Grapes are the most famous local products in Turpan. Due to the special location and weather conditions of Turpan, the grapes in Turpan contain more sugar than those of the other places. Additionally, raisin, wine and other products made of grapes are tasty too. They are easy to carry and keep and are popular souvenirs among visitors. Gaochang Road and Laocheng Road are the most bustling shopping areas in Turpan. Turpan Shopping Mall and some restaurants as well as recreational places all gather in this area. Besides, there is the largest commercial and agricultural market on the southern part of Laocheng Road where visitors can purchase beautiful local artifacts as well as local specialties.

Turpan Raisins

Turpan is located on the low basin in the central Xinjiang. The high temperature, long sunshine duration and large temperature differences between day and night make Turpan a paradise for the growing of grapes. Usually, the Turpan grapes refer to seedless white grapes which are excellent materials for making raisins and their secret method is the Shade House (Yinfang). The grapes hanging in the Shade Houses will change into delicious raisins by the function of the natural hot wind. With the green and fresh color, the Turpan raisins enjoy the reputation of “Green Pearl in China.”

Xinjiang Fruits & Melons

Turpan is the fruit paradise in North China. The unique natural environment creates the most suitable condition for the growing of various fruits. Apart from grapes, Hami melon is also a kind of classic fruit in Turpan. When you taste the local Hami melon in Turpan, you will fully understand why it is called “The King of Melon.” Besides, the almonds in Turpan are also tasty. Every September, the almond gardens will become top choices. Generally speaking, there are over 100 kinds of fruits in Turpan. For those fruit lovers, Turpan can offer a feast of fruits to satisfy them.

Colorful Uygur Caps

The colorful caps of Turpan, called “Duopa” in Uyghur language, are necessities in Uyghur people’s daily life. What’s more, the colorful caps are also nice gifts for friends and family members. Generally, the colorful caps are a traditional as well as unique handicraft of Uyghur people. However, different regions have their own features when making the colorful caps. In Turpan, the caps have big flower designs, narrow bottom and bright colors. They are quite popular among the local elder people, which is a rare phenomenon in the whole Xinjiang area.

Grapes are the most famous local products in Turpan. Due to the special location and weather conditions of Turpan, the grapes in Turpan contain more sugar than those of the other places. Additionally, raisin, wine and other products made of grapes are tasty too. They are easy to carry and keep and are popular souvenirs among visitors. Gaochang Road and Laocheng Road are the most bustling shopping areas in Turpan. Turpan Shopping Mall and some restaurants as well as recreational places all gather in this area. Besides, there is the largest commercial and agricultural market on the southern part of Laocheng Road where visitors can purchase beautiful local artifacts as well as local specialties.

Turpan Raisins

Turpan is located on the low basin in the central Xinjiang. The high temperature, long sunshine duration and large temperature differences between day and night make Turpan a paradise for the growing of grapes. Usually, the Turpan grapes refer to seedless white grapes which are excellent materials for making raisins and their secret method is the Shade House (Yinfang). The grapes hanging in the Shade Houses will change into delicious raisins by the function of the natural hot wind. With the green and fresh color, the Turpan raisins enjoy the reputation of “Green Pearl in China.”

Xinjiang Fruits & Melons

Turpan is the fruit paradise in North China. The unique natural environment creates the most suitable condition for the growing of various fruits. Apart from grapes, Hami melon is also a kind of classic fruit in Turpan. When you taste the local Hami melon in Turpan, you will fully understand why it is called “The King of Melon.” Besides, the almonds in Turpan are also tasty. Every September, the almond gardens will become top choices. Generally speaking, there are over 100 kinds of fruits in Turpan. For those fruit lovers, Turpan can offer a feast of fruits to satisfy them.

Colorful Uygur Caps

The colorful caps of Turpan, called “Duopa” in Uyghur language, are necessities in Uyghur people’s daily life. What’s more, the colorful caps are also nice gifts for friends and family members. Generally, the colorful caps are a traditional as well as unique handicraft of Uyghur people. However, different regions have their own features when making the colorful caps. In Turpan, the caps have big flower designs, narrow bottom and bright colors. They are quite popular among the local elder people, which is a rare phenomenon in the whole Xinjiang area.

Turpan is the hottest city in China and it is called the “Fire State”. The summer begins from the mid April and spans almost five months. June, July and August are the hottest months and the average temperature can reach over 38 ℃. The winter starts from the late November and the average temperature is between -5 ℃ and -10 ℃. July, August and September are said to be the best traveling season when the melons and fruits are ripening. Although the weather is hot, it won’t affect the rest of visitors because of the large temperature difference between day and night.

Turpan is the lowest basin in China. It covers an area of almost 70000 square kilometers which contains all the classic attractions of the West Region. Turpan is a key city on Silk Road that connects the western world and the eastern world closely. Turpan region has the most cultural relics of the Silk Road. At present, more than 200 cultural relics were found. Among them, 6 belong to key heritage conservation units protected by the State Council.

