[2025 Lhasa Attraction] Travel Guide for Pabangka Temple (Updated Mar)

Every spring, I yearn for a romantic flower-viewing trip! When it comes to spring blossoms, Nyingchi's peach blossoms are renowned, but today I must recommend a hidden gem—Pabongka Monastery. The peach blossoms here are beyond imagination, guaranteed to redefine your perception of spring's beauty! At this monastery, steeped in history and faith, red walls and golden tiles are embraced by blossoming peach trees, where serene chants intertwine with falling petals. Time seems to stand still as you immerse yourself in the tranquility and admire the breathtaking scenery. Every glance is a visual feast, every second a unique blend of faith and romance. 🙏 Exploring Pabongka "Pabongka," meaning "Palace on a Boulder," evokes a sense of mystery. Over a thousand years ago, Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng graced this place, the birthplace of Tibetan script, with their presence. Inside the temple, the first Tibetan inscription of the six-syllable mantra stands as a silent testament to the passage of time. 🌸 Practical Information 🎫 Tickets: Free! ⏱️ Duration: Approximately 1 hour for an in-depth experience. 🌸 Bloom Time: Peak bloom for ancient peach trees is from late March to early April. Don't miss this limited-time romance. 📍 Key Spots: Steps from the parking area, you'll encounter the largest peach tree in the monastery—a photographer's dream. Further up, peach trees surround the main hall and debating courtyard. A stunning ancient peach tree graces the debating courtyard. Debates usually begin around 3pm (not daily), and the monastery closes at 6pm. Qusang Rizhui Monastery, located along the way up the mountain, also boasts magnificent ancient peach trees. If time permits, it's worth a visit. ⭕ Helpful Tips ⏰ Time Management: Monks debate around 3pm, and the monastery closes at 6pm. Plan accordingly. 👗 Dress Code: Women in skirts can only visit the monastery's exterior. Appropriate attire is required to enter the main hall. 🙅‍♀️ Respectful Conduct: Maintain silence and avoid disturbing the monks and worshippers in this sacred place. 🌳 Protect Nature: Refrain from pulling, stepping on, or picking the blossoms of these precious wild ancient trees. 🐾 Be Kind to Animals: The monastery's friendly animals are a delight. Treat them with kindness. 📷 Photography Tips 📸 Lens Usage: A wide-aperture lens, combined with close-ups of the monastery, creates atmospheric shots. 📸 Locations: The debating courtyard gate offers excellent photo opportunities. The ancient peach tree is in the small courtyard to the right of the entrance. Yellow and red walls complement the peach blossoms perfectly for close-ups. Capture layered images with peach blossoms in the foreground and snow-capped mountains in the distance. 🙏 Seek Permission: Obtain consent from the monks before photographing them during debates. 👚 Outfit Suggestions: Light-colored clothing complements the peach blossoms beautifully. Don't just focus on Nyingchi. Come to Pabongka Monastery and experience this unique spring romance!

Have you ever seen Buddhist scriptures in full bloom? - In March, the plateau is still covered with a light layer of snow, but the thousand-year-old stone steps of Pabongka Monastery are already steeped in peach blossoms. - When the ochre-red monastery walls meet the pink and white clouds of blossoms, it's as if the spring breeze has untied the knots of time on Tibet's oldest palace. - The petals that fall on the prayer wheels are like hairpins dropped by Princess Wencheng, cinnabar shaken off by Songtsen Gampo's brush, and pink love letters written by Buddha to the mortal world. Each petal whispers the secret of "completeness." - Forgotten by time, Pabongka's peach blossoms in March amaze time itself. - 🎈Pabongka Monastery Travel Guide🎈 ✅Lion face relief on the lintel of the main hall: The tassels hanging from the fangs hold the secrets of Tubo craftsmen. ✅"Self-manifested Tara image" on the west wall of the debating courtyard: A compassionate face outlined by natural rock patterns. ✅Mani stone carvings under the ancient peach trees: A totem of reincarnation where petals and mantras grow together. - 📸Moments of Light and Shadow ✅Before and after sunrise (7:30-8:30am): The peach blossom monastery in the morning mist looks like a mirage. ✅Noon (12:00-1:00pm): The gilded rock walls and flower shadows form a mandala. ✅Before sunset (6:00-7:00pm): The sunset turns the entire valley into peach blossom wine. ⚠PS: The above times are for reference only. The specific times depend on the season. - 🚙Transportation Information ✅Taxi: Take a taxi from Lhasa city to Pabongka (approx. CNY 40-50). The fare depends on your location. ✅Didi: Ride-hailing services from near the Potala Palace cost around CNY 30. ✅Bus: Take bus No. 24 to the terminal station. You'll need to walk about 2 km. This is not recommended for those who are not physically fit, as it involves climbing a hill. - 💰Ticket Information ✅Free - 🏠Accommodation Recommendations ✅There are many options during the off-season. We recommend the Oxygen-Enriched Guesthouse (the owner is very nice). - ⚠Travel Suggestions and Precautions ✅‌Best time for photos‌: We recommend visiting in the afternoon, when there are debating activities, the light is soft, and the photo effects are better. The alley at the entrance, under the peach trees, and the monastery walls are all good shooting locations.‌ ✅Clothing suggestions‌: Wear light-colored clothes when taking portraits. Do not wear skirts, hats, or sunglasses when entering the temple.‌ ✅Precautions‌: Pabongka Monastery is a place for meditation and pilgrimage. Do not disturb the young monks and believers. The peach trees are wild and ancient, so avoid pulling, trampling, or picking them.

