[Lhasa, Tibet] First Time on the Plateau: Tibet Entry Procedures, a Stroll Through Drepung Monastery, and the Potala Palace at Night — A Day at the Start of a Dream

On the first day of arriving at the land of dreams, my heart was both nervous and full of anticipation. I was worried the Tibet Entry Permit process would get stuck, and worried about altitude sickness, but thankfully everything went smoothly. Officially setting off on the journey to Tibet. 🗓 Today's Itinerary Chengdu → Lhasa Tibet entry procedures｜Sichuan Airlines｜Check-in at Debon Hotel｜Stroll at Drepung Monastery｜Dinner with a night view of the Potala Palace Early morning 4:30｜A Taiwanese person's entry into Tibet: the complicated process that starts from the crack of dawn Today we had to take the shuttle bus to the airport at five, so we had to get up at 4:30. My friend joked, "The more you sleep, the less you sleep." The hotel thoughtfully prepared boxed meals, and the packaging was quite exquisite.

At five o'clock, both the hotel's own shuttle and the transfer car arranged by the travel agency arrived at the same time, and we almost got on the wrong car — but actually both were headed to the airport, so it was no big deal. After more than twenty minutes, we arrived at the airport, where the travel agency's airport staff were already waiting. 🔍 Taiwanese people's process for entering Tibet (super important information) The Tibet Entry Permit must be applied for one month in advance (usually 2 weeks, but if it coincides with the National Day Golden Week holiday, it needs to be earlier). Taiwanese people must join a tour group to enter Tibet, and the original copy of the Tibet Entry Permit must be provided. To ensure the smooth handover of the Tibet Entry Permit, the travel agency will require passengers to take a designated flight. If you wish to change to traveling into Tibet by train or use a different flight, you will need to pay an additional fee to apply for a second Tibet Entry Permit. The travel agency will first gather our tour group of 12 Taiwanese travelers, and take us to the counter together to check in. The counter staff will check the Tibet Entry Permits and the group roster one by one. Since the travel agency staff cannot accompany us through security, afterward we will need to go through with our own Tibet Entry Permit and undergo inspection in turn. These procedures forced what should have been a simple domestic check-in process to start a full two and a half hours early. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and after clearing security there was still over an hour to spare. Sichuan Airlines: Surprisingly thoughtful service Flying with Sichuan Airlines this time, the quality of service was a pleasant surprise. Flight attendants gave a gift to a passenger nearby celebrating a birthday, and prepared longevity noodles When a neighboring passenger spilled water, they were immediately arranged to switch seats The cabin crew patrolled attentively and had an excellent attitude During the flight, as we crossed the mountains, the scenery outside the window gradually shifted from deep brown valleys to snow-covered peaks, growing more magnificent the closer we got to Lhasa.

After nearly three hours, we arrived successfully at Lhasa Gongga Airport. There was no extra inspection, and we were able to go through customs after picking up our luggage.

The tour guide welcomed us at the exit and presented each team member with a hada, symbolizing blessings. At this moment, we formally experienced the ceremonial feeling of stepping into Tibet.

Arriving in Lhasa | Debung Hotel Check-in and High Altitude Acclimatization After tour guide Yong-ge took a group photo with us, we boarded the dedicated bus for the next eight days and headed to our hotel.

We arrived at the hotel close to 1 PM. The Debon Hotel is about a 15-minute drive from the Potala Palace, and the rooms are spacious and equipped with oxygen supply equipment.

Guide's reminder: "Rules for adapting on the first day" To avoid altitude sickness, you must follow these on the first day: No showering No drinking alcohol No strenuous exercise Be sure to rest in the afternoon Keep your diet light After putting down our luggage, we'll first have a meal nearby, then go back to the room to rest until evening.

An evening walk to Drepung Monastery: the first little outing to acclimate to the plateau At six in the evening, after finishing my nap and doing laundry, my mom and I decided to take a walk nearby. Drepung Monastery is about a 20-minute walk from the hotel. This monastery was where the Dalai Lama lived as a monk before he moved into the Potala Palace.

The sky at this moment was nothing like how bright it should be at 6 PM in the evening in October. Although the temple gate was already closed when we arrived, we hadn't planned to walk too much anyway, so as not to tire our bodies. On the way back, we bought apples from Tibet. We asked the restaurant to help slice them when we returned to the hotel, and he thoughtfully soaked them in salt water for us. At seven o'clock the doctor made his rounds, checking on each guest's condition one by one. Mom's oxygen level was 81%, mine was 89%, and my friend's was 88%. The doctor said that anything above 80% is considered normal. Dinner with a view of the Potala Palace at night In the evening, Xiaoge's friend in Lhasa invited us to have dinner together, and specially drove us to a scenic restaurant near the Potala Palace. Being able to watch performances (singing, dancing) while enjoying the night view of the Potala Palace, and all with steaming hot pot, was truly such a treat.

The mother and daughter traveling together also purchased the shop's video recording service (like the "dry-land onion pulling" move), one clip for 49 RMB.

We had dinner until 10:20 before leaving the restaurant. After returning to the room, since we couldn't take a shower, we could only do a quick brushing of teeth and washing of face, lay out the clothes for tomorrow, and go to bed early. Summary | The first official step onto the plateau Today may seem like just a flight and some rest, but actually, starting from early morning, the procedures for entering Tibet felt like a careful ritual. After arriving in Lhasa — offering the hada scarf, the oxygen-supply room, the doctor's room check measuring oxygen levels — every moment reminded us: You have truly arrived on the plateau. The official Lhasa journey begins today.