Turpan is one of the two centers of Uyghur culture. The special charms of Urghur culture can be reflected in the dancing, music, clothes, religions, food, life styles and architectural styles. They are living documents for visitors to know more about Urghur culture. Additionally, Turpan is also the representative of the unique natural environment in West Region as well as the representative of the civilization of oasis. The natural sceneries in Turpan like desert, oasis, grassland and forest are the most prominent in the whole Xinjiang Province. What’s more, Turpan is rich in grapes and melons, which gains it the reputation of “Kingdom of Fruits.”

Turpan is the epitome of the West Region and it is also an eternal monument on the Silk Road. No wander it is called the Natural Museum of the history and culture of the West Region.

Introducing Lake Namtso, Lake Namtso, Lake Namtso Travel Guide
Article from Tibet Municipal Commission of Tourism

Lhamo Nhatso means auspicious heavenly mother lake or numinous mother lake in Tibetan and another name for it is Qiongguoje Lake. Standing on the mountain top as high as 5,100 meters and looking down, the holy lake is surrounded by mountains. Lake Namtso takes a head bones skeleton shape like a mirror at the foot of the mountains and the scenery is elegant. Lake Namtso is a high mountain freshwater lake with an area of about 1 square kilometers. Lake Namtso surface keeps on freezing up about 7 months. When in summer, after Lake Namtso is thawing, the lake sometimes is as still and clear as a mirror; sometimes red clouds are gathering in the sky and there are waves without wind. Strange sounds are heard now and then and various fantastic scenes are appearing.

Though Lake Namtso is not large, it stands in a special position in reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddhism and Lake Namtso is revered by Buddhists. Every year those who are looking for the successors of Dalai Lama and Panchen Lamas after they pass away must go there, because their reincarnation could be found after seen in Lake Namtso. Every April to June of Tibetan calendar, numerous Buddhist devotees make a pilgrimage here and observe the wonderful sights. It is said different people see the same sight may get different views. It is also said that people can see their future life from the reflections of the lake. The 4th year of ZhengDe, Ming Dynasty (1509AD), Qukejiesi was built nearby by Gedun Gyatso, the Second Dalai Lama, which added more views to the unique views of the plateau. Lake Namtso is the most romantic lake in Tibet and the scenery there is very beautiful.

Quick Facts on Lake Namtso

Name: Lake Namtso 
Location: 240Km East of Lhasa
Best Time to Visit: June to September
Recommended Time for a Visit: 1 Day
Opening Hours: 06:00 - 18:00
Admission Fee: CNY 120

Introducing Tibet Museum, Tibet Museum guide, Guilin Tibet Museum Travel Guide
Article from Tibet Museum

The Tibet Museum of the Department of Information and International Relations, Central Tibetan Administration, was established in 1998 with the purpose to document, preserve, research, exhibit and educate Tibetans and non-Tibetans on all matters related to Tibet’s history, culture and present situation.
 
The Tibet Museum being located in the Main Temple complex in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala, is visited by thousands of foreigners, Tibetans and Indians every year. The museum’s beautiful building, location and the wealth of knowledge makes it a must-see for anyone living in or visiting Dharamsala.
 
The Tibet Museum is more than a space for exhibitions, installations and lectures. Tibet Museum also provides a platform for educational activities relating to Tibetan history–through in-house activities and special events, traveling museum kits, catalogs, and various other publications.
 
We believe that knowing the past gives strength and guidance for the future and hope Tibet Museum will be instrumental in both these aspects.
 
The missions of the Tibet Museum is to inform about the Chinese occupation of Tibet, to provide personal accounts of lives lost in Tibet since the occupation and to inform on the continuous and ongoing abuses carried out by the Chinese government against the Tibetan people.

Tibet Museum also aims to educate the exile Tibetan community on the values of democracy, human rights, environment protection, freedom struggle, as well as to strengthen the Tibetan spirit and collective pride through presentations on Tibet’s rich history and culture.

Quick Facts on Tibet Museum 

• Name: Tibet Museum
• Location: Lhasa Downtown
• Best Time to Visit: All Year
• Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 Hours
• Opening Hours: 09:30-17:30 (Summer); 10:00 - 17:00 ( Winter) (Closed on Mondays)
• Admission Fee: Free

Introducing Ramoche Monastery, Ramoche Monastery guide, Guilin Ramoche Monastery Travel Guide
Article from Ministry of Culture P.R. China

The Ramoche Monastery, Xiao Zhao Si in Chinese, is situated in the northwest of Lhasa, covering a total area of 4,000 square meters. Ramoche Monastery is one of the key cultural relic protection sites of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region as well as a hot attraction in Lhasa.

The original building complex has a strong Tang (Han) architecture flavor, for it was first built by Chinese Han architects in the middle of the 7th century during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), when Tang Princess Wencheng took charge of the project and ordered the temple be erected facing east to show her homesickness.

The Ramoche Monastery fell into ruins and went through many reconstructions -- only the Buddha palace on the first floor is left in its original state. The present Ramoche Monastery is the result of the large restoration in 1986.

