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. Yamdrotso Lake(4488m)
Yamdroktso(4441m),one of Tibet¡¯s three holy lakes,is located 110km away from Lhasa.In the fresh morning air,you¡¯re on the way to this lake .It¡¯s mostly mountain road,winding and bumpy,even thrilling somewant. After about 3 1/2 hours¡¯ driving,climbing over the snow pass of Kambala(5030m), the dazzling Yamdroktso just lies severalhundred meters below the
road,and in clear weather is a fabulous shade of deep turquoise.Far in the distance is the huge massif of Mt.Nojin Kangtsang(7191m).After down from the mountain,there¡¯s about 30km along lakeside,with barley fields on the other side of the road.A nice walk along the lakeside can be a great joy.Leaving Yamdroktso is as spectacular as arriving,since you¡¯ll cross the 5045m Karola,with its awesome roadside views of the Nojin Kangtsang Glacier.With the Glacier scene¡¯s exciting,after about 90km,you get to Gyantse.There stands the 35m-high famous Kumbum,packed with exquisite Tibetan sculpture and paintings,a stunning architectual wonder in Tibet.

. Gyantse(3950m)
Gyantse (at an altitude of 3950 m or about 13000 ft) is 254 km southwest of Lhasa. It is the third largest town in Tibet and was the scene in 1904 of a major battle between Tibetans and British troops under Colonel Younghusband as the British advanced on Lhasa. The town still has the feel of a frontier town, with horses and yaks on the main streets.

The main site in Gyantse is the Kumbum and the Pelkor Chode monastery. The Kumbum was commissioned in 1440. It rises over four symmetrical floors plus two upper floors and is capped with a gold dome. Approximately 70 chapels are housed in the Kumbum. These are many murals -- the word "kumbum" means 10,000 image!

. Gyantse Kumbum
Commissioned by a Gyantse prince in 1427, the Gyantse Kumbum is the town¡¯s foremost attraction. The chorten is packed with some exquisite Tibetan mural paintings and rises 35m over four floors surmounted by a gold dome. The dome rises like a crown over four sets of eyes that gaze serenely out in the directions of the cardinal points. As you climb upwards through the chapels of the kumbum you are drawn through progressively higher levels on the Tantric path.

A clockwise route leads murmuring pilgrims up through the six fllors, taking in the 77 chapels that line the walls. There are two sets of four central chapels that extend to the floor above from the 1st and 3re floors and each of these is surrounded by smaller chapels in diminishing numbers and size as the floors ascend.

The murals, however, have weathered very well. They are of 14th century provenance and if they were not created by Nepali artisans they are obviously influenced by Newari forms. Experts also see evidence of Chinese influence and in the fusion of these Newari and Chinese forms with Tibetan sensibilities, the emergence of a synergetic but distinctly Tibetan style of painting.

Whatever the case there are an awful lot of murals to see(kumbum means 100,000 images) and unless you have a special interest in the evolution of Tibetan Buddhist art it is difficult not to hurry through the last two floors. Lingering in a few of the chapels and having a close look at the wall frescoes is enough to give you an idea of what is on offer in other chapels. For a superb view of the whole chorten, climb the hills behind the monastery.

Depdnding on the position of the sun, certain chapels are sometimes illuminated with a warm, soft light that allows flashless photographs. There is photography charge of 10RMB for interior shotls.

First Floor
This floor has for main chapels, oriented according to the cardinal points. The four chapels are dedicated to Sakayamuni(along with two disciples medicine Buddha and Guru Ringpche) in the south; Sukhavati, the pure land of the west and home of red Opagme in the west; Marmedze (Dipamakara, the Past Buddha) in the north and Tushita( another pure land and home of Jampa)in the east. In between are some excellent murals depicting minor Tantric and protector deities. Statues of the Four Guardian Kings in the east mark the way to the upper floors.

Second Floor
The first four chapels in order clockwise from the stairs are dedicated to Jmpelyang(known in Sanskrit and Manjushri), Chentrsing( Avalokiteshavara), Tsepanme( Amitayus)and Drolma(Green Tara). Most of the other chapels are devoted to wrathful protector deities including o Dolma(White Tara; 12th chapel from the stairs), Chana Dorje( Vajrapani; 14th chapel) and Mikyoba( Akshobhya; 15th chapel), a blue Buddha who holds a dorje(thunderbolt).

