The Potala Palace Square is the highest city square in the world, and many important events in Lhasa are held here. Standing on the square and looking up at the Potala Palace, you can better appreciate its majestic and sacred side.
If you are shocked by the square in the daytime, the night view here will let you see its softer side. The Potala Palace under the illumination of lights has a unique style, the musical fountain in the square is also quite romantic, and many people dance to the music.
Attractions Location: No. 35, Beijing Middle Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region (next to Tibet Petroleum Company)
Tickets: free
Opening hours:
All day (Monday to Sunday, January 1st to December 31st)
Contact Details: 0891-6822896
Transportation:
1. It is within walking distance from the Potala Palace;
2. You can take Bus No. 11, 12, 1 or 24 and get off at Labai Station. You can reach the destination on foot.
Time reference: 1-3 hours
This itinerary is designed for travelers who want to explore the iconic Potala Palace Square and nearby cultural landmarks in Lhasa.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Lhasa city center; sample Tibetan staples like momos, yak meat stew, and butter tea at nearby restaurants.
Souvenirs: Prayer flags, thangka paintings, yak wool scarves, Tibetan jewelry, and incense.
Experience the essence of Lhasa with a focus on the Potala Palace Square and surrounding spiritual locations.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Lhasa; enjoy traditional Tibetan dishes including tsampa, yak hotpot, and butter tea.
Souvenirs: Handwoven textiles, prayer beads, yak wool products, and Tibetan crafts.
Delve deeper into Lhasa’s rich cultural and religious heritage, centering on Potala Palace Square.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in guesthouses or hotels in Lhasa; try local Tibetan specialties such as yak meat dishes and butter tea.
Souvenirs: Thangka paintings, Tibetan jewelry, yak wool scarves, and incense sticks.
Explore key historical and religious sites in Lhasa alongside Potala Palace Square.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Lhasa city center; enjoy momos, yak stew, tsampa, and butter tea at local eateries.
Souvenirs: Hand-carved wood crafts, prayer beads, thangka art, yak wool scarves, and herbal medicines.
Extend your stay to explore the greater Lhasa area including nature and cultural sites beyond the city.
Accommodation/Food: Mix of hotels and guesthouses in Lhasa; enjoy local delicacies such as yak hotpot and barley beer.
Souvenirs: Tibetan jewelry, prayer flags, yak wool textiles, thangka paintings, and incense.
Immerse yourself in Lhasa’s spiritual and cultural life while enjoying scenic nature nearby.
Accommodation/Food: Stay in Lhasa hotels or guesthouses; try traditional Tibetan cuisine including tsampa, yak dishes, and butter tea.
Souvenirs: Handwoven textiles, prayer beads, yak wool scarves, thangka art, and herbal medicines.
A full week to experience Lhasa’s iconic sites, rich culture, and natural beauty with Potala Palace Square as your base.
Accommodation/Food: Hotels and guesthouses in Lhasa; savor Tibetan delicacies such as yak hotpot, tsampa, momos, and butter tea.
Souvenirs: Tibetan prayer flags, thangka paintings, yak wool products, handmade jewelry, and incense sticks.
So how can you take good-looking photos of the Potala Palace?
(1) Potala Palace Square
How to encounter a small pond in a good location that has not yet dried up in the sunny Potala Palace Square, and then take pictures of the beautiful reflection of the Potala Palace, has always been a big problem that bothered the author during the preparation period of this trip. Not to mention being anxious and anxious, at least a few hairs fell off. Until I received the selfless parting words from Brother Shanying, "Buy a bottle of water and pour it yourself." Happiness always comes so suddenly, and the truth is so simple that it makes me cry.
The following is the work I completed with tears, please read it.
Of course, in addition to pouring water, the Potala Palace Square itself is the best location for taking photos of the Potala Palace.
At any time, there are many photographers climbing, standing or flying in the square. So please feel free to pose as the local residents have long been numb and have no intention of marveling at the sight.
(2) Yaowang Mountain (50 yuan)
Standing on the Potala Palace Square, there is a small hill on the left side facing the Potala Palace, called Yaowang Hill. There is a special viewing platform on it for taking the same photo as on the back of the 50-yuan RMB note.
