Lhasa (拉萨)

1. Introduction

Lhasa (Tibetan: ལྷ་ས་, Wylie transliteration: lha-sa, Tibetan pinyin: Lhasa; IPA: /l̥ásə/ or /l̥ɜ́ːsə/), translated as Luoxie, Luosuo, Luosha, or Resa during the Tang Dynasty, is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. The urban area of Lhasa has an elevation of 3,663.5 meters, with the Lhasa River flowing through it and joining the Yarlung Tsangpo River in the southern suburbs. The municipal government is located at No. 69 Jiangsu Avenue, Chengguan District.

Lhasa has historically been the political, economic, and cultural center of the entire Tibet region and is also a sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism. It was officially established as a city in 1960 and designated as a National Historical and Cultural City in 1982.

The city boundaries of Lhasa roughly correspond to the basin of the Lhasa River, a major tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. It is situated on the Lhasa Terrane, which was the last crustal unit to attach to the Eurasian Plate before the Indian subcontinent collided with Asia approximately 50 million years ago, uplifting the Himalayas. The terrain is high, featuring complex fault patterns and active tectonics. Summers are warm, and winter temperatures can rise above freezing on sunny days, with most rainfall occurring in summer. The highlands and northern grasslands are used for grazing yaks, sheep, and goats, while the river valleys support agriculture with crops such as barley, wheat, and vegetables. Wildlife is not abundant but includes rare species like the snow leopard and the black-necked crane. Mining has caused some environmental issues.

2. Etymology

"La" (ལྷ།): In Tibetan, it means "god" or "deity."

"Sa" (ས།): Means "land" or "place."

"Lhasa" (ལྷ་ས།): Combined, it means "land of the gods" or "place of deities," symbolizing Lhasa's status as a religious holy site.

3. History

As early as the 1st century AD, historical records of the Lhasa region already existed. The Tibetan Plateau was dotted with various Tibetan tribes, referred to in Tibetan historical texts as the "12 small states" or "40 small states." Tibetan historical records indicate that Songtsen Gampo (reigned 629–650), the 33rd emperor of the Tibetan Empire, quelled internal conflicts in Tibet, formally unified the region, established the Tibetan Empire, and moved the capital to Lhasa. In Middle Chinese, Lhasa was transliterated as "逻些城" (Middle Chinese reconstructed pronunciation: /lɑ sɑ/).

In 641 AD, Songtsen Gampo, who had already conquered the entire Tibetan region, married Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty. Prior to this, he had also married Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal. Princess Wencheng participated in Songtsen Gampo's grand temple construction projects. Legend has it that she selected a lake as the site for a temple and used goats to carry soil to fill the lake. The Akshobhya Buddha statue (the 8-year-old life-size statue of Shakyamuni) brought by Princess Bhrikuti was enshrined there. This temple is the present-day Jokhang Temple. The temple became a symbol of the kingdom and was initially named "Lhasa," meaning "sacred land" in Tibetan. Another interpretation suggests that in Tibetan, "goat" is called "ra," and "soil" is called "sa," so Lhasa was named after the goats carrying soil to fill the lake. The Jowo Buddha statue (the 12-year-old life-size statue of Shakyamuni) brought by Princess Wencheng was enshrined in the separately built Ramoche Temple. Later, after Princess Jincheng of the Tang Dynasty married into Tibet, the 12-year-old life-size statue of Shakyamuni was moved to the Jokhang Temple, while the 8-year-old life-size statue of Shakyamuni was moved to the Ramoche Temple.

Regardless of the veracity of these accounts, before the 15th century, Lhasa flourished with the establishment and growth of the three major Gelugpa monasteries, primarily under the influence of Tsongkhapa. Buddhist monks ordained in Tibet built three monastic institutions: Ganden Monastery, Drepung Monastery, and Sera Monastery. The scholarly achievements and political specialization of the sect eventually brought Lhasa back to the center stage of Tibet.

