A Little May Day Trip to Tibet
This year’s May Day mini-holiday is quite nice, with five days off. If you’re visiting Lhasa, here’s something to think about.
To squeeze out more playtime, you can take a half-day off on April 30 (or sneak away if you’re daring) and fly from wherever you are to Lhasa. Once in town, check into a hotel (I’d recommend the Jinjiang Inn—a nationwide chain that’s affordable, clean, and has excellent service). Freshen up a bit, head out for dinner, and by then it’s around 8 p.m. That’s when the sky just starts to dim and the sun slowly sets. You could go to the Yaowang Mountain Viewing Platform to watch the sunset over Lhasa. After dark, stroll over to the Potala Palace Square next door to see the night view, then wander back to your hotel for a rest…
May 1 – After breakfast, catch a taxi to Norbulingka. Norbulingka is known as the Summer Palace—literally a retreat for rulers to escape the summer heat. In Tibetan, ‘norbu’ means jewel, so Norbulingka means ‘Jewel Garden.’ Walking here, you might feel as if you’ve been transported into one of Suzhou’s classic gardens.
Once you’ve finished exploring Norbulingka, it’s time to experience the awe-inspiring Potala Palace. After exiting the palace, step straight into Zongjiao Lukang Park, where you can see the reflection of Potala Palace in the water.
From there, walk about 20 minutes to reach Jokhang Temple, which sits on Barkhor Street—the most popular gathering spot for tourists and the heart of Lhasa’s old quarter. You can do a kora (ritual circumambulation) around the temple. By then it’s about 1 p.m., and when you’re tired and hungry, find a sweet tea house. Sip sweet tea, try some Tibetan noodles, and watch the people go by. Utterly relaxing!
Hang around the Jokhang Temple area until about 6 p.m., then find a Tibetan restaurant for dinner (I especially recommend the potato buns, blood sausage, and Tibetan-style hotpot). After eating, around 7:30 p.m., grab a taxi to see the Princess Wencheng show. Since the temperature can drop sharply after dark, don’t forget to bring extra layers!
May 2–4 – Rent a car or join a tour to visit two of Tibet’s three sacred lakes: Yamdrok Lake and Namtso Lake. I suggest going to Yamdrok first, then Namtso, spending one night at each. By this time, the snow and ice on the mountains and lakes around Lhasa have completely melted, making it the perfect window to see Yamdrok Lake and Namtso. During the day, stroll along the shore and watch the water shift with the light, dissolving into countless shades of blue. At night, camp beside the lake and gaze at the brilliant starry sky.
May 5 – Sleep in until noon, have lunch, pack your bags, and head to the airport. With your heart full of beautiful memories, us working folks simply go back where we came from…
