Hanging Monastery is situated at the foot of the Hengshan Mountain

Being the most outstanding Buddhist temples in China, Hanging Monastery is situated at the foot of the Hengshan Mountain, 75 kilometers southeast of Datong. First built in the late Northern Wei dynasty in the 6th century and renovated three or four times since, the serried buildings look as though they are supported by a dozen or so slim wooden posts no more substantial than chopsticks. Huge rocks loomed overhead, apparently liable to fall at any moment. The fragile path was strung out along the face of the cliff. There were two reasons to construct the Hanging Temple here. One reason is because there used to be a vital center of communication in old times, it is necessary to construct a temple along this route for the passing pilgrims. But the Hunhe River that flowed past the foot of the cliff was capricious. The other reason is whenever there was a storm there would be a terrible flood. In those days people believed that a golden dragon was the cause of all this trouble, so they thought of a construction of a Buddhist temple to ward off the influence of the dragon. Welcome to China for Canton Trade fair. HRC is pleasure to provide Guangzhou hotels booking and China Tour guide .

Suspended some 50 meters over the ground and consisting of 40 pavilions and halls, the Hanging Monastery is constructed with the help of wooden pillars that are anchored into the cliff face behind the edifices, though no one today can say for certain whether the holes into which the pillars are anchored were manmade or natural. The monastery is reached via a bridge that leads up a stone staircase that has been chiseled into the cliff face. The monastery's 6 main halls are intricately and ingeniously linked by winding corridors, bridges, and boardwalks that offer a perilous glimpse of the ground below, increasing the visitor's awareness that this truly is, quite literally, a hanging monastery.
The hanging temple is a temple built more then 1500 years ago, into a cliff. It is an extraordinary temple because it represents a combination of Buddhism, Taoism andSONY DSC Confucianism. It is built of wood but due to its ‘hanging’  in the middle of the cliffs, which is under the summit prominent part, protecting the temple from rain erosion and sunlight, the colors in the temple are relatively well preserved.

Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple

Located in the old area of Lhasa City, Tibet, Barkhor Street is a very ancient round street surrounding the Jokhang Temple and the locals are always proud of it. As a symbol of Lhasa, it is also a must-see place for visitors. Chinatourguide.com is pleasure to provide Tibet tour for you, we also provide other China tours and indochina tours with local guide.

The most famous pilgrim circuit in Lhasa is Barkhor Kora or Barkhor Pilgrim Circuit circling the ancient Jokhang Temple. On the Barkhor Street, you can see thousands of people with pray wheels, Buddhist prayer beads or incense walking clockwise around the Jokhang Temple. Follow this Lhasa  pilgrim circuit, you can get a feel for Tibetan arts, handicrafts, and customs. This kora is lined with traders selling everything, as well as small alleyways leading to temples, markets and homes. Therefore pilgrims can do shopping at the end of their kora. The Barkhor Street is always thronged with pilgrims from all over the Tibet, even other places of the world. Some of them have covered thousands of kilometers to complete this sacred circuit. Some of them, even teenagers, move forward body-lengths by body-lengths from morning to night. All they do is to testify their piety to their beliefs. It is here that you can witness the devotion of the pilgrims and directly feel the strength of religion.

The street area is very big covering many streets and alleys. The main street surrounding the temple is a 1,000-meter street bustling with hundreds of store fronts and street vendors. Worshipping wares and tourist souvenirs are hawked along this Tibetan-ambience stoned street: yak butter lamps, prayer wheels, scriptures, turquoise and coral jewelries, antique carvings, Tibetan carpets, etc. Tibetan snacks and cuisines are easy to spot here.

The magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge

The magnificent Tiger Leaping Gorge (Hutiao Xia) lies in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan on the Jinsha River. Yunnan is diverse, the southern region being more tropical and akin to the climate of Southeast Asia (it borders Burma/Myanmar). Northern Yunnan, where the gorge is located, is renowned for its mountainous countryside that more closely resembles the landscapes of Tibet. Welcome to China, Chinatourguide.com is pleasure to provide Yunan tour for you, we also provide other China tours and indochina tours with local guide.