Third Floor
This floor is dominated by a second series of two- storey chapels at the cardinal points portraying the four Dhyani Buddhas-red Opagme(Amitabha) in the south, yellow Rinchen Jungne( Ratnasambava) in the west, green Donyo Drupa(Amoghasiddhi) in the north and blue Mikyoba( Akshobhya)in the east. There are several other chapels devoted to the fifth Dhyani Buddha, white Namse( Vairocana). Again, most of the other chapels are filled with wrathful deities.

Fourth Floor
The 11 chapels on this floor are dedicate to teachers, interpreters and translators of obscure orders of Tibetan Buddhism. Exceptions are the Tree Kings of Tibet on the north side(eighth chapel clockwise from the steps) and Guru Rinpoch(10th chapel).

Upper Fllors
The 5th floor which is also known as the Bumpa, has for chapel and gives access to the roof of the kumbun. Hidden steps behind a statue on the western side lead up to the 6th floor and take you onto the veranda at the level of the eyes painted on the wall. From here there are great views of the town and monastery. There is also a series of murals painted around a central cube. The top floor portrays a Tantric manifestation of Sakayamuni, but you may find it locked.

. Gyantse DzongThis 14th century fort is worth the stiff 20 minutes climb to its upper limits. This is more for the amazing vies of Gyantse, the monastery compound at the end of town and the surrounding Nyangchu Valley than for what is left of the Dzong itself which is not much.

Some of the dzong¡¯s buildings can be entered and explored but generally there is very little to see. About midway up through the fort complex is an Anti-British Imperialists Museum featuring a fabulously warped version of the 1904 British invasion .

. Shigatse(3900m)
Shigatse, also named Xigatse, means 'the fertile land'. Covering an area of over 3875 square kilometers (about 1496 square miles), this frontier city is the second largest in Tibet. It sits in the plain at the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu Rivers, where Tibet's most fertile land is to be found. With some thirteen ethnic groups including Tibetan, Hui and Man, Shigatse is a typical living area for minority nationalities. The population of Shigatse City is 98,700 about 97% of which are Tibetan. Shigatse has a history going back more than 600 years and it is this ancient holy city that is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the spiritual leaders in Tibet. The city is also the cultural, economic and political center of Tibet.

Before the 1950s, Shigatse remained in a primitive state in terms of its economy and its people's lifestyle. Following reformation and the opening up to the modern world, a series of highways were built up such as the No.318 National Highway and the China-Nepal Highway. These connect Shigatse with the outside world while opening up the outside world to people in Shigatse. Nowadays, Shigatse is an important Tibetan communication hub and an air of modernization pervades the area. New industries including mechanics, chemicals and food production thrive here. Meanwhile, the traditional handcrafts have been encouraged and expanded. Products such as Tibetan knives as well as items of silver and gold are sought after throughout China and are exported abroad.

Shigatse is one of the world's highest cities with beautiful high plateau scenery. It is also a hot spot for Chinese tourism. The average elevation here is in a range of 3840 meters (about 12598.4 feet) - 4464 meters (about 14645.7 feet), which endows cool and even cold weather to the area. In the high plateau, the climate is not very pleasant due to the frequent wind and dry atmosphere. However, it is not bad a place for summering. Its long history gives this city a strong cultural heritage, especially in respect of Buddhism. The approximately 600 year-old majestic Tashihunpo Monastery has a magnificent architectural style with a golden roof and resplendent buildings. Dozens of monasteries belonging to different sects enhance the atmosphere of Buddhism. Various grand festivals like Buddha Unveiling Festival in the monasteries each year give people a chance to admire the huge portraits of three Buddhas.

Shigatse is of great importance for its location in this area. It is 300 kilometers (about 186 miles) away from the world's highest peak Mt. Everest, 150 kilometers (about 93 miles) away from the Sakya Monastery and also on the only path to Tibet's holy lakes. Thus Shigatse is quite an important base for people heading for those places. In the city, hotels and motels of different classifications satisfy tourists' needs. Although the accommodation in this remote area cannot be compared with those in modern cities, they are still important and plentiful. In terms of transportation, there are tourist buses heading for the nearby venues such as Lhasa, Zhangmu and Nakchu. Public amenities such as the post office and banks do much to facilitate travel in Tibet.

