Lhasa Elevation & Prevent Altitude Sickness

Lhasa, known as the "City of Daylight," means the place where the gods dwell in Tibetan. Lhasa is a holy city in the hearts of Tibetans, and now it is also a "holy city" for tourists from all directions. Lhasa is a mysterious existence, whether it is the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, or Barkhor Street or Norbulingka, there is always a place that can reach the depths of your heart and become the destination of your soul. The altitude and altitude sickness of Lhasa are the most concerned and worried questions for first-time tourists to Tibet, this article will answer your questions, I hope you will have a correct understanding of Lhasa's altitude and altitude sickness after reading the whole text.

Lhasa's geographical location and altitude

At 3,656 meters above sea level, Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world. Lhasa is located in the north high and low in the south, sloping from east to west, the central and southern part is the middle reaches of the Lhasa River, a tributary of the Brahmaputra River, the plain of the flat terrain, Lhasa flows through here, and empties into the Brahmaputra River in the southern suburbs. As the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa is the political, economic and cultural center of Tibet, and the preferred city for tourists from home and abroad.

Elevation & Altitude of Major Attractions in Lhasa

Potala Palace - 3700 meters above sea level

Potala Palace is located on Maburi Mountain (Red Mountain) at an altitude of 3,700 meters northwest of Lhasa, with a building height of 117 meters, so it is the highest altitude in Lhasa. Generally, we arrange for tourists to visit the Potala Palace on the second or third day after arriving in Tibet, which is the most beneficial for tourists to adapt to the highland climate. In the Potala Palace, you can not only see a large number of historical relics collected in the palace, admire the wonderful architectural art of the Tibetan people, but also carry out a soul baptism in that holy atmosphere.

Jokhang Temple - 3650 meters above sea level

Built more than 1,300 years ago by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, Jokhang Temple is the holiest temple in Tibet and the center of Tibetan Buddhism. Jokhang Temple is located in the center of Lhasa's old city at an altitude of 3,650 meters, and the temple buildings are not high, so many people take Jokhang Temple as the first attraction to visit Lhasa.

Barkhor Street - 3650 meters above sea level

Barkhor Street, like the Jokhang Temple, is located in the heart of Lhasa's old town, at an altitude of 3,650 meters. Barkhor Street is the street outside the outer walls of the Jokhang Temple, and it is also a famous prayer transfer road and commercial center of Lhasa, known by Tibetans as the "Holy Road". This street is also the street where tourists can feel the unique atmosphere of Lhasa the most after coming to Lhasa, and it is also convenient for tourists to buy Lhasa tourist souvenirs here.

Drepung Monastery - 3800 meters above sea level

Drepung Monastery, located at an altitude of 3,800 meters above sea level at the foot of Mount Pi Uz in the western suburbs of Lhasa, is the largest temple in the world and the main temple of the Gelug school. The entire temple is large in scale, with white buildings stretching across the hillside, looking like huge piles of rice. Generally, you can visit after a day of rest in Lhasa.

Sera Monastery - 3700 meters above sea level

Sera Monastery, located at the southern foot of Mount Sera Uz, 3 kilometers north of Lhasa, is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, together with Drepung Monastery and Ganden Monastery, and is the latest of the three major monasteries to be built. Sera Monastery is about 3,700 meters above sea level, slightly higher than Lhasa. Getting here requires hiking up the mountain, so it is generally recommended not to go to Sera Monastery immediately after arriving in Lhasa, and to visit it after you have basically adapted to the altitude of Lhasa.

Ganden Monastery - 3800 meters above sea level

Ganden Monastery, one of the "Three Great Temples", is located at an altitude of 3,800 meters above sea level at the summit of Mount Wangur and Mount Gomba and is the first monastery of the Gelug school. The temple contains many cultural relics from the Ming Dynasty, including more than 90 spiritual pagodas that preserve the remains of Tsongkhapa and Ganden Tripa. Like Sera Monastery, getting to Ganden Monastery requires a long hike and it is recommended to get used to the altitude of Lhasa.

Norbulingka - 3650 meters above sea level

Norbulingka is a Tibetan-style garden, the summer palace corresponding to the Potala Palace, a place to spend the summer, so it is also known as the "Summer Palace of Lhasa". The scenery in the garden is pleasant, and there are many kinds of plants and flowers, just like a "paradise" in Lhasa. There are more than 300 houses in the garden, which is a large and extremely exquisite garden in the history of Tibet. Since the garden is located on Luoluo East Road in Lhasa's Chengguan District, the altitude is the same as Lhasa, so it is very suitable for visiting on the first day after arriving in Lhasa.

Jokhang Temple - 3650 meters above sea level

Located on Jokhang Road north of Beijing Road in Lhasa, Jokhang Temple was built in 641 AD by Princess Wencheng. Although the scale and reputation are not as good as the Jokhang Temple, it has a special flavor. Jokhang Temple imitates the Han and Tang Dynasty style and integrates the characteristics of Sino-Tibetan architecture.

What are the symptoms of altitude sickness that may occur when you first arrive in Lhasa?