 
Tiger Leaping Gorge is one of the deepest gorges on the planet, and it has the best hiking trail in the Lijiang area. The scenery is spectacular. Foreign backpackers started hiking in the area in the 1980s. Inns and guesthouses have been built along the trail for hikers. The Yangtze River in the canyon isn’t navigable. Tourists can tour the gorge area on tour buses along a road at the bottom of the canyon that follows the course of the river. This tour road is very popular with Chinese tourists. The people who walk the High Trail above the road are mainly foreigners. If you hike the path, you’ll find some solitude because you may meet only a few groups of hikers all day. Local Naxi people also use the trails. Whether you visit on a tour bus or hike, you can see some spectacular sights.

Popular for its snow-clad mountain scenery and the chance it offers to escape China's crowded streets and overnight in authentic ethnic villages, the High Trail offers solitude and space in a country where wilderness experiences are rare, and almost never come without handrails and toll booths.
Travel Tips
Admission Fee: 50RMB. If visiting the Tiger Leaping Gorge before 7:00, no admission fee is needed. Open Time: 9:00~18:00 Location: Northeast of Pannong County, Jade Dragon Autonomous Prefecture, Lijiang, Yunnan Province. Suggested Traveling Duration: 2 days Best time to visit: Spring and autumn How to get to: There are shuttle buses from Lijiang to Tiger Leaping Gorge Town, which is available from 7:00 to 4:30. Just go to the local bus station to buy ticket, which cost about 20RMB. For renting a car, it costs about 500RMB per day.

Bangong Tso Lake in Tibet

Bangong Tso Lake, meaning long neck swan in Tibetan, is located partly in China and the rest is in Kashmir that is controlled by India. This inland lake is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) from northwestern Rutog County, Ngari District of Tibet. It is 155 kilometers (96.3 miles) long from east to west and very narrow from south to north, 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) at the widest part and only 5 meters (16 feet) at the narrowest part. The depth of water is 57 meters (187 feet). And the entire lake is 4,240 meters (13,911 feet) above sea level. HRC is pleased to offer great service a China tour or Indochina tour for you.

 
The limpid water is so blue and looks like an opal in the earth. It mirrors the blue sky, white clouds and snowy mountains, forming a picturesque view. Its uniqueness is that the same lake has different characteristics in China and Kashmir: The water in China is clear and sweet, harboring a kind of freshwater fish without scales; but the water in Kashmir so salty that no creatures can survive.
Bangong Lake is about 155km in length from the west to the east, and its width ranges from 40meters to 15km, the average depth about 57meters. In the lake there are at least 5 islands such as Shu Island, Tu Island etx, and the largest one named Bird Island, is the kingdom of birds, also breeding place in Spring for some birds such as Anser ndicus. Photo taken on August 22, shows the tourists are preparing to board a pleasure-boat.

This vast lake is dotted with big and small islands like stars in the night sky. The central island is the kingdom of birds, and is named Bird Island. It is not that large, about 300 meters (984 feet) long and over 200 meters (656 feet) wide. However, around ten thousand birds of more than 20 species inhabit it. The main species include the bar-head goose, brown-head gull, seagull, crested duck and tadorna ferruginea. These birds feed on the fish and aquatic plants in Bangong Lake. During the birds’ breeding season, the whole island is almost covered with thousands of birds. Bird nests and eggs are everywhere. Because there are no natural enemies or anything to disturb their habitat, they live in a quiet and peaceful life. Thanks to the natural barrier of water protecting the birds, it becomes a special sight on the Ngari Plateau.

Potala Palace immense religious and administrative complex in Lhasa

Potala Palace is considered a model of Tibetan architecture. Located on the Red Hill in Lhasa, Tibet, it is 3,700 meters above sea level and covers an area of over 360,000 square meters, measuring 360 meters from east to west and 270 meters from south to north. The palace has 13 stories, and is 117 meters high. Interesting in Potala Palace Tour? HRC is pleased to offer great service to build a unique China tour for you.

