A Mind-Clearing Tibet Trip: Starting in Beijing, Ending in Xi'an

1) Clothing: Tibet's weather is cool in the morning and evening, hot at noon, and sometimes even colder around Lhasa, so be sure to pack both light and warm clothes. Considering a trip lasting seven to ten days, an outdoor jacket is a must, a thick coat/light down jacket, one or two hoodies, one T-shirt, thick leggings, jeans, sweatpants, pajamas, a box of disposable underwear (clothes dry slowly), socks and underwear as needed, and an extra pair of shoes.

2) Food: Just go with the flow, eat wherever you are. (There aren't many street snacks in Lhasa, so just eat when you're hungry, no need to hunt for something specific.)

3) Accommodation: Four nights in Lhasa (around 210 yuan per night, we booked a family room for three, splitting the cost was a great deal), 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 flight (Lhasa to Xi'an to Shenyang, ticket 1155 yuan).

Special notes: Start taking Rhodiola rosea seven to ten days in advance (capsules, granules, or oral liquid all work; personally I recommend the oral liquid, convenient and affordable, but avoid taking it during your period). Also bring some medicine; altitude sickness can cause headaches, so bring painkillers or ibuprofen; you might catch a cold, so pack paracetamol or cold capsules, some vitamin C effervescent tablets, or American ginseng slices to brew in water to boost energy. Also bring some sweets like Snickers, chocolate, milk candies... glucose to replenish energy.

1. Bring some chewing gum to keep your breath fresh when you can't brush your teeth.

2. You don't need to prepare oxygen in advance—it can't pass security on trains or planes, and both trains and planes supply oxygen, so don't worry. Pharmacies in Lhasa sell oxygen canisters cheaply, 25–35 yuan per bottle.

3. Must bring sunscreen.

4. Recommend lip balm and face masks; Tibet is very dry, lips easily peel.

5. Bring a 50-yuan banknote (for photographing the Potala Palace).

6. A thermos is handy; it's cold, and you can fill up with hot water at most rest stops, very convenient.

7. Prepare two hats; you can't shower or wash your hair when you first arrive in Lhasa. One tip: if you don't like wearing a hat, bring some baby powder, sprinkle on your hair to absorb oil—works great.

8. Nyingchi, Namtso, and Yamdrok Lake all require driving from Lhasa. Since we traveled independently, we joined local tours arranged in advance (contact several Lhasa hotels; they can connect you to day-trip or two-day trip groups, usually 10–15 people per vehicle. You can negotiate prices, and groups can refer you to other smaller groups to compare prices.)

In the end, the Nyingchi two-day tour cost 760 yuan (meals and accommodation included), Yamdrok Lake day trip 138 yuan (meal and one oxygen bottle included), Namtso day trip 220 yuan (meals not included).

9. Buy insurance on apps, many types like accident insurance, flight insurance, just for peace of mind. We each spent 18 yuan on insurance.

Biu biu biu~~~~~ The wonderful journey begins! First, enjoy a beautiful photo to whet your appetite.

From Shenyang to Beijing, a day trip to the Old Summer Palace with my old friend A'nan.

A sneaky photo of A'nan's baby's doll (a corner of the windowsill).

Ding ding ding, arrived at the Old Summer Palace, entrance ticket 25 yuan.

Went through a really fun maze.

A posey posed photo, heehee.

PS: Thanks to A'nan's warm hospitality, got to eat lamb spine hot pot—super happy.

8pm gathered with buddies at Beijing West Railway Station to start my two-day, two-night train journey.

Train sightseeing, let's go!

On the train, a pancake swelled up due to altitude pressure—so funny, getting bigger and bigger.

Scenic timetable along the train route, for reference. Train attendants sell souvenir tickets and the like, and also hand out this timetable.

Generally after Golmud, oxygen supply begins, so keep an eye out. If you feel unwell, contact the attendant immediately.

Arrived in Lhasa city at noon, stayed at GreenTree Inn (Potala Palace branch, very close to the Potala, walking distance). Rested and acclimatized, ate something, and remember—do not shower or wash hair.

Lhasa station is very strict, with guards on duty, no going near. I even wondered how people get in to board the train, haha.

After exiting, you can take the bus for 1 yuan to the hotel, but we were too tired and had luggage, so we took a taxi. I'd done my research, taxis in Lhasa shouldn't be expensive, about a 20-minute ride to the hotel, my mental price was 15–30 yuan. The first taxi quoted an absurd price; no rush, just look around slowly—both nearby roads had taxis. In the end we spent 30 yuan on a taxi to the hotel. Yeah, success.

Nyingchi two-day tour, staying in Nyingchi (since Nyingchi's altitude is lower than Lhasa city, it's good to go there first to acclimatize more easily).

Staying in Nyingchi, eating stone pot chicken. I strongly recommend Nyingchi, it's so stunningly beautiful, beyond words. Pictures can't fully capture it, it's just amazing.

Tour the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, visit Basom Tso, stay in Sorsong Village, see Namjag Barwa (the "Shy Maiden Peak").

Scenery along the way, green lake water.

