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Last week, AsiaTravel staff member, Annika traveled to Guizhou for the first time. She writes here about what she discovered there.

The one overarching thought that remained with me throughout our Leisure team survey trip in Guizhou was how unexpectedly similar different parts of the world are.

Despite being familiar with our products in the area, I wasn’t sure what awaited me before embarking on our 5-day trip. The destination was rather unknown and the method of travel – private guide and driver – was one I had never experienced before.

And so, in the early hours of a January morning, I embarked on a journey into the unknown.

An unknown that turned out to be remarkably familiar.

A land where one can hike for hours through agrarian landscapes in complete silence and not encounter a soul.

A remote land where docile animals freely roam the countryside and vegetables are left hanging on the sides of houses to dry.

A place where people are connected to the meat they consume instead of first encountering it in sterile packaging.

A place where people preserve their own language and way of life.

 

I had been in such a place before, several years previously. Only this was the Faroe Islands, not Guizhou. Despite being worlds apart, the similarities struck me. In the areas surrounding the remote minority villages of Guizhou, goats and cows wander through the calm, bucolic landscapes. Inside the villages, villagers hang corn and radishes outside their houses to dry and eat locally-grown food and meat. In the Faroe Islands, I encountered countless sheep, Icelandic horses, cows, and geese in areas bereft of people. Locals hang whale meat from their roofs to dry and dry whole sheep in sheds. We drove through mountain tunnel after mountain tunnel in Guizhou. The first time I arrived in the Faroe Islands, sheep were sheltering from the rain in the numerous mountain tunnels.

The differences can be said to be equally striking. The gap in development between the two is, of course, huge, as is the difference in culture and language. Guizhou is populated by several minority groups (we encountered the Miao and Dong minorities), all with their own traditional clothing, ways of life, and language. The foliage and landscape are different. The bowls of blood being sold in the local market root you firmly in China and yet the giant pig’s head leads you to recall how they eat sheep’s head in the Faroe Islands.

The unexpected similarities and differences are what the discovery of travel is all about.

Traveling with a local guide allowed us a level of access and understanding we would not have gained traveling independently. Without a guide in Guizhou, I would never have been welcomed to share a meal (and copious amounts of homemade rice wine) in a Miao villager’s home.

 

This was Guizhou. Where I made an unexpected discovery.

Peter has been a guide in Western China for more than ten years. He is passionate about the rich culture of the region and has deep knowledge of the intricacies of Tibetan Buddhism. He is originally from Tianshui, in eastern Gansu.

Tell me about this part of China – what’s it like?

Western China has deep history and culture.

First, there is the Silk Road history. The Silk Road is not just a road, and it was not just for silk. There were many merchants and traders and many things were brought on the road – religion and culture.

Second, is Chinese Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism is dominate in this region. Within Tibetan Buddhism, there are three sects. They speak the same languages, but the accent is different. Here in Gansu and Qinghai, it is the Tibetan Amdo Buddhism that is most prominent. Maybe travelers read about these things, but a book is one thing. When they go to the temple they will really see the Buddha, and they will want to know: Why is the face different on this one? Why is this gesture different? They will have many questions.

Third, there is also the Muslim culture. Linxia is China’s little mecca. There are very old mosques in the Chinese style with Chinese roofs. When I tell my clients that these are mosques and not temples, they are very surprised. Now in all the cities you will see both western mosques and traditional Chinese style mosques. Why? Because these came from different places at different times in history.

What’s your favorite part of this journey?

I’m a culture man. I like Buddhism very much, including the Han Buddhism and the Tibetan Buddhism in this area. I like to explain the different Buddhas and founders, sometimes very slowly, because it is quite complicated.

When’s the best time to visit the area? 

July to September. Before July the grasslands are not green, and most of the year the nomads live in the village because it is so cold. But from July to September, you can see the nomads and their tents and yaks in the grasslands.

Also, if you come in the fall this year, you can see the Buddhist festival, Milarepa. The festival honors the founder of a sect of Buddhism and is celebrated in many of the monasteries. This year the festival is August 21^st, 2015.

What do clients love about this journey?

