Barkhor Street

Every time you come to Lhasa, you must visit Barkhor Street to feel the atmosphere of Tibetan folk customs. When you come here, it is natural to follow the clockwise flow of people and walk around Barkhor Street. This is the most lively, charming and famous prayer road in Lhasa. It is called the "Holy Road" by Tibetans. Its existence reflects the mystery, rise and fall and changes of the times of this land of Tibet. The street is full of Tibetan handicrafts, such as turquoise, chicken blood vine, Buddhist beads, bracelets, prayer wheels, silver jewelry (white copper, Tibetans call white copper silver), shawls, and many kinds of goods brought from India and Nepal. There are many Tibetan Buddhist supplies and ethnic small commodities here, and there are more than a thousand mobile stalls.

If every tourist city has a small commercial street, then Lhasa's is Barkhor Street. Devout Tibetans will turn the prayer wheel on this street every day, and the meaning given to it is not just a small commercial street, but a street where believers worship. There are many streets around the main street, which also have their own flavor. Different from the bustling Barkhor Street, they are more about the life of local Tibetans.

If every tourist city has a small commercial street, then Lhasa's is Barkhor Street. Devout Tibetans will turn the prayer wheels on this street every day, and it is more than just a commercial street. When you come here, you will find that this is a completely different world, a Buddhist world that is different from the material world.

Along the street, you can see many believers kneeling and praying, Tibetan-style buildings and small shops full of ethnic customs, and people walking around in a hurry but also leisurely. I wish I could always be like this, and walk around the Potala Palace Square and Barang Street every day, because the feeling of having no distractions can no longer be described in simple words. I feel that the people here are lively, peaceful, inclusive and infectious. Barang Street should be walked clockwise, which is said to bring good luck, but in fact, just follow the Tibetans.

After dinner, we took a taxi to Barkhor Street again. Later we found that it was next to the Jokhang Temple we visited in the morning. When my father first came here, he told me about the Barkhor Street in Tibet. It is still called that now. I think it is a commercial pedestrian street selling Tibetan specialty products. However, one thing that is different from other pedestrian streets is that this is the only way to the Jokhang Temple. Many people who go to the Jokhang Temple to worship will pass through Barkhor Street. There is a stone slab road in the middle of Barkhor Street that can accommodate two or three people in parallel. It is polished and polished. It is the mark left by the pilgrims who bowed every three or five steps. In Tibetan, "Barkhor" means "transit path". Barkhor Street, also known as Bajiao Street, is a famous circumambulation path and commercial center in Lhasa. It has relatively intactly preserved the traditional appearance and living style of the ancient city. The original street of Barkhor Street was just a single circumambulation path around the Jokhang Temple, which Tibetans called "Holy Road".

Barkhor Street is bustling with people, and my figure is also integrated into this endless stream of people. Stop and look from time to time, and feel the profound cultural heritage here from the actions of the Tibetan people, and experience the curiosity and surging passion from the tourists coming from afar. Every bluestone slab on the ground under your feet undoubtedly interprets more than 1,300 years, so that many historical clouds have emerged today. In such a scene, I seem to be unable to resist the invisible and powerful attraction that Barkhor Street brings to me, driving me to walk back and forth several times on this street of about one kilometer. In the face of the passing of time, the longer you integrate into this place, the more you can be attracted by everything contained here. This is an irresistible emotional impact from the bottom of your heart.

........Barkhor Street Located in the old city, Barkhor Street, also known as "Eight-horned Street", is the most famous prayer path and commercial center in Lhasa. Some Tibetans still perform sacred prayer rituals on the street to express their inner piety. Almost all the houses facing the street are shops, selling all kinds of Tibetan costumes, handicrafts, and goods from India, Nepal and other places. Except for Barkhor Street on the west side of Jokhang Square, which is an open street, security checks are required to enter Barkhor West Street, Barkhor North Street, Barkhor East Street, and Barkhor South Street outside the Jokhang Temple wall (entering Jokhang Square and Barkhor X Street is free and does not require reservations, but security checks are required).

Barkhor Street was first built when the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo founded the Tubo Dynasty. It is a veritable thousand-year-old street. Over the years, the cultural heritage has left a deep historical imprint. As a tourist, especially a first-time visitor to Barkhor Street, what are the must-see attractions on Barkhor Street?

See the architecture, customs, history, historical sites, people of all kinds, and a wide variety of specialties... Don't miss a visit to a teahouse, which is the most convenient way to understand local culture.

The circle around the Sakyamuni Buddha Hall in the center of the Jokhang Temple is called "Nangkor", the circle around the outer wall of the Jokhang Temple is called "Bakor", and the street radiating from the Jokhang Temple is called "Bakor Street" or Bajiao Street. To be honest, Barkor Street can be called a "small commodity distribution center". The only things that can reflect Tibetan culture are the appearance of the buildings and the occasional pilgrims.