 
Potala Palace immense religious and administrative complex in Lhasa, southern Tibet Autonomous Region, southwestern China. It is situated atop Mar-po-ri (Red Mountain), 425 feet (130 metres) above the Lhasa River valley, and rises up dramatically from its rocky base. Potrang Karpo (completed 1648; White Palace) once served as the seat of the Tibetan government and the main residence of the Dalai Lama; from the mid-18th century it was used as a winter palace. Potrang Marpo (1694; Red Palace) houses several chapels, sacred statues, and the tombs of eight Dalai Lamas; it remains a major pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists.

The central part of this group of buildings rises in a vast quadrangular mass above its satellites to a great height, terminating in gilt canopies similar to those on the Jokhang. This central member of Potala is called the "red palace" from its crimson colour, which distinguishes it from the rest. It contains the principal halls and chapels and shrines of past Dalai Lamas. There is in these much rich decorative painting, with jewelled work, carving and other ornamentation.

Ganden Monastery is attainable on a day trip from Lhasa

Ganden Monastery is attainable on a day trip from Lhasa. It lies 45km east of Lhasa, on the Sichuan highway. It is the most dramatically situated of the main temples near Lhasa, high up on the ridge.
The Ganden Monastery has been re-established in Karnataka, India by the Tibetan population in exile. The Ganden Monastery is located in the Tibetan settlement at Mundgod. This settlement of Tibetan refugees is the largest of its kind in India and was first established in 1966, from land donated by the Indian government.

 
In the Tibetan settlement near Mundgod are the Ganden and the Drepung Monastery. In 1999 there were in total about 13,000 residents. The Tibetan settlement consists of nine camps with two monasteries and one nunnery. They have established a credit bank for farms, an agricultural institute and a craft center. Modern technology and communication technology are being introduced. The curriculum of the Ganden Monastery remains similar to the teachings of the pre-1959 Ganden Monastery.

Ganden Monastery was completely destroyed during the rebellion of 1959. In 1966 it was severely shelled by Red Guard artillery and monks then had to dismantle the remains.[4] Most of Tsongkhapa's mummified body was burned but his skull and some ashes were saved from the fire by Bomi Rinpoche, the monk who had been forced to carry the body to the fire.[6] Re-building has been continuing since the 1980s and the "red-painted lhakang in the centre is the reconstruction of Ganden's sanctum sanctorum containing Tsongkapa's reliquary chorten called the Tongwa Donden, 'Meaningful to Behold.'

The word "Ganden" means "joy" in Tibetan and is also the name for the "western heavens" where the Maitreya Buddha (the Future Buddha) resides. Ironically, this Monastery was heavily damaged during Cultural Revolution bombings, making the place somewhat depressing. However, work is underway to repair the damaged buildings of the monastery, so that Ganden Monastery is being quickly restored to its must-see status as one of Lhasa's most impressive monasteries. Seek out the Golden Throne Room of the Dalai Lama. Placed upon the throne, there is a cloth bag containing his yellow hat that he left behind in his escape to exile in India.

The Sho Dun Festival in Tibet

The Sho Dun Festival , commonly known as the Yogurt Festival  or Banquet is an annual festival held at Norbulingka or "Jewel Park" palace in Lhasa, Tibet.

The festival is celebrated in the summer, from the 15th to the 24th of the 5th lunar month - usually about the middle of August, after a month's retreat by the monks who stay within their monasteries to avoid walking on the emerging summer insects and killing them.
Partying at Sho Dun Festival, Norbulingka, 1993

It began in the 16th century with a banquet given by the lay people for the monks featuring yoghurt. Later on, summer operas, or Lhamo, and theatricals were added to the festivities. The operas, "last all day with clashing cymbals, bells and drums; piercing recitatives punctuating more melodious choruses; hooded villains, leaping devils, swirling girls with long silk sleeves. In the past dancers came from all over Tibet, but today there is only the state-run Lhasa Singing and Dancing Troupe."

The beautiful grounds of the Norbulingka are filled with partying groups shielded from the wind by gaily coloured hanging walls of rugs and printed canvas. There is much feasting and visiting between family groups and bonfires are common at night.