Their favorite thing to see is the country life. My clients have only seen it in pictures, but they’ve never gone inside the houses. Here they will see people’s lives. They will go meet the family. See what is inside their home. Go to see the bed and see how it differs from theirs in their hotel. If lunch or dinner is cooking- what do the local people eat?

My clients also like to talk with the villagers, and I’ll translate. They will ask: How many yaks in your family? When did you build this house? Was it expensive or not? Are your children in school? What do they play?

Sometimes we will go to the field. In spring visitors can see the wheat. In the northwest, this area, wheat is planted in springtime. In the harvest time, they can see how the wheat is carried back to the village, how it’s ground, and made into noodles.

What food do you have to try in this region?

We have Tsam Ba. This is made with barley flour and milk, then we put a little bit of salt or sugar and mix it together in the hand. We have it with milk tea and yak butter, (but you don’t have to put the yak butter!).

Sometimes the clients don’t like this, but I always say you should try it, even if you don’t like the smell. I have them try a little bit.

But noodles are the main food. We will make noodles out of many things like wheat flour or corn flour. We make the noodles without using any machines, and we will let the clients try making it themselves.

Do the clients make good noodles?

Sometimes… haha. It’s mostly for learning.

Find out more about our journeys to the Gansu region. Email info@wildchina.com or view a journey.

Just outside the of Labrang, a monastery town in western China’s Gansu province, is a secret so special it’s known to only a few outsiders. This is the Norden Camp, a luxurious accommodation in the heart of western China’s wilderness.

The Landscape and Wildlife

The grasslands roll out in all directions as far as the eye can see, broken only by a winding river in the distance and the pastel gray-blue mountains that stand strong along the horizon. You’ll find large yaks roaming the fields with their herders, in plains that are rich with wildlife. On your walks around the camp you may find rabbits, foxes, birds or gazelles, as well as all kinds of flowering bushes, trees and grasses. In the day, the blues and the greens have a simultaneously rich and muted hue that can somehow make you feel like one of the only people on earth. And at night, the endless sky is filled with stars. It’s the kind of place that will make you want to create something – to write or to paint, or perhaps to do nothing at all and only stare out into the wide-open distance.

The Team

Within this beautiful setting is the friendly crew who love to introduce guests to their homeland. Their manger, Yidam Kyap, is a Tibetan nomad who lived overseas and then returned to establish a place that would make his home comfortable and accessible to outside visitors, while benefiting the local community.

The Tea and Cuisine

Together this team will introduce you to a delicious, seasonal assortment of food grown in the surrounding area. Yak’s milk, known for its low-lactose content, is made into delicious butter, yogurt and cream. Breads and noodles and lamb and sausages are paired with local herbs, mushrooms and vegetables to make tasty, nutritious meals. And of course, there are many cups of tea to linger over during a long conversation with a new friend.

The Tents and Cabins

One of the greatest surprises of all in this place so far removed from the world is the height of luxury that you will experience. The tents and cabins allow you to enjoy the rustic surroundings in style and comfort. Each tent or cabin is caringly decorated with hand-crafted furniture and rich yak wool blankets and carpeting. Many of the pieces are chosen from the nearby NGO, Norlha (a treasure in itself that we love to take AsiaTravel travelers to visit). This is a place where you can relax in comfort, while experiencing a natural setting and a way of life that few outside this region may ever see.

Find out more about our journeys to the Gansu region. Email info@wildchina.com or view Sacred Buddhist Land.

Over the weekend, The Opposite House played host to AsiaTravel’s inaugural Beshan Gāi bazaar, where artisans converged from around the country to showcase the finest of artisan China. In the lead-up to the event, we met with The Opposite House’s chief host, Area General Manager for Swire Hotels Peter Wynne, to talk art, food, Beijing and strangely…pearl diving.

Let’s start by talking about The Opposite House. What was the inspiration behind the architectural design? It is not your usual, run of the mill hotel.

It was built at a time, before the 2008 Olympics, when hotels were opening all the time and they all looked the same. The architecture was designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma and his brief was to design something different, unlike any other hotel.

