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People
The people of Tibet are strong, and adaptable due to the harsh environment in which they live, but they are also extremely warm and hospitable. They are always quick to invite a visitor to Tibet into their home and serve them homemade food, and the famous Tibetan butter tea. 

Food:

Food, just like Tibetan culture and people has a very distinct character. Tibetan food is not only sustenance, but also helps Tibetan people survive the harsh climates. Their food keeps them warm, gives them energy, helps them with the high altitude, and gives them nutrient essentials to the harsh climate. Due to the high altitude of Tibet, water boils at 90 degrees making cooking with water impossible, so Tibetan food has become very specialized. The Tibetan diet consists mostly of meat, milks and other high protein foods.

Tsampa: is a staple found at every Tibetan meal. It is a dough made with roasted barley flour and yak butter. There are two basic ways to prepare and eat Tsampa. One is to make dough with Tibetan buttered tea. The other is to make porridge with beef or mutton, and vegetables. The Tsampa dough served with buttered tea is salty, while the porridge is often served with sugar.

Buttered tea: is another staple of Tibetan cuisine. Tibetans drink butter tea because it warms them up. The buttered tea is quite salty. Some people think it tastes more like soup broth than tea.

Beef and Mutton: Tibetans live on beef, mutton and milk products. Beef and mutton contain high heat energy which is helpful in fighting the cold. Many Tibetans often eat raw meats.

Tibetan noodles: are usually served in a simple vegetable or meat broth.

Momos: are the favorite foods of most visitors to Tibet. They are dumplings made with either meat or vegetables.

Tibetan Dances:
Nearly Every Tibetan can sing and dance. Dancing is an integral part of every Tibetan’s life. Tibetan people sing and dance for nearly every event: weddings, funerals, gatherings, and just for fun. There are many different styles of dance. Each area of Tibet has its own distinct style.

The Guoxie (village) dance is a group dance popular in rural Tibet. This dance is usually performed on open ground from sunrise to sunset. It consists of men and women dancing together in a circle.

Guozhuang (singing and dancing) dance is popular in eastern Tibet. It consists of two parts, singing, and dancing. It is an agile and vigorous dance. Men and women stand in two separate circles and sing in rotation while swaying and stamping their feet. The tempo in the beginning is slow and as the song progresses the tempo speeds up. They performers conclude their singing by shouting “Ya!”

Xie (dance) dance is accompanied by a stringed instrument. At festivals and outings men and women dance the Xie face to face in two lines. They are usually directed by one person at the head of their formation who plays a stringed instrument. The participants sing to each other to express their feelings. This dance is graceful and natural characterized by slow steps.

Qamo (sorcerer’s) dance is a religious dance. It came to Tibet along with the introduction of Buddhism. It is used to subdue evil spirits in monasteries. Originally the Qamo dance was a mime dance where participants wore ceremonial masks. A traditional livestock sacrificing ceremony was held. Since the killing of livestock goes against Buddhist doctrine, livestock are no longer killed. Drawings are now substituted. At the end of the dance the performers take an effigy of Duoma (the leading demon), made of butter and tsampa into the wilderness to burn it, which will drive away evil and bring good fortune in the coming year.

Clothing:
Tibetan clothing has a strong connection with the people, and climate of “Roof of the world“. The Tibetan’s clothing reflects the history, beliefs, and character of the local people.

Each area of Tibet has its own distinct style of clothing. The clothes are influenced by the religion, and environment. Tibetan clothing consists of a robe and shirt. The Tibetan robe worn by men is broad and is normally fastened under the right arm, while the women’s are slightly narrower with or without sleeves. The robes often fastened with two cloth belts. The shirts are also fastened on the right. Men typically wear white shirts with high collars, while women wear various colors with turndown collars.

In northern Tibet, were the weather is bitterly cold, herdsmen wear a fur lined robe years round. Their robe also doubles as their quilt at night. Since the day and night temperatures vary greatly, during the day they usually do not put their arms in their sleeves, but rather tie the sleeves around their waste wearing their robe as a kind of skirt. Their fur lined robes are very bulky and have no pockets, but being fastened at the waist it gives the wearer plenty of room inside for to carry daily necessities, or even their children inside.

In pastoral areas the clothing worn by herdsmen are distinctive for their decorations. Their clothing is usually hemmed in black cloth at the front and lower edges and cuffs. Women wear aprons decorated with colorful cloth stripes.

