Lhasa

Lhasa, as the capital of Tibet Autonomous Region, covers 29,052 square kilometers. It lies on the north side of the Himalayas Mountains. As a result, there is much less rainfall and more sunshine year round. Winter is not extremely freezing and summer is not extremely hot. It belongs to the plateau monsoon half dry climate and the average annual temperature is 7.4oC. Rainfall is centralized in July, August and September. Annual rainfall is about 500 mm. The city experiences over 3000 hours of sunshine each year, which is why Lhasa is called "Sunshine City". Lhasa, with fresh air, sunny skies, and moderate temperatures has become a popular summer destination for tourists.

Located on the "Roof of World", Qingzang Plateau, Lhasa has average altitude of 3,600 meters. Due to the low air pressure and low air density, the oxygen contained in the air is 25% - 30% less than inland. New residents to the plateau are known to experience altitude sickness, including headaches or shortness of breath. To remedy this, visitors are advised to rest on their first day visiting Lhasa. April to October is the best season to visit.

In Tibetan language, Lhasa means the sacred resident of god. Lhasa has a long history and strong religious atmosphere. Major tourist sites in the city include Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street and Potala Palace. (the picture is the distance shot of Potala Palace)