A Soul-Freeing Tibet Journey (From Beijing to Xi'an)
1) Clothing: In Tibet, it’s cool in the morning and evening, hot at midday, and even colder around Lhasa at times. So you need to pack both light and warm layers. Considering a trip of 7–10 days, a windbreaker is a must; also bring a thick jacket or lightweight down jacket, one or two hoodies, one short-sleeved shirt, thermal leggings, jeans, sweatpants, pajamas, a box of disposable underwear (laundry dries slowly), casual socks and underwear, and an extra pair of shoes.
2) Food: Be spontaneous – eat wherever you go. (Lhasa doesn’t have many street snacks, so just eat when hungry; no need to hunt for spots.)
3) Accommodation: Four nights in Lhasa (around 210 yuan per night; we were three people, booked a family room and split the cost – great value). One night in Nyingchi (included in the tour fee).
4) Transport: Outbound → by train (Shenyang to Beijing 206 yuan, Beijing to Lhasa 720 yuan); Return → by air (Lhasa to Xi’an to Shenyang, flight ticket 1,155 yuan).
Special tip: Start taking rhodiola rosea 7–10 days in advance (capsules, granules, or oral liquid all work; I personally recommend the liquid – convenient and affordable. Note: avoid taking rhodiola during your period). Also pack some medication: altitude sickness can cause headaches – bring painkillers or ibuprofen; you might catch a cold, so have paracetamol or cold capsules; bring vitamin C effervescent tablets or American ginseng slices to brew as tea to boost energy. Carry some sweets: Snickers, chocolate, toffees, glucose for energy.
1. Bring chewing gum – keeps breath fresh when you can’t brush easily.
2. Oxygen isn’t needed in advance; you can’t pass security on trains or planes, and both supply oxygen, so no worries. In Lhasa, pharmacies sell oxygen cans cheaply, 25–35 yuan each.
3. Sunscreen is a must.
4. Lip balm and face masks are recommended – Tibet is very dry; lips easily chap.
5. Bring a 50-yuan banknote (for photographing the Potala Palace from the perfect angle).
6. A thermos is essential; it’s cold and most stop points have hot water refills, super handy.
7. Two hats: you can’t wash your hair when first arriving in Lhasa. A little trick – if you don’t like hats, pack some baby powder; pat it on your hair to absorb oil, works wonders.
8. Nyingchi, Namtso, and Yamdrok Lake all require driving from Lhasa. Since we traveled independently, we arranged local tours in advance (contact a few Lhasa hotels; they can hook you up with day-trip or two-day-trip groups, usually 10–15 people per vehicle, and you can negotiate prices. Groups can also refer each other to smaller private tours for better rates.) In the end, we booked: Nyingchi two-day tour at 760 yuan (with meals and accommodation), Yamdrok Lake day tour at 138 yuan (with lunch and a bottle of oxygen), Namtso day tour at 220 yuan (no meals included).
9. Insurance can be bought on small apps – many types: accident, flight insurance, just for peace of mind. We spent 18 yuan per person.
Biu biu biu~~~~~ The magical journey begins. First, enjoy a beautiful photo to whet your appetite.
Shenyang to Beijing, a day at the Old Summer Palace with old pal A’nan.
Sneaked a photo of A’nan’s kid’s dolls (a corner of the windowsill).
Ding ding ding, the Old Summer Palace is here. Entrance fee 25 yuan.
We walked through a very fun maze.
Cheesy posed shot, hehe.
PS: Thanks for A’nan’s warm hospitality – we ate lamb spine hotpot, so happy!
At 8 pm, met up with friends at Beijing West Station to start my two-day, two-night train journey.
Train sightseeing, let’s go!
The flatbread packed for the trip puffed up from the altitude – so funny, it kept expanding.
The scenery timetable along the train route, for reference. Onboard attendants sell tickets, souvenir tickets etc., and they also have this timetable. Usually after Golmud, oxygen supply starts. Keep an eye on it; if uncomfortable, contact the attendant.
Arrived in Lhasa at noon, stayed at GreenTree Inn (Potala Palace branch, walking distance to the palace). Rested, adjusted, ate something – remember: no shower or hair wash.
Lhasa Station is very solemn, with guards; you can’t get close. I even wondered how we’d board the train, haha.
Exiting the station, you can take a 1-yuan bus to the hotel, but we were too tired and had luggage, so we took a taxi. I’d researched: Lhasa taxis aren’t expensive; it’s about a 20-minute ride to the hotel, and I expected 15–30 yuan. The first cabs quoted outrageous prices – no rush, just look around; there are taxis on nearby roads. We ended up paying 30 yuan to the hotel. Yeah, success.
Nyingchi two-day tour, staying in Nyingchi (its altitude is lower than Lhasa, so going there first is fine and helps acclimatize).
Stayed in Nyingchi, ate stone pot chicken. I strongly recommend Nyingchi – it’s so stunningly beautiful, beyond words. Photos can’t fully capture it. Truly amazing.
Visited Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, Basum Tso, stayed in Sosong Village, saw Namcha Barwa Peak (the “Shy Maiden Peak”).