In the south of Tibet where the weather is warm and damp, the clothing is made from hand woven woolen cloth. Both men and women button their clothing on the right. Men’s clothing are hemmed in colorful cloth, or with silk, while women normally wearing sleeveless robes.

In Lhasa, where the weather is warmer and damper many men wear double layered robes, and women dress in close-fitting robes and long sleeved shirts, with brightly decorated aprons. The apron is one of Tibetan women’s favorite clothing articles. According to custom the aprons are only worn by married women. It is a privilege that young girls look forward to.

Lhasa’s Barkhor Street is located in the center of Lhasa. The street circles the Jokhang Temple, and has been an essential pilgrim route since the foundation of the temple. Buddhist pilgrims can be seen throughout the day and night walking, or prostrating themselves clockwise along Barkhor Street spinning their prayer wheels and chanting sutras. There is more to Barkhor Street than just a place for pilgrims to walk. Barkhor Street, often called the “Window of Tibet” is famous for its shopping.

Barkhor Street gives visitors a great insight into traditional Tibetan culture by selling it to them. The shops and booths along the street are filled with all sorts of items unique to Tibet. There is a large variety of Tibetan Buddhist articles including: Thangkas, Buddhist statues, prayer wheels, butter lamps, prayer flags, sutras, beads, incense. There are also shops that sell house wares, but Tibetan house wares are also unique, and often beautiful: cushions, aprons, leather bags, quilts, shoes, knives, hats, butter pots, wooden bowls, and dried meats. There are also an abundance of souvenirs available on Barkhor Street.

Besides the shopping and location for pilgrimages, Barkhor Street has a lot of historical interest. A small building that used to be Lhasa’s Yamen is located on Barkhor Street. It used to be the office of Lhasa’s magistrate. A small lane going north from Barkhor street leading to a market is the oldest street in Lhasa. There is a small three story temple is located on Barkhor Street and it is said that Tibetan characters were invented in the temple. There is a unique yellow building standing on the southeastern corner of Barkhor Street. All of the buildings along the street are white save this one.

Shopping Tips:

1. When walking around Barkhor Street, always walk in a clockwise direction.

2. It is recommended not to visit Barkhor street in the evening. Every evening at six o’clock, Barkhor Street turns into a market selling small articles for daily use, and the labyrinth of lanes surrounding the street are very easy to get lost in.

3. It is important to bargain on Barkhor Street. The given price is often many times more than the price the shop keeper will accept. It is best to shop around. Many shops will sell similar items, and it is the best way to ensure you get the cheapest price. Sometimes if visitors find something they really want, it is acceptable to pay a higher price because many of the items found on Barkhor Street cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

4. According to tradition, Tibetan shop keepers will offer discounts to the first and last shopper of the day.

It is said that a trip to Tibet is never complete without a shopping spree. Tibet has vast and rich variations of local arts and crafts. Tibetan carpets, carvings, local snacks, as well as Buddhist items are available for visitors. So it could be said that Tibet is a great place for shopping. For visitors to Tibet, there are an uncountable number of specialties for them to choose from.

Thangka: A thangka is a Tibetan scroll painting that has strong ties to Buddhism and features distinctive ethnic flavor. They have been popular in Tibet for centuries. Some Thangkas are charming portraits of a Buddha, some are colorful representations of Tibetan customs, and some are portraits of the history of Tibet. Thangka paintings can be made using a wide variety of techniques: silk tapestry with cut designs, hand painted, color printing, embroidery, brocade, and pearl inlayed.

Tibetan Crafts: Normally crafted from such raw materials as gold, silver, copper, wood, bamboo, as well as bones, Tibetan crafts are not only useful, but aesthetically pleasing. Tibetan silver crafts make great souvenirs from Tibet. Tibetan silver ornaments make use of precious stones like agate, rubies and sapphires, and are usually carved with Sanskrit.

Tibetan Carpets and Textiles: Woven with bright and harmonious colors, Tibetan carpets are durable and beautifully crafted. The hand woven, Tibetan woolen Pulu cloth comes in many colors and is used for making clothes, shoes, and caps. It is incredibly warm, as well as beautiful.

