The Sacred and the Secular | A Winter Journey to Lhasa

Photography emphasizes the decisive moment, and so do travel memories. When a journey ends, it's like the moment the shell of memory snaps shut—you won't recall every tiny detail, but some people and some moments will forever leave shimmering colors in your life.

Accustomed to the skyscrapers of modern cities, to blue-brick and tile-roofed dwellings with horse-head gables, you'll find Lhasa's uniquely Tibetan architecture and the red-and-white Potala Palace utterly captivating.

In just four days and three nights of experiencing life in Lhasa, the weighty history and vibrant local life sweep over you, making it clear why this city is truly a place of faith.

After the journey, feel the fragments of my return to Lhasa, and then imagine—there were moments so beautiful I hesitated to even lift my camera, afraid of disturbing their peace.

On this pure land,

all things follow the laws of nature,

cleansed by faith and deities,

shaping a unique and devout attitude to life.

Open the doors of the world's highest St. Regis Lhasa Resort,

and exploration and discovery never cease.

The culture and scenery along the way

are as enchantingly captivating as the countless peaks above 5,000 meters.

The journey begins before departure.

Even before I arrived, the hotel's personal butler, Zhuoga,

called to share tips for entering Tibet—

this is the St. Regis signature butler service,

a thoughtful touch that reaches you before you even step out the door.

Upon reaching the hotel, every turn reveals architecture and artworks,

a style inspired by Sera Monastery,

and rooms with garden views,

adding an air of mystery to the entire stay.

In the distance, the towering Potala Palace

is undoubtedly the spiritual heart of this city.

Inside its halls, devotees prostrate before the Buddha, listening to sacred teachings,

while just two kilometers away in a straight line,

melodious music drifts from the sixth-floor bar at the St. Regis,

where you can watch sunrise and sunset over that holy building,

or savor a Tibetan mini hot pot

accompanied by butter tea or sweet tea,

spending your first evening in Lhasa.

Nightfall descends,

carried on the highland breeze,

summoning a grand welcome ceremony.

Witnessed by fire,

a rugged, dashing Tibetan butler

slashes open a champagne bottle with a sabre—

this is the St. Regis ritual

for welcoming guests from afar.

Music begins, a Guozhuang circle dance starts,

hosts and guests gather around the bonfire, melting into the warmth of the flames.

On the other side of the city, the Potala Palace stands in the dim glow,

overlooking the City of Sunlight, sinking into the calm of night with all living beings.

▲ Personal butler Zhuoga

Lhasa is a sacred place where the secular and the divine coexist.

Inside the Potala Palace,

the splendor and delicacy of Buddhist worship are breathtaking—

a testament to its past prosperity.

Yet no photography is allowed inside the worship halls.

For those of us who treat photography as our first faith,

it's a regret not to capture every exquisite detail of the Potala.

Perhaps a photographer with genuine reverence

might not offend the gods who dwell three feet above our heads.

But photographing a sacred hall is like paying homage—

there are many angles to the Potala,

each a witness to the mingling of Tibetan culture and humanity through history.

Approaching ancient sites with a reverent heart

is always my mindset when visiting heritage.

Whatever one's faith, deep inside,

every soul remains loyal to its own inner temple.

I didn't meet Tsangyang Gyatso in Lhasa,

but found my steps growing heavy in the old quarter.

In this tranquil city, crowds seek faith;

it's just a two-hour flight from bustling Chengdu,

yet in spirit, it feels a century apart.

The ceaselessly spinning prayer wheels held high,

the most sincere prostration rituals,

the timeworn wooden door carvings,

and the hidden Tibetan watchtowers in the alleys of the old town—

all create a feeling of shifting through time and space.

Faith needs to be passed on, and preserved.

Passing it on serves others; preservation, your future self.

In temples, it's not just about burning incense and worshiping.

At Drak Yerpa, the cliffside structures instill even deeper awe.

At 4,460 meters, a single step leaves you breathless,

let alone building such a grand monastery.

Devotees must climb those steps to reach the main hall—

a pilgrimage of both spirit and body.

Drak Yerpa is not just a scenic spot;

it's a purification of body and soul.

Golden roofs soar under the blue sky and in the wind,

but its wonders extend far beyond that.

When pairs of devout, prayer-clasped hands rise in the temple,

I'd rather believe that what dazzles is more than gold.

The faint, lingering scent of Tibetan incense around your nose—

a gift to your sense of smell.

As for whether you're listening to the wind or the faint echoes of Buddhist chants, it no longer matters.

Travel makes us explorers

because distance creates differences in landscapes and cultures.

Customs shape different combinations of ingredients and seasonings.

A multidimensional journey is one worth remembering.

Some moments linger long in memory though brief in reality;

a camera can't always capture the fading beauty treasured in the heart.

Only the lost traveler

finds the way back beneath the streetlamps at night.

As the last rays of sun give way to twilight,

lanterns begin to glow along Tromsikhang Street, where prayer-goers hurry home to prepare their own dinners.

Beyond the alleys, the clatter of food stall pots and jars,

the distant music from neon-lit bars—lean on a railing and listen.

All of it mixes into the warm night breeze.

Everything beautiful resides in this city.

▲ Oxygen supply equipment in the hotel

Arrival in Lhasa (flight Chengdu–Lhasa, sit on the right side for the best snow mountain views)

Check in: St. Regis Lhasa Resort – explore the hotel lobby, the sixth-floor viewing platform, hotel gardens, and the Tibetan Thangka Art Gallery

Evening 7:00 PM (every Friday) – sabrage champagne ceremony (in front of the white sang burner)

Dinner: Tibetan mini hot pot (at the hotel's Tubo Bar)

Breakfast: Xiù All-Day Dining Restaurant, St. Regis Lhasa Resort

Sightseeing: Potala Palace

Lunch: traditional Tibetan lunch (Lamu Folk Tibetan Restaurant)

Experience: Tibetan folk culture visit (Shol Dopa Intangible Cultural Heritage Base)

Dinner: St. Regis Lhasa Resort

Overnight: St. Regis Lhasa Resort

Breakfast: Xiù All-Day Dining Restaurant, St. Regis Lhasa Resort

Sightseeing: Drak Yerpa Hermitage

Experience: Barkhor Street – Tromsikhang Market – Old Guangming Gangqiong Sweet Tea House

Overnight: St. Regis Lhasa Resort

Travelogue Directory

1. Arrival

2. Nightfall

3. Discovery

4. Streets

5. Ascending Heights

6. Return

7. Huya's Lhasa Journey Travel Info

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