Lhasa River

The Lhasa River, called Jiqu in Tibetan, means "Happy River" and "Happy River", and is located in the south-central part of Tibet. It originates from Lobjula on the north side of the middle section of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, flows through Mezhugongka County, Dagze District, and finally passes through Lhasa City, and merges into the Yarlung Zangbo River in Qushui County of Lhasa City. The main stream of the Lhasa River is a huge "S" shape, stretching from northeast to southwest, with a total length of 568 kilometers and a basin area of 31,760 square kilometers. It is one of the five major tributaries of the Yarlung Zangbo River. The peaks on both sides of the Lhasa River are mostly between 3,600 and 5,500 meters, making it one of the highest rivers in the world.
The climate here is mild, the terrain is flat, the soil is thick, the water resources are abundant, the soil is good, and the basin is rich in plateau flora and fauna and geothermal resources. It is one of the main grain producing areas in Tibet.

Attractions Location: Chengguan District, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region

Tickets: free

Opening hours:
All day (Monday to Sunday, January 1st to December 31st)

Time reference: 1-3 hours


Recommended itinerary for Lhasa River tours

1-Day Itinerary: Lhasa River Scenic Walk and City Highlights

This itinerary focuses on exploring the scenic Lhasa River area combined with a visit to key sites in Lhasa city, ideal for a relaxed single-day trip.

  • Morning: Start from your hotel in Lhasa city and head to the Lhasa River riverside park by taxi or walking (distance depends on your location, usually within 10-20 minutes).
  • Enjoy a peaceful riverside walk, bird watching, and photography for 1-2 hours.
  • Afternoon: Visit the nearby Norbulingka Palace, reachable by taxi (about 10 minutes from the river).
  • Evening: Return to Lhasa city center, explore Barkhor Street for local culture and shopping.

Accommodation/Food: Stay in central Lhasa hotels or guesthouses. Try local Tibetan dishes like momos, thukpa, and butter tea at nearby restaurants.

Souvenirs: Handmade prayer beads, Tibetan jewelry, traditional scarves, and local handicrafts sold near Norbulingka and Barkhor Street.


2-Day Itinerary: Lhasa River and Potala Palace Area

Enjoy a blend of natural scenery along Lhasa River and iconic historical sites for a more immersive experience.

  • Day 1: Morning riverside walk along Lhasa River; afternoon visit to Norbulingka Palace.
  • Day 2: Visit Potala Palace (about 15 minutes by taxi from river area), then stroll Barkhor Street and Jokhang Temple nearby.

Accommodation/Food: Comfortable stays in Lhasa city with restaurants serving Tibetan specialties and Chinese cuisine.

Souvenirs: Thangka paintings, prayer flags, yak wool scarves, and traditional Tibetan musical instruments.


3-Day Itinerary: Lhasa River, City Highlights & Surrounding Nature

This itinerary balances river scenery, Lhasa’s cultural landmarks, and a short excursion to nearby natural attractions.

  • Day 1: Lhasa River scenic walk and Norbulingka Palace visit.
  • Day 2: Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, and Jokhang Temple exploration.
  • Day 3: Day trip to Drepung Monastery (~8 km from Lhasa, 20 minutes by taxi) and Sera Monastery (~5 km, 15 minutes by taxi).

Accommodation/Food: Central Lhasa hotels and guesthouses; enjoy Tibetan yogurt, yak meat dishes, and local barley beer.

Souvenirs: Local tea leaves, prayer wheels, handmade wool items, and Tibetan incense.


4-Day Itinerary: Lhasa River and Greater Lhasa Cultural Tour

Delve deeper into Lhasa’s spiritual and cultural heritage with extended time at key monasteries and natural sites.

  • Day 1: Lhasa River walk and Norbulingka Palace.
  • Day 2: Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple.
  • Day 3: Drepung and Sera Monasteries visit.
  • Day 4: Visit Ramoche Temple and take a short drive to Lhasa River’s upstream scenic areas (~30 min drive).

Accommodation/Food: Stay in mid-range to luxury hotels in Lhasa. Try local specialties such as Tibetan butter tea and roasted barley cakes.