Believe me, this is definitely the most crowded tourist spot in Lhasa. From Tibetan costume photos, wedding photos, to tourists checking in photos, from day to night, countless sturdy photographers direct the "models" to grab the few angles.
Below are the only few photos with less "intrusions" that this couple obtained after climbing up the Yaowang Mountain Observation Deck twice and staying there for a total of one hour.
(3) Park beside the Potala Palace Square
Opposite Yaowang Mountain, on the other side of the Potala Palace, there is a small park with a small pond. It is also a good place to photograph the reflection of the Potala Palace in the water, especially in the early morning and evening, when cameras and long guns are densely packed around the pond.
However, this is not a good place to take portraits.
Haha, other shooting spots are welcome to visit the OP's travel notes~~
As you enter the security checkpoint of the Potala Palace Square, you will see an artificial lake. This is one of the best spots to take photos of the Potala Palace. (The Potala Palace faces south, so it is side-lit in the morning and afternoon. In spring, autumn and winter, the sun is biased to the south, and the Potala Palace is illuminated from the front, making it the best season for photography.) After 5 p.m., the sunlight still pours down on the entire city, with an extremely blue sky and sunshine that warms people's hearts.
The Potala Palace Square was bustling with people, a stage was being built, and tourists from all over the world came to see it.
In the square, there is a small area filled with mineral water where you can take pictures of the Potala Palace and its reflection in the water.
You can take a panoramic photo of the Potala Palace, which is better at night. This is also the best place to take portraits, and you can pose as much as you want in the square.
If you want to take a picture of the reflection of the front of the Potala Palace in the water, you can directly take the picture by the small lake in the Potala Palace Square. You also need to wait for the water to be calm and windless, otherwise the effect of our picture will not be very good.
Such a magnificent palace is worth spending a long time to record its all-round beauty.
In the Potala Palace Square, there is a blue sky, a dazzling sun, and colorful flags, flowers, and slogans that make the Spring Festival atmosphere particularly warm. Taking photos with the Potala Palace as the background is a must-have experience for every tourist. We played in the square for almost two hours before leaving.
Later, I came to the Potala Palace Square to take photos of the night view of the Potala Palace. Because of the winter antifreeze, the fountain in the square had stopped long ago, and there was no famous "Lhasa Night Rain" in winter, so there were not many people in the square, and most of them came to appreciate the beauty of the Potala Palace at night.
The artificial lake beside the Potala Palace Square is a great place to take photos of the reflection of the Potala Palace. The red buildings and white walls of the Potala Palace, surrounded by ginkgo leaves, are reflected in the water, like the passing of time and the accumulation of years.
You are not allowed to bring photographic equipment into the Potala Palace for photography, but you are allowed to take photos in the Potala Palace Square. Most of the photos of the Potala Palace that you see were taken in the square, with the magnificent palace as the background.
I finally arrived at [the roof of the world - Lhasa]
I finally saw the Potala Palace
A beautiful and magical palace, and also the temple closest to heaven that I have longed for for many years.
Only if you have a dream can you work hard to realize it.
Without dreams, there is no chance to work hard, how can we realize them?
【Potala Palace】
Buildings are built on the hillside and overlapped with each other.
The palace is majestic and magnificent
Wait until night falls, wait until the lights come on...
Waiting is not to ease the excitement
Just to take a look at the magnificent [Potala Palace]
Just to find an excuse not to leave the Sanctuary Paradise
The Potala Palace Square is just opposite the Potala Palace. It is the highest city square in the world. Many important events in Tibet and Lhasa are held here. I checked before that this is the best place to see the night view of the Potala Palace. It gets dark here at 9 o'clock, so I put the last stop in Lhasa here. After walking around Barkhor Street, I strolled here to see the night view.
If standing in the square and gazing at the Potala Palace in the daytime can make me feel majestic and shocked, then the Potala Palace under the cover of night makes me see its gentle side. The Potala Palace has stood here for thousands of years and has undoubtedly become a symbol of faith and a monument to the immortal inheritance of Tibetan culture.
