After returning from my trip to Tibet, I’ve been eager to write something to share with everyone. However, eight days is far too short a time to truly understand a foreign ethnic group. Though I have a million thoughts bottled up inside, I’m at a loss as to where to begin. After struggling for a…
1. The Silence of Potala Palace Under the thin sunlight of Lhasa, the Potala Palace still stands — austere, white and red against the mountains.It once embodied the intersection of power and faith, the spiritual and political axis of Tibet.But since 1959, its throne has been empty.The Dalai Lama lives in exile, a symbol rather…
Due to its unique geological structure, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is dotted with numerous lakes. Ancient Tibetans, who followed the primitive Bon religion, worshipped heaven, earth, the sun, and the moon, leading many lakes and snow-capped mountains to become sacred objects of veneration—thus giving rise to the concepts of “holy mountains” and “sacred lakes.” The three…
In 1928, American explorer Joseph Rock set out from Muli in Xikang, passed through Jiulong, and then traversed Daocheng and Yading, delving deep into the Gongga Snow Mountain region. After two journeys through Daocheng Yading, he published articles and photographs he had written and taken in the American magazine National Geographic, introducing this fairyland to…
If you’ve ever been to Tibet, you must have tried butter tea, right? Indeed, butter tea is an essential drink offered by Tibetans to their guests, much like how Han Chinese serve tea or Westerners serve coffee. If there’s one flavor that best represents the uniqueness of Tibet, it would undoubtedly be the taste of…
If it’s your first time visiting Tibet or any Tibetan region, you’ll undoubtedly be captivated by the vibrant prayer flags fluttering in the wind. They adorn rooftops, the foothills of snow-capped mountains, meadows, forests, mountain passes, mani stone piles, and stupas, their rustling sound in the fierce wind seeming to whisper ancient tales. Harmoniously blending…
In the Nedong District of Shannan, Tibet, along the northward stretch of Naidong Road, one can gaze upon a serene yet majestic palace towering atop the Chakpori Hill. This is Yumbulagang—the first palace and the first architectural structure in Tibetan history. The name “Yumbulagang” means “Palace of Mother and Son” in Tibetan. Built in the 2nd…
Dzi beads, known in China as Tibetan Dzi beads due to their Tibetan origins, are ancient gemstones steeped in profound cultural heritage and mystique. Dating back to 3000–1500 BCE in ancient India, these beads have evolved over millennia into an integral part of Tibetan Buddhist culture. This article explores the origins, historical anecdotes, craftsmanship, and cultural value…
Natural Tibetan turquoise holds multiple roles and symbolic meanings in Tibetan culture. One of these is its symbolization of power and status: In Tibetan culture, turquoise is regarded as a sacred gemstone, representing power and status. As early as 127 BCE, the first Tibetan king, Nyetri Tsenpo, was crowned wearing a crown adorned with turquoise,…