Tibetan Knives: For Tibetan people, knives are not only a tool and a weapon, but also an adornment. It is a time-honored traditional handicraft that is an integral part of Tibetan’s daily lives. This is especially true of knives carried by Tibetan women that tend to be more decorative and delicate. They are particularly famous for their intricately designed silver sheaths.

Tibetan Medicine: Lots of tourists like to buy traditional Tibetan medicine for its herbs such as saffron, aweto and snow lotus. Tibetan doctors and their traditional medicines made by secret methods attract much curiosity, and some tourists also like to pay the traditional doctors a visit for treatment during their tour.

Tibetan traditional arts and crafts are too numerous to mention. To get a better understand of exactly what there is to buy in Tibet, it is best to explore the local markets to do some shopping on your own. The biggest markets can be found in Lhasa.

Barkhor Shopping Market:

Barkhor Street is the famous commercial center of Tibet. It is located outside of Jokhang Temple. Over 120 handicraft and artwork shops and over 200 individual booths are set up on Barkhor Street each day. It is a must-go place for all souvenir shopping. Besides simply shopping, Barkhor Street is a great place to people watch. This circular street is a stop for pilgrims, and is also where local people do some of their shopping, so it gives visitors a great chance to see local people living their lives. This street offers a lot of choices, but it is important to shop around before deciding on a purchase. Many venders sell similar items, and some places are more expensive than others. When deciding to buy a piece, be sure to bargain. It is expected, and it will help insure that visitors do not get cheated. There are no set prices, so if you find something you want, think what it is worth to you, and stick to that price. Most of the items for sale in Tibet cannot be found anywhere else in the world. 

Lhasa Department Store:

It is the largest and most famous store in Lhasa. Located on the west end of Yuthok Street, it sells handicrafts as well as practical items, such as cotton clothing, mugs, canned food, towels and toothpaste and other stuff tourist may need to buy before they move to other remote towns. There are many other department stores lining Yuthok Street, but the Lhasa Department Store is the largest.

Other Shopping Areas:

In the middle of Beijing Street, which begins at Duosenge Street and ends at East Kangang Street, there are various super markets and stores selling the daily necessaries as well as the other tourist commodities. This area is considered the commercial center of Lhasa. The Yuthok Walking Street is a pedestrian street for shoppers. It offers many modern style clothing, as well as some local crafts. It is where most of Lhasa’s youth do their shopping, and people watching.

For certain items, it is better to purchase them where they are created to be insured of authenticity, and quality. For example: the best places to buy traditional Tibetan medicine would be in the local medicine factories or warehouses, and the best place for Tibetan carpets and tents is at the Lhasa Carpet Factory and Lhasa Tent and Banner Factory respectively. Although it is not as easy to bargain in these places, visitors can be assured that the quality is of the highest standards.

As in traditional markets throughout China, bargaining with local people, in local markets can give visitors a better feeling for local Tibetan life. Prices are not set in stone, and it is customary to bargain for your purchases. Traditionally offer 50 percent of the asking price and work from there. Remember most of the items cannot be found anywhere else in the world, and they make unique gifts to bring back home for family and friends, or for yourself to remember your trip to mysterious Tibet.

Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple is the most important Tibetan Buddhist temple in the world. Occupying an area of over 25,000 square meters, the temple is the ultimate pilgrimage destination for Tibetan Buddhists. Originally built in 647 AD, the temple originally had eight shrines, but after over a thousand years of renovations and reconstructions, the temple grew into the giant complex that visitors can see today. The main building is a four story wood building covered with stucco and featuring many golden accents on its roof. Listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2,000 along with Lhasa’s Potala Palace, the Jokhang Temple is a must for visitors to Lhasa. The famous Barkhor Street surrounds the temple complex and pilgrims heading to Jokhang Temple can be seen walking around clockwise. The street is also the best shopping street in Lhasa offering traditional arts and crafts as well as Buddhist articles for sale.
A Tibetan Budhist spinning a prayer wheel

The temple’s prayer wheels are spun by visitors

The golden features on the roof are built in the Tang Dynasty style

Jokhang’s golden roofs

The golden roofs of Jokhang Temple

Overlooking the temple’s courtyard

The symbol of the Jokhang Temple

Jokhang Temple’s white washed walls

A garden overlooked by golden roofs

One of Jokhang Temple’s many buildings

A monk refilling butter lamps