There are so many elements to The Opposite House. It’s a glass jewelry box that opens up into beautifully designed compartmental rooms. The spaces are engaging and intriguing, aesthetically pleasing but not cliché.

The decor is timeless and not too ‘modern’ that it will become obsolete in a few years. And there are also many Chinese elements that are very much part of the architectural design. I think the idea to use both wood and plexiglass for the medicine drawers was ingenious.

Opposite House Lobby. Photo credit: nicelymadeinchina.com

What is your favorite space in the hotel?

I like them all but I guess the swimming pool is one of my favorite spaces. Shards of light come down through the building to the pool. It’s actually part of the architectural scheme that sunlight lights up the swimming pool even though it’s in the basement. When you stand on the top floor and look down you can see all the way to the pool in the basement. You look down 8 or 9 stories and it’s a masterpiece – Not that I get the chance to go in there very often.

Swimming pool with natural light from above. Photo credit: nicelymadeinchina.com

Why do many high profile guests choose to stay at The Opposite House rather than the many other 5 star hotels in the area?

The hotel has its own personality and that personality comes from the people that live and breathe the hotel – from the staff in the restaurants to the people who greet you at front desk.

We’re very clear about our people philosophy – we always pick people for their particular personality and the things that make them tick rather than their qualifications and work experience. Personality shines through and gets into the wider market place and that’s what these kinds of celebrities really want.

We are also always striving to keep it current. We always have new ideas and propositions and try to make it fun. It’s got to be fun for the customers but also fun for someone who works here. You have to get up in the morning and look forward to coming to work – even if it is Monday!

The Opposite House is well known for going the extra mile and paying attention to the small details. Can you think of a particular example of this?

There are lots of little tricks. I think one good example is when you normally register at a hotel in China you have to fill in a registration form and then you have to hand your passport over to be scanned. It’s a long, laborious task. What we did in the early days was we had an iPad with a camera so the check in process was made so much easier.

Modern comfort of an TOH hotel room

There are other details too. Our mini bar is all complimentary. Why hotels would want to charge $5 for a coke is beyond me. The actual base cost of a can of coke is very low but the goodwill you get from it is almost priceless. The same with wifi. We have the highest possible speed, complimentary for guests because that’s what the modern traveler wants. Charging for slow internet is an easy way to annoy customers and ensure that they don’t come back.

Where do you source the art pieces that define The Opposite House?

Some of the permanent pieces have been here since we first opened. We worked with a number of art consultants who purchased art for the hotel. They did a great job because this was pre-2008 and they managed to find a number of pieces that have become synonymous with The Opposite House.

We also do a quarterly installation that can be found in the foyer and the criteria for these installations are very simple – they are all contemporary Chinese art. We are a contemporary hotel, in China so those are the only two limitations. We have been approached by overseas artists and galleries and although we will always entertain ideas, we wish to keep the space for the local art community.

We’ve done video art, sculpture, and installation art. We are not limited to any one gallery or curator. We work with a number of people who know the art scene very well (much better than we do). Our current installation is one of the edgier that we have featured.

TOH’s latest exhibit, with AsiaTravel Beshan Gāi as the backdrop

How do you think the art installations affect the stay of the guests?

I think it has really been part of our branding. People have grown up in past 8 years with The Opposite House knowing that every time they come back there will be something else to engage them. A whole new visual engagement to have and that’s our DNA.

It happened almost by accident actually. Where those installations are, in the original design are meant to be reflecting ponds. Waterproofing wasn’t great in 2007/2008 so they didn’t hold the water very well. Also, in a residential area where there are kids around they can be a liability – they didn’t work practically. So the idea was to level it out, put some art in its place and keep that revolving. People love it.

TOH’s latest art exhibit, from the Red Gate Gallery

Can you tell us what brought you to Beijing and what keeps you here?

I’ve lived in some pretty remote places. I ran Necker Island for Richard Branson for a couple of years, I’ve worked in the Maldives and in lots of remote, beautiful, idyllic places. These places are perfect for a spending a 2-week honeymoon but it becomes a little more challenging to live there.