 

Shoton Festival originates from the 11th century. It had been exclusively a religious observance until the 17th century when the Great 5th Dalai Lama introduced the Tibetan opera into the celebration, making it a nationwide gala. Being the largest and most mysterious festival on the roof of the world, Shoton Festival serves as a showcase to rooted tradition, appealing culture and great piety of the Tibetan people. Global travelers, who urge to discover more than just turquoise lakes and snow capped mountains on this forbidden land, are drawn to Tibet at this time of year.

The festival mainly consists of 3 parts - Great Buddha Display, Tibetan Opera Show and Horsemanship & Yak Race Show. In combination they represent the best of Tibetan religion, culture and tradition.

Siling Lake is a lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region

Siling Lake , is a lake in the Tibet Autonomous Region, to the north of Xainza. Doijiang is located near the lake. Administratively it belongs to Xainza County and Baingoin County of the Nagqu Prefecture.

The temperature at the lake is an annual average of -3 to -0.6°C, the maximum annual temperature 9.4°C. The average rainfall is 290 millimeters per year, 90 percent of which falls in the months of June to September, often in the summer as hail.
The areas of Selincuo Lake are larger than that of Namucuo Lake, and it becomes the largest saltwater lake in Tibet autonomous region now. The increases of air temperature and surface temperature lead to ice and snow melting, permafrost melting, which are the main reasons resulting in the lake rising. The above analysis shows that EOS/MODIS data are suitable to discuss the areas changes of lakes.

Pala Manor is one of the 12 main manors and the most well-preserved manor in Tibet

Pala Manor is located 4 kilometers southwest to Gyangze County of the Shigatse Prefecture. It is one of the 12 main manors and the most well-preserved manor in Tibet, showing the lifestyle of the wealthy landed family once lived in the manor.

 
The building is a three-storey structure with 57 rooms, including sutra hall, sunlight room, reception room, bedrooms, room for playing mahjong games, etc. The rooms are richly decorated with exquisitely carved beams and painted rafters. Traces of influence of culture of inland China are visible in the carvings, paintings, and furniture items placed.

Originally Pala, the former owner of the Manor, was a Bhutanese chief but due to civil strife in Bhutan, he moved to Tibet with his family where in due course he became a local official. In due course he rose to an important position as a local official, and gradually joined the aristocratic ranks.

Yumbu Lhakhang is the first palace of Tibet

Yumbu Lhakhang, the first palace of Tibet, is located on the Zhaxi Ceri Mountain, 5 kilometers from Nedong County in Lhoka Prefecture.
A legend counts Yumbu Lhakhang Palace as the first palace in Tibet. According to a legend of followers of the Bon Religion, Yumbu Lhakhang Palace was erected in the second century BC for the first Tibetan king Nitri Tsampo, who was believed to descende from the sky.

As the ancient palace of the Tibetan kings prominenting on a rocky hill, it is a narrow rectangular building with a slender white tower topped by a gilded rgya-phibs canopy. According to Tibetan legend, during the reign of the 28th king Lha Thothori Nyantsen in the 5th century, the first Buddhist Sutra to enter Tibet fell from the sky onto the roof of Yumbu Lhakhang together with a small golden stupa and a jewel.By tradition it was founded by the mythical king Nya-khri Btsan-po and it is associated, rather more possibly, with king Tho-tho-ri who may be placed tentatively in the middle of the fifth century. The story gives sanctity to the building which, which is approached by a narrow path up a steep hill and entered through a low door beyond which a steep ladder leads to the first floor.

The Ruins of Guge in Tibet

The Ruins of Guge Kingdom is located on a mountain in Zhabran Village,18km west of the county town of Zhada, 310km south of Shiquanhe Town.
The Guge Kingdom was founded in about the 10th century by a descendant of King Glang Darma, who fled from Lhasa after the collapse of the Tupo Kingdom. The kingdom played an important role in the second renascence in Tibet and survived for about 700 years before disappearing mysteriously in the 17th century.