. Tashilhunpo Monastery
Tashilhunpo Monastery is one of the Six Big Monasteries of Gelugpa (or Yellow Hat Sect) in Tibet. Also called the Heap of Glory, the monastery is located at the foot of Drolmari (Tara's Mountain), Shigatse. Founded by the First Dailai Lama in 1447, the monastery's structure was expanded by the Fourth and successive Panchen Lamas. Tashilhunpo Monastery covers an area of nearly 300,000 square meters (3,229,279 sq. ft.). The main structures found in the Tashilhunpo Monastery are The Maitreya Chapel, The Panchen Lama's Palace and The Kelsang Temple. Tashilhunpo is the seat of the Panchen Lama since the Fourth Panchen Lama took charge in the monastery, and there are now nearly 800 lamas.

Standing on the entrance of Tashilhunpo, visitors can see the grand buildings with golden roofs and white walls. The remarkable Thangka Wall which is nine floors high was built by the First Dalai Lama in 1468. The wall displays the images of Buddha on the 14th, 15th and 16th of May every year following the Tibetan Lunar Calendar. The images are so humongous that one can easily see it in Shigatse City. Visitors can find The Maitreya Chapel by strolling into the monastery on the west side of Tashilhunpo. One can find the biggest statue of a sitting Maitreya Buddha inside the chapel. The statue stands 26.2 meters (86 ft) high and is decorated with gold, copper, pearl, amber, coral, diamond and other precious stones. The statue was handcrafted by 900 craftsmen in 9 years. The chapel has been divided into five floors. Visitors can tour the upper floors of the chapel using a wooden staircase to see the statue more clearly and appreciate the superb skill of the Tibetans.

The Stupa-tomb of the Tenth Panchen Lama lies east of the chapel. Covered by 614 kg (1,354 pounds) gold, 868 precious stones and 246,794 jewels, the Stupa-tomb built in 1993 is the most splendid and costly mausoleum in China since the 1950s. The Panchen Lama's Palace which stands nearby the Stupa-tomb is a grand white palace mainly built during the reign of the Six Panchen Lama (1738-1780). It is still closed to tourists and local visitors alike. To the east of the Panchen Lama's Palace lies the Stupa-tomb of the Fourth Panchen Lama who is one of the most famous Lamas in Tibetan history. He is also the teacher of the Fifth Dalai Lama. His gorgeous stupa-tomb decorated with gold and silver was built in 1662. The Stupa-tomb of the Fourth Panchen Lama is the first stupa-tomb in Tashilhunpo.

The Kelsang Temple is one of the oldest and biggest buildings in Tashilhunpo. It is a colossal compound. The Main Chanting Hall is a place for lamas to learn the sutras and listen to the Panchen Lama's sermon. On the back end of the hall lies a 5 meters (16 ft) high statue of Sakyamuni. It is said that a part of Sakyamuni's relics was placed in it. Two chapels sit on both sides of the Main Chanting Hall. The left one is devoted to Tara, the goddess who is believed to be the avatar of Avalokitesvara. A White Tara is in the middle and two Green Taras on each side. The right chapel is dedicated to Maitreya Buddha. With a height of 11 meters (36 ft), one can find the statue of Maitreya Buddha in the middle of the chapel. The statues of Avalokitesvara and Bodhisattva Manjusri created by the First Dalai Lama stands near the statue of Maitreya Buddha. The Great Courtyard of the Kelsang Temple is the place for lamas to practice and debate. The wall around the courtyard is covered by thousands of images of Sakyamuni in different postures and expressions.

Besides the grand palace and gigantic statues, the Tashilhunpo Monastery also treasures characteristic wall paintings. Because of the variety of shapes, resplendent colors and exquisite painting, the murals are considered to be another masterpiece of Buddhist art. Rare sutras, thangka, china and glass services of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing Dynasties (1644-1911) are also invaluable assets found in the monastery. These are good relics for researching the history and society of Tibet.

. Lhatse(4050m)
Approximately 150km southwest of Shigatse and some 30km west of the Sakya turn off, Lhatse is a spread-out town lining the Friend-ship Highway. Most of the traffic here is en route to Zhangmu on the Nepali boarder, but some vehicles take the turn-of 6km down the road for Ali in western Tibet.

