[Lhasa, Tibet] Potala Palace × Jokhang Temple: A Day Stepping into the Heart of Faith

I didn't sleep too well last night — my watch even recorded my sleep blood oxygen at only 81%. But I didn't feel especially tired when I woke up in the morning. After a quick wash-up, I headed to the restaurant for breakfast. The selection wasn't very extensive, but there were enough vegetables, fruit, and protein — quite satisfying for a body still adjusting to the plateau on its first day. Today's meeting time is 9 a.m., and we're about to set off for Lhasa's two most classic sights: the Potala Palace × Jokhang Temple. Visits to the Potala Palace require advance reservation, and our entry slot today is 11 a.m. 🗓 Today's Itinerary Outdoor photos at the Potala Palace (Medicine King Hill, Potala Palace Square) → Potala Palace visit (enter from the front hill, exit from the back hill) → Jokhang Temple → Free time at Barkhor Street → Night photography of the Potala Palace's reflection Medicine King Hill × Potala Palace Square: The most classic spot for photographing the Potala Palace Before officially entering the Potala Palace, we'll first go to the nearby Medicine King Hill and Potala Palace Square to take photos.

▸ Two Highlights of Yaowang Mountain The Story of Princess Wencheng and the White Pagoda Legend has it that after Princess Wencheng built the city gate, the Tibetans believed it had cut off the dragon vein. So she built a white pagoda atop the gate, symbolizing the preservation of the dragon vein's integrity. The 50 Yuan Photo Spot Many visitors take out a 50 yuan banknote and search for the exact angle where the note and the Potala Palace align in the same frame — it's a little ritual that's a must-do on any trip to Lhasa.

▸ Reflection at Potala Palace Square At the square you can photograph the front facade of the Potala Palace, and also use the mirrors on the ground to take reflection photos. The mirrors offered by vendors don't differ much from the built-in mirror effect of the pavement itself — the only difference is how much or how little cement flooring shows at the seams.

Today the Potala Palace happened to be undergoing wall repairs, so the 200 RMB entrance fee was waived — a small unexpected blessing on the trip. Potala Palace: Step into the Red Palace and White Palace, and feel the core memory of Tibet Our guide, Brother Yong, used to be a teacher, and he explained things especially clearly, making the history and stories of the Potala Palace incredibly engaging. ▸ The past and present of the Potala Palace It was originally built by the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo and was called the "Red Hill Palace." After being rebuilt by the Fifth Dalai Lama, it became the political and religious center of Tibet. It integrates palaces, Buddhist halls, and stupas into a single complex, forming today's castle-like architectural cluster. ▸ The Symbolism of the White Palace × Red Palace White Palace: The administrative and living quarters of the Dalai Lamas Red Palace: The site of the stupas of successive Dalai Lamas and religious ceremonies Looking up from the foot of the hill, you can see many volunteers hanging on the outer walls to whitewash them.

Brother Yong said that for Tibetans, being able to volunteer at the Potala Palace once in a lifetime is the highest honor, but it is also full of danger, and every year someone dies in the line of duty because of it. ▸ The climb from 3650 to 3800 We walked all the way from an altitude of 3650 meters up to 3800 meters.

The first stop is the wordless stele, erected to commemorate the completion of the Red Palace; further up is the "Mounting Steps," where in ancient times officials of the fourth rank or above were permitted to ride their horses into the palace.

Along the way, many people were seen wearing traditional ethnic costumes as they climbed the mountain on pilgrimage, becoming a truly unique sight on the steps of the Potala Palace.

▸ No Photography After Entering the Palace After passing through the Front Hall and the Four Heavenly Kings, you will enter the Red Palace area. Photography is not permitted inside. The tour will primarily consist of explanations provided by your tour guide.

The three colors of the Red Palace symbolize: Red: religious authority. White: political power. Yellow: supreme authority. The Potala Palace is truly worth visiting in person with a guided tour, to understand the core of Tibetan Buddhism. We entered from the front mountain and exited from the back mountain, and on the way down we also took in the cityscape on the other side of Lhasa.