Most of the devout Tibetans do not enter the Jokhang Temple. Instead, they circle around it and kowtow. Outside the Jokhang Temple, although the Barkhor Street is crowded with shops and tourists, walking on the Barkhor Street still gives people the illusion of being in a foreign country (such as Turkey) - the people around them dress differently, speak different languages, and look different. The things sold in the shops are also very novel, and from time to time you will be startled by people who suddenly kowtow at your feet.

Slowly walk to Barkhor Street, which is not too far from the Potala Palace. This is the famous prayer path in Lhasa. Tibetans call it the "holy road". It is also the place where practitioners start their day. No matter it is windy or rainy, day after day, year after year, they will hold the prayer wheel, silently recite the six-syllable mantra, and walk hurriedly on the street, forming a crowd and gathering faith. Before coming here, the imagined Tibet is always associated with words such as faith, piety, and mystery. But those are just some vague guesses. Only when you really come here can you truly feel the persistence from the heart and the power of faith.

Barkhor Street is where Tibetans go to pray and pilgrimage every day. If you come to Lhasa, you must come to experience the local customs. However, the only bad thing is that there is not much food inside, especially formal meals. You need to bring your ID card to go through security check when entering Barkhor Street, so don't forget it.

The circle outside the Jokhang Temple is Barkhor Street, where many believers come to pay their respects.

Barkhor Street is right outside the Jokhang Temple. Barkhor Street, also known as Bajiao Street, is the most famous prayer path and commercial center in Lhasa, and the most lively place in Lhasa.

It’s still the same Barkhor Street, not much has changed!

The scorching sun on the streets of Tibet is not in vain

A bit like a local pedestrian street, moderately priced and unique

Very beautiful, very original, all the people go around the temple clockwise

Just follow the flow of people, and be sure to walk clockwise. There are too many Tibetan street photos.

The photo is pretty good, even a clumsy user can get the feeling, it has a strong ethnic flavor but also a strong commercial atmosphere

The Ming and Qing streets in Lhasa serve tourists with their folk customs, and a simple stroll is all you need.

There are many Tibetans on this street, and all the buildings are Tibetan-style.

Located in the center of the old city, there are several attractions there

A very distinctive street. I think you must come here when you come to Lhasa. The walls with strong colors and various distinctive buildings will make people linger.

Beautiful. I like this kind of scenery. . . . . . . . . . . . .

It's really great. You can see the end at a glance, and the buildings on both sides are eye-catching. . .

Time passes slowly here and the sun shines brightly.

Drink a bowl of sweet tea,

Look at the pilgrims coming and going on the streets...

Compared with the noisy and impetuous daytime, I think Barkhor at night is more worthwhile for you to walk. There are few tourists and believers who kowtow. This kind of night is its original appearance.

It was almost noon, and Barkhor Street was bustling with people. For some reason, although the scene was full of fireworks, it didn't make people feel worldly at all.

Walking back to Barkhor Street, the sun was setting. I like Lhasa's evening the most, when the noisy secular scenes and pious religious atmosphere of the day gradually fade into the night, and Barkhor Street becomes more romantic at this time.

It is not only a pilgrimage route for believers, but also the most prosperous commercial street in Lhasa.

There are all kinds of shops on Barkhor Street, including the well-known Guxiuna Bookstore and Maggie Ami, as well as many interesting small shops.

To enter Barkhor Street, you need to scan your ID card and go through security check. This is my first time entering Barkhor Street, a thousand-year-old prayer road. Because we followed the navigation, the direction was exactly opposite to the direction of the prayer. So on the road of the large group of people praying, we were the only ones who walked in the opposite direction. Every day the sun shines on the people praying on Barkhor Street. The wind horse flags on the roofs fluttering in the wind convey faith to a place closer to the sky. Every time they fly, it means chanting a sutra.

Besides strolling around the alleys, my favorite thing about Barkhor Street is to find a sweet tea shop where I can bask in the sun and listen to people from all over the world share their stories along the way. It's beautiful and simple.

The crowds of people circumambulating and prostrating themselves along Barkhor Street clockwise, the bustling shops and the dazzling array of ethnic products are all unforgettable scenes.

It is a leisure shopping street in the eyes of tourists and a must-go place for Tibetans to circumambulate their temples. It is probably the only commercial street in China that combines business and faith.

The place where Tibetans circumambulate the temple. There are even more people circumambulating the temple here than around the Potala Palace. We also followed the local custom and walked clockwise. I secretly took a photo of the Tibetans circumambulating the temple. I was embarrassed to point the camera at them too obviously, so I was nervous.

