Tibet is sacred, and Tibet’s pure land makes visitors feel mysterious. Tourists to Tibet will experience a baptism of the heart when greeting shocks one after another. The Himalayas are filled with weird colors, the Yarlungzangbo River that has kept running for millions of years, and the time-honored Potala Palace, Norbulingka, the Jokhang monastery, and the Tashilumpu monastery make people pay homage to them in great sincerity. When people hear the Sutra-chanting sound from the monasteries in the mountains and by the rivers or stroll in front of the ruins of the ancient and unembellished Guge Kingdom, people will feel that past time was elegantly back slowly when people observe flying swans above the limpid alpine lakes and hear the bold and unimpeded pastorals from the vast lowland, who can stop loving this holy land.

As Tibet is tough to reach, daring people from all over the world are looking forward to going; Tibet is a dream of tourists because of its fascinating scenery, and Tibet is the paradise of pilgrims because of its religious position. After Qinghai- Tibet, the railway was opened to traffic, and more and more friends could approach it, feel it, and fall in love with it through this beautiful ‘heavenly road.’

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Common knowledge for Tibet Travelers

• Remember not to Step on the threshold when entering the tent or house. Calling somebody in the name, please add ‘La’ behind the term to express respect. If you are asked to sit down, please cross your legs, don’t stretch your legs forward, and face your soles to others. While presenting the facility, you should bend your body forward and hold the gift higher than your head in both hands. It would help if you accepted the gift with both hands. While offering tea, wine, or cigarette, you should offer them with both hands, and any fingers don’t touch the inside of the bowl.
• When the host presents you with a cup of wine, you should dip your ring finger in the wine and flick the wine into the sky, in the air, and to the ground respectively, to express your respects to heaven, the earth, and the ancestors before sipping the wine. The host will feel the cup, and you retake a sip of the wine. After the host fills your cup again, you must bottom it up.
• Tibetan people don’t take horse, dog, and donkey meat and also don’t eat fish in some areas, so please respect their diet habits.
• It is not polite to clam your palms and spit behind the Tibetan people.
• Tibetan people stretch out their tongues to say hello to you. Also, it is a courtesy to put their hand palm to palm in front of the breast.
• No smoke in monasteries. Also, touching the statue of Buddha and religious articles is banned and taking pictures of them. Besides, all should walk clockwise (Not in the Bon Temples).
• Seeing any dagobas, monasteries, or Moni piles, please go around them clockwise (not of the Bon), don’t cross them.
• Eagles are sacred birds in the eyes of the Tibetan people. It would help if you did not drive them away or injure them. You could not move or disturb the ship or cows with red, green, or yellow cloth strips on the outskirts.

Entertainment

There are bars, cafes, tea houses, net bars, charming tea houses, minority Langmar and karaoke rooms of different grades, and Tibet-style bars to meet the needs of tourists from other places. Also, travel services can arrange folk singing and dancing performances for tourists.

Best Season touring in Tibet

May to October is the best Season for touring Tibet. There are more rainfalls from June to September, and the scenery is beautiful. But, the heavy rain may topple down mud, and as a result, the traffic will be affected.

Mountain Sickness in Tibet

What the visitors to Tibet are concerned about is mountain sickness. In highland, the air is thin and contains less oxygen. If the elevation increases quickly, you will find it uncomfortable, such as taking airplanes or buses to Tibet. You will feel headaches, dizziness, heavy breathing, tiredness, and insomnia with mountain sickness. Those with heart diseases or high blood pressure should be more careful.

Method of Guarding against Mountain Sickness

• Buying a bottle of Oxygen in Case:
  Lake of oxygen is the main reason for mountain sickness. In many places in Tibet, you buy oxygen in bottles. You can buy one or two tiny bottles just in case. Oxygen takes the mas; they cost approx 20 Yuan.
• Taking some medicines
  Drug stores in Lhasa sell medicines for preventing mountain sickness. The best way is to go to the doctor and take treatment recommended by the doctor according to your condition. It depends on your travel route as these medicines are also available in Kathmandu. We advise you to buy some DIMOX to prevent high altitude sickness. It is recommended to take 4 liters of water every day and pills of multivitamins for three days in succession. It helps decrease the chance of mountain sickness.