1) Symptoms of altitude sickness that may occur when flying to Lhasa Tourists who arrive in Lhasa by plane may have a reaction similar to just riding a roller coaster, dizziness, lack of oxygen to the brain, and shortness of breath. This is because tourists have not yet adapted to the air of Lhasa at an altitude of 3650 meters, and due to the high altitude and low vegetation in Lhasa, the oxygen content in the air is low, and first-time visitors will have a significant hypoxic reaction. In good health, this hypoxic reaction is completely normal and not dangerous. It is recommended to keep breathing steady and mentally stable after getting off the plane, get on the bus to rest after meeting with the tour guide driver, try to reduce activity, and the body will naturally gradually adapt to the current environment, generally 1-3 days can be relieved on its own.

2) Symptoms of altitude sickness that may occur when traveling by train to Lhasa It takes a long time to get to Lhasa by train. Starting from Xining, the altitude will gradually rise, and some people will experience mild altitude sickness symptoms during the train ride, such as slight dizziness, a little bloating at night, and insomnia symptoms. This symptom may not get worse, but it may persist until after you get off the bus. Such symptoms are normal and common in people who are new to the plateau, and the general symptoms gradually weaken and disappear after 2-3 days of appearance.

Of course, there are tourists who will have no symptoms on the train, and they will not have obvious reactions when they arrive in Lhasa during the day, but at night they will feel a more obvious headache, dizziness, and inability to sleep. At this time, a good rest environment will help relieve your altitude sickness. Of course, don't panic too much when this happens, you can contact your tour guide in time, they will give you the most timely and appropriate way to deal with it.

3) Symptoms of altitude sickness that may occur within three days of arrival in Lhasa After arriving in Lhasa, our itinerary will generally arrange tourists to sightsee around Lhasa, from low to high altitude, Sera Monastery, Potala Palace, etc. will be arranged on the second or third day of the tour. During these three days, you will feel that the dizziness and headache will gradually improve, the insomnia will gradually ease, and the altitude sickness will slowly move away. Welcoming locals and sunshine as well as beautiful temples and architecture will greatly satisfy your mood and help relieve altitude sickness.

How to deal with altitude sickness after arriving in Lhasa?

1) Coping in daily life from Lhasa

Once you arrive in Lhasa, keep the following points in mind to keep altitude sickness away from you as soon as possible.

1. Slow walking and slow walking do not exercise vigorously:

slow walking can reduce the consumption of oxygen, if there is a high reverse case of excessive amplitude, oxygen consumption is large, easy to aggravate altitude sickness.

2. Bathe after three days:

Bathing is first of all a very oxygen-consuming thing, and secondly, bathing at high altitudes is easy to cause colds, and colds can aggravate hypersensitivity symptoms.

3. Drink plenty of water:

Lhasa has a dry climate, and drinking plenty of water is good for regulating the state of the body. Sometimes waking up early in the morning may have blood in your nose, which is a sign of Lhasa's dry climate. Relieving these symptoms is also beneficial for restoring physical condition.

4. Stay warm and don't get cold: The Lhasa weather, climate and dress guide will tell you what to wear when visiting Lhasa. It is recommended not to sacrifice temperature for the sake of grace, dress warmly more than anything else. Not catching a cold is the number one priority when traveling to Tibet.

2) Respond from the therapeutic aspect

Medication: Many tourists who travel to Lhasa, Tibet, will prepare anti-altitude sickness drugs such as Rhodiola, etc., and will also buy drugs for altitude sickness such as plateau An, after arriving in Lhasa. Although these drugs do have some effect on altitude sickness, it is best to ask about the condition of the drug when buying, and whether it can be taken in any situation to avoid danger. Therefore, it is recommended that the drug be taken under the doctor's advice and taken in quantity.

Oxygen therapy: Oxygen tanks are sold in major pharmacies in Lhasa, which vary from large to small according to demand. To a certain extent, oxygen intake can temporarily reduce symptoms such as headaches caused by high anti-reaction, but long-term oxygen inhalation cannot solve the discomfort caused by hyperregist. Don't rely too much on oxygen, you should rely on natural transitions to adapt to high altitudes.

Infusion therapy: if there are symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, etc., it is recommended to go to the hospital for treatment. Glucose injection is usually used to improve blood oxygen levels.

3) Psychological prevention

It is said that tourists who have been thinking "what to do, what to do, what to do with altitude sickness" will come faster and stay longer. And tourists who think "the altitude is not high, it must be fine" will disappear faster. Although such a statement is not absolutely correct, having a healthy and good attitude is definitely conducive to alleviating altitude sickness, blindly worrying and worrying will not solve the problem, but will aggravate the possibility of altitude sickness. (How to deal with altitude sickness in Tibet)

Don't panic when you encounter altitude sickness symptoms, first tell your own situation to the tour guide and driver, they will give you corresponding advice according to your symptoms, if it is really serious, they will seek medical treatment in time. In addition, oxygen equipment is available in the area where you usually stay. Our tour groups will also bring a certain amount of oxygen equipment in case of emergency, but please do not rely too much on oxygen, natural rest and relief is the best way, and it is also conducive to the later Tibet travel itinerary.

Conclusion

At 3,650 meters above sea level, Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world. Although most of the attractions in Lhasa are at 3,650 meters above sea level, you don't have to worry too much about the altitude. As an experienced travel agency, all the itineraries offered on our website have been carefully designed to not let your trip to Tibet be bothered by high anti-corruption.