Discover Lhasa: Palaces, Temples and Sweet Tea Culture

Lhasa invites visitors to explore different aspects of the city’s history and culture: the Potala Palace, the monastery of Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka each represent different historical contexts. The Xizang Museum complements these highlights with exhibitions on the history and culture of Xizang. The sweet tea houses also add a distinctive culinary note to the trip. For families, the museum’s interactive children’s hall offers a specific point of interest.

Palace history at the Potala and Norbulingka

The Potala Palace rises above Red Hill in the centre of the Lhasa Valley, at an elevation of 3,700 metres. It houses 698 murals and almost 10,000 painted scrolls. From the 7th century AD, it served as the Dalai Lama’s winter palace; in 1994, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its location, art collection and historical function make it a multifaceted subject for visitors interested in Lhasa’s cultural heritage.

Norbulingka tells a different palace story: the complex was built in the 18th century and is the former summer palace of the Dalai Lama. It was used for contemplation and the signing of political agreements. Norbulingka was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site as a further extension in 2001. Together with the Potala’s former role as a winter palace, it offers a way to explore the difference between two historical palace functions without reducing both sites to the same story.

Jokhang Temple and Xizang Museum

The monastery of Jokhang Temple was founded in the 7th century to promote Buddhism. It houses more than 3,000 depictions of the Buddha, as well as other deities and historical figures. Jokhang Temple was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site as an extension in 2000. Visitors interested in religious and historical depictions will find a different cultural focus here than at the palace complexes.

The permanent exhibitions at the Xizang Museum cover the history and culture of Xizang, as well as the folk culture of Xizang. The museum opened in October 1999 and was made freely accessible to the public in July 2009. Its facilities include an interactive children’s hall, a hall for cultural and creative activities, a 4D cinema and an observation platform. This makes it possible to shape a museum visit around a range of themes and formats. The children’s interactive hall is a particularly tangible reason to consider the museum when planning a trip together.

Sweet tea and local food culture

Lhasa has numerous sweet tea houses. Tibetan noodles and hot sweet tea are typical offerings there—an easy way to explore the local food culture alongside the cultural attractions. Guangming Gangqiong Sweet Tea House is a well-established local venue appreciated by residents and visitors alike. It is located a few hundred metres from Jokhang Temple. If you are interested in both, you can take this proximity into account when planning your day.

Choose Lhasa as your destination

If you would like to include more destinations in your travel plans, you can also consider Rikaze, Shannan, Nyingchi, Ngari, Qamdo, Nimu and Nagqu.

For the broader travel overview: Tibet.