Souvenirs: Tibetan masks, jewelry, handwoven textiles, and traditional music instruments.


5-Day Itinerary: Lhasa River and Extended Tibetan Cultural Exploration

This itinerary offers a rich cultural journey including Lhasa River, city landmarks, surrounding monasteries, and traditional villages nearby.

  • Days 1–2: Lhasa River, Norbulingka, Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple.
  • Day 3: Drepung and Sera Monasteries.
  • Day 4: Visit Ramoche Temple and Tibetan village near Lhasa (~1 hour drive).
  • Day 5: Leisure day with visits to local markets and craft workshops in Lhasa.

Accommodation/Food: Mix of city hotels and homestays. Enjoy yak hotpot, tsampa, and Tibetan butter tea.

Souvenirs: Tibetan jewelry, prayer wheels, traditional thangka paintings, and local herbal products.


6-Day Itinerary: Lhasa River and Comprehensive Lhasa Region Tour

This itinerary provides ample time to appreciate Lhasa River’s beauty, major monasteries, cultural sites, and nearby natural wonders.

  • Days 1–2: Lhasa River, Norbulingka, Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple.
  • Day 3: Drepung and Sera Monasteries.
  • Day 4: Ramoche Temple and Lhasa River upstream exploration.
  • Day 5: Day trip to Yamdrok Lake (~2 hours drive from Lhasa).
  • Day 6: Tibetan village visit and craft market exploration.

Accommodation/Food: Comfortable city hotels and countryside guesthouses. Sample local Tibetan dishes and traditional snacks.

Souvenirs: Prayer beads, handmade woolen scarves, carved yak bone products, and traditional musical instruments.


7-Day Itinerary: Ultimate Lhasa River and Tibetan Cultural Immersion

Immerse fully in the culture, history, and nature surrounding Lhasa River and greater Lhasa region with a blend of sightseeing and cultural experiences.

  • Day 1: Riverside walk and Norbulingka Palace.
  • Day 2: Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple.
  • Day 3: Drepung and Sera Monasteries.
  • Day 4: Ramoche Temple and local market visits.
  • Day 5: Lhasa River upstream scenic spots and bird watching.
  • Day 6: Day trip to Yamdrok Lake.
  • Day 7: Visit Tibetan villages and attend a traditional tea ceremony.

Accommodation/Food: Hotels in Lhasa, plus village homestays. Enjoy authentic Tibetan cuisine including yak butter tea, tsampa, and barley wine.

Souvenirs: Thangkas, prayer flags, traditional Tibetan musical instruments, yak wool textiles, and handcrafted jewelry.


User Reviews

By Green lotus leaf kong |

National Highway 318 crosses the Mila Pass and enters the Lhasa River Basin.



The Lhasa River, also known as the "Jiqu", means the Happy River, and is the mother river of Lhasa. Under the sun, the river water is a jewel-like blue, the water surface is calm, and the trees on the riverbank are golden.



From the Niyang River to the Lhasa River, National Highway 318 basically runs parallel to the main stream of the Yarlung Zangbo River. After driving for about 7 hours, we arrived in Lhasa smoothly.

By Caterpillar & Acne Dragon |

Passing by large rapeseed fields, yellow and green intertwined, full of the breath of life. If there is a song at this time, it must be the cleanest and brightest tune, floating down from the blue sky and white clouds.

By hyacinth! |

You can see the Lhasa River before landing at Lhasa Gonggar Airport.

By OUT |

Beautiful. I like this kind of scenery. . . . . . . . . . . . .

By I'm not an editor |

Looking back, I miscalculated that I wanted to see the scenery from Sichuan to Tibet from a bird's eye view on the plane, but the flight was too early, and we arrived in Lhasa after 8:30, when the sky was not yet fully bright. It turns out that although Tibet is adjacent to Sichuan, the sunrise time is basically half an hour to 40 minutes later than Chengdu. The airport in Lhasa is very small, just like the passenger station of some second-tier cities in China. From here to the urban area of Lhasa, you can see bare mountains and the Lhasa River in between.

By Who drank my pure milk? |

Going out from the back door of Xianzu Island Community is the Lhasa River. I just want to say that the water flow is really fast. Across the river is the airport highway exit and the Liuwu Tunnel.

