:00-18:00, 08:00-11:30 (opening hours for believers), 11:30-17:30 (opening hours for tourists)
【Time】1-3 hours.
[Tickets] 85 yuan.
[Traffic] It can be reached on foot from Barkhor Street, which is built around the Jokhang Temple.
【Precautions】
1. It is forbidden to take pictures indoors, but you can take pictures on the platforms on the first and second floors.
2. The Jokhang Temple has three floors, a courtyard on the first floor, a platform on the second floor to see the main hall (the main hall is 4 floors high), and a platform on the third floor to see the golden dome, and you can also see the entire city of Lhasa.
【Know Barkhor Street】
1. Barkhor Street is located in the old city, also known as "Bajiao Street". It is the most famous turning point and commercial center in Lhasa. The houses facing the street are almost all shops, selling all kinds of Tibetan costumes, handicrafts, commodities, and many more about Nepalese.
2. The barkhor street means a circle in Tibetan. Of course, the center of the circle is the Jokhang Temple. The most lively area in Lhasa can be said to be the barkhor street, and the Jokhang temple is the soul of the barkhor street.
3. After the completion of the Jokhang Temple, believers of Tibetan Buddhism began to turn around the Jokhang Temple, and gradually formed the above-mentioned sacs, barkhors and forests over time.
4. Tibetans reverently call this Sankuo "Holy Road", and "Kuo" in Tibetan means "turning around the scriptures", and there are still some Tibetans on the street who are carrying out the sacred turning. Through rituals, express inner piety.
5. The pilgrims who came from all over the world, the old Tibetans who turned the scriptures, and ordinary tourists like us together constitute a unique cultural charm.
6. Many famous Lhasa shops are located here, such as Guangminggang Qiongtian Tea House.
【Precautions】
1. The profile of Barkhor Street is pronounced "gua" here.
2. There are many intersections to enter the Jokhang Temple, each of which requires security checks and ID cards.
3. Barkhor is a one-way street. Walking on Barkhor must be in the same direction as the prayer wheel, that is, walking clockwise on this old street that has inherited 1,300 years of culture.
4. There are particulars and sayings about turning the scriptures, which are divided into circumambulation of the Jokhang Temple and Lhasa City. Travelers can respect the local customs. (For specific customs, see Lhasa Raiders)
(3) Yamdrok Yongcuo
【Know Yanghu Lake】
1. Yanghu Lake, Mapang Yongcuo and Namtso are also known as the three sacred lakes in Tibet.
2. Yanghu Lake is regarded as "the turquoise earrings scattered by goddesses" in the hearts of Tibetans, and it is also named "Jewel Fairy Lake", also known as "Yumu Lake", "Baidi Lake" and "Yamuruk Lake". ".
3. In Tibetan, "Yamdrok" means "upper pasture", "Yong" means "jasper", "cuo" means "lake", and the four characters of "Yamdrok" mean "upper pasture". Jasper Lake".
4. In the Year of the Goat, Tibetans will come here to visit the lake. In the minds of the local Tibetan people, mountains, lakes, etc. all have gods and are sacred.
5. Overlooking the Yanghu Lake, different levels of extremely rich blue will appear when illuminated at different times.
6. The water source of Yanghu Lake comes from the snow water of the surrounding Nyainqentanglha Mountains. The lake water changes with the light and evolves into ever-changing blue.
[Time] 08:00-18:30.
【Time】1-3 hours.
[Traffic] It takes about 2 hours to travel from Lhasa. You need to cross the 4990m Gangbala Pass. You can go there by car or chartered car. We were 70 people in the carpool. We gathered at the parking lot of the Potala Palace at 11:00 noon.
【Precautions】
1. The wind in Yanghu Lake is very strong. Be careful to keep warm. The road to Yanghu Lake is a road around the mountain, and the altitude is getting higher and higher. If you get motion sickness, choose the front location.
