 As in the rest of China, Renminbi (RMB) is the legal currency in Tibet. Only the Bank of China offers foreign exchange services and facilities in Tibet and certain up market hotels (Lhasa Hotel, the former Holiday Inn, and Tibet Hotel). The Bank of China has a main office (0891-6835078) and several sub-branches in Lhasa, which all cash travelers' checks while only the main office offers cash advances on major credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and Amex). Its main office is located on Lingkhor Bei Lu 28, north of the Yak Statue and its hours of operation are 9:30 am -1pm and 3:30 - 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. Another convenient sub-branch lies on Beijing Dong Lu, between the Kirey Hotel and the Banak Shol Hotel. Its hours of operation are 9:30am-6:00pm, Monday to Friday, and 11am-3pm, Saturday and Sunday. The Bank of China Shigatse office, near the Shigatse Hotel, can provide travelers' checks exchange services also. Cash advances on credit cards are not available here. Zhangmu has two sub-branches also. Due to a lack of conversion outlets, visitors may have to change their extra RMB on the black market before their exit
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The best season for touring in Tibet is from April to early November. But various routes have their own golden times:
Lhasa, Tsedang, and Shigatse: As the weather and tourism facilities in these places are quite good, so you can visit them in anytime for enjoying the breathtaking scenery!
Lhasa---the border of Nepal/China: This area is not available for tourists from Dec-Jan because of the sowed land; every August, the rain season, landslide will be occurred!
Mt. Everest area: it is too cold to the tourists visiting this area from Oct to April! But the beauty of the roof of the world will move you in anytime!
Ali (Mt.Kailishi): You can enjoy the wonder in this area at the time of every May, June, July, Sep, Oct without the trouble of the landslide by the big rain & snow.
East Tibet: Don't touch this area in winter and in Jul, Aug, as there will be a terrible landslide in summer and frozen load in winter!
North Tibet: Since it is too high with the average altitude at 4,500M, you only can appreciate her beauty in summer!
Access Tibet by air
For typical tourists, the best way to get there is to take a plane. There are flights to Lhasa from Beijing, Chengdu(daily departure!), Chongqing, Xining, Chamdo, Xi'an
Roads In Tibet
The only legal routes into Tibet are:
1. Via Chungdu where you can buy an air ticket for 3000Yuan ($375) This allows you to travel around Lhasa.
2. Via the Golmud to Lhasa highway. From this remote town on the borders of Qinghai and XinJiang there is a 35 hour bus route to Lhasa. Although there are stories of successful attempts without paying the permit fee 1750 Yuan most people have to pay.
3. Nepal border. The days of crossing from Nepal to Tibet with no restrictions are gone. Although it is possible to cross into Zhangmu (the border town ) from there you will need a permit to travel to Lhasa which you can only obtain by organising a tour which will include a truck and a guide. This will set you back about 1000yuan. If coming on a bike all these entail putting your bike on the roof or cargo hold of thr transport you'll be forced to take and riding out from Lhasa mot to it.
Local Transport--In Tibet
Local Transport--in Tibet includes: Bus,Pedicab, Autorickshaw,Tractor and Taxi .
The railways of Tibet
Qinghai-Tibet Railway The 1,956-km Qinghai-Tibet railway line, which will run from Xining, capital of northwest Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, Tibetan capital, will give a big impetus to the development of tourism in Tibet.
Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permit Tibet Tourism Bureau (TTB) Permits are necessary for entry to Lhasa or any other part of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, and are obtained through tour operators as part of arrangements for travel; A T.T.B. permit does not obviate the need for an Aliens' Travel Permit for any closed areas that may be visited. But you can get them easily from Lhasa office.
Aliens' Travel Permits (PSB's) These are required to visit closed areas - much of the Tibetan Autonomous Region outside the Lhasa prefecture-level district, and scattered counties elsewhere. They are usually only obtainable through tour operators, for tours by four-wheel-drive car.
Permits to visit places that are not declared open are known as Aliens' Travel Permits, or PSB's. They are issued by the police (Public Security Bureau, "PSB"). A single permit is normally issued to all the people who are traveling together, the permit naming just one of them and stating how many others are accompanying him; the passports, or at least photocopies of passports and visas, of all persons traveling must be presented in order to obtain a permit.
If you want to do an overland tour from Yunnan, Sichuan, Qinghai or Xinjiang province to Tibet, you must got the PSB permit before your tour starts.
Firstly, please be noted that Chinese visa and Tibet permit is two things totally different.
To enter Tibet, or any part of China excepting Hong Kong and Macao (Visitors to Hong Kong, holding passports from the some countries DO NOT need a visa when staying for a specified free period), a Chinese visa is necessary. It may be best to obtain it before leaving your home country unless you are taking a package tour to enter Tibet overland from Nepal.
The first rule when applying for a visa as an independent traveler is to expect that you will be refused a visa if you mention plans to visit Tibet. There is a trick that when you apply for the Chinese visa, you can't tell the officer that you have the plan for traveling to Tibet; you can only inform them you want to travel to somewhere else of China. Or else the application would become complicated and arduous.
Besides the advantage of safety, travellers cheques are useful to carry in China because the exchange rate is actually more favourable than what you get for cash. Cheques from most of the world's leading banks and issuing agencies are now acceptable in China - stick to the major companies such as Thomas Cook, American Express and Citibank and you'll be OK. However it is only acceptable in the bank instead of shopping centers.
| IDD code of China |
0086 |
| Police |
110 |
| Fire Alarm |
119 |
| Code for Lhasa |
0891 |
| Weather forcast |
121 |
| Time |
117 |
| First - Aid Center |
120 |
| Local phone directory |
114 |
| Long - distance call inquiry |
113 |
| Chengguan District Taxi Co. |
6323762 |
| Civil Aviation Ticket Office |
6322417 |
| The region's Foreign Affairs Office |
6324992 |
| Emergency Department of the region's Second Hospital |
6322115 |
| Emergency Department of the region's People's Hospital |
63222000 |
| Foreign Affair Office of the Region's Public Security Bureau |
6324528 |
The most important crop in Tibet is barley, and dough made from barley flour called tsampa, is the staple food of Tibet. Tibetan people eat Tsampa at every meal, and when traveling, it is brought along as a ready made meal. This is either rolled into noodles or made into steamed dumplings called momos. Meat dishes are likely to be yak, goat, or mutton, often dried, or cooked into a spicy stew with potatoes. Mustard seed is cultivated in Tibet, and therefore features heavily in its cuisine. Yak yoghurt, butter and cheese are frequently eaten, and well-prepared yoghurt is considered something of a prestige item. Butter tea is very popular to drink and many Tibetans drink up to 100 cups a day. Tibetan barley beer, called Chang is popular among all Tibetans. The beer is mild, slightly sweet and sour and contains little alcohol. The beverage is worth trying. Soft drinks and beer are also available in Lhasa.
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