Scenery en route: green lake water.
Clouds so pure white, like you can touch them.
The 318 highway from the passenger seat perspective.
Roadside views – every random shot is a masterpiece.
When it’s warm, you can even wear a short-sleeved shirt, and capture a beautiful silhouette from behind.
With my childhood friend – a picture of innocent closeness? Too bad she’s not a guy friend, haha. I really love these two photos; big thanks to our photographer (Sister Dongmei). Heart!
After sightseeing, continued onward to Nyingchi.
The weather here changes in a blink: sunny and gentle in the morning, hail in the afternoon – so magical. Good thing I’m from the northeast, seen enough, hail doesn’t impress me, but driving in it was still scary; even the passenger side could barely see the road.
We wanted to watch sunset, but the weather looked unpromising, so we ate first. Group meal was decent – ten dishes, one soup. The hotel was a clean standard room, and the exterior looked very nice.
After dinner, the rain stopped and the sky cleared – so we happily went out to see the sunset. Gorgeous, and this is completely unedited.
We spotted Namcha Barwa Peak! So lucky – like Tianchi Lake, it’s not visible every day; it depends on fate. That’s why it’s also called the Shy Maiden Peak (a reclining female figure).
Still exploring Nyingchi, then return to Lhasa, stay at GreenTree Inn.
First, a group photo of our little gang.
People in the scenery, capturing the view; I’m capturing the people in the scenery. (So artsy, right?)
Mila Mountain Tunnel, elevation 4,752 meters. Excellent!
Since we still had slight altitude sickness, we chose a Yamdrok Lake day tour (elevation 4,441m) to enjoy its enchanting beauty. You can dress brightly here – great for photos. Evening back at GreenTree Inn.
Returning early, we had a feast – 185 yuan.
After the meal, strolled around the Potala Palace at night.
Namtso day tour, experiencing the vast, majestic scenery. The altitude here is higher – a challenge. Stay at GreenTree Inn, then you need to book the next day’s Potala Palace tickets. (Warm reminder: This is the glacier area, the coldest place; so definitely bring enough clothes, or rent a heavy jacket in advance if you don’t have one.)
Look, all ice – so freezing, and the wind is strong.
See the yaks; you can ride a yak for photos (10–30 yuan).
A chance sunbeam, so beautiful.
Check-in at 5,190m above sea level. My voice was weak, no strength – one of the few times in my life I spoke gently, haha.
Twisty mountain roads, so dangerous.
In the evening, reserve Potala Palace tickets in advance. Still off-season, only 100 yuan; from May it’s peak season, tickets 200 yuan. So I recommend traveling late April – room rates haven’t risen, you can catch the tail end of peach blossoms, and the weather is nice.
Back at the hotel, we couldn’t sit still and went early to Barkhor Street (security check required; basically no entry after 8:30 pm). Visited the famous Makye Ame restaurant and had a grand meal, spending 345 yuan.
Morning checkout, luggage stored. Morning visit to the Potala Palace, afternoon on Barkhor Street shopping for local specialties. Around 4 pm pick up luggage and head to the airport for the return. Night in Xi’an; if you have energy and time, you can go downtown for street food.
Potala Palace ticket – you can bring some small change to donate to the shrines inside for blessings. There’s security, no oxygen or bottled water allowed, but checks aren’t super strict. Next, I’ll strut around Potala in my eye-catching orange SpongeBob outfit, haha.
My smile is so bright – doesn’t it give you warm feels?
Lucky sunlight, and I picked this spot. Check out my 1.8m-long legs! My little neon orange looks so dapper against the white walls. Yangzai said if I got lost, he’d spot me in a second.
There’s money stuffed in the wall cracks – lots of it. I love this photo too; it’s like childhood, peeking into wall gaps.
The 50-yuan note’s purpose revealed. (Right, you need a phone without autofocus for this shot.)
Barkhor Street · Solace Grocery Shop, selling camel bells.
Local Tibetan meal, 262 yuan.
Special Tibetan fragrant pig, so tasty, 68 yuan per plate.
Tsampa – not for everyone; it’s dry, and you can tell it’s shaped by hand. The taste is peculiar. This bowl cost 33 yuan.
Also delicious dry-pot potato chips, rice with gravy – we were too hungry to pause for photos.
Strolling and eating, Tibetan yogurt topped with highland barley (popcorn texture, 15 yuan a bottle).
Passed by Jokhang Temple (didn’t visit due to time, but I heard the monk debates inside are fascinating; the ticket is just a few dozen yuan).
Insta-famous A Diao milk tea, right by Jokhang Temple, average 26 yuan a cup.
Arrived in Xi’an at night, took the hotel shuttle bus to a free hotel provided with the flight ticket (advance booking via official account required, and airport meal vouchers are also free). Then sneaked into the city for a midnight adventure.
Got kind of a ghost-movie vibe.
On the 25th, returned to Shenyang, ending a joyful trip.
The perfect end to a perfect day.
We set out with joy, and returned with joy. A short but perfect journey; until our next unexpected encounter.