The Fifth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso (1617–1682), conquered all of Tibet and moved his administrative center to Lhasa. Lhasa became the religious and political center of Tibet. In 1645, the reconstruction of the Potala Palace on Red Hill began. In 1648, the lower part of the Potala Palace—the Potrang Karpo (White Palace)—was completed. The Dalai Lama at the time used the Potala Palace as his winter palace. Between 1690 and 1694, the upper part of the Potala Palace—the Potrang Marpo (Red Palace)—was completed. The name "Potala" likely derives from the mythical abode of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, Mount Potalaka. The surrounding structures of the Jokhang Temple were also significantly expanded during this period. Although some of the wooden carvings and lintels in the Jokhang Temple date back to the 7th century, the existing ancient buildings in Lhasa, including the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple, and some monastic structures in the old city, were built during Lhasa's second period of prosperity.

In the first half of the 20th century, several Western explorers, such as Francis Younghusband, Alexandra David-Néel, and Heinrich Harrer, successfully traveled to Lhasa. At that time, Lhasa was the center of Tibetan Buddhism, and approximately half of its population consisted of monks. The population of Lhasa was estimated at 25,000 in 1951, with an additional 15,000 monks residing in monasteries in the region.

In May 1951, Tibet was peacefully liberated. The administrative divisions of the Lhasa region remained unchanged. In October 1951, the Lhasa Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party was established. In 1954, the Xueliekong (also known as Weiji) administered 26 dzongs (宗) and shikas (谿): 12 dzongs, including Nimu Dzong, Qushui Dzong, Yangbajain Dzong (present-day Yangbajain Town, Damxung County), Doilungdêqên Dzong, Sala Dzong, Lhünzhub Dzong, Maizhokunggar Dzong, Langtang Dzong, Kaizê Dzong, Dêqên Dzong, Donggar Dzong, and Dagzê Dzong, and 14 shikas, including Zhaxi Shika, Xiezhong Shika, Luomai Shika, Nanmujiagang Shika, Nanmu Shika, Niedang Shika, Zhongdui Shika, Changgu Shika, Longba Shika, Langru Shika, Cai Shika, Zha Shika, Majiang Shika, and Naiwu Shika. The Langzhixia Liekong and Xueliekong were retained. In April 1956, the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region was established. In August 1956, the Lhasa Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party was renamed the Lhasa Subcommittee of the Tibet Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party. The Preparatory Committee established the Lhasa Jikyab-level Office as its dispatched agency. In September 1956, the Lhasa Jikyab-level Office established the Doilungdêqên Dzong-level Office. In November 1956, the Maizhokunggar and Donggar Dzong-level Offices were established. The Xueliekong (also known as Weiji) and Langzhixia Liekong continued to exist. The Xueliekong (also known as Weiji) administered 7 dzongs—Lhünzhub Dzong, Dagzê Dzong, Dêqên Dzong, Maizhokunggar Dzong, Qushui Dzong, Doilungdêqên Dzong, and Donggar Dzong—and 21 shikas, including Sala Shika, Langtang Shika, Kazi Shika, Yangbajain Shika, Bangdui Shika, Nanmu Shika, Xiezhong Shika, Niedang Shika, Nimu Menka Shika, Majiang Shika, Liewu Shika, Zhebuling Shika, Luomai Shika, Langru Shika, Cai Shika, Qulong Shika, Zhaxi Shika, Zha Shika, Longba Shika, Changgu Shika, and Nangang Shika. In August 1957, due to organizational downsizing, the Doilungdêqên, Maizhokunggar, and Donggar Dzong-level Offices were abolished. In October 1957, the Lhasa Subcommittee of the Tibet Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party was abolished.

As Tibetan elites launched a rebellion, the central government entered Tibet to suppress and quell the unrest, implementing democratic reforms. Many Tibetans left Lhasa, including the 14th Dalai Lama, who fled from his residence in the Potala Palace to Dharamshala, India, in 1959.

In July 1959, the Tibet Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region decided to adjust the 28 dzongs and shikas in the Lhasa region into 4 urban districts, 2 suburban districts, and 8 counties. In September 1959, the Lhasa Military Control Commission, based on the decision of the Tibet Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, established the governments of 8 counties—Qushui, Nimu, Doilungdêqên, Damxung, Dagzê, Maizhokunggar, Lhünzhub (initially stationed at Kazi, soon moved to Songpan), and Pondo—and 6 districts—East Urban District, South Urban District, West Urban District, North Urban District, East Suburban District, and West Suburban District—under the leadership of the Lhasa Military Control Commission. In October 1959, the Preparatory Committee decided to abolish the Lhasa Military Control Commission and the Lhasa Jikyab-level Office and establish Lhasa City, subordinate to the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region.