There were many pilgrims walking around the square, bowing every three steps. Above the noisy crowd was the quiet blue sky and white clouds, prayer flags fluttering in the wind, and the sun shining brightly.

Here you can not only buy tourist souvenirs, but also a microcosm of Lhasa's society, an encyclopedia of Tibetan culture. Every piece of clothing, utensil, ornament, and ritual implement is full of the spiritual pilgrimage of Tibetan Buddhist believers.

In the early morning at Barkhor Street, a large number of Tibetans have gathered here to start their day of circumambulating the temple.

The temples near Barkhor Street were burning incense, and the whole ancient city was shrouded in smoke.

You can try Tibetan food and Tibetan yogurt on the street. In addition, there are many Tibetan women on the street who will ask if you want to braid your hair. The price is not expensive and you can try something new.

I got up early in the morning and jogged along the Barkhor and Lingkhor routes. After 7 o'clock in the morning, many people were already circumambulating the temple.

The things in the store can be bought on the street, but you should compare prices and buy them after you have seen them. There are many people circumambulating the temple and many tourists on the street. It is very close to the city and the Potala Palace.

There is also Bajiao Street, which has a large flow of people and is a commercial street.

Walking around Barkhor Street with the local Tibetans, I could hear the sound of chanting. Walking around Barkhor Street clockwise, I felt very peaceful. On Barkhor Street, there were many old ladies, shaking prayer wheels with one hand and twisting Buddhist beads with the other.

There are many small shops inside, but they are not particularly distinctive.

There are Tibetan-style two- or three-story buildings along the street, with small flowers on the second floor and colorful goods in the shops along the street. There is no modern city sleekness, but the ethnic customs are overwhelming...

The commercialization is too strong, but the piety of the Tibetans has not been diluted by the commercialization. There are many people worshipping every day, and most of them are tourists.

Barkhor Street is always crowded with people. People walk in a clockwise direction, and many of them kowtow. I really admire their perseverance.

Many Tibetans walk in a clockwise direction every day. There are many specialty shops on the street where you can bargain and compare prices.

If you want to understand Tibet, start with Barkhor Street

Enter Barkhor Street and follow the crowd to walk around the prayer path clockwise. You will see a wide variety of Tibetan ornaments, Tibetan men, women, young and old, and a strong Tibetan flavor.

There are almost all shops, many people buy things, it is difficult to tell the real from the fake

You need to queue up for security check, which is very strict. The government has measures in place to protect religion. I had to drink from the water bottle I brought with me, and taking photos was prohibited. I didn’t know this when I went there for the first time, and the few photos I took were deleted by the police.

Walking in Barkhor Street, there are many tourists around, but more are Tibetans. Tibetan is everywhere, and the Tibetan language is heard. The street is full of shops selling all kinds of goods. It is very lively, but there are no annoying loud speakers like those in the pedestrian streets in the mainland. Although there are many pedestrians, there is a pious atmosphere. Barkhor Street is not big, walk slowly, feel it carefully, and take photos by the way.

The same sky, the same clouds. I even suspect that the dog lying at the alley entrance is still the same dog; the solemn crowd of people turning the prayer wheel on Bajiao Street is still the same crowd; the Tibetan old lady shaking the prayer wheel on the bench by the street is still the same old lady.

I even had the illusion that I had never left, and had always been here watching those people, those things, and the free sheep tied with a red rope.

—— It seems as if time in Lhasa has just been circling around Barkhor Street and has never passed.

Tibetans can be seen everywhere in Barkhor Street, prostrating themselves along the way. Their clothes are dirty and torn, and some even have broken heads, but they still kowtow every two steps on Barkhor Street, showing their piety. One cannot help but sigh at the power of faith.

Barkhor Street is full of Tibetan-style buildings. The wind blows and the curtains are blown up, as if there is a tacit understanding between heaven and earth. I met a dog with a melancholy look on the street, and it was so worried that it made people laugh.

The local residential area surrounds Barkhor Street. You can go to their thangka shop to have a look. It is not necessary to buy other small accessories.

A cultural exchange center from all over the world, with delicious food and beautiful legends, each store has an unforgettable story. The faith here makes it even more fascinating.

Many devout pilgrims kowtowed and could not help but sigh at the power of faith.

There are many exotic little things,

This is a street you must visit when you come to Lhasa. There are sweet teahouses, the most prosperous streets, and the goods are dazzling. You will definitely find something you value there.

I met an old man walking his dog in Barkhor Street. He was so cute.

I walked around Barkhor Street in the morning. There were few tourists at this time and believers were chanting scriptures and worshiping devoutly. It was nice.