"Guge" is a miracle. For years it strongly attracted numerous explorers, scholars, artists and journalists who traveled from afar to investigate and search for treasures. According to historical records, after the last king of the Tubo Dynasty, Lang Darma, died, the royal family began to fight for the throne. Gyide Nyimagun, Long Darma's descendent, lost the war and ran away to Ngari, where he established a small kingdom. Later, Gyide Nyimagun divided Ngari into three parts and gave them to his three sons. The Guge Kingdom was ruled by Dezogun, Gyide Nyimagun's third son. His regime ran for more than 700 years before being destroyed in a war. According to the Annals of Kings and Officials in Tibet, a total of 16 kings ruled the Guge Kingdom, and Guge Castle was accomplished through constant construction between the 10th and 16th century. Guge has a very significant position in the history of economic and cultural development of Tibet. Many significant Buddhist doctrines of ancient India were passed on to hinterland Tibet via Guge.Guge was also one of the important commercial ports linking ancient Tibet with the outside world.After the Tubo Dynasty died out,Tibet entered a 400-some year period of isolation. Guge was always a large and powerful kingdom. Even the dust of time cannot hide its prosperity and past glory.

The ruins lie at a hilltop near a river, covering 180,000 square meters. Houses, cave dwellings, monasteries and stupas are distributed on the hill and surrounding area. Palaces sat on the summit while monasteries on mountainside, cave dwellings for common people at the foot of the hill. The kingdom was enclosed in tunnels and walls with fortifications. Some structures survive time and remain in good condition in this untraversed region though many of them were reduced into dust. A 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) long water tunnel built with stones, in ruins, still dives from the summit into the river below, which used to be water supply of Guge people.

Zhada stand the famous Tuolin Monastery and relic Guge Kingdom

Covering an area of 2,464 square kilometers, located in the Zanda County of Ngari Prefecture, Zanda Clay Forest,aka Zanda Clay Forest is the largest clay forest that was formed over one million years ago.

 
Zhada, whose Tibetan meaning is "the place where there are grass in the lower reaches of river", is a County under the govern of Nagri Prefecture. In this county stand the famous Tuolin Monastery and relic Guge Kingdom. As soon as you step into Zhada County, you can see the clay forest towering along both sides of five-kilometer-Elephant Spring River. These clay forest are of different shapes. Some like warriors defending the mountain, some like galloping horses, while others like devoted followers standing there quietly.
The best interpretation of the beauty of the scenery of Zanda, forest soil ditch.

Into the forest soil trenches, the people will be the eye as a vast sea forest soil the world shock and awe: the towering forest soil in the hot sun resembles a castles and towers, with one of the vast scene scorch .100 million years ago Zhada forest is more than 500 km wide and the Great Lakes Himalayan orogeny make the surface of the water to sink, the original lake basin in the Loess over many years by the wind and rain erosion and scour, eventually forming a sculpture of this magnificent natural forest soil. forest soil today under intensive folds and ravines, as long as the next torrential rains, it stretches over 30 kilometers of forest soil ditch immediately turned into a 'river' Zada county 'moat'.

The highest monastery in the world

At the foothills of Mt.Everest, is located the highest monastery in the world - Rongbuk Monastery. It was founded by a Nyingmapa Lama in 1902 and had been in used by monks and hermits for over 400 years. The ancient monastery is only 200 metres (660 ft) lower than the north side Everest Base Camp of Mount Everest, and in the background of Rongbuk Monastery is the top of the world - Qomolangma.

Monks and nuns live in the same monastery and celebrate the Buddhist festivals together. From 15th April of the Tibetan Calendar a Buddhist dancing ceremony is held here, 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 Rongbuk Monastery, you will see the famous Rongbuk 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 'Rongbuk River', and the water there is extremely cold.

Travel tips for Potala Palace

In order to control the number of visitors, in 2006 began to restrict daily visitors to 2300 people, of which 1600 is provided to the travel agency, 700 is provided to fit. Individual tourist, prior to Potala Palace in order to receive a free ticket purchase voucher, Potala Palace, the next day with a ticket purchase voucher can purchase visit.

According to the reservoir development and reform price document [2007]464, Potala Palace from January 1, 2008 onwards busy season and off-season fare.