The clouds were so pure white, as if you could reach out and touch them.

The view of Highway 318 from the passenger seat.

Scenery along the way, every random shot is a masterpiece.

The weather was warm enough to wear a short-sleeve and show off, striking a nice back-view pose.

Me and my childhood buddy, don't we look like innocent childhood sweethearts? Too bad my buddy isn't a guy friend, haha. I really love these two photos, thanks to our photographer (Sister Dongmei). Heart!

After sightseeing, continued toward Nyingchi.

The weather really changed in an instant; in the morning it was sunny and calm, by afternoon it started hailing. So surreal! Good thing I'm from the Northeast and used to such things, hail is nothing new, but driving in that weather was scary—you couldn't even see the road from the passenger seat.

We wanted to watch the sunset, but due to the weather it seemed unlikely, so we ate dinner first. The group meal was okay, 10 dishes 1 soup. The inn was a standard room, very clean, and the exterior gave a very nice impression.

After dinner, unexpectedly the rain stopped and the sky cleared, so we happily went to watch the sunset. So beautiful, and this is completely un-Photoshopped.

We saw Namjag Barwa, so lucky! This peak, like Tianchi Lake, is not visible every day—it depends on fate. That's why Namjag Barwa is also called the Shy Maiden Peak (a reclining woman).

Still touring Nyingchi, then back to Lhasa, staying at GreenTree Inn.

First, a group photo of our little gang.

There's a person in the scenery, someone photographing the scenery, and I'm photographing the person in the scenery. (What a posh phrase, right?)

Mira Mountain Tunnel, elevation 4752m, impressive.

Since I still had a bit of altitude sickness, we chose a day trip to Yamdrok Lake first (elevation 4441m) to enjoy the graceful scenery. Here you can dress more brightly for great photos. Back to GreenTree Inn for the night.

We came back early and had a feast, 185 yuan.

After the feast, a night tour of the Potala Palace.

Namtso day trip to see the vast, majestic scenery. Here the altitude is a bit higher, a good challenge. Stay at GreenTree Inn, then need to reserve Potala Palace tickets for the next day. (Warm tip: This is a glacier area, the coldest place, so definitely bring enough clothes. If you don't have thick clothes, rent them in advance.)

Look, all ice, so so cold, and the wind was so strong.

See the yaks, you can ride a yak for a photo (10–30 yuan).

A chance ray of sunlight, so beautiful.

Hit the altitude mark of 5190m, I was already breathless and weak, speaking gently—one of the few times in my life I've sounded so tender, haha.

Winding mountain roads, so dangerous.

In the evening, book the Potala Palace tickets in advance. It's still off-season, only 100 yuan; May is peak season with tickets at 200 yuan. So I recommend coming late April, hotel prices haven't increased and you can still catch the tail end of peach blossoms, plus great weather.

Back at the hotel, I couldn't sit still and went to explore Barkhor Street early (entry requires security check, and they basically stop entry around 8:30pm). We went to the famous Makye Ame for a big meal, spending 345 yuan.

Checked out in the morning, stored luggage, visited the Potala Palace in the morning and Barkhor Street in the afternoon for souvenirs, etc. Around 4pm, picked up luggage and headed to the airport for the return trip. Stayed overnight in Xi'an; if you have energy and time, you can go downtown for some street food.

Potala Palace ticket, prepare some small change to offer to the lamas inside for blessings. There's security, no oxygen or bottled water allowed, but checks aren't super strict. Then I stormed the Potala Palace in my eye-catching orange SpongeBob outfit, haha.

I'm smiling so brightly, warm, isn't it?

This sunlight was so coincidental, I chose the backdrop. Check out my 1.8m-long legs, my little orange outfit so dazzling, matching the white walls perfectly. Yangzai said, if I got lost, you could spot me at a glance.

There's money in the wall cracks, lots of it. I love this photo too, reminds me of picking at wall cracks as a kid.

That's the use of the 50-yuan note (btw, use a phone without auto-focus).

Barkhor Street · Bother-Free Grocery, selling camel bells.

Local Tibetan meal 262 yuan.

Special Tibetan-style pig, so delicious, 68 yuan per serving.

Tsampa (not for everyone, dry and odd-shaped, looks hand-molded, tastes weird), this serving 33 yuan.

Also yummy dry-fried potato slices, rice, but I was so hungry I forgot to take photos.

Snacking on Tibetan yogurt, topped with highland barley (tastes like popcorn, 15 yuan a bottle).

Passed by Jokhang Temple (didn't get to visit due to time, but heard the monks' debates are fascinating, tickets cheap, a few dozen yuan).

Trendy A Diao milk tea, right next to Jokhang Temple, average 26 yuan a cup.

Arrived in Xi'an at night, took hotel shuttle to free airport hotel included with the ticket (book via the official account in advance, also free airport meals), then went into the city late at night to have fun.

Gives off a ghost movie vibe, doesn't it?

On the 25th, returned to Shenyang, ending the delightful trip.

The perfect end to a perfect day.

Set out with joy, return when the joy subsides. A short trip perfectly concluded; looking forward to the next serendipitous encounter.