Forgetting the World, Filled with Delight | Tibet, I Traveled from Afar for a Rendezvous with You!
"If I tell you my dream, you might forget it; if I let you enter my dream, then it will also become your dream."
A ray of afternoon sunlight fell upon the forehead, and so the light found its dwelling place, transforming into a horse in the dream, a horse as white as snow, glowing alone in a gloomy wild forest. The wind seemed to be chasing the horns of bygone days, its whistling echoing through the entire dreamscape…
Tibet is like a parable, hiding time and hiding the world within itself. Thus, she seems light and airy, yet also profoundly heavy. Grand and humble — that is us, and that is Tibet.
If one must always find a reason for every departure, then coming to Tibet this time, I think I have entrusted my yearning to her!
The sun rises as usual, illuminating all things on earth while also striving to unseal every soft and shadowed corner. The first ray of morning light meets the sky at thirty thousand feet.
I thought I had made thorough preparations before setting off, but the high-altitude climate still requires gradual adaptation. Lhasa at high elevation has thin oxygen, yet for someone like me who rarely exercises, acclimatizing was comparatively quick — perhaps I'm so lazy that I'm too lazy to even breathe (just kidding). In any case, after landing in Lhasa, avoid strenuous activities; settle into your accommodation, take it slow, observe slowly, first get acquainted with Tibet, and adapt well to the local environment.
On the second day of the itinerary, we drove towards Nyingchi. The Lhasa-Nyingchi Expressway truly surprised me. Unlike other fully enclosed highways, it has many open ramps or lookout platforms. All along the way, the Nyang River seemed ready to "swallow" you at any moment, immersing you so deeply that you cannot help but hum Pu Shu's "The Ordinary Road" — mountains and seas, clouds drifting like smoke.
Basum Tso, a pool of "green water," nestles between high mountains and valleys. Riding a light sailboat, this natural scroll slowly unfolds before your eyes. The simple, ancient Jieba Village is like a hidden paradise. Sitting in quiet meditation, leaning close to it, adds even more tranquility. Gazing at distant snow mountains and forests, the "Throne of the King" is brimming with charm!
The final stop on this scroll is called "Forgotten Wharf" — extremely poetic and full of parable, like someone with Alzheimer's. It seems we can only possess brief happiness; just a fleeting forgetting of the world might bring joy.
Basum Tso in the evening is even more enchanting, making one unable to resist tenderness and affection. Never mind, since my clumsy eyes have glimpsed such splendor, why linger on a passing moment? It's all, after all, a "forgotten."
The third day's journey can be fully described by two phrases: the profound mystery of the Yarlung Tsangpo River and the misty veils of Lunang Forest. The whole day felt like being in a fairyland, forgetting the mortal world.
Starting from Sosong Village, heading to the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, if the early morning weather is fine, you can see the sunrise over Namcha Barwa Peak. The golden sunshine upon the mountain makes everything worthwhile. As the deepest canyon on Earth, the Yarlung Tsangpo under sunlight is even more beautiful, absorbing the sun's gloss. The trees and peaks along both banks become exceptionally fresh and verdant; in March, the peach blossoms here would look even more stunning.
Traveling westward along the river, at the confluence of the Yarlung Tsangpo and Nyang Rivers lies a vast wetland called Yani Wetland. In this lush season, the view is filled with greenery, surrounded by mountain ranges, just like a Jiangnan water town.
In the afternoon, we arrived at the "fairy-like" Lunang Forest Sea, a forest nurtured by snow mountains. Climbing onto the observation platform, you feel as if riding on clouds and mist, gazing at distant snow mountains, observing nearby plants, utterly comfortable.
On the fourth day, we headed back to downtown Lhasa. The places to see became more spontaneous; we just used spots where we stopped as viewpoints, no need to worry about the itinerary. The journey turned relaxed and easy-going.
