Located in the heart of Lhasa, Men-Tsee-Khang stands as the most important milestone in the modernization of traditional Tibetan medicine. More than a medical institution, it represents the moment when Tibetan healing knowledge moved from monastic transmission into a structured system of education, research, and public healthcare. Established in the early 20th century, Men-Tsee-Khang laid...Read More
Early Tibetan Kings and Dynasties Series Nyatri Tsenpo (Tibetan: གཉའ་ཁྲི་བཙན་པོ།) is recorded in Tibetan tradition as the first Tsenpo (king) in Tibetan history. He stands at the head of the legendary “Seven Heavenly Kings” and is recognized as the founder of the Yarlung (Tubo) royal lineage, making him a central figure in the origins of...Read More
The Damshung Horse Racing Festival, also known as the Dam Kyireng Horse Racing Festival, is one of the most important traditional festivals on the northern Tibetan grasslands. Recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China (Second Batch), the festival carries deep historical, cultural, and social meaning rooted in Tibetan nomadic life. Held on the...Read More
Yangbajing Geothermal Field is one of the most remarkable natural wonders on the Tibetan Plateau. Located about 90 kilometers northwest of Lhasa, at the southern foothills of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, it is also one of the most accessible geothermal sites in Tibet. The field lies close to both the Qinghai–Tibet Highway and the Qinghai–Tibet...Read More
The Qinghai–Tibet Railway, often praised as the legendary “Sky Railway”, is the world’s highest-altitude, longest, and longest-permafrost-crossing plateau railway. As one of China’s four major national projects of the new century, it completely broke Tibet’s long-standing transportation bottleneck and profoundly reshaped the development of Qinghai and Tibet. More than just a railway, the Qinghai–Tibet Railway...Read More
Damxung Airport: Where Tibet’s Aviation History Began Damxung Airport holds a truly irreplaceable place in Tibetan history. As the first airport ever built in Tibet, it marked the dawn of aviation on the “Roof of the World” and opened a bold new chapter in global high-altitude flight history. Located in Damxung County, north of Lhasa,...Read More
Flowing from the sacred slopes of Mount Kailash and nourishing the heart of Ngari, Shiquan River—known in Tibetan as Sengge Zangbo— is both a life-giving river and the spiritual backbone of western Tibet. Along its banks rises Shiquanhe Town, the highest regional hub on the Tibetan Plateau and a vital stop for travelers venturing into...Read More
A Vast Protected Landscape of Yanjing nature Reserve The Yanjing Nature Reserve is one of Mangkang County’s most important ecological treasures. Covering an area of approximately 1,853 square kilometers, the reserve has a forest coverage rate of nearly 47.9 percent. Its terrain ranges dramatically, from river valleys at 2,300 to 3,000 meters to the towering...Read More
Mangsong Mangtsen: Steering the Tibetan Empire Through Transition and Expansion Mangsong Mangtsen, the 34th Tsenpo of the Tibetan Empire, ruled from 650 to 676 AD, a period marked by political transition, territorial expansion, and complex relations with the Tang Dynasty. As the grandson of the legendary Songtsen Gampo, Mangsong Mangtsen inherited a rapidly growing empire...Read More
Narthang Monastery (Tibetan: སྣར་ཐང་གཙུག་ལག་ཁང་), widely known as the Narthang Printing Monastery, is one of the most historically significant monasteries in Tibet. Located in Narthang Village, Qumei Township, Samzhubzê District of Shigatse, the monastery lies close to the China–Nepal Highway, making it easily accessible for pilgrims and travelers exploring central Tibet. Recognized as a protected cultural...Read More
Cowhide boats, known in Tibetan as “Guowa”, are among the oldest and most distinctive watercraft on the Tibetan Plateau. Often called cowhide rafts, their history can be traced back to the Tubo period, with early images preserved in the murals of Potala Palace and Samye Monastery. These boats are not only practical tools for river...Read More
Shalu Monastery is one of the most important and historically rich monasteries in Tibet. Known for its unique architectural style, profound scholarly legacy, and deep connection to the development of Tibetan Buddhist learning, Shalu Monastery stands as a key cultural and religious landmark in the Shigatse region. Geographical Location of Shalu Monastery Shalu Monastery is...Read More
Atiśa Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna, respectfully known in Tibet as Jowo Jé, meaning “Precious Lord,” is one of the most influential figures in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. Born in 982 CE in Vikrampura, Bengal (present-day Bangladesh), Atiśa emerged from a royal family yet chose a life devoted entirely to the Dharma. Living during a critical period...Read More
Introduction to Junba Fishing Village Junba Fishing Village, often called “Tibet’s Fishing Village”, is one of the most culturally unique settlements in Tibet. Located in Chabalong Village, Qushui Town, it sits on the northern bank of the confluence of the Lhasa River and the Yarlung Tsangpo River, about 45 kilometers southwest of Lhasa at an...Read More
Lhasa River Segment Scenic Belt in Qushui County The Lhasa River Segment Scenic Belt in Qushui County marks the final stretch where the Lhasa River gently flows into the mighty Yarlung Tsangpo River. This meeting point creates a striking natural landscape that blends rivers, wetlands, and mountain backdrops, making it one of the most peaceful...Read More
The Qushui Bridge, located in Qushui Town, stands as a major historical and cultural landmark along the mighty Yarlung Tsangpo River. More than just a modern transportation structure, it represents a turning point in Tibet’s travel history—transforming an ancient ferry crossing into the first large-scale road bridge spanning this legendary river. Completed and opened to...Read More
Junba Fishing Village is also known for its distinctive and open marriage customs. Unlike many traditional societies, marriages here are based entirely on mutual choice, without parental or family interference. Young people often meet during festivals or social gatherings and decide their future together. #image_title Once a couple agrees to marry, elders from both families...Read More
Lhari Tse’nga, meaning “The Five Sacred Peaks” in Tibetan, is one of the most revered sacred mountains in Qüxü County, located on the southern bank of the Lhasa River in central Tibet. Rising gently from the fertile Yarlung Zangbo River Valley, Lhari Tse’nga is not a single summit but a continuous group of five spiritually...Read More
Hidden within the dramatic landscape of Qushui County, the Nyethang Dzepo Rock Carvings stand as powerful symbols of faith, protection, and ancient Tibetan belief. Spread across the northern and southern foothills of Dzepo Mountain, with the Lhasa River flowing quietly to the east, this sacred site blends natural beauty with deep spiritual meaning. A total...Read More
Namdruk Monastery: The Heavenly Dragon Sanctuary of Qushui County Namdruk Monastery, formally known as གནམ་འབྲུག་སེ་བ་བྱང་ཆུབ་ཆོས་གླིང་དགོན, is quietly nestled in Namdruk Township of Qushui County, not far from Lhasa. The Tibetan name Namdruk translates as “Heavenly Township” or “Realm of the Sky,” a fitting description for this sacred site surrounded by open valleys and expansive skies....Read More