Potala Palace tickets tips

Ticket information: Potala Palace and limit the sale of pre-sale ticket system combination, the number of daily visitors limit 2300 people (about 700 individual tickets), a day after 5 pm the next day after the pre-sale tickets, each limited to 4 tickets, to be a day early to queue up for a ticket purchase voucher, and must provide the identity card number, according to the queue. Successively, ticket card marked the time of visit, in the Potala Palace big door holding identity cards to buy ticket to enter. If you have a teaching certificate or student ID card, take it out, you only need 49 yuan can go in the. In addition the Jinding cannot, treasures collection money is not much, not worth, can save 10 yuan.

Receive location: in Potala Palace square on the door, written with strict time, expired.

The best location: pictures of Potala Palace is located in the southwest side of the best position of the Potala Palace in a small mountain (the relative elevation of over 20 meters), the end of the tour went down after it passes through the Beijing road to the. Under the mountain there will be local charge, about 1-2 yuan.

 

Matters needing attention

Photograph: Yaowang mountain can shoot panorama of Potala Palace; the Dragon King pool can shoot in Potala Palace park reflection; the Potala Palace can not take pictures.

Toilet: white square on the right has a toilet, after nearly two hours of tours was no toilets, visitors enter the white house before this convenient; cloth Palace back door toilet is very characteristic, must try;

Remind: the palace is higher, up and down slowly; the relatively cold, even the best summer also prepared coat.

CMB / City Jeep: individual in cling to walk and Jeep fixed routes, fares 2 yuan, most of the lines Tibetan Hospital station.

Car rental: suggest tourist taxi ride from the mountain to the top of the Potala Palace, and then from the top down along Potala Palace, the fare of about 10 yuan.

The palace location: fit in Potala Palace front gate into the palace at Potala Palace, team tourists southeast side, hereby accept security check, check the ID card number, please be sure to bring your ID, otherwise cannot enter.

Security notice: into the Potala Palace needs security, all flammable and explosive, guns, tools (including nail clippers and other possible pry the Potala Palace any stones gadget) cannot be carried into the.

Tickets : Security after entering the palace, by the ladder walking to Potala Palace house in front of the ticket office, by buy ticket buy the real Potala Palace tickets.

Potala Palace tourism traffic

Traffic in the city

Lhasa City Taxi: Although very small, but surprisingly he has 1500 taxi. Hits in Lhasa, on the bus to bargaining, generally in the city of 10 yuan is enough.

Naimona'nyi Peak is located at western section of Himalayas

Naimona'nyi Peak is located at western section of Himalayas. It faces Mt. Kailash at a distance. It is praised as the Goddess Mountain by local Tibetans. Tourists planning a Tibet adventure tour to Mt. Kailash would have the chance to witness the charming peak.

Naimona'nyi Peak has an area of 200 square kilometers and has 6 mountain ridges, on which are tens of mountains soaring to 6,000 meters. The western ridges fan out from north to south. The only ridge in the east has been corroded into a blade-shape ridge, which is very steep with a height difference of 2,000 meters. Compared with the eastern ridge, the western one has a less steep gradient. Five huge glaciers pour down in the canyon, among which are ice steeps full of cracks.

Naimona’nyi peak, Tibetan called “Our Lady” or “Goddess”, located in Champlain County, 7694 meters high, is one of the main peak of the Himalayas. On the next to Manasarovar Lake, separated from the lake north of Mount Kailash distant relative. Naimona’nyi peak radius of about 200 square kilometers, there are six ridges. Ridge line several 10 the hills above 6000 meters, the level of scattered. Fan of the west ridge, arranged from north to south, only east of the ridge has been eroded into the knife ridge, very steep, forming a height difference of nearly 2000 m cliff. In contrast, the west slope is moderate, with five giant glaciers are pouring in the canyon, the ice covered with ice cracks and ice cliffs. May 26, 1985, on the 28th Sino-Japanese joint team of 13 players for the first time along the northwest slope, Naimona’nyi peak the Zhalong Mary Long Pakistani Glacier successful ascent.