A-MUST for Adapting to Highland Climate

• Do everything slowly and not exhaust yourself, and take a good rest.
• Drinking more water
• Stabilizing the temperature of your body and not catching a cold.
• I am bringing some painkillers that don’t cause heavy sleep.
• Keep away from any smoke or wine.

Things to bring while touring in Tibet

• Heavy clothes – The weather temperature varies violently in the morning and evening. Even in June or July, it is best to bring heavy garments, such as a down coat and a Wollen sweater.
• The sleeping bag is necessary for those who enter Tibet by land or tour other places than Lhasa. However, other towns such as Gyantse and Shigatse have decent hotels, and warm blankets are provided during your stay there.
• Louse Killing Powder – Except for Lhasa, most places in Tibet have simple hotels. Maybe there are lice around. It is best to spread the such powder.
• Tibet has an intense ultraviolet rays. In addition to sun Glasses, it is helpful to bring some sunblock to prevent sunburn.
• Solid food and drinks – You should bring enough high-calorie solid food, such as cookies, chocolate, and candy. Also, you should get enough drinking water. Besides, you should be ready to meet landslides and car broken on your tours in Tibet.

Other Tibet Travel Information

• Telecommunications
• Shigatse Telecommunications Bureau and a few hotels provide IDD and DDD. Mobile phones can be used here too.
• Useful Telephone Numbers
• Phone number inquiry                      114
  Weather forecast                             12121
  Area code of Xigaze                        892
• Net Bars
• All hotels provide network services, and tourists can have benefits.
• Foreign Exchange
• The Bank of China on Jiefang M. Road provides foreign exchange services and accepts traveler’s cheques. Before going to Ngari, here is the last place to cash your traveler’s cheque.
  Bank of China, Xigaze branch
  Add: Shanghai M. Road, Xigaze
  Tel:892-8822931
• Tourist Institutes

Elevation and Content of Oxygen in the Air

• The average elevation is 3,836 meters, and the content of oxygen in the air is 67 percent.

Remarks

• Those suffering from high blood pressure, respiratory infection, and intestinal disorders should follow the doctor’s suggestion. It is better to bring warmer and loose clothes, sunglasses, and skin lotion. Also, it would be best if you respected the religious belief and living habits of the local people.

Lhoka-A Birthplace of Tibetan Culture

• Lhoka is the Birthplace of the Tibetan nationality. Located at the southern bank of the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, it has a temperate climate and an elevation of 3,600 meters. Besides, Lhoka prefecture boasts Samyae Monastery, Yombulagang palace, tombs of the Tibetan kings, Changzhug Monastery, and other famous cultural sites. Yalong Scenic Area is a national key scenic area.

Yalong Scenic Area

• In Lhoka prefecture, it is a picturesque gallery composed of pastureland, river valleys, snow-capped mountains and glaciers, and ancient religious sites. The customs are unique here. Also, it has various plantations distributed vertically according to elevation changes. The historical and cultural sites include the earliest palace Yombulagang in Tibet, the first temple Samye Monastery in Tibet, the earliest Buddhist hall Changzhug Monastery, and the Tibetan kings’ tombs. In total, there are some 40 scenic spots in the area.

Tibetan Mastiff

Tibetan Mastiff: Photo Credit: AKC.

The Tibetan Mastiff is a large breed of dog developed centuries ago in Tibet. It was initially found on the Tibetan Plateau and is now found worldwide. Originally used as guard dogs for livestock and property, Tibetan Mastiff can still be found performing that job. The Tibetan Mastiff used to be a loyal herd dog of the nomadic Tibetan herdsmen for many years, which herders then used in India, Nepal, and Mongolia to protect the herds from attack by different wild animals.

The Tibetan Mastiff can be seen in Tibet while touring around, and you can take a photo with Tibetan Mastiff. A unique dog, a full-grown male dog, can reach up to 26 inches, life expectancy is 10 to 12 years, and weigh between 45-65 Kilograms.

You can see the Tibetan Mastiff while touring around Namtso (Lake), YamdrokTso (Lake), and Mansarovar Lake. You can find it in these areas because they have grazing lands for nomadic herders, and dogs can be seen wandering around the edges of herds and sitting on the top of the rock overlooking their herders.