By Ling Han |

The Lhasa River was so beautiful that I couldn't help but stop every three steps and look back every five steps. I launched the drone several times to freeze this beautiful moment. In fact, it was not just me. Many people also parked their cars and set up electromagnetic guns to take pictures.

The Lhasa River Basin is an important granary in the front Tibet. There are many farmlands along the way. In addition to barley, there are also wheat and potatoes. Tibetan compatriots are also keeping up with the times.

By AleX Politics |

If you have time to wander around in Lhasa, this is one of the options. It is far away from the city and very quiet.

By Anna |

As a river so close to the city, the Lhasa River is really wide. I only saw half of the river on the Xianzu Island side, and there is an even wider part on the other side.

The Lhasa River is also very beautiful, the water is clear and sparkling.

By Footprints of the Great Forest |

The Lhasa River is far from the city. I walked there and almost died.

By Playmates |

The scenery changes with the seasons, but unfortunately the water surface is not wide enough during the dry season in winter!

By ohh-yeah |

I went to the Lhasa River in the afternoon, just in time for the Lhasa Bathing Festival. The water in the Lhasa River in September was very cold, but it did not stop everyone's enthusiasm. Men, women, and children bathed in the river, praying for good health.

By Blue Enchantress |

In the beautiful Tibet, the scenery is on the road. It can be said that the scenery along the Lhasa River is not inferior to any scenic spot!

By Small Tianzhen:P |

I walked around the Lhasa River to find a good place for sketching. I picked up stones on the river bank. It was too sunny, so I ran to the river bank to sit with an uncle selling fruit and ate dates. I said I was sketching, but I ended up eating dates for a long time. I felt that it was good to just sit by the Lhasa River, not thinking about anything, just looking at the river flowing, it was good.

By yemingqi |

This is a river in the sky. There is such a wide river at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters. How can it not excite you?

By Lips up |

Turning around, this life and the next life is fate, disaster, love and difficulty!

By Maruko |

When we arrived at the Lhasa River, although it was almost evening, there was a two-hour time difference between Lhasa and the mainland, so it was dark at about 9 pm. At this time, the sun was still strong, and the clouds were warm, reflecting the Lhasa River. It was so beautiful. We lived up to ourselves and the beautiful scenery in the limited time.

By Silly Little |

I had no intention of going to the Lhasa River, but I accidentally visited it while strolling in Lhasa. The scenery was very beautiful. My friend and I walked further and further along the Lhasa River, but we were chased by Tibetan dogs in the wilderness and were scared half to death.

By Xiaoju |

The train will pass by the Lhasa River before arriving at Lhasa Station, and there are beautiful scenery all the way!

By Flowing Fire |

The Lhasa River along the way is graceful and beautiful, with a large flow of water and many water birds living there. The open area looks like a lake.

By The two behind |

The Lhasa River, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is on the south bank, and there are some inns and restaurants on the north bank. You can ride a shared bicycle in the city to get there, which takes about half an hour.

By sukey |

The water of Lhasa River is similar to that of Niyang River, but its surface is wider and quieter.

Legend has it that the fish in the Lhasa River is called Lhasa fish, which is very fragrant and delicious. I didn't eat it, which is a pity. I hope that if anyone has eaten Lhasa fish, please tell me whether it tastes good or not, hehe~~

By Andy |

The Lhasa River is a good place to watch the sunrise. It is said that the best view is on the Xianzu Island. Of course, you can also see the wider waters of the Lhasa River in other places, and you can see the snow-capped mountains in the distance, which is still very nice.

By Jenny |

The vast expanse, coupled with the blue sky and white clouds, looks like a postcard poster. The Lhasa River, called Jiqu in Tibetan, means "Happy River" and "Happy River", and is located in the central and southern part of Tibet. It originates from Lob Rula on the north side of the middle section of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, flows through Medog County and Dagze County, and finally passes through Lhasa City, and merges into the Yarlung Zangbo River in the southern suburbs of Lhasa City.

By Peach blossoms in full bloom |

The section I went to was very quiet, but also very beautiful.