In January 1960, the State Council retroactively approved the following adjustments: abolishing Lhünzhub Dzong and the four shikas of Pondo, Sala, Langtang, and Kazi, merging them to establish Lhünzhub County (stationed at Songpan) and Pondo County (stationed at Pondo); abolishing the four shikas of Damxung, Yangbajain, Ningzhong, and Namtso, merging them to establish Damxung County; abolishing the two dzongs of Dagzê and Dêqên and the Bangdui Shika, merging them to establish Dagzê County; abolishing Maizhokunggar Dzong to establish Maizhokunggar County; abolishing Qushui Dzong and the four shikas of Se, Nanmu, Xiezhong, and Niedang, merging them to establish Qushui County; abolishing the two shikas of Nimu Menka and Majiang, merging them to establish Nimu County; abolishing the two dzongs of Doilungdêqên and Donggar and the Liewu Shika, merging them to establish Doilungdêqên County; abolishing the nine shikas of Zhebuling, Luomai, Langru, Cai, Qulong, Zhaxi, Baicang, Dabocuosi, and Zhamuquke’er, merging them with the urban districts to establish Lhasa City (prefecture-level), which governed 8 counties: Lhünzhub, Damxung, Dagzê, Qushui, Maizhokunggar, Nimu, Doilungdêqên, and Pondo. In January 1960, the Lhasa Municipal Government was established. In February 1960, with the approval of the Tibet Working Committee, the West Suburban District was abolished, with its Dangba Township transferred to the West Urban District and the remaining areas merged into Doilungdêqên County. In April 1960, the East Suburban District was abolished, with its areas merged into the East Urban, South Urban, and North Urban Districts and Dagzê County. Lhasa City governed 8 counties—Lhünzhub, Damxung, Dagzê, Qushui, etc.—and 4 districts: East Urban, North Urban, South Urban, and West Urban. In October 1960, with the approval of the Preparatory Committee, the southern part of Lhünzhub County was separated to establish the Lhasa City Pengbo District, stationed at Ganden Chokhor. Lhasa City governed 8 counties and 5 districts. In April 1961, with the approval of the Tibet Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the East Urban, South Urban, West Urban, and North Urban Districts of Lhasa City were abolished and merged to form the Chengguan District. Lhasa City governed 2 districts and 8 counties. In August 1962, with the approval of the Preparatory Committee, Pondo County was abolished and merged into Lhünzhub County (approved by the State Council in October 1962). Lhasa City governed 2 districts and 7 counties. In May 1964, with the approval of the Preparatory Committee, the Pengbo District of Lhasa City was abolished and merged into Lhünzhub County. In July 1964, the Tibet Working Committee of the Chinese Communist Party decided to abolish the Nyingchi Prefecture and transfer its four counties—Nyingchi, Gongbo’gyamda, Mainling (including Xueba), and Mêdog—to Lhasa City. Additionally, the two districts (10 townships) of Baga and Delong (also translated as Serirong) in Maizhokunggar County under Lhasa City were transferred to Lhari County (approved by the State Council in July). Lhasa City governed 1 district and 11 counties.

In September 1965, the Tibet Autonomous Region was established, with Lhasa City as its capital.

In September 1968, the Lhasa Municipal Revolutionary Committee was established, replacing the Municipal People’s Committee. The Municipal Revolutionary Committee oversaw 12 county (district) revolutionary committees. In October 1972, given that the Kazi District in the southern part of Lhünzhub County had been transferred to the Pengbo Farm (county-level, established in 1960, stationed at Ganden Chokhor, initially under the Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Department of the Preparatory Committee, transferred to the Production Department of the Tibet Military Region in 1964, and expanded in 1965 to become the largest farm in Tibet), and the Dianzhong and Chedang Districts had been transferred to the Lhünzhub Farm (county-level, established in 1966, located in present-day Qiangga Township, under the leadership of the Production Department of the Tibet Military Region), Lhünzhub County’s actual jurisdiction was limited to the northern part (the former Pondo Shika and Pondo County areas), and its seat was moved from Songpan (Zongxue Village) to Pondo.