People who often go to Tibet all know that 'Jokhang Temple was there before Lhasa city was built.' However, the construction of Pabongka predates even the Jokhang and Ramoche Temples, earning it the title of 'Lhasa's First Palace' Pabongka was initially built under the supervision of Songtsen Gampo, and Princess Wencheng lived there after she entered Tibet. Her living quarters are still preserved to this day (see images 4 and 5). Contrary to what one might imagine, the real living environment of the princess who married for political alliance is complicated to describe... Thonmi Sambhota, the father of Tibetan script, created the Tibetan alphabet here and left behind the Six Syllable Mantra personally inscribed by him. Therefore, the first stone carving of 'Om Mani Padme Hum' in Lhasa is located here. The meaning of Pabongka is 'Giant Stone Palace,' which reflects its characteristic of being built upon a giant rock. It is said that the original palace had 9 floors, but now only 2 floors remain. Pabongka occupies the strategic high ground to the north of Lhasa city. From here, one can look down upon the Potala Palace, hence there's a rumor that Pabongka was built with significant strategic importance. If the weather is good, one can see the distant Potala Palace from Pabongka and overlook the city of Lhasa. Transportation: There is no direct public transportation; one can take a taxi, but many drivers do not know this place. It's also not very convenient to call a taxi after visiting. If you haven't rented a car, it is recommended to go early and return early. Another way is to take a bus to the foot of the mountain and then take a local tricycle up. Ticket: Free Precautions: Inside, there is still a chanting hall used by the lamas for daily rituals. They lock it when not in use. We didn't notice when we entered for a visit and got locked inside. Later, we had to call for help through a window to get out. Many lamas inside do not understand Chinese, but they are very friendly; a nod and a smile when meeting them is sufficient. Next to Pabongka, there is a sky burial site, which is no longer open for visitors. Do not attempt to climb over the wall to get in; respect the local customs.

Pabangka, meaning 'Palace of the Giant Stones', is said to have been the residence of Princess Wencheng and Songtsen Gampo before the construction of the Potala Palace. The peach blossoms at Pabangka🌸 allow for photos with blue skies, white clouds, snow-capped mountains, monks, and the red, white, and yellow walls of temples, and also offer a bird's-eye view of Lhasa city and the Potala Palace, making it a place where it's easy to get good shots! ❗️❗️❗️The peach blossoms at Pabangka are now in full bloom, and many peach trees have already sprouted green buds. It's estimated that the blossoms will fall off in a few days, so if you want to visit, now is the time. 🎫Ticket: Free 🚗Transportation: 1️⃣ Didi: Pabangka is about nine kilometers from the city center, and a taxi costs less than 30 yuan 2️⃣ Bus: Take the bus to the Military Region General Hospital, sometimes there are minibuses at the entrance of the Military Region, 5 yuan per person can take you to Pabangka, or you can take a taxi from the Military Region for about 15 yuan, of course, you can also walk from the Military Region, which takes about 40 minutes 3️⃣ Self-driving: Just navigate to Pabangka 📌Tips: 1️⃣ Since the weather in Lhasa has been cloudy in the afternoon recently, if you want to capture blue skies and white clouds, remember to arrive at Pabangka around 10 am, when there are fewer people, the light is better, and the chances of getting good photos are higher 2️⃣ Under the peach trees, it's very suitable for Tibetan dress, Hanfu, and horse-face skirts 3️⃣ Try to avoid wearing white clothes, as they can easily blend in with the peach blossoms and white walls 📸Recommended photo spots: 1️⃣ At the steps just entering the temple, there is a particularly large peach tree, which is especially suitable for photographing the peach tree and the play of light and shadow 2️⃣ At the three white pagodas, you can capture the Potala Palace and peach blossoms in the same frame 3️⃣ Inside the main hall, there is a peach tree in the debate courtyard, where you can photograph monks debating under the peach tree, as well as the peach tree and white pagodas in the same frame 4️⃣ At the entrance of the main hall, there is a peach tree, where you can capture the peach tree and the temple gate in the same frame 5️⃣ Just inside the main hall, there is a peach tree that allows for photos of peach blossoms under the red wall 6️⃣ Behind the main hall, there is a previously abandoned house, which is actually also a great spot for photos Ps: These are just for reference, in fact, many beautiful photo spots are found by slowly walking and seeing beautiful scenes, so it's recommended to slow down, take your time to appreciate the peach blossoms of the mountain temple, and you will definitely discover many incredibly beautiful places🫡 Because the blooming period of peach blossoms is not very long, if you want to photograph the mountain temple's peach blossoms, you can hurry up in the next few days🫰🏻 ❗️❗️❗️Lastly, if you also like Tibet or are thinking of coming to Tibet recently, you can follow me, and I'll show you a different side of Tibet🤣

Baima was reborn in Pabangka. Pabangka is located in the northern part of downtown Lhasa, on the back hill of the Sera Monastery. When I came to Lhasa, in addition to the famous Potala Palace, the size of the Temple, and other places, Pabangka is a place that must be reached. Why do you say this? Before the construction of the Potala Palace, it was the center of politics and Buddhism in the Tubo period. What is more important is that the Tibetan language was born here. I thought that Songtsan Gambo would practice here and receive foreign envoys here. Talking about state affairs and so on. Bai Mawangm is a Tibetan designer and a model. We have cooperated with the Jinyi Tibet series. Later, for various reasons, there was no cooperation again. By chance, we once again collaborated on this set of photos in Lhasa. The costumes were designed by Baima and inspired by Tibetan robes. The location was in Pabangka, and Baima was physically hugged at the time, but the photos were completely invisible. I said Bai Ma, after the photo was taken, I was born again.