2. There are many animals specially photographed by Yanghu Lake and on the road, such as yaks and Tibetan mastiffs, etc. Even if they do not take pictures together, they will be charged, so pay attention.
(4) Norbulingka
【Know Norbulingka】
Norbulingka used to be the "summer palace" for nobles and dignitaries, and the Potala Palace was the "winter palace".
It is now known as the "Summer Palace" in Lhasa.
[Time] May-October: 09:00-18:00, October-May: 09:00-17:30
【Time】1-3 hours.
[Tickets] 80 in peak season and 60 in off-season, adjusted in real time. (I didn't need tickets to go there, and the benefits of Tibet scenic spots in the off-season in winter are still quite large)
[Traffic] About half an hour from Barkhor Street, it is next to the Nepal Consulate in Lhasa, and it is also very close to Tibet University. You can play together. It is recommended to apply for a visa first and then visit these two places while waiting for the visa.
[Notes] Closed on Sundays.
(5) Old Guangming VS Canggu Temple Sweet Tea House
【Old Guangminggang Qiong Teahouse】
[Business hours] 08:00-19:00, probably like this.
[Per capita cost] One yuan for a cup of sweet tea.
【Precautions】
1. Be sure to prepare cash and change in advance, definitely, definitely! ! !
2. The old Guangming is relatively large, so don't be intimidated by the Tibetan people in the house.
3. Go to get the glass first, then find a seat, put the change on the table, and wait for the waiter to come and fill the tea.
4. The environment is relatively noisy, because there are really many people. (I almost didn't find a seat)
[Features] The largest and oldest teahouse in Lhasa, which is also mentioned in many literary works. For example, the eighty cents a cup of sweet tea mentioned in "Lotus" comes from here.
[Address] Diagonally opposite Xiangbala Hotel on Tibet Hospital Road (near Beijing Middle Road), just near the Jokhang Temple.
【Canggu Temple Tea House】
[Business hours] 08:00-19:00, that's about it! (It is recommended to go early, the one I went at 6:50 in the evening was already closed)
[Per capita cost] About 6-10 yuan.
【Precautions】
1. Tibetan noodles + Tibetan steamed stuffed buns + sweet tea is the standard lunch for many Tibetans, you can try it if you have the opportunity.
2. Take the sign to order food, and then go to the kitchen window to redeem.
3. Pay attention to the poundage of the sweet tea. The two of us ordered 10 yuan for two people, thinking about why it was so expensive, and then served us a whole big thermos, but we didn't finish drinking it, and there was more than half left.
4. Compared with the old Guangming, it is much quieter here, suitable for chatting in a daze and having afternoon tea.
[Features] The only nun temple in Lhasa, the service staff are also nuns.
[Address] You can just navigate there, pay attention to the surroundings, don't pass by, the alley is relatively deep, and the facade is relatively hidden. (I lived on the opposite side for two days, but I didn't find it)
【postscript】
During these years, I have been to many Tibetan areas, from Shangri-La in Yunnan to Seda in Sichuan and then to Qinghai, from summer to winter, from a few people to one person, drinking barley wine and buttered tea, and reading Buddhist scriptures Had a celestial burial, hitchhiked and rode in Tibetan areas.
I used to have great fantasies about Tibet, but more often it is ourselves who welcome the fantasies.
There are some discrepancies between the reality and the thoughts in the heart. The moment you really enter Tibet, you will find that it is different from what is depicted on TV and in the book. It is also different in each period, and this is travel.
The short ten days I stayed there did not give me a deep understanding of what it is, and I look forward to seeing you again next time.
Tibet has always been there, and the culture has always been there. The blue sky and white clouds, Manidui, Gesanghua, children who smile at you, old people who turn around, and not enough sweet tea are all the reasons to come to this snowy plateau again. .
Or maybe, there is no reason to come here again.
This time, Tibet has nothing to do with scenery, but only humanities.
"Are you here to say goodbye to me, then be more grand, and wait until my eyes are full of tears",
"You just want to wander around the world. There is nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is that you stayed in Lhasa."