Lhastse is a decent place to be stuck for a day or so. You could visit the ruined Dzongs at each end of town, although there's not much to see except the views of the plain below. At the eastern end of town is small Changmoche Monastery.

The most famous product is Lhatse Tibetan Knife. And the local Lhatse Tibetan person¡¯s singing and dancing show is very famous in china.( There is a Lhatse local Tibetan dancing group program showing on 2006 China Spring Festival on CCTV)

. New Tingri(Shegar) (4050m)
New Tingri on the Friendship Highway is where you can buy you entrance of Everest and checking point of your Tibet Entry Permit and Travl Permit fro Qomolangma Nature Perserve. Inside the preserve are Everest Base Camp, Rongphu Monasterya and Cho Oyu Base Camp.

. Rongphu Monastery
Rongphu Monastery is located in the Shigatse Region, southwest of the mysterious Tibet Autonomous Region, and to the north of the oblate Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world. Seen from here, Mt. Everest appears like a lofty pyramid surrounded by mountains that touch the sky. On sunny days, a pile of thick clouds, just like a white flag floats lightly above the peak, which is known to be the miracle of 'The Highest Flag Cloud in the World'. Nowadays, with the golden travel boom to Mt. Everest, Rongphu Monastery is gradually becoming a highlight for the tourists in its own right.

Rongphu Monastery was built by a local lama in about 1899. The altitude is 5, 000 m. (16, 404.2 ft.) more or less, which is the highest among all the temples in the world. It is a five-tier building, but only 2 floors are in use now. In the frontispiece of the main hall, were sacrificed the statues of Sakyamuni and Geru Rinpoche. And the mural paintings inside are especially worthy of appreciation.

Monks and nuns live in the same monastery and celebrate the Buddhist festivals together. From 15th April of the Tibetan Calendar the monastery will hold a Buddhist dancing ceremony, which will last for three days. This is held to celebrate the birth of Sakyamuni, which is known as Saka Dawa Festival. During the play, many monks disguise themselves as Rabbis and dance many scenes one after another, and most scenes portray different characters and clothing. The noisy and special activity often attracts many local residents and visitors to the temple. Another Tibetan festival is held on 29th December of Tibetan Calendar to placate wandering ghosts, and monks wearing masks also perform this grand ceremony.

Walking forward from Rongphu Monastery, you will see the famous Rongphu Glacier Zone, which is the largest among all the hundreds of glaciers formed around the Mt. Everest. The three glaciers north of the Mt. Everest flow south and congregate at a river traversing the foot of the monastery. This is called 'Rongphu River', and the water there is extremely cold.

Notes:
Rongphu Monastery is connected to Shigatse City and Lhasa by a road, so it is easy to get to those two beautiful cities from this location. Besides, travelers who decide to climb the Mt. Everest can also stay here at night. It is about 8km. to the Everest Base Camp and a good point to appreciate the scenery there at dawn and dark. In front of the monastery are a white pagoda and a Mani Stone pile, which are often selected as the foreground to take photographs of Mt. Everest. There is a guesthouse and a few hostels around the monastery. Each room can accommodate 4 ¨C 5 people. There is also a small restaurant opened by a Tibetan, the prices there are a bit high, but we suggest you bargain with him with some simple English. Due to the disadvantaged location, you cannot expect too much from the conditions there.

. Mt. Everest
Mount Qomolangma, also called Mt. Everest, is the highest peak in the world. Its Tibetan meaning of 'Goddess the Third' adds more mysterious color and magic power to the subject. As a result, it has intrigued all kinds of people since it was first discovered. Pilgrims trek long distances to present a pious worship, climbing enthusiasts run great risks to challenge its high altitude and the common tourists also yearn for a reverent look at this holy peak.

The altitude of Mt. Everest is now about 8,844.43 m. (29,017 ft.). It is the dominant peak of Himalayas, the northern brae in Tingri County of Tibet and the southern in the Nepal. The area has 4 peaks above 8,000 m. (26,247 ft.) and 38 peaks above 7,000 m. (22,965 ft.), hence the laudatory title 'the Third Pole of the Earth'.

