The Magnificent Tibet
Lhasa, the place closest to heaven, with its brilliant azure sky, enigmatic and profound Tibetan culture, and pristine, untainted natural landscapes. Reading these words captured my attention and sparked my decision to come here.
Flying to Lhasa, through the plane window I saw clouds, mountains, and the white snowy scenery on distant peaks. I felt a deep peace in my heart—so beautiful… Arriving in Lhasa, my first stop was Jinjiang Inn, very affordable. The hotel is located at No. 5 Beijing West Road, beside the Literary Federation. It's not on the main street, so no street noise, very quiet. A short walk left from the hotel there's a cinema, to the right many eateries, and nearby there's the Tianhai Night Market with plenty of barbecue stalls. It's also not far from my target sights in Lhasa, Norbulingka Park and the Potala Palace. Eating, drinking, and having fun are all convenient—this is my ideal spot.
Arriving at the hotel with quite a lot of luggage, a security guard warmly helped me with my bags. He had slightly dark skin, stocky build, and wearing his security uniform, he seemed very reliable—a good first impression. At the lobby front desk, the receptionist was very friendly. Then, another young lady walked up, dressed in Tibetan attire, which surprised me a bit. She handed me a cup of hot tea. I was a bit tired from the journey, and after a sip, my whole body relaxed. She was chatty, saying it was their welcome tea. They also have magnolia tea and Rhodiola-infused water. During our chat, she learned it was my first time in Lhasa and measured my blood oxygen and heart rate—85% oxygen saturation, heart rate 110. I didn't understand, so she patiently explained, telling me I had mild altitude sickness. She suggested I could inhale some oxygen to adjust and advised me on what to be careful about on a first visit to Tibet: don't shower on the first day, avoid strenuous exercise, dress warmly as the temperature difference between day and night is large, and get plenty of rest. She recommended I upgrade for free to a zero-pressure room, saying it would be more comfortable for my first stay. The receptionist immediately upgraded me to a zero-pressure room! After check-in, the lady walked me to the elevator, put a khata (a ceremonial scarf) around my neck, and said 'Tashi Delek' (blessings). Right at the start I was already experiencing Tibetan culture. The room had a humidifier—wonderful. I went out to familiarize myself with the surroundings and met the lady again in the lobby. We chatted for a while. When she knew I was visiting Lhasa for sightseeing, she recommended a Lhasa city travel guide. I opened it—very detailed, with helpful notes for things I wasn't familiar with. I immediately realized the hotel had thoughtfully prepared for tourists like me, and it felt heartwarming. Later I found out she was the hotel's lobby angel—the management really knows how to arrange things.
Norbulingka Park Visit
After reading the guide, I walked a few minutes to Norbulingka Park. (Norbulingka is sometimes called 'Lhasa's Summer Palace.' The garden is distinctive, blending Tibetan culture with traditional Chinese garden design. Inside, there's a new palace; visiting it is like touring all Tibetan architecture. The park has over a hundred plant species, including rare Tibetan hydrangeas and other precious flowers, earning it the title of Highland Botanical Garden.) Norbulingka, known as the Summer Palace, was where rulers came to escape the summer heat.
That day, I was lucky—the weather was perfect. The garden was full of rare flowers, truly a highland botanical garden. It was stunningly beautiful, and I couldn't resist taking a few photos.
Potala Palace Trip
The next day, I got up early for breakfast. The hotel breakfast was abundant, with over twenty items, including some Tibetan specialties. It was a buffet, and the dining experience was great. After breakfast, I chatted with the receptionist in the lobby while waiting for my guide. (I had joined a group tour for the first day, as the whole Potala Palace visit was cultural commentary—I highly recommend joining a group or hiring a private guide, otherwise you'll just glance around without understanding.) The receptionist recommended that at this time of year in Lhasa, I must visit Namtso to see the starry sky, saying it's really beautiful. I made a mental note. The guide arrived at the hotel, picked me up, and we met the rest of the group. Our tour started entering the Potala Palace at 10:30 am. Unfortunately, photography was forbidden inside the palace, but earphones were allowed. Listening to the guide's commentary, admiring the exquisite thangkas and murals, the golden Buddha statues, and the colorful gemstones, I was awestruck by the majestic sweep of history—the feeling was beyond words. Several group members, including me, were stunned by the dazzling gold. We joked that it nearly blinded our 'dog eyes,' haha! But the guide said that the most valuable things in the Potala Palace aren't the gold, but those crumpled-looking scriptures which are priceless. We were stunned again! We finished touring the Potala Palace around 12:30 pm. In the afternoon, the guide, a few new friends, and I headed to Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street together. In the evening, I watched the Princess Wencheng show. The story was touching, the songs were beautiful, and I even won a raffle prize! I came back and shared this with the receptionist, but unfortunately the morning receptionist had already finished her shift. The front desk service was truly wonderful—they even called me around 1 pm to ask if my health was improving and if I was adapting. I was so moved.
On the third day, I set off on the Namtso starry sky trip that the receptionist recommended. This trip to Namtso was for two days, as stargazing happens at night, so I had to stay overnight there. But the scenery she described was worth checking out. The drive passed Yangbajain geothermal hot springs, Tanggula Mountains, and Nagenla Pass. We stopped briefly at Nagenla Pass, but the altitude there was much higher than Lhasa. After a four-and-a-half-hour drive, we arrived at Namtso. I set up my tent at the stargazing spot.
The wait was long and a bit tough; luckily I had bought some medicine. The altitude here is much higher, and even before nightfall I felt cold! I went back to the tent to put on my down jacket. Finally, I saw the starry sky. I really am grateful to the Jinjiang Inn receptionist. It was an indescribable beauty, truly breathtaking! So this is how scenery can be even more majestic yet delicate, more delicate yet majestic. Waterbirds skimmed the water surface—so peaceful and beautiful. And in such a serene, beautiful place, I saw pilgrims walking around the lake, solemn and pure. Could I make a wish and be cleansed of all my sins? If I circumambulate the lake, would you restore the beauty in my heart? That time, I finally believed in beauty. A canvas of stars unfolded before my eyes, so beautiful I couldn't bear to lose it. How could such beauty exist in the world? How could stars be so numerous? Beauty, it turns out, can truly surpass imagination.