Because the explanation was so detailed, we came down the mountain close to 14:20, so we just had a simple bowl of noodles near the Jokhang Temple for lunch. Jokhang Temple: The Heartbeat of Tibetan Faith Gather at 15:10 to head to the Jokhang Temple.

The Jokhang Temple was originally built to enshrine the "Statue of Śākyamuni at Age Eight" brought by Nepal's Princess Bhrikuti, and the process of constructing the temple is also closely linked to the legend of Princess Wencheng's divination and the construction method based on the Five Elements. ▸ The History of the Statues Being Swapped Originally: Jokhang Temple: enshrined the Statue at Age 8 Ramoche Temple: enshrined the Statue at Age 12 brought by Princess Wencheng When the Tang Dynasty invaded, in order to protect the statues, the Tibetans swapped the two, which is why the statue now enshrined in the Jokhang Temple is the Statue at Age 12. As for the Statue at Age 8, it was already destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. ▸ Pilgrims Outside the Jokhang Temple At the temple gate, you can see many devotees prostrating themselves fully on the ground in worship — one of the most striking sights in Lhasa. Before entering the main hall, four great guardian deities stand watch, the outer walls are covered with murals of various Buddha images, and photography is likewise forbidden inside.

On the curtains outside the main hall on the first floor, you can see motifs such as the Dharma Wheel, the treasure vase, and paired deer — symbols of Buddhist teaching that are commonly found in Tibetan Buddhism. They also represent the transmission of the teachings, as well as meanings such as merit and compassion.

After visiting the main hall, it's highly recommended to go up to the second floor, where you can admire the details of the Jokhang Temple's golden roof from a closer angle. The golden glazed tiles are especially striking under the sunlight, making it one of the most popular spots for travelers to take photos.

The entire tour takes about 1.5 hours. Barkhor Street × Old Guangming Tea House: The most authentic Lhasa lifestyle After finishing the two major attractions, it's time for free activities on Barkhor Street. We first bought the famous Adiao butter tea (tastes great, but at 22–24 RMB, it's definitely not cheap 😂).

Then we went to the tea house recommended by the tour guide, Lao Guangming Tea House.

This is the best place to experience Tibetan life — drinking sweet tea, chatting, and chanting sutras. There's no need to order; just bring a cup and put your money on the table, and someone will come pour tea for you. A cup costs only 1 RMB.

After finishing our tea, we continued strolling around, and Mom bought some incense and a scarf. We spent the whole afternoon immersed in the atmosphere of Barkhor Street and Lhasa's Sleepless City.

Night photography of the Potala Palace's reflection: the most beautiful ending At 19:30, the sky finally darkened, and we slowly walked back to the Potala Palace Square to photograph the night reflection. Compared to daytime, there were even more people shooting at night. Unable to find an empty mirror, I brazenly sat down next to a Tibetan vendor and asked if I could borrow his mirror. Unexpectedly, he generously said: "Come on! Let me use your phone to take a few shots!" His technique was slick, and after a swift series of moves, he produced "blockbuster-level" photos. Truly amazing.

By 21:00, we were exhausted, so we used Didi (a car-hailing app) for the first time and made it safely back to the hotel. Tomorrow we leave Lhasa for Shigatse. Summary: The Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple — the essence of Tibet's soul Today's itinerary wasn't packed, but it was the day that let us understand the very heart of Lhasa. The grandeur of the Potala Palace, the faith of the volunteer workers, the historical threads running through the Red Palace and the White Palace, the pilgrims prostrating themselves before the Jokhang Temple, the lived-in atmosphere of Barkhor Street… All these pieces come together to form Tibet's most authentic, most heartfelt face. The Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple stand as the two great centers of Tibetan culture, and after walking the path between these two sacred sites, you come to understand even more clearly — Tibet's grandeur lies not only in its mountains and rivers, but also in its faith and its way of life.