Since the Lhasa-Nyingchi Expressway was captivating enough, many sights paled in comparison, but we still visited the Kadung Valley Scenic Area — a place to rest our legs and give our eyes a different way of seeing the world. The scenic area is small, filled with bizarre peaks, exotic rocks, and towering trees, giving a feel of northern mountain forests.
Passing by Mila Pass, a popular stop along National Highway 318, prayer flags and yaks face the direction of Lhasa while guarding Mila Mountain. The unique Tibetan atmosphere made the journey much more cheerful.
Finally, after circling back, we returned to Lhasa. Having gradually adapted to the high-altitude conditions, the fifth day's exploration felt like walking on level ground. In the city, we fully immersed ourselves in Tibetan humanistic customs, praying with devotion.
Visiting the Potala Palace requires advance reservation. Built against the mountain, its sacred status needs no extra words. It houses countless treasures and is a gem of Buddhist art. From a distance, overlapping buildings rise in towering splendor.
The main structure of the Potala Palace has 13 floors, with the principal buildings divided into the Red Palace and the White Palace. The Red Palace is in the center, flanked by the White Palace. On the right side of the White Palace is the East Palace for lamas to study scriptures, and on the left are monks' quarters. The Red Palace is the stupa hall of lamas, housing a total of eight stupas from the fifth to the thirteenth incarnations.
Setting off from the foot of the mountain, along the green flagstone path, the zigzag cloister steps gradually climb. Humbleness emerges before the solemn and grand architecture.
Jokhang Temple, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery with over 1,300 years of history, holds supreme status in Tibetan Buddhism. The center of Barkhor Street is the Jokhang Temple. The name of the temple evolved from "Rasa" to "Lhasa," which then became the name of this city.
On the last day of the trip, we visited Yamdrok Yumtso. This place known as "the fairyland of heaven, the Yamdrok of the human world" seems to carry the hopes of too many people. It remains a place so beautiful it takes your breath away. The intersecting mountain ranges and the brilliant blue of Yamdrok Lake stand out strikingly, like a film scene whispering softly to the world.
By the shore of Yamdrok Lake stands Riduo Temple, known as the loneliest temple on Earth. It is said that only one monk resides there, fetching water and chanting sutras every day, living in splendid isolation, serene and far-reaching.
This journey to Tibet has come to an end for now. It felt like a long, lingering dream. Tibet entered my dream and thus became part of my life. Farewell, Tibet — next time it should be the warm winter sun, the wind will still blow, only now mixed with the heat of time!
Day 1: Fly from Chengdu to Lhasa
Day 2: Lhasa - Basum Tso - Jieba Village - Sosong Village
Day 3: Sosong Village - Yarlung Tsangpo River - Yani Wetland - Lunang Forest Sea - Bayi Town
Day 4: Bayi Town - Kadung Valley - Mila Pass - Lhasa night view
Day 5: Potala Palace - Jokhang Temple Square - Barkhor Street
Day 6: Lhasa - Yamdrok Yumtso - Riduo Temple
Day 7: Lhasa - Chengdu
Travelogue Contents
1. DAY1 Getting Acquainted with Tibet
2. DAY2 Forgetting the World, Filled with Delight
3. DAY3 Profound Mystery, Misty and Ethereal
4. DAY4 The Beauty of Going with the Flow
5. DAY5 Tibetan Culture, Land of Faith
6. DAY6 A Tear Left Behind in the Human World
7. 7-Day 6-Night Itinerary
Travel Information
Hotel Index Guide Index Flight Index Website Navigation Travel Index Cruise Index Corporate Travel Index
Join & Cooperate Distribution Alliance Partner Links Corporate Gift Card Procurement Insurance Agent Agency Cooperation Hotel Alliance Destination & Scenic Area Cooperation More Cooperation
About Ctrip About Ctrip Ctrip News Contact Us Careers User Agreement Privacy Policy Business License Safety Center Ctrip Content Center Intellectual Property Trip.com Group Algorithm Disclosure