The original Barkhor Street was quite interesting. It had strong ethnic characteristics. Now it is a new town after improvement. It is very clean but has lost its characteristics.

I have been to Barkhor Street countless times, and I can take new photos every time. I met a little sister (although she is definitely younger than me) taking photos, and I took two photos by the way. Tibet is really a good place to take photos, but it’s a pity that I am still a single dog when I go there for the second time. I met a pair of little sisters who I like very much~ so cute! I took photos with them all the way, and a passerby took a photo of them with a Polaroid camera, which made the two little beauties excited all the way. It was a simple and beautiful childhood~ I think I should bring a Polaroid camera with me when I go out in the future, which is better than giving candy.

I also bought some cotton clothes at Barkhor Street. There is also a big supermarket. It is really nice.

Many people say that Barkhor Street is the best place to daydream. Find a quiet corner, drink a cup of sweet tea, and look at the bustling crowd below. This should be the most artistic way to appreciate Barkhor Street.

Barkhor Street, in my opinion, is actually the commercial street of Lhasa. The street is full of ethnic products, but its special feature is its ethnic customs. You can see believers kneeling and praying along the street, golden prayer wheels, ethnic gates and murals. On this day, I wished I could walk along this street forever, because the feeling of having no distractions really cannot be described in simple words. You can kneel down and worship the faith in your heart, no one will laugh at you, and no one will even look at you twice. Everyone is in a hurry and leisurely, not caring about others, only focusing on themselves. What a great happiness it is.

This is a great place! The blue sky and white clouds set off the red, white and yellow Tibetan-style buildings. I like to sit in a corner of the square and watch the pedestrians coming and going on Barkhor Street. You can see all kinds of people here, some are devout pilgrims, some are leisurely and dazed, some are posing with selfie sticks, and some are like me who want to take pictures of everything with an unprofessional micro-single...

The street retains the original style of the ancient city of Lhasa and is paved with hand-polished stones, with old Tibetan buildings preserved next to it.

There are shops on both sides of the street, including more than 120 handicraft shops and more than 200 sales stalls.

The main shops on the street include Maji Ami, Xueyu Thangka Handicraft Shop, etc.

The streets are old and simple, with many businesses.

It is not too far from the Potala Palace to Barkhor Street by bus or taxi. At first, I guessed that Barkhor Street might be a place similar to Lijiang's "commercial street", selling specialties, jewelry, snacks, and various small things. This is the same "ancient city" and "ancient street" that I have seen countless times. As I gradually approached this place, I slowly realized that they are different. The overall building is probably no more than three floors. It doesn't look deliberately painted or decorated, and there is no forced uniform appearance. The side connecting the city road and the surrounded pedestrian street is unexpectedly harmonious. Entering Barkhor Street from each alley does not make people feel particularly abrupt.

When I talk about Barkhor Street in the future, I will think of the monks walking slowly in robes, the old men sitting in a row under the trees silently reciting scriptures, and the little kids lying on the stone corridors to bask in the sun. There are no loudspeaker advertisements for 10 yuan for three skewers in the kebab shop, no local music in the jewelry store, and no business of wearing doll costumes to take pictures. When you are tired, you can sit upstairs and have a pot of sweet tea. Just staying quietly is very satisfying.

This is basically a commercial street, but in the morning many Tibetans also come here for pilgrimage; those who walk quickly with their heads down are Tibetans. You can feel the feeling of pilgrimage by walking along the Tibetan road. I stayed here for one day in Lhasa specifically to experience the pilgrimage.

Barkhor Street is located in front of Dashao Temple. It is the largest urban landscape in the area and has a strong commercial atmosphere. Tibetans call it the "Holy Road".

Being in Barkhor Street is like being in a dream. As the crowd moves forward, all you can see are the pious backs of most people, while the bluestone slabs under your feet are flashing a dim light.

The believers on the prayer path walked, prayed, and kowtowed, going round and round, pursuing the perfection in their hearts. The drizzling rain made everything seem more pious.

There are many shops on both sides of Barkhor Street, and the handicrafts and accessories with Tibetan characteristics are the tokens of the connection with Tibet.

It is a well-known Lhasa circumambulation path and commercial center shopping street. There are many Tibetan shops and restaurants selling Tibetan clothing, handicrafts, and goods from India, Nepal and other places. There are some rules for walking around Kor Street. You must walk clockwise to have good luck! Just follow the direction of the Tibetans.

I sat on a chair by the Barkhor Street for an hour, basking in the sun and watching all kinds of people walking by. I didn't feel bored or tired at all, simply because the culture here is so vivid, full of tolerance, yet very quiet and peaceful.