In 2004 I got the opportunity to come to Beijing. At the time it seemed like the toughest decision in the world to leave this idyllic island and go to a big city like Beijing, but it was for a hotel that was going to be the host hotel for the Olympics so I couldn’t really say no.

I really enjoy the changes throughout the year in Beijing. You have seasonality here. The city is very creative too and that is something that resonates with the hotel. There has been big progress in art but also technology, fashion and design.

We have a great family life here too. We’ve got three boys and they’re busy, active and love being outside. Beijing is a great place to get that outdoor activity. Beijing is extremely modern, well provided and a great destination. We have a long way to go to get people to engage with the destination – not just the hotels here.

If you weren’t managing The Opposite House what would you be doing and where would you be?

Hmm… I‘ve got about 10 answers to this question.

I would probably be a marine biologist somewhere on a boat. I was a pearl diver in my younger days in Australia and I probably enjoyed that 12 months of pearl diving as much as any other time in my life.

Living on a boat and out to sea for literally months on end. What you experience is completely different to what you see in big cities like Beijing. I don’t get to dive often now but whenever I am near the sea I like to be in the water.

Ah, so that’s why the swimming pool is your favorite space in The Opposite House!

Yep I’m a water guy. I grew up sailing and surfing and later diving so that’s what I like to do. I started traveling when I was 21 with a hospitality degree under my belt and I haven’t really been back since.

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Discover Beijing on a private Beijing tour and check out the latest art exhibit at The Opposite House.

 

Discover the best of Dunhuang with our guide to this ancient Silk Road trading city. Here are our picks for must-see attractions, best things to eat, as well as some AsiaTravel flourishes to make your journey even more memorable.
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For monks, merchants, and artists traveling along the legendary Silk Road, the sight of the small and unimposing city of Dunhuang in northern Gansu, hailed a significant crossroads. For those traveling from the East, Dunhuang was their last rest-stop before venturing into the vast and inhospitable Taklaman desert. For those who had already made the treacherous journey, the city marked a return (for the time being) to safer paths. The traditions, temples and Buddhist art that these travelers left behind make Dunhuang one of China’s most culturally rich travel destinations. Here are our tips for getting the most out of your trip:

Must Visit Sites

The Mogao Grottoes

Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987

The tens of thousands of paintings and carvings that fill these caves document hundreds of years of life along the Silk Road. You can trace the development of artistic style over the course of time as you move through the caves, and follow the changing forms of Buddhism practiced in the region. The Mogao Grottoes are home to some of the best preserved cave murals in China along with endless intricately detailed frescoes, sculptures and terracotta statues that date back as early as 400AD.

Why visit with AsiaTravel? Enjoy private access to caves normally closed to the public accompanied by AsiaTravel Expert Director Wang, the director of the Dunhuang Academy.

The Taklaman Desert and the Mingsha Dunes

Marco Polo made the trip so, so should you

Taklamakan translates literally as “Once you go in, you won’t come out!” and for the Silk Road traders, the path they took through the desert was one the most hazardous parts of their journey. Stand upon the 300m sand dunes that Polo dubbed as the ‘Rumbling sands’ and listen to them ‘roar’ as the wind blows.

Barter with one of the local camel herders for a ride to the Crescent Moon Lake, a small oasis amid the sand. Known to locals as the ‘First Lake under heaven’ the natural fresh water lake is believed the have existed for over 2,000 years.

Why travel with AsiaTravel? Watch the sun go down over Marco Polo’s ‘Rumbling sands’ with a glass of champagne in your hand as your AsiaTravel hosts prepare a delicious private BBQ dinner for you in the desert.

The Yumenguan pass (The Jade Gate)

The ancient gateway to Dunhuang

The Yumenguan Pass was located in the westernmost extension of the Great Wall. The wall was built as an ancient stronghold during the Han Dynasty to protect against Hun invasion but the gate came into its own as an important trading post. Every caravan, merchant, trader and their horses traveling to Dunhuang were required to pass through. Today only the small square fortress remains but remnants of the Great Wall can be spotted far into the distance.

Why travel with AsiaTravel? Learn more about the area with AsiaTravel Expert William Lindesay, author of “Alone on the Great Wall” and a leader in efforts to preserve the Great Wall.

