Ü

Traditional Tibetan 'Ü', with the Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple in Lhasa and Yumbulagang, Samye Monastery and the Lhobrak Valley in Shannan, it is the heartland and birthplace of Tibetan culture.

Ü (Qianzang, or 'Front Tibet', in Chinese) refers, in traditional Tibetan geography and tourism usage, to Lhasa City and Shannan City. It is the region where the Tibetan Empire rose and the core area of Tibetan culture, located in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River and the valley of its tributary the Lhasa River. Highlights: in Lhasa, the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka are all World Cultural Heritage sites, and circumambulating the Barkhor, watching the monks debate at Sera Monastery and visiting Drepung Monastery are all classics. Namtso, in Damxung County of Lhasa, is a famous holy lake. Shannan is called the cradle of the Tibetan people. Yumbulagang is regarded as Tibet's earliest palace, Samye Monastery is the first monastery in Tibet to have the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha all present, Tradruk Monastery has a long history, and Yamdrok Lake in Nagarze is one of the three great holy lakes. The Lhobrak (Lebu) Valley in Cona is home to the Monpa people, and its gorge forests and waterfalls are very different from the plateau. Classic itinerary: three to four days in urban Lhasa (including acclimatization) and one day at Namtso. Two days for Zetang, Samye Monastery and Yumbulagang in Shannan, and Yamdrok Lake can be fitted in on the way to Shigatse. The Lhobrak Valley needs an extra two to three days, and the whole region takes about seven to ten days. Getting there: Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is in Gonggar County, Shannan, the Qinghai–Tibet Railway reaches Lhasa, and the Lhasa–Nyingchi Railway connects Shannan. Notes: foreign visitors must obtain a Tibet entry permit, and border areas such as Cona require a border pass. Lhasa is at about 3,600 m, so rest quietly on your first day to prevent altitude sickness, and when entering monasteries walk clockwise.

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