By Fan Ye |

It was already past 10 am when we got the border pass in Lhasa and we finally set off. Not long after leaving the city, we arrived at the first viewing stop - the Lhasa River (Yarlung Zangbo River) viewing platform. At first, everyone thought the scenery was beautiful, but as time went by, we gradually became aesthetically fatigued.

By yolanda |

For the people of Lhasa, the Lhasa River is the mother river that has nurtured them generation after generation. It can be seen in many places. On the way to Yamdrok Lake, there is a long drive along the Lhasa River, and the scenery along the river is very beautiful.

By Traveling Painter M |

Camping by the Lhasa River. I think it is a rare experience. That night was the 16th day after the 15th day of the eighth month. The moon was very bright and round. The temperature was a little cold. We danced around the campfire again and again, full of enthusiasm. Later in the evening, water droplets began to condense outside the tent, so we quickly went into the tent to sleep.

By 67_L |

Opposite to where I work, just walk down from the Qinghai-Tibet Highway Monument. The environment is beautiful, with blue sky, white clouds and clear water, but the sun is too strong. I was so tanned when I went for a walk after get off work in the afternoon.

By A Yue is wandering around in slippers |

It has been almost a year. Youtiao’s favorite thing is to swim in the Lhasa River. Every time we go out, he takes me with him. He is very smart and greedy. I miss him. I think there should be a river in heaven where we can swim.

By Let it go, Yaya |

Lhasa River, many local people will gather by the Lhasa River, it feels like our spring outing, picnic

By Qinling 007 |

Leaving Lhasa and heading towards Gyangze, the scenery of the Lhasa River is quite beautiful, and you can park on the roadside.

By den るぎれん |

Before entering Lhasa, we walked along the Lhasa River, but the experience of passing through it in the midst of lightning was quite memorable.

By No 2 |

The Lhasa River, called Jiqu in Tibetan, means "Happy River" and "Happy River", and is located in the south-central part of Tibet. It originates from Lob Rula on the north side of the middle section of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, flows through Medog County and Dagze County, and finally passes through Lhasa City, and merges into the Yarlung Zangbo River in the southern suburbs of Lhasa City.

By Free traveler |

The Lhasa River is the mother river of Lhasa. It is a great place to take a walk, have a picnic or camp.

By Blue sky |

The Lhasa River, called Jiqu in Tibetan, means "Happy River" and "River of Happiness", and is located in the south-central part of Tibet. It originates from Lob Rula on the north side of the middle section of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, flows through Medog County and Dagze County, and finally passes through Lhasa City, and merges into the Yarlung Zangbo River in the southern suburbs of Lhasa City.

The Lhasa River under the beautiful blue sky is indeed very beautiful. Unfortunately, I can only take a photo from the car and cannot get closer to you.

By My name is really Li Qing |

I went to Lhasa River just by chance while riding Mobike

Next to it is a small park-like place

If passing by is accidental, then falling in love with this place is inevitable.

A slow-paced city, sit by the river

In the place closest to the sky

Tell a story to the white clouds and the sky

Prosperity, pressure, everything has nothing to do with me

Stay out of it.

It seems as if everything is a story of the next life.

By cat on keyboard |

The Lhasa River is quite ordinary. Across from it is the performance site of Princess Wencheng. You will pass by the Lhasa River when you come to watch the performance.

By mustard |

Relying on the vague memories I had, I took the dogs through the streets and alleys of the ancient city and went to play by the Lhasa River.

The dogs are very happy by the Lhasa River. It’s obvious that nature makes them feel more comfortable.

The scenery along the Lhasa River is very beautiful. I had no idea at the time that I would see such scenery every morning and evening for the next half month.

By China-TravelNote users |

I arrived in Lhasa on New Year’s Eve in 2015 and saw the Lhasa River from afar on the train.

By Idle Clouds and Wild Cranes 2010 |

The Lhasa River in the morning light has pure air, a quiet atmosphere and beautiful scenery.

By DrZou |

The scenery couldn't be better, and visiting Lhasa is still a good choice.