There are two popular Tibetan verses in relation to Drak Yerpa

In addition to including such stereotyped visits covering Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Temple, Norbulingka and so on, don’t forget to add an excursion to Drak Yerpa Monastery, which is located about 40km northeast to the city center of Lhasa.

There are two popular Tibetan verses in relation to Drak Yerpa. One verse says that “While Tibet‘s holy place is in Lhasa, Lhasa’s holy place is in Drak Yerpa”. Another verse goes like that “Visiting Lhasa without going to Drak Yerpa is just like making a new clothe without adding the collar”. These two verses pinpoint the importance of Drak Yerpa in the hearts of the common Tibetan pilgrims.
It is said that Songtsän Gampo and his two foreign-born queens have meditated in the 'Peu Marsergyi Temple' and in the 'Chogyel Puk'. People also said they had discovered 'self-originated' symbols of the Buddha-body, speech and mind. Another famous person who meditated here is Padmasambhava, or Guru Rinpoche. He also practiced tantric yoga with his yogini Yeshe Tsogyal here. Totally he spent 7 months in meditation in the 'Dawa Puk', which is considered to be one of his three most important places of attainment. Several of Guru Rinpoche's disciples are also said to have meditated here.
Except working as a great meditation or hermitage place for Buddhist, the Dark Yerpa is also a commendable place for trekking. Trekking or bicycling to Drak Yerpa, you will get closer to the natural beauty in this place.     

Drepung is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries

Drepung Monastery , located at the foot of Mount Gephel, is one of the "great three" Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet. The other two are Ganden and Sera. Drepung is the largest of all Tibetan monasteries and is located on the Gambo Utse mountain, five kilometers from the western suburb of Lhasa.

 

Freddie Spencer Chapman reported, after his 1936-37 trip to Tibet, that Drepung was at that time the largest monastery in the world, and housed 7,700 monks, "but sometimes as many as 10,000 monks."

Since the 1950s, Drepung Monastery, along with its peers Ganden and Sera, have lost much of their independence and spiritual credibility in the eyes of Tibetans since they operate under the close watch of the Chinese security services. All three were reestablished in exile in the 1950s in Karnataka state in south India. Drepung and Ganden are in Mundgod and Sera is in Bylakuppe.

The organizational hierarchy of the monastery is rather complex. The main branches of the organization consist of Coqen, Zhacang, Kamcun, and Myicun. Coqen is in the highest position, to which Zhacang belongs, and Kamcun is under the jurisdiction of Zhacang, with the Myicun as its subordinate. Monks belonging to respective Zhacangs cannot interblend with each other.

The ground of the monastery is organized on the caves and temples for Jamyang Qoigyi, together with two magnificent white pagodas. The buildings here then are centered on these pagodas, The major buildings are Ganden Potrang, Coqen Hall, the four Zhacangs (or Tantric colleges), and Kamcuns.

Gangrenboqi Mountain is the most famous holy mountain in Tibet

  Gangrenboqi Mountain is the most famous holy mountain in Tibet, which is reputed as the center of the world by Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Bon. With the elevation of 6,638 meters above sea level, Gangrenboqi Mountain is the main peak of Mt. Gangdise. Hiking abound Gangrenboqi Mountain takes about 3 days, starting from Dajin, passing by Qugu Temple and Zherepu Temple and coming back to the starting point. On the way, there are surpassingly beautiful peaks, magnificent Gangrenboqi Mountain immediately ahead and religious pilgrims, enjoying breathtaking scenery and experiencing local customs and sacred culture. On the elevation of over 4,700 meters, it’s a great risk and ordeal for hikers. Thus, you’d better prepare suitable warm clothes and enough high-calorie food.

 
  Tibet is regarded as the roof of the world, and full of charm and mystery. His charm lies not only in the original natural and exotic strange natural beauty, but also because of his enigmatic history and the god like religious cultural.
  To some extent, if you understand the religion of Tibet, means you have learned about the history of Tibet. Gangrenboqi is the main peak of the Gangdese Mountains Trans Tibet.

