Spring in Tibet 2025: Spend Half a Day in Lhasa

Most travelers visiting Tibet take photos with the Potala Palace in the background, but few notice the Longwangtan Park behind it.

After seeing the Potala Palace, walk clockwise along the pilgrimage path for a while, and you will come to Longwangtan Park.

As soon as you enter the park, you will feel a strong sense of local life. In the middle of the park, there is a green lake where flocks of bar-headed geese and wild ducks play and linger, and fish densely frolic in the water.

In the lake is the Longwang Temple, and an exquisitely shaped arch bridge connects it to the land. Old people slowly circle the temple. Walking east along the main road, there are several sweet tea houses. Invite three or five friends to sit in the shade of the trees, eat a bowl of steaming Tibetan noodles, drink a pot of warm sweet tea, and chat about recent life and feelings...

Located in the western suburbs of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is the largest monastery of the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism and the largest monastery in the world.

Drepung Monastery, Ganden Monastery, and Sera Monastery are known as the three major monasteries of Lhasa. The entire monastery is large in scale, and the white buildings are densely arranged on the hillside, looking like a huge pile of rice from a distance, hence the name Drepung.

Drepung means "rice gathering" in Tibetan, symbolizing prosperity. Its full Tibetan name means "auspicious rice-accumulating victorious continent." It is the monastery with the highest status in the Gelug sect.

The Coqen Hall ("Coqen" means Great Scripture Hall) is the main building of Drepung Monastery. At the entrance of the hall, you can see the Buddha Display Platform and a portrait of Tsongkhapa.

As the highest St. Regis hotel in the world, the St. Regis Lhasa is a hotel worth visiting for its classic and timeless design. It is also the best luxury hotel in Lhasa with an excellent location. The entire building belongs to the modern Tibetan design. It opened in 2010, and its current condition can be said to be very good. There are many Tibetan elements in the lobby, and I personally feel that the lobby is more like a Tibetan museum. A row of viewing chairs is placed in the lobby, where you can overlook the Potala Palace. If the hotel were taller, the view would be even better!

Post by Fork in the Road | Apr 10, 2025