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

Day one of arriving at the destination of my dreams brings both nervous anticipation and excitement. Worried about complications with the Tibet entry procedures and altitude sickness, but thankfully everything went smoothly. Officially embarking on my journey to Tibet. 📅 Today's Itinerary Chengdu → Lhasa Tibet entry procedures | Sichuan Airlines | Dephon Hotel check-in | Jokhang Temple stroll | Potala Palace night-view restaurant 4:30 AM | Taiwan residents entering Tibet: A complex process that starts early I need to take a shuttle bus to the airport at 5 AM, so I have to get up at 4:30. A friend joked: "The less sleep, the more travel." The hotel thoughtfully prepared a meal box with exquisite packaging.

At 5 o'clock, there were both the hotel's shuttle bus and the travel agency's arranged pickup. I almost boarded the wrong one—but as it turned out, both were heading to the airport anyway, so no harm done. After more than twenty minutes, we arrived at the airport, and the travel agency's airport service staff were already waiting. 🔍 Tibet Entry Process for Taiwanese (Super Important Information) The Tibet Entry Permit must be applied for one month in advance (generally 2 weeks, but if it coincides with the October Golden Week holidays, you need to apply earlier). Taiwanese citizens must enter Tibet as part of an organized tour group, and you must provide the original Entry Permit. To ensure the Tibet Entry Permit is handed over smoothly, the travel agency will require passengers to take the designated flight. If you would like to switch to entering Tibet by train or take 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 group of 12 Taiwanese travelers together and bring us to the counter to check in as a group. 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 screening, afterward we will need to carry our own Tibet Entry Permit through the checkpoint and go through the inspection in order. 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 the process 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. The flight attendants gave a gift to a passenger nearby celebrating a birthday and prepared longevity noodles for them. When a neighboring passenger spilled water, they were immediately helped to switch seats. The crew patrolled attentively and had an excellent attitude throughout. 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.

We successfully arrived at Lhasa Gonggar Airport after nearly three hours. There were no additional inspections, and we were able to clear customs right after collecting our luggage.

The tour guide greeted us at the exit and presented each member of our group with a Khata scarf, symbolizing blessings — at that moment, we truly felt the sense of ceremony in setting foot in Tibet.

Arrival in Lhasa | Checking in at the Debon Hotel and Acclimatizing to the Plateau After our tour guide Brother Yong took a big group photo with us, we boarded the dedicated bus that would be with us for the next eight days and headed to our hotel.

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

Tour Guide's Reminder: 'First Day Acclimatization Rules' To avoid altitude sickness, you must follow these rules on your first day: Do not shower Do not drink alcohol Do not do strenuous exercise You must rest in the afternoon Keep your diet light After we put away your luggage, we'll first have a meal nearby, then return to your room to rest until evening.

Evening Stroll to Drepung Monastery: Our First Acclimatization Trip to the Plateau After finishing our afternoon nap at 6 PM and having washed our clothes, Mom and I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. Drepung Monastery is about a 20-minute walk from our hotel. This monastery was the Dalai Lama's residence before he moved into the Potala Palace.

The sky at this moment doesn't look at all like it should for six o'clock on an October evening. Although the temple gate was already closed by the time we arrived, we hadn't planned to walk around too much anyway, so as not to tire our bodies out. On the way back we bought some Tibetan-grown apples, and asked the restaurant at the hotel to help slice them — they even thoughtfully soaked them in salt water for us. At seven o'clock the doctor made rounds, checking on each traveler's condition one by one. Mom's oxygen was 81%, mine was 89%, and my friend's was 88%. The doctor said anything above 80% is considered normal. Dinner under the night view of the Potala Palace In the evening, Xiaohe's friend in Lhasa invited us to eat together, and specially drove us to a scenic restaurant near the Potala Palace. Being able to watch the performances (singing, dancing) while admiring the night view of the Potala Palace, paired with a warm hot pot, was truly such a delight.

The mother and daughter I was traveling with also bought the shop's video recording service (like recording an action such as suddenly leaping up from the ground), for 49 RMB per clip.

We had dinner until 10:20 before leaving the restaurant. After returning to the room, since we couldn't take a shower, we just quickly brushed our teeth, washed our faces, and laid out the clothes to wear tomorrow before going to bed early. Summary | The First Official Step onto the Plateau Today may seem like just a flight and some rest, but in fact, the entry procedures into Tibet starting from early morning felt like a solemn ritual. After arriving in Lhasa — presenting the khata scarf, the oxygen 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.