By Flying in the wind |

The first time I saw it, it was quite stunning. The best way to describe it is: red mountains stand tall, and clear water flows in the middle. It originates from the Nyainqentanglha Mountains. Because the terrain is high in the east and low in the west, it flows from east to west. Because the mountains are mostly molten rock, the water contains a lot of calcium and is emerald green. Finally, it flows into the Yarlung Zangbo River in the south.

By Light and shadow distance |

The mirror-like water surface, the reflection of the blue sky and white clouds...what a charming picture!

By Yueba Yueban |

【Lhasa River】

Since we stayed at the Lhasa Intercontinental Hotel, the Lhasa River was right behind us and we could walk there.

If you go there specifically, there are buses from the city center, which is not too far, about half an hour's drive.

Although it is not a stunningly beautiful scenery, it is a great place to relax and unwind.



It seemed very close from the Intercontinental, so I wanted to take a shortcut. But it turned out that I could only follow the main road on the map to the river.

In November, I still felt hot even when I walked outside wearing a thin down jacket.

The sunshine in Sunshine City is definitely not exaggerated.



There are Tibetan grandmas circumambulating the river, Tibetan uncles herding yaks, and ordinary residents drinking sweet tea together.

There were six or seven of us in total, and two yaks.

The weather is dry in autumn and winter, the river beach area becomes noticeably larger, and the stones are washed smooth.



Even in the city, the ecology along the Lhasa River is excellent.

There were waves of water birds, and some beautiful little birds of unknown names.

There is a feeling of inexplicable good luck.



The uncle who released the yaks disappeared in a flash. On the way back, the two yaks seemed to be very interested in us.

I was so timid that I walked away with my head down. Now that I think about it, I feel so childish.

I couldn't walk anymore on the way back so I called a taxi. I waited for 15 minutes and then I stepped on the accelerator and arrived back at the Intercontinental in less than 2 minutes.

By Potato Li |

Since it is called Lhasa River, it is often a must-pass place. We must pass by it when we come out of the inn. The water is very clear and the sky is very blue. You don’t need to look for it, but you will discover its beauty at some moment when you are not paying attention. You can basically see it in Lhasa.

By style |

The Lhasa River, called Jiqu in Tibetan, means "Happy River" and "Happy River", and is located in the south-central part of Tibet. It originates from Lob Rula on the north side of the middle section of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, flows through Medog County and Dagze County, and finally passes through Lhasa City, and merges into the Yarlung Zangbo River in the southern suburbs of Lhasa City.

By No such person found salt |

Fortunately, the homestay we stayed in was near the Lhasa River. We could see the surging Lhasa River from the window. When the sun was about to set, the wind was very strong by the river and we could not sit for a long time because we had a severe headache.

By Clear blue sea |

I walked to the Lhasa River without a destination, but I discovered its unexpected beauty. The river water was emerald green and vast, and the scenery was particularly beautiful.

By A pair of small scissors |

Originated from the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, it is called Jiqu in Tibetan, which means the River of Happiness. The water is beautiful and clear, and the fish in it tastes good.

By 1128 Farther than the sky |

The mother river of Lhasa is quite clear. I searched for a long time but couldn't find the gap to go down.

By Time is like water |

The Lhasa River has a very nice Tibetan name, "Jiqu", which means "joy, happiness". The Lhasa River is winding, and the scenery along the way makes us reluctant to take our eyes off it. Sometimes it is the wide river surface, sometimes it is a series of mountains as the background, and sometimes it is a field of lush green barley as the foreground.

By Candy |

Brother Fei said that the Lhasa River is a must-visit place when coming to Lhasa. It is beautiful, but there is nothing special about it. There are only a few wild ducks and mandarin ducks on the river.

By Stephanie02_15 |

I saw the clear Lhasa River on the way to Lhasa and Namtso by train. It was beautiful.

By Ke Haitian |

In September, the Lhasa River has entered autumn. The trees along the river have begun to change color, alternating between red, yellow and green, adding a strong color to the originally monotonous green. Birds fly over the river, occasionally running parallel to our car, as if they want to have a 100-meter race with us. Although the car is fast, it is still no match for the flying wings in the air. They flap their wings a few times and easily overtake us, leaving behind only a string of mocking chirps. The Lhasa River is wide, with shallow water on the shore. Many Tibetans bathe in the river. The water temperature is already very low at this time, but it still cannot prevent the people here from embracing the world. The harsh environment has trained them to have a strong body, which is a wealth that is difficult to obtain in the city.