Must Eat Food

Langzhou Lamian (Hand-pulled noodles)

The province’s most famous cuisine

You can slurp a bowl full at Dunhuang’s night market which serves them up alongside an engaging slice of local life. Get an insider’s look at Dunhuang culture and breathe in the thick aroma of barbecued lamb kebabs before picking up some local wares – many of which will be hand-made right in front of your eyes.

More time in Gansu?

• • Head south to the Danxia Landform in Zhangye where tectonic activity has created a unique, multi-colored topography
• • Get off the beaten track and visit the Horse’s hoof temple 马蹄寺. These Tibetan style hanging grottoes offer fewer murals than Mogao Caves but also fewer tourists.
• • Make your way down to the south of Gansu province, where you can spend a weekend at the luxury camping site, Norden Camps, for a taste of nomadic life on the plains.

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Join our August 2016 Silk Road Small Group Tour or venture off on your own tailor made tour of the Silk Road.

This year, AsiaTravel’s annual Chinese New Year dinner was booked at a charming little restaurant called, Dali Village – but none of the AsiaTravel staff was told this. Instead we were split into teams and given clues to hunt down the restaurant as well as a list of challenges to accomplish along the way. For your amusement, here are some photos of the flurry that ensued…

A beautifully set table sat empty for hours as AsiaTravel staff teams scattered throughout the city working out the clues that would lead them finally to dinner.

The teams demonstrated their skills observations as they searched high and low for the characters that made up secret phrases. 

Each man and woman portrayed great bravery when they topped their mouthfuls of noodles with the world’s stinkiest fruit – durian.

The shameless team members did whatever it took to win – whether it be asking ridiculous questions to unassuming pedestrians, dancing at public bus stops or, hugging inanimate storefront objects.

Ingenuity and resourcefulness were on full display when one team beat out all the rest by making the only tall tower that could also actually stand.

There was feasting and celebration to be had when all the AsiaTravel teams used the very last of their cunning and endurance to finally find the quaint courtyard restaurant hidden down a hutong alleyway. 

Happy Chinese New Year from all of us at AsiaTravel!

 

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Ready for some action-packed team building? Contact WCT Events, for company team building and AsiaTravel Education for activities for students and teachers. 

Chengdu is well known as the big city that’s always kept its small town feel. You might know it as the best place to see China’s pandas. Each year, more hotels are opening in this popular destination. Here are some we’re looking forward to seeing in 2016.

Waldorf Astoria Chengdu

Opening: Second Quarter of 2016

Thoughtful modern elegance will be on full display in Waldorf Astoria’s fifth China hotel. Located near the city’s financial center, the Waldorf Astoria Chengdu will offer sweeping views of the surrounding city. Gaze out over Chengdu from one of the hotel’s 300 guest rooms or from the hotel’s beautiful indoor pool. An elegant breakfast area also offers a large open floor plan with floor to ceiling windows.

 

Grant Hyatt Chengdu

Just opened! Jan 30th, 2016

The Grand Hyatt will tip its hat to Chengdu’s renown as a global foodie destination. The hotel features four restaurants, one serving Sichuan favorites, like spicy hot pot, in a market-style design setting. The floor to ceiling windows offer an exceptional view of the surrounding city. But if you want to escape it all, there will be a quiet corner waiting for you in of one of the Grand Hyatt’s gardens.

 

Ahn Luh Dujiangyan

Opening: 2016

Expect distinct Chinese elegance at this new Chengdu hotel. The gym and wellness center not only offers yoga classes, but also Taichi and meditation. The spa includes Chinese medicine treatments. All this can be found in this luxury resort, located just outside of Chengdu, with beautiful views of the sacred QingCheng mountain from every room.

 

Urban Resort Concepts’ PuJin Hotel

Opening: Fourth Quarter of 2016

The PuJin Hotel will be located right in the heart of Chengdu giving you easy access to the best of the city’s restaurants and sites. A gym and wellness center will keep you fit on your trip and the hotel’s restaurants, bars and lounges will provide ample options for dinning and relaxing. The PuJin will also have 50 fully serviced luxury residences.