In October 1983, the State Council approved the restoration of Nyingchi Prefecture. During its preparatory period, it was temporarily stationed in Lhasa City. In February 1986, Nyingchi Prefecture was officially restored. In 1988, given that the Pengbo Farm and Lhünzhub Farm had been abolished, the seat of Lhünzhub County was moved from Pondo Village, Pondo Township, to Ganden Chokhor.

By the early 2000s, the population of Lhasa was approximately 255,000.

4. Geography

Lhasa City is located in the central-southern part of Tibet, stretching approximately 277 kilometers from east to west and 202 kilometers from north to south. It borders Nyingchi Prefecture to the east, Shigatse City to the west, Shannan City to the south, and Nagqu City to the north. Covering an area of 29,600 square kilometers with an average altitude of 3,663.5 meters, Lhasa enjoys over 3,000 hours of sunshine annually and is renowned as the "Sunlight City." It is one of the first 24 historical and cultural cities designated by the State Council. The city boasts 2 national nature reserves, 2 national forest parks, 1 World Heritage Site comprising 3 locations, 16 nationally protected cultural heritage sites, and 85 regionally protected cultural heritage sites.[5]

Lhasa, situated at an altitude of 3,663.5 meters, lies in a small basin surrounded by mountains and serves as the center of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The surrounding mountains reach heights of up to 5,000 meters, and the Lhasa River (also known as the "Kyichu"), a tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, flows through the city. In Tibetan, the Lhasa River is referred to as the "Blue Wave of Joy."[6] It traverses the snow-capped peaks and gorges of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, extending for 315 kilometers before merging into the Yarlung Tsangpo River at Qüxü, creating a vast and picturesque landscape.

Satellite Image of the Lhasa Region on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
Lhasa features flat terrain and a mild climate, with an average daily temperature of 8°C, making it comfortable in both winter and summer. It enjoys 3,000 hours of sunshine over 125 days annually, significantly more than most other cities in China, earning it the nickname "Sunlight City." Due to intense ultraviolet radiation, sunglasses are recommended to prevent eye conditions. However, this natural environment is also ideal for the development of the photovoltaic industry.

Lhasa receives an average annual precipitation of 500 millimeters, with rainfall concentrated mainly between July and September. The summer rainy season and autumn are considered the best times of the year. Notably, rainfall often occurs at night, while daytime skies are mostly clear.

Meteorological Data for Chengguan District, Lhasa City (average data from 1986 to 2015, extreme data from 1951 to 2023)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual | |------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|-----------------| | Record High °C (°F) | 20.5 (68.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 25.0 (77.0) | 25.9 (78.6) | 29.4 (84.9) | 30.8 (87.4) | 30.4 (86.7) | 27.2 (81.0) | 26.5 (79.7) | 24.8 (76.6) | 22.8 (73.0) | 20.1 (68.2) | 30.8 (87.4) | | Avg. High °C (°F) | 8.4 (47.1) | 10.1 (50.2) | 13.3 (55.9) | 16.3 (61.3) | 20.5 (68.9) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.3 (73.9) | 22.0 (71.6) | 20.7 (69.3) | 17.5 (63.5) | 12.9 (55.2) | 9.3 (48.7) | 16.5 (61.7) | | Daily Mean °C (°F) | −0.3 (31.5) | 2.3 (36.1) | 5.9 (42.6) | 9.0 (48.2) | 13.1 (55.6) | 16.7 (62.1) | 16.5 (61.7) | 15.4 (59.7) | 13.8 (56.8) | 9.4 (48.9) | 3.8 (38.8) | −0.1 (31.8) | 8.8 (47.8) | | Avg. Low °C (°F) | −7.4 (18.7) | −4.7 (23.5) | −0.8 (30.6) | 2.7 (36.9) | 6.8 (44.2) | 10.9 (51.6) | 11.4 (52.5) | 10.7 (51.3) | 8.9 (48.0) | 3.1 (37.6) | −3 (27) | −6.8 (19.8) | 2.7 (36.8) | | Record Low °C (°F) | −16.5 (2.3) | −15.4 (4.3) | −13.6 (7.5) | −8.1 (17.4) | −2.7 (27.1) | 2.0 (35.6) | 4.5 (40.1) | 3.3 (37.9) | 0.3 (32.5) | −7.2 (19.0) | −11.2 (11.8) | −16.1 (3.0) | −16.5 (2.3) | | Avg. Precipitation mm (inches) | 0.9 (0.04) | 1.8 (0.07) | 2.9 (0.11) | 8.6 (0.34) | 28.4 (1.12) | 75.9 (2.99) | 129.6 (5.10) | 133.5 (5.26) | 66.7 (2.63) | 8.8 (0.35) | 0.9 (0.04) | 0.3 (0.01) | 458.3 (18.06) | | Avg. Precipitation Days (≥ 0.1 mm) | 0.6 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 5.4 | 9.0 | 14.0 | 19.4 | 19.9 | 14.6 | 4.1 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 91.3 | | Average Relative Humidity (%) | 26 | 25 | 27 | 36 | 41 | 48 | 59 | 63 | 59 | 45 | 34 | 29 | 41 | | Monthly Sunshine Hours | 250.9 | 231.2 | 253.2 | 248.8 | 280.4 | 260.7 | 227.0 | 214.3 | 232.7 | 280.3 | 267.1 | 257.2 | 3,003.8 | | Percentage of Possible Sunshine | 78 | 72 | 66 | 65 | 66 | 61 | 53 | 54 | 62 | 80 | 84 | 82 | 67 |