By Prince of San Siro |

The Lhasa River has beautiful scenery and is a wetland. If we had come ten days later, all the leaves in the river would have turned yellow.

By Holly Natural |

Lhasa River is also a place where locals go. I saw many couples who came here to talk about love.

By peach |

The Lhasa River is a winding river surrounding Lhasa. The water is clear and reflects the blue sky, which is a beautiful sight!

By Mumu |

The river is clear and transparent, flowing quietly, broad and magnificent, making people fascinated

By Yaotiao Book Travel_ |

Lhasa River, no tickets are required, just wander around and it’s beautiful~

By Damei Xuanzi |

I really don't think there's anything interesting about the Lhasa River. I used all my strength to walk around the river. I was almost crawling along the way, but Lao Zhou was still striding forward. It was impossible not to admit defeat.

By Fate Follows the Wind |

On the way from Lhasa to Shigatse, a long section of the road is along the Lhasa River. The Lhasa River, called Jiqu in Tibetan, originates from the southern foot of Nyainqentanglha Mountain, flows southwest through Lhasa City, and then merges into the Yarlung Zangbo River in Qushui County. The lower reaches of the river valley are relatively open and are the main farming areas in Tibet. The Lhasa River is the mother river of Lhasa City;

By Wind calm |

On the way to Yanghu Lake, the driver stopped to pick up his son, and we got off the car to rest and unexpectedly enjoyed the beautiful scenery. It couldn't be more beautiful.

By Always give a nickname |

Let’s take a look at the Mother River that runs through Lhasa. On the other side of the river, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is under construction.

By Cen Cen |

Mila Pass is the boundary between Nyingchi and Lhasa. It originates from two rivers. The Lhasa River flows to Lhasa, and the Niyang River flows to Nyingchi. The Lhasa River runs through the entire Lhasa city and finally merges into the Yarlung Zangbo River.

By Dugu Xiaoxiaopei |

It is just an ordinary river, but it may be more mysterious because some Tibetans choose water burial.

By Super Butt Man |

The mother river of the Tibetan people can be seen when you are almost to Lhasa on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.

By Jason |

The Lhasa River is the mother river of Lhasa and gave birth to the people of Lhasa.

By Egret |

Lhasa is the mother river, the water is very clean to drink, many Zangming people will go to the Lhasa River to pray, and now the night view of the Lhasa River is also very beautiful.

By Lightgreen |

I had the most leisurely and wonderful time in Lhasa. I rented a bicycle and rode along the Lhasa River every day. I was aimless and not afraid of getting lost. I just rode along the riverbed. The Lhasa River is a backward flowing river and is also the mother river of Lhasa. Magical Lhasa, beautiful Lhasa

By Wu Xuying |

I took bus No. 8 to Tibet University and then walked all the way there. It's not far and you can see the scenery along the way. I saw many people taking pictures of the natural scenery, which are very beautiful. My skills are too poor so I won't show them. In autumn, there are many reeds and various small flowers growing by the Lhasa River, which is suitable for lighting photography. It feels great to travel to Lhasa alone!

By She Yanqi. |

The sunset is really beautiful, and the surrounding environment is also nice.

By Martian User |

This is a river that makes me feel very sad. When I went there, I met an old local Lhasa and listened to him talk about the development of Lhasa for half an hour. The water of the Lhasa River used to be as clear as glass, and there were wild yaks all over the mountains on the opposite side. Now, the water is very turbid, and there are no cows on the opposite side.

By Li Ge |

It is called "Jiqu" in Tibetan. The Lhasa River originates from the Kongma Valley of Pengcuola in Jiali County, at the southern foot of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains. It is adjacent to the Nujiang River Basin in the north and northeast, the Parlung Zangbo River and the Niyang River in the east, the main stream of the Yarlung Zangbo River in the south, and the inland water system of northern Tibet in the west and northwest.