  Every year, pilgrims from India, Nepal, Bhutan and Mainland of China are flooded there. Circling around the mountain is the most common way used by pilgrims from different places. Pilgrimage to the mountain is a long-cherished wish in the life of a Buddhist or Hindu or Indian Jains. But after all I still have the chance to see the Gangrenboqi, the ideal kingdom of heaven for the prayers.

Lake Manasarovar is the most sacred lake for Tibetans

  Lake Manasarovar (玛旁雍措 Mapangyongcuo /mah-pung-yong-tswaw) is the highest freshwater lake in the world at an altitude of 4,588 m (15,052 ft). In Tibetan, "Manasarovar" means "the Immortal Lake of Jade". It is the most sacred lake for Tibetans, and pilgrims deem it a most blessed thing to circle around and bathe in the lake. Lake Manasarovar is the source of four great rivers in Asia, namely the Indus, the Sutlej, the Karnali and the Brahmaputra. The circumference of the lake is about 60 kilometers (37 miles), and it takes about 4 or 5 days to circle clockwise around the lake. More information about Lake Manasarovar in China tour.

 
  Lake Manasarovar is relatively round in shape with the circumference of 88 kilometres (55 mi). Its depth reaches a maximum depth of 90 m (300 ft)[citation needed] and its surface area is 320 square kilometres (120 sq mi). It is connected to nearby Lake Rakshastal by the natural Ganga Chhu channel. Manasarovar is near the source of the Sutlej River which is the easternmost large tributary of the Indus. Nearby are the sources of the Brahmaputra River, the Indus River, and the Karnali River (Ghaghara), an important tributary of the Ganges River.

  Every summer, pilgrims from Tibet, India and Nepal cluster to make circumambulation and bathe in the lake. After that, they will return home and bring some samples of the holy water to family and friends as precious gifts.

Prayer wheels in tibet

  The most common form of these objects are hand prayer wheels (Tibetan ma ni lag ´khor ) which consist in a metal cylinder and a handle which also serves as axis around which the cylinder can revolve, being set in motion by a small weight which is attached to it by a string or chain. The cylinder contains a paper roll on which Buddhist texts are printed. The persons who use these instruments believe that by setting the prayer wheel in motion praying is done automatically.

 
  The prayer wheel lineage was brought to Tibet by the renowned eight century Indian Buddhist teacher Padmasambhava, and later practiced by the great Indian tantric Buddhist masters Tilopa and Naropa. Naropa’s disciple Marpa later renewed the lineage in Tibet and passed it on to Tibet’s most well known yogi, Milarepa. Since that time the Prayer Wheel has been passed on through a continuous lineage of enlightened teachers, among these the great Kagyu master Karma Pagshi, whose important works are quoted by most subsequent writers on the subject.
In Tibet, Prayer Wheels have been made for many centuries in a wide range of sizes and styles - from hand-held and table-top wheels, all the way up to giant eight or twelve foot Prayer Wheels with diameters of five to six feet. Often built around Buddhist Stupas and Monasteries, there may be long rows of prayer wheels which people will spin as they walk clockwise around the building, reciting what is considered to be one of the most profound and beneficial mantras; More information about Tibet in China tour.

  Apart from hand prayer wheels there exist large size fixed prayer wheels which are often aligned around Buddhist shrines and are set in motion by pilgrims who circum-ambulate the building in a clockwise direction. Prayer wheels larger than human size are to be seen in separate rooms in lamaist temples and can also be set in motion by pilgrims. With the help of a small bell the number of revolutions can be counted. The cylinders of fixed prayer wheels are often inscribed with the formula “Om mani padme hum” (meaning “jewel in the lotus”) in ornamental Lantsa (Ranjana) letters. Prayer wheels (perhaps more appropriately called “prayer mills”) which are set in motion by wind or water power are also known.
  Tibetan prayer wheels are devices for spreading spiritual blessings and well being. Rolls of thin paper, imprinted with many, many copies of the mantra (prayer) Om Mani Padme Hum, printed in an ancient Indian script or in Tibetan script, are wound around an axle in a protective container, and spun around and around.