 

The Fairmont Chengdu Hotel and Residences

Opening: Fourth quarter of 2016

Expect the Fairmont’s signature mix of modern elegance and amenities when you book a stay in this new Chengdu hotel. The Fairmont will feature 52 rooms and suites on its’ Fairmont Gold executive floor, ‘a hotel within a hotel’. The hotels’ spa brand, Willow Stream Spa will have a foot massage lounge, a perfect ending for a day of sight seeing.

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Book a city getaway to Chengdu:

Once a modest fishing village, today Shanghai is a metropolis. Glamor and grace reminiscent of the 1920’s still dance together through art deco neighborhoods while the glass towers of Pudong soar ever skyward. Shanghai is a symbolic balance of East and West, old and new, that constantly captivates curious outsiders.

For those wanting to delve deeper into Shanghai than the tried-and-tested tourist itinerary, here is a list of 5 alternative ‘must-sees’ whilst you are in the city.

Learn Shanghai’s street stories in the Longtangs

If you have not been to the longtangs, you have not seen Shanghai. Loosely equivalent to the Beijing hutongs, a longtang is a narrow lane lined with traditional shikumen residences. Architecture aficionados will marvel at these beautiful two or three-storey terrace houses which feature a unique architectural style that blends Western and Chinese elements. Step right into Longtang local life as you duck under fresh laundry hanging off bamboo poles perched precariously across the lane. Listen to the click-clacking of tiles as elderly men play mahjong and see kids sweating it out at street soccer.

Most of Shanghai’s longtangs have either been demolished or reconstructed, including the much commercialized areas of Tianzi Fang and Xintiandi. For an authentic street-level experience, head for Cité Bourgogne (Bugao Lu), Siming Cun or Meilan Fang.

Visit the Jewish Quarter

Shanghai’s Jewish past is a part of the city’s history that many contemporary residents are unaware of. Sephardic Jews first started moving to Shanghai from Bombay and Baghdad in the 19th century and more followed in the early 1900’s.

During the Japanese occupation in 1941, Jewish people in Shanghai were forced to relocate to a ghetto of approximately one square mile in the Hongkou District. Today, the area is preserved as a historic Jewish Quarter. Take a stroll and visit the nearby Ohel Moishe Synagogue. Restored and re-opened in 2008, the synagogue now houses the Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum.

Find out more on an expert-led tour during our Shanghai Highlife tour.

Dine at a century-old restaurant

Shanghai boasts of many food and dining establishments that have well stood the test of time, some dating back to the Qing Dynasty. One such example is the Dexingguan Restaurant, which first opened its doors in a small shack off Shiliu Pu in 1884. The restaurant is often credited as the birthplace of benbang cai – a traditional family style Shanghainese cuisine and Dexingguan’s claim to fame is the Black Sea Cucumber in Shrimp Roe Sauce, a dish which is still served at its premises today.

See The Bund at dawn

Many of us have strolled along the riverside promenade at night, taken postcard-worthy photographs of the colonial-era buildings, or even been on the Pearl River cruise. But have you been there in the early hours of the morning, when the city is just starting to wake? Drop by between 6-7am to see locals performing their daily morning exercises, or join in for tai chi or sword fighting class. This experience is sure to add another layer to the usual Bund visit.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, and can be extended to include much more that highlight Shanghai’s extraordinary position as a bustling, modern city with a traditional core. Few cities are able to match the history, mystique and glamor that Shanghai has to offer. Contact one of our travel designers today and create the perfect Shanghai trip for you.

Explore the best of Tibet with our short guide to the region. Below are our choices for the most awe-inspiring sights, unique cultural escapes, and some AsiaTravel extras for the traveler seeking to journey even deeper.

Photo by: Christian Oritz via Flickr

Glacial lakes, soaring mountain peaks, and rolling grasslands make up the Tibetan Plateau, an area that is roughly 4,500m above sea level, earning it the nickname name: “The Roof of the World.” Not only are some of the earth’s most dramatic landscapes found here, but it was under these white, snowy peaks that Lama Buddhism grew and intertwined is spiritual threads into the every aspect of life in Tibet. Down the halls of ancient monasteries, you will catch the fragrant scent of incense. Step outside and you will hear the spinning prayer wheels, as monks from young to old vigorously debate religious philosophy in a courtyard nearby.