Data Source 1: China Meteorological Administration
Data Source 2: mherrera.org (all extreme temperatures)

5. Administrative Divisions

Lhasa City administers 3 municipal districts and 5 counties.

Municipal Districts: Chengguan District, Doilungdêqên District, Dagzê District Counties: Lhünzhub County, Damxung County, Nyêmo County, Qüxü County, Maizhokunggar County Additionally, Lhasa City has established the following administrative management areas: the state-level Lhasa Economic and Technological Development Zone and Liuwu New District.

Administrative Divisions Map of Lhasa City | Division Code | Division Name | Tibetan Script | Hanyu Pinyin | Tibetan Pinyin | Wylie Transliteration | Area (km²) | Permanent Resident Population (2020 Census) | Government Seat | Postal Code | Township-level Divisions | |--------------|----------|------|----------|----------|----------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|----------|----------|----------------| | 540100 | Lhasa City | ལྷ་ས་གྲོང་ཁྱེར། | Lāsà Shì | Lhasa Chongkyêr | lha sa grong khyer | 29,634.01 | 867,891 | Chengguan District | 850000 | 16 Subdistricts | 12 Towns | 37 Townships | | 540102 | Chengguan District | ཁྲིན་ཀོན་ཆུས། | Chéngguān Qū | Chingoin Qü | khrin kon chus | 519.11 | 490,079 | Jibengang Subdistrict | 850000 | 12 Subdistricts | - | - | | 540103 | Doilungdêqên District | སྟོད་ལུང་བདེ་ཆེན་ཆུས། | Duīlóngdéqìng Qū | Doilungdêqên Qü | stod lung bde chen chus | 2,669.54 | 125,647 | Dongga Subdistrict | 851400 | 4 Subdistricts | 3 Towns | - | | 540104 | Dagzê District | སྟག་རྩེ་ཆུས། | Dázī Qū | Dagzê Qü | stag rtse chus | 1,360.95 | 32,318 | Dêqên Town | 850100 | - | 1 Town | 5 Townships | | 540121 | Lhünzhub County | ལྷུན་གྲུབ་རྫོང་། | Línzhōu Xiàn | Lhünzhub Zong | lhun grub rdzong | 4,464.43 | 50,596 | Ganda Chigu Town | 851600 | - | 1 Town | 9 Townships | | 540122 | Damxung County | འདམ་གཞུང་རྫོང་། | Dāngxióng Xiàn | Damxung Zong | 'dam gzhung rdzong | 10,228.99 | 47,900 | Damquka Town | 851500 | - | 2 Towns | 6 Townships | | 540123 | Nyêmo County | སྙེ་མོ་རྫོང་། | Nímù Xiàn | Nyêmo Zong | snye mo rdzong | 3,269.95 | 29,989 | Tarong Town | 851300 | - | 2 Towns | 6 Townships | | 540124 | Qüxü County | ཆུ་ཤུར་རྫོང་། | Qūshuǐ Xiàn | Qüxü Zong | chu shur rdzong | 1,626.93 | 41,851 | Qüxü Town | 850600 | - | 2 Towns | 4 Townships | | 540127 | Maizhokunggar County | མལ་གྲོ་གུང་དཀར་རྫོང་། | Mòzhúgōngkǎ Xiàn | Maizhokunggar Zong | mal gro gung dkar rdzong | 5,494.11 | 49,511 | Kunggar Town | 850200 | - | 1 Town | 7 Townships |

