Lhasa is a unique tourist destination. It is the amazing capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and the political, economic, cultural, transport and tourist centre of the Region. Located at an altitude of 3,650 meters above sea level, Lhasa is the highest city in the world, also the least polluted one.
Founded in 633AD under the leadership of King Songtsan Gampo, the city itself has become the “Mecca” of Tibet. Pilgrims crowd the year round. Many of them even knock head, stretching their whole body down to the ground every 3 to 4 steps of walking from far away to Lhasa. It is always full of myth of religion.
As a jewel in the Himalayas and one of several thorns in the side of China's rulers, Lhasa, whose name literally means "Holy Land", is massive, exotic, and culturally under siege. Tibet's landscape makes you weak in the knees. In the shadow of Everest, the Tibetan people have developed a gentle, mysterious culture, and visitors find a country lined with stupas and adorned with fluttering prayer flags. The influence of Tibetan Buddhism can be seen everywhere, from old Tibetans spinning prayer wheels to 1300 year-old Lhasa and its otherworldly Potala Palace, home to Dalai Lamas past.
Lhasa enjoys beautiful weather throughout all seasons. With 3,000 hours of sunshine annually, it gets a popular name “The Sunshine City”. The temperatures vary greatly between night and day, but remain fairly uniform during the year. The best time to visit Lhasa is from March to October.