The Must-See Sights

This is one of Asia’s most geographically and culturally rich destinations; here are the sites you cannot miss on a trip to Tibet:

1. Potala Palace

The Potala Palace is probably one of the first things that come to mind when you think of Tibet. But just what makes the palace such a draw to travelers? It is the ancient seat of the Tibetan government and the past residence of the Dalai Lama. A climb up will lead you to more than 1000 rooms filled with shrines and statues as well as precious works of art displaying Tibetan history and the life of the Dalai Lama. Descend down to the plains of Lhasa below to view the equally impressive view looking back and snap your own photos of this ancient marvel.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

2. Sera Monastery

Twenty-eight acres of temple courtyards and monks’ dormitories, the Sera Monastery is one of the world’s most prestigious Buddhist universities. Enter here and lose yourself among the 125 ancient and unique pillars of Coqen Hall and admire the unparalleled frescos of Me Zhacang. In the afternoon, head to one of the courtyards and witness monks animatedly debate Buddhist philosophy as they advance their studies.

Why travel with AsiaTravel?

Our Tibetan guides are passionate about their local culture and religion. Lean in and let your guide explain the themes of these intellectual debates – the contents might just surprise you. Get started designing your trip to Tibet.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

 

3. Yamdrok Tso Lake

When the Dalai Lama passes away this is where senior lamas come in search of signs for his reincarnated soul. Yamdrok Tso Lake is one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes and local Tibetans often make pilgrimages to its shores. Whatever the reason for the journey, travelers will admire the turquoise waters as they glitter in sunlight and the lake slowly winds its way through the dry, grey slopes of the mountains rising gently above.

Photo by Göran Höglund via Flickr

Why travel with AsiaTravel?

Enjoy a picnic prepared for you next to these deep blue waters as white clouds float over the mountains in the pastel sky above. Begin your journey to Lhasa.

4. Jokhang Temple

The oldest and most sacred Buddhist site in Tibet, Jokhang Temple is a sight to see not only for its beautiful construction but also for the large groups of pilgrims who go daily for worship. Surrounded by a blend of 7^th century Nepalese and Indian architecture, worshipers recite mantras, kindle the continuously lit chömay (butter lamps), and honor deities. The temple is also home to Tibet’s most scared relic: the Jowo Rinpoche, or Jowo Shakyamuni, a scripture written by Buddha at age twelve. The roof awards you with stunning views of Potala Palace against a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. If interested, you can rise early to join the pilgrims in the traditional kora (prayer circuit).

Photo by Kuan Sun via Flickr

 

5. Local Life: Barkhor Market and Prayer Wheels

Take take a small jaunt off the path of popular sites and step into the lively Bakhor market to a get a glimpse of daily life in Tibet. Located amidst the narrow lanes of Lhasa’s old neighborhood, Barkhor Street bustles with local vendors and shoppers chatting and bargaining. Browse the multicolored handicraft stalls where brightly colored beads hang alongside painstakingly crafted silver trinkets. Here too you can watch watch pilgrims circling the Jokhang Monastery prayer circuit. Follow the Barkhor pilgrimage route yourself to see locals spinning prayer wheels, and getting some good exercise as they chat and catch up with fellow devotees.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

 

More time in Tibet?

• Observe the traditional woodblock printing methods that monks use to copy scripture. Try your hand at this important art and bring your own piece of Tibetan scripture home.
• Visit a Lhasa NGO that specializes in empowering Tibetan artists, keeping local ancient art traditions alive, and selling the artwork of local masters.
• Stop by an old Tibetan pharmacy and learn about ancient medicine traditions based on Buddha’s teachings that have been evolving for nearly 2,500 years. An expert in Tibetan medicine will meet with you and describe all the fascinating aspects of this unique medical philosophy that focuses on the mind, body, and spirit.
• Want an even more in-depth Tibet experience? Embark on our award-winning multi-week expedition across Tibet.