6. Economy

In 2018, Lhasa achieved a regional GDP of 54.078 billion yuan, an increase of 9.3% over the previous year, accounting for 36.6% of the total in the autonomous region. The proportions of the three industries in 2018 were 3.4%, 42.5%, and 54.1%, respectively. The total retail sales of consumer goods reached 29.539 billion yuan, an increase of 14.2%, accounting for 49.4% of the total in the autonomous region.

Characteristic economy and industrial competitiveness are playing key roles in the rapid development of Lhasa in the new era. With considerations for maintaining harmony between humans and nature, the local government has identified tourism and service industries as two key future development strategies.

Lhasa has a relatively high level of agriculture and animal husbandry. In Lhasa, people mainly cultivate highland barley, wheat, and rapeseed. Resources such as water conservancy, geothermal energy, solar energy, and various minerals are abundant.

Lhasa has widespread electricity access. In industries such as textiles, leather, plastics, matches, and carpet weaving, traditional methods coexist with mechanized processes. The production of ethnic handicrafts has made significant progress in recent years, with carpets produced by the Tibet Lhasa Carpet Factory selling well.

Meanwhile, heavily polluting sunset industries will gradually phase out, as Lhasa aims to establish a healthy ecosystem. The local government is addressing environmental issues such as soil erosion, acidification, and vegetation loss on its agenda.

Tourism, developed around the enchanting Potala Palace, the spectacular Himalayan landscapes, and many Central Asian native high-altitude wild flora and fauna, has brought numerous business opportunities to Lhasa. Many farmers in the suburbs of Lhasa still engage in traditional agriculture and animal husbandry. Lhasa has also been a hub of trade networks in Tibet since ancient times. Over the years, chemical and automobile factories operated here due to Lhasa's remote location and less stringent environmental pollution restrictions. However, this situation has changed in recent years.

Nearby, there are deposits of copper, lead, zinc, and other minerals. The Chinese government is attempting to extract these minerals using new methods that do not pollute the environment, as well as tapping into local geothermal resources. The Gyama copper polymetallic mine, the largest investment project by a central state-owned enterprise in Tibet, officially commenced production in July 2010. The Qulong copper mine is the largest copper deposit in China.

7. Transportation

7.1 Aviation

Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is located in Gonggar County, Shannan City. It commenced operations on November 23, 1966, situated approximately 50 kilometers in a straight line south of the city, connected to Lhasa city proper by a highway.

7.2 Railway

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway, with a total length of 1,080 kilometers, was fully connected in October 2005 and officially opened for traffic on July 1, 2006. The Lhasa-Shigatse Railway is 253 km long, running from Lhasa Station to Shigatse Station. It began operation on August 16, 2014. The Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway starts from Lhasa Station in the west, connects to the XieRong Station of the Lhasa-Shigatse Railway, follows the course of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, and extends east to Nyingchi City, with a total length of 435.39 kilometers. Construction began in September 2014, and the railway opened on June 25, 2021. The Sichuan-Tibet Railway is under construction, with an estimated total length of 1,629 kilometers. The section from Chengdu to Ya'an is already operational.

7.3 Urban Public Transportation

• Bus

Lhasa's bus services are operated by the Lhasa Public Transport Group. Currently, there are 30 routes with over 400 vehicles. The system uses a conductorless ticketing system with a flat fare of ¥1 per ride. Passengers can pay by coin, use a public transport IC card, or pay with UnionPay cards equipped with QuickPass or mobile cloud flash payment.

