Sho Dun Festival in Tibet

Lhasa’s Sho Dun Festival, alternately spelled “Shoton“, is one of the most popular annual celebrations in the Tibetan region. Dating back to the 11th century, the festival was originally a “yogurt banquet” (“sho” meaning” yogurt” and “dun” meaning “banquet”) where locals would bring yogurt offerings to the monks. Over time the festival grew to include opera singing and dancing performances, a now central element of the annual festivities.  

 ⭐ Marveling at the giant Sho Dun Thangka on display at Drepung Monastery

 ⭐ Attending a traditional Tibetan opera performance

 ⭐ Watching lamas debate Buddhist philosophy at Sera Monastery

At an elevation of more than 3,614 meters (11,860 feet), Lhasa is one of the world’s highest cities. While home to some of Tibet’s richest cultural wonders, Lhasa is also a modernizing metropolis. The old town is filled with devout pilgrims traveling Barkhor Street, the town prayer circuit that wraps around Jokhang Monastery. In Lhasa, Buddhism is not an abstract religious belief. For many, it is a spiritual way of life.

Sho Dun Festival

Lhasa’s Sho Dun Festival, alternately spelled “Shoton”, is one of the most popular annual celebrations in the Tibetan region. Dating back to the 11th century, the festival was originally a “yogurt banquet” (“sho” meaning” yogurt” and “dun” meaning “banquet”) where locals would bring yogurt offerings to the monks. Over time the festival grew to include opera singing and dancing performances, a now central element of the annual festivities. On the first day of the festival, the crowning jewel is the giant Thanka painting hung at Drepung Monastery. The rest of the festival is held primarily on the grounds of the Norbulingka Palace, with locals and visitors alike filing in to partake and enjoy the celebrations.

Drepung Monastery

Once the largest and most influential monastery of the Gelukpa sect, the Drepung Monastery housed more than 10,000 monks and served as the Dalai Lama’s residence before the reconstruction of the Potala Palace in the 17th century. From a distance, the buildings actually resemble a mound of rice, hence the name Drepung, or ‘rice heap’. 

Jokhang Temple

A blend of Nepalese and Indian architecture, Jokhang Temple is the oldest and holiest Tibetan Buddhist site. It is a sight to see not only for its beautiful architecture, but also for the massive crowds of pilgrims who go there daily to worship. The roof awards you with stunning views of Potala Palace against a backdrop of snowcapped mountains. If interested, you can rise early to join the pilgrims in the traditional kora.

Potala Palace

An architectural masterpiece perched atop Lhasa’s Red Mountain, Potala Palace is undoubtedly the grandest building in Tibet. It contains more than 10,000 shrines, 200,000 statues, and 1,000 rooms. 

Sho Dun Festival – Dragon King Lake

Tibetan Opera, designated an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2009, is a combination of folk song, dance, storytelling, changing, acrobatics, and prayer. The performance is centered around a narrative with performers wearing colorful multi-shaped masks.

Visit a Local Tibetan Tea House

Drink in the local culture while sipping on a cup of Tibetan sweet tea in one of the city’s tea houses. Tibet’s version of milk tea, this sugary concoction is made with yak milk and is the perfect beverage for putting the pep back in your step after a day of exploring. These popular spots are almost always filled with locals, making them the perfect place to get in some people-watching and take life at the speed of Tibet.

Pabongka Monastery and Hike to Chupzang Nunnery

Local legend claims that the land surrounding the Pabongka Monastery was home to two divine tortoises, a male and a female, which now exist in the form of two granite boulders at this lesser-known monastery. Carved into a rock at the entrance to the temple, you’ll see the mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum”. Roughly translated, the phrase means, “Hail to the jewel in the lotus,” referring to the Buddhist belief that all people inherently possess the qualities necessary to achieve spiritual enlightenment.

Sera Monastery

Once home to thousands of monks, and a powerful political force, Sera Monastery was founded in 1419 and is one of Tibet’s three best university monasteries, and now home to over 500 student monks. It is perhaps most famous for its teaching method, which you can witness most afternoons in the courtyard where monks animatedly and vigorously debate Buddhist texts. We can also visit the printing center, where sutra texts are still printed by hand on Tibet’s traditional long paper.

Gyantse

Once Tibet’s third largest town, Gyantse is known for its charming architecture and picturesque rural landscape. Gyantse is a town frozen in time, allowing travelers a peak into Tibet’s colorful past. Its premier attractions are the Kumbum Stupa, and its Palkhor Choede Monastery.

Drive to Gyantse

In total, the drive takes around five hours. The gentle ascent through a series of switchbacks from Lhasa will take us to an elevation of approximately 4,500 meters (14,500 feet) and is a great opportunity to check out the natural scenery as we drive.

Yamdrok Lake

Yamdrok Lake, 4,400 meters (14,500 feet) above sea level, is revered as the life-spirit of the region. The holy lake is surrounded by unbelievable views of Mount Donang Sangwari as well as the snowy peaks of Nojin Gangzang in the distance. Local Tibetan folklore says that Lake Yamdrok Tso is actually a fairy that descended upon the grasslands of Tibet. As a significant sacred lake, many Tibetans believe that the lake’s colors carry deep spiritual meaning. Thus pilgrims would visit the lake prior to making important decisions. We walk around the lake admiring the stunning views before continuing our drive across the narrow Karo La pass and descending to Gyantse.

Visit a Local Tibetan Home

Get a glimpse at everyday life in Lhasa when we visit a traditional Tibetan home. Converse with the family (through your guide) and admire the home’s intricately painted walls as you drink yak butter tea.

 Day 6 - Gyatse to Shigatse 

 Shigatse

Founded in 1447, Shigatse (3900 meters/12,793 feet) is the second largest town in Tibet with a population of 80,000 residents. It is the seat of the Panchen Lama, the second-highest ranked Lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Kumbum Stupa and Palkhor Monastery

Make your way to Palkhor Monastery, a sprawling complex of temples and assembly halls laden with murals and religious iconography. The monastery’s most recognizable feature is its Kumbum Stupa, a multi-layered shrine that consists of 108 chapels housing thousands of Bodhisattvas, Vajras and other relics of Tibetan Buddhist history. 

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery

The Monastery is the official seat of the Panchen Lama, and at its peak housed more than 4,000 monks in its blazing red, white, and black Tibetan constructed walls. The highlights of this monastery include a five-story temple housing a fantastic 26m high copper and gold statue of the Maitreya Buddha, and a tomb of the 4th Panchen Lama containing masses of jewels and gold. 

 Day 7 - Lhasa 

Drive back to Lhasa. The drive will take around 5-6 hrs. The drive will look out on breathtaking mountains and other marvelous scenery, so get your camera ready.

Barkhor Market

Located amid the narrow lanes of Lhasa’s old neighborhood, Barkhor Street is a bustling market with tons of local vendors selling, amongst other things, prayer flags, jewelry, and incense. Stroll through the area and watch pilgrims circling the Jokhang Monastery prayer circuit amidst the chaos of the market. With the help of our local guide, haggle with shop owners, buy souvenirs, and people-watch in this central Lhasa neighborhood.

Farewell Dinner in a local Tibetan restaurant

Enjoy a farewell dinner in a local Tibetan restaurant. Enjoy dish after dish of delectable local cuisine and learn more about traditional Tibetan celebrations. After a few samplings of Tibetan whiskey, you may even feel compelled to join in a Tibetan dance.

 Day 8 - Departure 

Today, your WildChina journey draws to a close. Your guide and driver will take you to the airport to help you check in for your flight.

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