2021 Lhasa Peach Blossom Festival Travel Guide: Discover Offbeat Photo-Worthy Spots

A sudden pandemic

made the peach blossoms across the mountains of Nyingchi fall in silence.

How many people's dreams of a paradise could only be filled with imagination.

Thankfully, the surreal 2020 is now behind us,

and spring will come after all.

Day 1: Arrive in Lhasa – Transfer to hotel after airport/train station pickup

Day 2: Potala Palace – Potala Café – Jokhang Temple – Barkhor Street free travel photography – Lhasa

When traveling to Tibet, there are several must-visit places, and the top one is: the Potala Palace. I still remember the awe and emotion when facing this "closest place to the sky." Especially the sight of tens of thousands of Tibetan pilgrims traveling thousands of miles just to offer their treasured tributes—such purity and devotion left a lasting impression on me.

The hotel we chose is a very famous local hotel in Lhasa: Lhasa Pingcuo Kang Sang View Hotel. It's located on Duosenge North Road (Qingnian Road), near Beijing Road, adjacent to the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, and Ramoche Temple; the Civil Aviation Administration, Shenli Times Square, and People's Hospital are all within walking distance, and it's about a 5-minute walk to Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Street. The prime location made sightseeing, shopping, and dining extremely convenient. Makye Ame Restaurant, Namaste Restaurant, and Guangming Gangqiong Sweet Tea House are nearby, allowing you to savor Tibetan specialties like tsampa, sweet tea, and fried potatoes up close. You must try the sweet tea at Guangming Gangqiong!

We booked a view room at Pingcuo Kang Sang, where we could see the night view of the Potala Palace directly from the room—an excellent vista, with electric curtains, perfect for capturing photos and videos. The view restaurant on the 5th floor is also great for photos, but in the evening it gets very crowded; window-side dining tables need to be reserved in advance, or they're easily taken. In the evening, the hotel has an in-house singer performing, creating a wonderful dining atmosphere—definitely worth experiencing.

Day 3: Lhasa – Lulang Forest – Gala Peach Blossom Valley – Lulang Town

Day 4: Lulang Town – Bomi Peach Blossom Valley – Nyingchi

Bomi Gangmei Village, peach blossom viewing recommendation: ★★★★★

This was an unexpected gem on our trip, not originally in the itinerary, discovered by chance. It's a quiet little village; if you continue further inside, you'll reach Gangxiang Nyingchi Spruce Forest.

Bomi Peach Blossom Valley, recommendation: ★★★★★

From the entrance of Peach Blossom Valley to Qundo, and on to Yuxu Township, this entire road is a great flower-viewing route.

We originally planned to go to Basum Tso, but we reached the gate and didn't go in. Since we still had to rush back to Lhasa, we might have only had an hour or two to visit. We felt that such a short time wasn't worth it, so we decided to save it for a leisurely visit next time. This trip was almost never rushed; we set off each day after waking up naturally, and we didn't want the last stop to feel too hurried.

Before departure, I had been struggling with the route. Because mid-to-late March is not yet peak peach blossom season, and I had another segment of my journey afterward, I had to arrive in Tibet a few days early. So we had to visit higher-altitude areas first, then see the peach blossoms a few days later. Here's a small tip: if time permits and the season is right, definitely start your trip from Nyingchi. The altitude there is lower, the vegetation is lush, and you're less likely to suffer from altitude sickness. Bring appropriate clothes for the season and weather; catching a cold or altitude sickness can push your body to the limit. I hope everyone who reads this article has a wonderful journey!!!