• Taxi

Since 2002, Lhasa taxis have had a uniform starting fare of ¥10 within the city. However, the fare structure was adjusted starting May 10, 2014. The initial fare covers the first 3 kilometers for ¥10. Beyond 3 kilometers, an additional ¥2 is charged per kilometer. After waiting for 6 minutes, ¥1 is charged for every subsequent 4 minutes. For one-way trips between 8 and 11 kilometers, the per-kilometer rate adjusts to ¥3. For one-way trips exceeding 11 kilometers, the rate adjusts to ¥1 per 500 meters. Fares are rounded according to standard rounding rules, with ¥1 as the settlement unit.

• Lhasa Tram

As of December 14, 2010, the number of motor vehicles in Lhasa had exceeded 110,000. Some major traffic arteries in the urban area began experiencing congestion. In response, Lhasa planned to construct a tram system. Line 1 of this system passed its preliminary review in 2014.

8. Education

Overview of Education in Lhasa

8.1 Overview

As the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa's education system has experienced rapid development in recent years. The government places high importance on education, investing substantial resources to improve educational infrastructure, enhance education quality, and promote educational equity.

8.2 Education System

The education system in Lhasa includes preschool education, basic education, vocational education, and higher education.

• Preschool Education

• Kindergartens: There are numerous public and private kindergartens in Lhasa city, providing preschool education services.

• Policy Support: The government encourages school-age children to receive preschool education through subsidies and policy support.

• Basic Education

• Primary Schools: Primary schools are established in all districts and counties of Lhasa city, implementing the nine-year compulsory education.

• Secondary Schools: Including junior and senior high schools, Lhasa has key secondary schools and regular secondary schools.

• Bilingual Education: Tibetan-Chinese bilingual education is promoted to facilitate the inheritance and exchange of ethnic culture.

8.3 Vocational Education

• Vocational Colleges: Lhasa city has vocational colleges that provide skills training and vocational education.
• Program Offerings: Covering various fields such as tourism, nursing, computer science, and agriculture to meet societal needs.

8.4 Higher Education

• Tibet University: Located in Lhasa, it is the only comprehensive university in the Tibet Autonomous Region, offering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral education.
• Other Institutions: Such as the Tibet Vocational and Technical College, providing professional education and skills training.

8.5 Education Policies

• Educational Equity: The government guarantees the right to education for students in pastoral and agricultural areas through the "Three Guarantees" policy (guaranteeing food, accommodation, and educational expenses).
• Teacher Training: Strengthening teacher training to improve the quality of the teaching workforce.
• Informatization in Education: Promoting informatized teaching methods to enhance teaching conditions.

8.6 Educational Achievements

• Increased Enrollment Rate: The enrollment rate for compulsory education in Lhasa has significantly improved, achieving near-universal coverage.
• Improved Education Quality: Through educational reforms and resource investment, the quality of education has gradually improved.
• Ethnic Cultural Heritage: Bilingual education and ethnic culture curricula have promoted the inheritance and development of Tibetan culture.

9. Population

According to the Seventh National Population Census in 2020, the city's permanent resident population was 867,891. Compared with the 559,423 people from the Sixth National Population Census, there was an increase of 308,468 people over the past ten years, a growth of 55.14%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.49%. Among them, the male population was 470,353, accounting for 54.19% of the total population; the female population was 397,538, accounting for 45.81% of the total population. The sex ratio (with females as 100) was 118.32. The population aged 0–14 was 143,069, accounting for 16.48% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 651,141, accounting for 75.03% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 73,681, accounting for 8.49% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 48,170, accounting for 5.55% of the total population. The urban population was 605,511, accounting for 69.77% of the total population; the rural population was 262,380, accounting for 30.23% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the city's permanent resident population, the Han ethnic group numbered 233,082, accounting for 26.86%; the Tibetan ethnic group numbered 608,856, accounting for 70.15%; and other ethnic minorities numbered 25,953, accounting for 2.99%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 112,017, a growth of 92.53%, with its proportion of the total population increasing by 5.22 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 196,451, a growth of 44.82%, with their proportion of the total population decreasing by 5.22 percentage points. Among them, the Tibetan population increased by 179,752, a growth of 41.89%, with its proportion of the total population decreasing by 6.55 percentage points.

