Heading to Shannan, touching the original warmth of the snowland civilization

【3 Days to Explore Shannan｜Travel the "Birthplace of Tibetan Culture" for only 1800 RMB per person! Check in at Yumbulagang, Lhamo La-tso, Samye Monastery, visit Tibet's first palace, first monastery, and first farmland. I've thoroughly explored this underrated secret route for you🔥】 Shannan is known as the "Cradle of Tibetan Civilization." Here, there is no hustle of the Potala Palace, nor the trendy filters of Yamdrok Lake, but it hides the most original faith and history: ✅ Yumbulagang — Tibet's first palace, summer palace of Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng ✅ Samye Monastery — Tibet's first monastery with the complete Buddhist trinity, a miniature model of the cosmic mandala ✅ Lhamo La-tso — the sacred lake among sacred lakes, where successive Dalai and Panchen reincarnations are recognized ✅ Changzhu Monastery — personally built under Princess Wencheng’s supervision, housing a thousand-year-old pearl thangka ✅ Zhaxi Raodeng Village — Tibet's first farmland, where barley spread across the snowland plateau Average altitude 3500-4500 meters, good road conditions, suitable for first-time Tibet visitors, culture lovers, and photographers. It’s not thrilling, but deeply profound; It’s not far, yet it can take you back to the starting point of Tibet. Today, I’m sharing this complete 3-day, 2-night itinerary perfect for weekend travelers and short holiday visitors, step by step👇 --- 📍 Itinerary｜3 Days 2 Nights Deep Cultural Light Trekking Version (Starting from Lhasa) 👉 Day 1: Lhasa → Zedang (Shannan City)｜Initial Exploration of Yarlung Civilization - Take a bus at 7:30 AM from Lhasa East Suburb Bus Station (ticket 80 RMB), travel along National Highway G349, about 2.5 hours to Zedang - Stay at a Tibetan-style guesthouse or hotel in Nêdong District (recommended "Yarlung Riverside Inn," about 220 RMB/room) - Afternoon sightseeing: ✔️ Changzhu Monastery (ticket 70 RMB): - Built by Princess Wencheng to suppress evil spirits - Temple treasure: Pearl Avalokiteshvara Thangka (woven with 29,000 pearls) ✔️ Zhaxi Raodeng Village (free): - Known as "Tibet’s first farmland" - See barley turning green in spring, golden waves of wheat in autumn - Evening stroll at Yarlung Riverside Park, with a distant view of Gongbu Ri sacred mountain 👉 Day 2: Zedang → Samye Monastery + Yumbulagang One-Day Highlights Tour - Morning drive to Samye Monastery (about 1.5 hours, round-trip car hire about 500 RMB) 🔹 Ticket 80 RMB, the world’s only mandala-style monastery integrating Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha 🔹 Must-see highlights: - Uzi Hall (three floors with distinct Tibetan, Han, and Indian styles) - Outer four continents and eight small continents symbolizing the universe structure - Viewing platform on Haburi Mountain behind the monastery for panoramic views (highly recommended!) 🔹 Experience: spinning prayer wheels, hanging prayer flags, simple interaction with lamas - After lunch, head to Yumbulagang (about 1 hour from Samye) 🔹 Ticket 60 RMB, built in the 2nd century BC, Tibet’s oldest palace 🔹 Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the Yarlung River Valley; legend says Nyatri Tsenpo was crowned king here 🔹 No photography inside, quietly feel the thousand-year blend of royal power and faith - Return to Zedang for overnight stay 👉 Day 3: Zedang → Lhamo La-tso (optional based on stamina) → Return to Lhasa - Option A (recommended for those with good stamina): 🌄 Depart at 5 AM, car to Qiongjie County, then switch to local guide and horse caravan (mandatory!), hike about 2 hours uphill to Lhamo La-tso (altitude 5500 meters) 🔸 Ticket + horseman + guide about 600 RMB/person (advance booking required in peak season) 🔸 The sacred lake is small but highly revered; devout visitors say they can see their past, present, and future lives in the lake 🔸 Note: No loud noises, no photography, no sunglasses (images won’t appear) 🔸 After descending, return directly to Lhasa (passing Gongga Bridge) - Option B (easy version): 🏞 Morning visit to the Tombs of Tibetan Kings (Qiongjie County, ticket 50 RMB) — grand mausoleums of the Tubo dynasty kings ☕ Lunch in Qiongjie Town with a bowl of handmade Tibetan noodles 🚐 Afternoon return to Lhasa via Gongga (about 3 hours) --- 💰 Total Budget List (based on two people sharing): - Transportation (round-trip bus + car hire + horse caravan) 900 RMB - Accommodation (2 nights Tibetan-style guesthouse) 440 RMB - Food + supplies (sweet tea, Tibetan noodles, stone pot chicken) 300 RMB - Tickets + sightseeing (Changzhu Monastery, Samye Monastery, Yumbulagang, etc.) 250 RMB - Lhamo La-tso special fees (including horseman and guide) 600 RMB (only for Option A) - Oxygen bottle + warm packs + insurance 100 RMB ✅ Total: about 1760 RMB! Well controlled under 1800 RMB! 📌 Key Tips: ✅ Best seasons: April-June (mild climate), September-October (clear autumn colors) ❌ Avoid July-August rainy season! Mountain areas prone to landslides, Lhamo La-tso often closed due to weather ✅ Must-have items: - Cold weather gear: windbreaker, fleece hat, gloves (strong winds in high mountains) - Altitude protection: take Rhodiola in advance, portable oxygen bottle, sunscreen SPF50+ - Hiking shoes: especially for Lhamo La-tso, many rocky slopes, good grip is important ✅ Respect the faith: - No loud noises inside Samye Monastery and Yumbulagang - Strictly no photography, video, sunglasses, or disrespectful speech at Lhamo La-tso - Walk clockwise around monasteries, do not step on prayer flags --- Many only know Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Ngari, but don’t realize— Tibet’s story begins in Shannan. This is where the first smoke rises, where the first Tibetan king was crowned, where the first monastery’s bell rang at dawn. If you want to know "where Tibetans come from," come to Shannan. 🌾 When you look out over the Yarlung River Valley from Yumbulagang, you can almost hear the sound of farmers swinging hoes three thousand years ago. 👉 Tell me in the comments: do you want to see with your own eyes that Avalokiteshvara image woven from pearls?