The main building in Ramoche Monasterye has three stories. The first story includes an atrium, a scripture hall, and a Buddha palace with winding corridors. The third story was the bedroom once reserved for the Dalai Lama. Upon entering the main building, one can see the ten pillars holding some of the remaining Tibetan relics such as the encased lotus flowers, coiling cloud, jewelry, and particular Tibetan characters. The golden peak of the monastery with the Han-style upturned eave can be seen from any direction in Lhasa city. Needless to say, Ramoche Monastery is a wonderful example of the combination of Han and Tibetan architectural styles.

One of Ramoche Monastery's prized artifacts is the life-sized statue of the 12-year-old Sakyamuni, which Princess Wencheng brought from the capital Chang'an (today's Xian in North China's Shaanxi province) of the Tang Dynasty. As one of the precious cultural relics of Tibet, the statue is now placed in the Jokhang Temple, 500 meters south of the Ramoche Monastery. Residing within the Ramoche Monastery is the life-sized statue of the 8-year-old Sakyamuni, which was brought into Tibet by the Nepalese Princess Khridzun, and is regarded as the greatest saint in the Ramoche Monastery.

Nowadays, Ramoche Monastery has become the very place for the Tibetan monks to study Mi Zong (a Buddhist sect).

Quick Facts on Ramoche Monastery 

• Name: Ramoche Monastery
• Location: Lhasa Downtown
• Best Time to Visit: All Year
• Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 Hours
• Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00 • Admission Fee: Free

Introducing Drepung Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Drepung Monastery Travel Guide
Article from Tibet Municipal Commission of Tourism

On the slope of the Wuze Hill in Genbei five kilometers northwest of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery was built in 1416 and is the largest of the monastery of the Gelug Sect. Drepung Monastery covers and area of 250,000 square meters.

In its heyday, Drepung Monastery had more than 10,000 monks. The monastery has trained a large group of talents for Tibetan Buddhism. The Fifth Dalai Lama lived here before he moved to Potala Palace. Drepung Monastery houses plenty of historical and cultural relics and Buddhist classics. In the exciting Shoton Festival, "Sunning the Buddha" by the monastery has been one of the most magnificent religious activities in Tibet.

Every year in early August, Tibetans celebrate their major festival - Shoton, the Yogurt Festival. The most important event of this festival - Giant Buddha Show is held in Drepung Monastery.

Quick Facts on Drepung Monastery

Name: Drepung Monastery 
Location: 5Km Northwest of Lhasa
Dates: AD 1416
Best Time to Visit: March to October
Recommended Time for a Visit: 2 Hours
Opening Hours: 09:00 - 16:00
Admission Fee: CNY 50

Introducing Norbulingka (Precious Stone Garden), Norbulingka (Precious Stone Garden) Guide.
Article from China Culture

Norbulingka also called Lhasa People's Park is the summer palace of Dalai Lama and the site of World Cultural Heritage. In Tibetan language, it means "Treasure Park". Located on the west side of downtown Lhasa, Norbulingka currently is the largest and comprehensive public park with most historical sites and best landscape in Lhasa, and also the national key tourist attractions in Tibetan region. Over the past, Dalai Lama used to move to Norbulingka from Potala Palace for leisure and political administration in summer.

Originally, Norbulingka was the site of hot spring, and the seventh Dalai Lama built the first palace there to relieve his arthritis. Norbulingka building complex actually featured of the Tibetan classical gardens and comprised of 374 houses or mansions is gradually extended by the seventh Dalai Lama and his successors in different periods. Nowadays, Norbulingka has three parts. The east part including the entrance and the rear of pavilion of suppressing three worlds(Weizhen Sanjie Pavilion); The middle part is the core of Norbulingka, the part of palace complex; the west part is the natural forest for outdoor leisure. The garden structure of Norbulingka is both featured of the characteristics of Tibet plateau and the traditional Chinese gardening arts.

Generally, visitors begin their trip from east entrance, and the ticket price of Norbulingka is 60 RMB per person, and usually the gardens are guarded by policeman, visitors are forbidden to take photos in the palaces. Norbulingka is the complex of religion and politics as well as private life. The history of palaces releases the historical succession of Tibet. Starting from the seventh Dalai Lama to the 14th Dalai Lama, nearly each of them had his own palace in this garden. The palace is Tibetan language is pronounced as Pozhang. The most famous palaces in Norbulingka are represented by Lake Central Palace, Pavilion of Suppressing Three Worlds , Gesangpozhang Palace, New Palace, Jinse Lingka including Jinse Palace, and each palace is comprised of three sections: the front area, the palace area and the forest area. The other important attractions in Norbulingka also include Deer Garden, Monkey Hill and Stadium for Children.

Quick Facts on Norbulingka (Precious Stone Garden)

• Name: Norbulingka (Precious Stone Garden)
• Location: Downtown Lhasa
• Best Time to Visit: March to October
• Recommended Time for a Visit: 4 Hours
• Opening Hours: 07:00-18:00
• Admission Fee: CNY 60