Ethnic Composition of Lhasa City (November 2010)

| Ethnic Group | Tibetan | Han | Hui | Tu | Dongxiang | Manchu | Mongolian | Tujia | Miao | Kazakh | Other Ethnic Groups | |------------|---------|---------|-------|------|--------|------|--------|--------|------|----------|----------| | Population | 429,104 | 121,065 | 6,412 | 673 | 375 | 239 | 165 | 161 | 155 | 143 | 931 | | Proportion of Total Population (%) | 76.70 | 21.64 | 1.15 | 0.12 | 0.07 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.17 | | Proportion of Minority Population (%) | 97.89 | --- | 1.46 | 0.15 | 0.09 | 0.05 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.21 |

10. Religion

10.1 Overview

Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region and a holy site of Tibetan Buddhism. Religious culture holds a significant position in the social life of Lhasa. Tibetan Buddhism is the predominant religion in Lhasa, while there are also a small number of followers of Bon, Islam, and Catholicism.

10.2 Tibetan Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism is the primary religion in Lhasa, with a large number of followers and temples distributed throughout the city.

10.3 Major Temples

• Potala Palace: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it served as the winter palace of successive Dalai Lamas and symbolizes the authority of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Jokhang Temple: The most sacred temple in Tibetan Buddhism, housing a life-sized statue of the 12-year-old Shakyamuni Buddha. It is the ultimate destination for pilgrims.
• Sera Monastery: One of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, renowned for its Buddhist debates.
• Drepung Monastery: One of the largest monasteries in Tibetan Buddhism, it was once the world's largest Buddhist monastery.
• Ganden Monastery: The ancestral monastery of the Gelug school, founded personally by Je Tsongkhapa.

10.4 Religious Activities

• Monlam Prayer Festival: Held annually during the first month of the Tibetan calendar, it is one of the most important religious festivals in Tibetan Buddhism.
• Saga Dawa Festival: A festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana of Shakyamuni Buddha. Followers engage in activities such as circumambulation and releasing life.

10.5 Bon

Bon is the indigenous, pre-Buddhist religion of Tibet and maintains a certain influence in Lhasa.

10.6 Major Temples

• Reting Monastery: One of the important Bon temples with a long history.

10.7 Religious Activities

• Bon Religious Ceremonies: Bon followers hold religious ceremonies on specific days to perform rituals and pray for blessings.

10.8 Other Religions

• Islam

• Lhasa Great Mosque: Located in the urban area of Lhasa, it is the main venue for Muslims to conduct religious activities.

• Followers: Primarily Hui and other ethnic minorities.

• Catholicism

• Lhasa Catholic Church: Located in the urban area of Lhasa, it serves as the religious activity center for Catholic followers.

• Followers: Relatively few in number, mainly concentrated in urban areas.

11. Culture

Lhasa boasts numerous historical sites and monuments, with the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery, Zhefeng Temple, Drepung Monastery, and Norbulingka all listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The city of Lhasa features three clockwise pilgrimage circuits centered around the Jowo Shakyamuni statue (a life-sized statue of the 12-year-old Buddha) in the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism. Many devout followers perform full-body prostrations along these circuits to seek spiritual solace. Among these three concentric circles, the innermost is the Nangkhor (inner circuit), which encircles the main hall of the Jokhang Temple. The middle circuit, known as the Barkhor (intermediate circuit), winds through the old city, surrounding the Jokhang Temple and its adjacent buildings. The outermost circuit, the Lingkhor, passes by the Potala Palace and encompasses the entire traditional city of Lhasa. Due to the construction of the main thoroughfare, Beijing Road, pilgrims now seldom use the Lingkhor. Every August, the Shoton Festival is joyously celebrated, one of Tibet’s largest traditional festivals dating back to the 7th century.

Broadcasting and television institutions in Lhasa include Tibet Radio and Television Station, among others. Lhasa People's Broadcasting Station is the only municipal-level radio station in Lhasa and also the youngest capital city radio station in China.

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Tibetan meaning "holy land" or "Buddha land"

Chengguan District

Chengguan District

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Gesang Flower