The Potala Palace Square is the highest city square in the world. It is located directly opposite the Potala Palace. At the south end there is a musical fountain and the Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet. It is the center of tourism, cultural and entertainment activities in Lhasa.
The castle-like architecture of the Potala Palace itself embodies an aura of commanding, mysterious and majestic presence. With the blessing of religious beliefs and the worship of devout believers, you will have an urge to understand it.
When you arrive in Lhasa, you will definitely walk back and forth in the square in front of the Potala Palace. Whether it is day or night, the eternal Potala Palace is always worth seeing. There is a pond park in the square where you can take pictures of reflections. Of course, all kinds of wild tourists prefer to splash water directly on the ground to create immersive art. We took pictures happily for more than an hour, and the puddle left behind also benefited the tourists behind us.
The Potala Palace will always be familiar to all of us. That majestic and unique building that transcends nature has been deeply engraved in our hearts since childhood. When I stood in front of the square, gazing up at it with bated breath, I couldn't help but utter the words that had been hidden for a long time: Tibet, here I come!
Because today is National Day, the lights in the Potala Palace Square will be turned off later, so after having a good meal and a good drink, we decided to take a walk there. Although it was dark, there were still many tourists in the square. I feel that the Potala Palace at night is more beautiful than during the day, with bright colors, and it looks more magnificent against the darkness. On the other side of the square is the Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet. I still remember that this history only appeared in the small print of the high school history textbook, and it was not a compulsory test question, but this cannot erase the efforts made by that generation for the peaceful liberation of Tibet.
My friend and I put on our newly bought Tibetan costumes, put on makeup, and wore super cool sunglasses.
During the few days we stayed in Lhasa, we each gave ourselves a nice Tibetan name. My name is Dosen Ruotong and my friend’s name is Tongyao Yangcuo.
I met a group of Tibetan children on the road. When they saw me, they came over to me, clapped their hands, said hello, and then ran away shyly. Is it because my sunglasses look like Ultraman?
We were supposed to go to the Potala Palace that day, but when we excitedly went there at noon, we were told that the reservation for today was full and we had to come back tomorrow. So we changed our strategy and continued to lie in the square to bask in the sun.
We took lots of pictures and selfies.
Then at sunset, we walked towards the distance along the Potala Palace, and arrived at Yaowang Mountain. We happened to meet a couple taking wedding photos. Everyone dispersed consciously and everyone looked at them with a smile.
It means blessing.
The sunset is so beautiful.
Potala Palace Square day and night.
At night, at the Potala Palace Square, accompanied by the musical fountain, the night view of the Potala Palace from outside is magnificent and dazzling. You must come to see the Potala Palace at night, there is no other like it in the world.
The large square in front of the Potala Palace is the most common viewing point. I couldn't wait to go there on the first day I arrived in Tibet. There were not many people here during the day, and it only gradually became lively when dusk fell.
From here you can look up at the full front view of the Potala Palace, and the majesty of the building will come into view.
The park on the east side of the square is very well built, and the pond in the park can capture the beautiful reflection of the Potala Palace.
Of course, after the square's fountain opened,
You can also go behind the fountain to take pictures of the reflection of the Potala Palace.
But it’s best to shoot here at night.
The devout people on the square kept praying and chanting around the Potala Palace, and there were also circles of Tibetans worshipping. The white pigeons on the square were also very human, often surrounding the worshippers. I personally think the best photo spots of the Potala Palace are the Yaowang Mountain opposite and the National Flag Raising Square across the road.
The classic check-in location is directly opposite the Potala Palace, but you have to cross the zebra crossing or underground passage on the side, and you must pass the security check. Generally, the photo locations are the front and side, and the lake in the park next to it can also be used to take pictures of reflections. In the square, you will see many people pouring water on the ground and then lying down to take pictures of reflections. It is very popular on Xiaohongshu. I personally tested that the small bottle of mineral water springs must be filled with at least 4 bottles, otherwise it will definitely not be taken well. In general, it is relatively monotonous, which is considered a standard ID photo angle. Color reference: VSCO: J1
The Potala Palace is a must-visit place in Tibet. Anyone who goes to Tibet, whether Han or Tibetan, aims to see the Potala Palace. The Potala Palace Square is very modern and beautiful. The Heroes Monument is opposite the Potala Palace, and there are soldiers standing guard. But Tibet is very safe now, and the Tibetans are very friendly to us. If you want to go, you must go with confidence.
