Lhasa is famous for being one of the highest cities in the world, a towering 3,760 meters above the banks of the Lhasa River, what really knocks you out here is the full scale impact on your senses of the breathtaking beauty, unique landscape and the holy atmosphere of this religious center. In Tibetan, Lhasa means "The land of the Gods", or "Holy Place". It was founded in 633 A.D. under the leadership of King Songtsan Gampo.

Major landmarks: Potala Palace, Jokhong Monastery, Sera Monastery, Drepung Temple, Norbulinka Palace. Lhasa's original look and old lifestyle are largely intact at Barhkor Street in the old part of Lhasa, where all sorts of arts and crafts are on sale. Lhasa is linked with Beijing, Chonqing, Chengdu, Xi'an and Kathmandu by airlines. The Xining Lhasa and Chengdu-Lhasa highways also provide major accesses to Lhasa.