As the supreme point of the world, Mt. Everest is also blessed with many extreme wonders. The top part of the mountain is covered with snow all the year round. When the glaring sun shines on the mountain, the peak is just like a white pyramid miraculously transformed by the Goddess, leading us to imagine her semblance further. More often than not, the thick freely moving clouds and fogs, seeming as if a flag with the mast of the peak was swinging, will shroud the peak. This peculiar phenomenon of Mt. Everest is known as 'Flag Cloud'. An additional wonder generated here are the bright glaciers, where ices are formed into various shapes like bridges, pagodas and others. You can also find miles of efflorescent rock physiognomy there, such as stalagmites, stelae, stone sword, and stone pagodas. The climbing pathfinders call this splendor at such high attitude 'the Largest Park on the High Mountain'.

The area of Mt. Everest has been built as one of the national natural reserves, wherein live thousands of kinds of plants, hundreds of varieties of wild animals and dense virgin forests. Many of these are precious and rare, like the first-class protected animal ounces and the valuable timber sandals, etc.

At the foot of Mt. Everest is located the highest temple in the world, Rongphu Monastery. At the altitude of about 5000 m. (16,404 ft.) and 25 km. (15.5 mi.) in the distance, it is also the best point to appreciate the scenery of Mt. Everest. Rongphu Glacier around this area is also the largest among all the glaciers here.

Notes:
Climbing Mt. Everest is very dangerous, only those who can endure the adverse weather and experienced climbers should venture onto it's slopes. The area is frequently beset with sudden storms, snow, wind and the weather may change quickly in a day. Only the periods between early March and late May, along with early September and late October are fit for climbing, among which less than 20 days are actually fine. So keep a very close eye on the weather changes there if you want to climb. Mt. Everest lies in the borderline about 100 km. (62 mi.) south of Sino-Nepal Road, you can hire a car from Lhasa or take some vehicles by the way. For the dining and accommodation, Rongphu Monastery is recommended.

. Old Tingri(4390m)
Old Tingri is a photogenic huddle of Tibetan homes that overlook a sweeping plain borderd by towering Himalayan peaks. Fr newcomers from Kathmandu, the discomforts of the sudden altitude gain are likely to make it and unpleasant stay. There is little in the way of sights around Tingri although the views of Everest and the muscular-looking massif of Cho Oyu more than compensate for this. There is a classic trekking routes between Everest Base Camp and Tingri.

. Zhangmu
Zhangmu Town lies in the southern piedmont of the median Himalayas, about 776 km. (482 mi.) away from the capital of Tibet Lhasa. It also borders Nepal to the south; Sino-Nepal Friendship Bridge is only 10 more km. (6 miles) away and another 100 km. (62 miles)'s drive will lead you into the capital of Nepal, Katmandu. After the drudgery of the Sino-Nepal Road, Zhangmu Town is a most welcome sight both for tourists and traders alike. Much is supposedly owed to nearby Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world. Travelers come mainly for climbing up the lofty mountain, appreciating the heavenly sights, or pilgrimage at its holiness. However, for the particular location, Zhangmu Town itself can form an interesting array of scenery for the visitors.

At the altitude of about 2300m and with the subtropical climate, Zhangmu Town is mild and humid, which can be an extravagant hope for the common dry and cold Tibetan area. The natural scenery there is very charming. It is absolutely embraced by wondrous mountains, flexural rivers, lush pines and flourishing flowers almost all the year round. Along the winding road in the middle of peaks and gorges, you will be unconsciously assailed by the fulgurous waterfalls, enjoying another tasty variety from the eternally snow-covered Himalayas. Please get to the location of Sino-Nepal Tunnel and appreciate the best scenery of the mountains.

As a port, Zhangmu Town is also very noisy and modernized with many grand buildings. You can find customhouse, business bureau, factories, shops, banks, post offices, schools, hotels, restaurants and resident buildings arranged orderly beside the street. The bazaar is always crowded with various skin-colored tourists and businessmen. Walking here, you may feel like bees in a hive. Most striking are the numerous red villas topped with small gardens, aflutter with prayer flags and lucky trees, which add much color to the town. The buildings at the turn between business bureau and electric station ditch are the best point to look around the town.

Please ensure you take your ID card or passport and border card for the checkpoint. Umbrella and skid-proof shoes are also necessary for the rainy and bumpy path is often tre You can take the sightseeing bus via Zhangmu Town by the way, but you should contact the guide or driver first at the hotel. For changing money into Nepalese Rupees, you can refer to Bank of China.