The dreamlike Potala Palace stands on the top of the most conspicuous mountains in Lhasa. You will be shocked by its majesty and grandeur at a glance. It is the center of religion and politics, and a miracle of architecture. The Potala Palace is a symbol, a symbol, and a belief for the snowy plateau.
After 27 days of cycling, we finally arrived at Lhasa, the city of sunshine, from Chengdu, the land of abundance. The Potala Palace Square, the end of the ride, made many riders burst into tears.
At the Potala Palace Square, you can go and see the full front view of the Potala Palace at any time of the day or night. You can also take out a 50-yuan RMB note and take a spliced photo of the Potala Palace on Yaowang Mountain next to the square.
Every time I come to Tibet, I can’t avoid Lhasa, and every time I come to Lhasa, I can’t avoid the Potala Palace.
The square is very clean. Although there are many tourists, you can find a quiet place inside the square and quietly appreciate the Potala Palace.
Lhasa's check-in holy place, no one else, very convenient
Every time I come to Lhasa, Tibet, I have to go to the Potala Palace Square, it's like a habit!
A fascinating place. I lost the opportunity because I didn't get the ticket. I hope I can go there next time.
The Potala Palace Square is particularly beautiful at night, with lights and fountains that make people reluctant to leave. The Potala Palace Garden should be viewed quietly.
The Potala Palace Square today no longer has the tens of thousands of people that it did many years ago, but it is still bustling, with more people taking photos and daydreaming here.
There is a lake on the east side of the Potala Palace Square, and it is also beautiful to take pictures of the Potala Palace here.
You need to go through security to enter the square. This is a great place to take photos of the Potala Palace. Whether it is day or night, you can take photos of the reflection with a bottle of water.
One of the most popular check-in spots in Lhasa, with armed police guarding the national flag and the Peaceful Liberation Monument!
Snow City is really beautiful. It is very pleasant to sit in the square and watch quietly.
The photos are great, but the sun is very strong. Friends who want to go there should pay attention to sun protection. We went there at night, and the night view was a different feeling.
This is an attraction that you should visit at least twice, during the day and at night, each has its own characteristics.
From the Potala Palace Square, you can directly and clearly see the majestic Potala Palace, the highest and most sacred palace on the snowy plateau.
The Potala Palace is the highest palace in the world and is quite impressive. It is recommended to take photos outside.
The Potala Palace is a must-visit place in Tibet. The piety of Buddhists and the unique scenery of the plateau are all beautiful no matter which angle you look at.
The square in the center of Lhasa, just across the road from the Potala Palace, is the best place to observe the Potala Palace. From here you can easily see the panoramic view of the Potala Palace.
The night view here is very beautiful, and there is a fountain. Behind the fountain, the reflection of the Potala Palace in the water is very beautiful.
It is large and magnificent. You can see it everywhere. The Tibetans who are making pilgrimages are shocked.
This should be the highest square in the world. The majestic Potala Palace is awe-inspiring.
It is the square at the entrance of the Potala Palace...
I saw Tibetans prostrating in the square and many plainclothes police officers. That year was 2008. Time flies! In the blink of an eye, 11 years have passed.
Is there any problem with the full score? If you have never checked in here, who would believe you if you say you have been to Tibet?
After I checked in, I wanted to go to the square, but the police told me that the square was also closed because something big was going to happen tomorrow, so I had to take a taxi and leave.
The taxi driver was very sorry to learn that we were leaving in the evening, and asked us to change the ticket to watch the conference tomorrow before leaving. We said that it was nothing we could do, as this was the only time we had left during the holiday, so we should go home and watch the news broadcast.
The place you must visit in Lhasa is the Potala Palace...
Beautiful. I like this kind of scenery. . . . . . . . . . . . .
It's a nice day for taking photos. Great!
The Potala Palace Square, located opposite the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, is the highest city square in the world. Here you can clearly see the panoramic view of the Potala Palace.
The first time I went to Tibet, I was shocked by the majestic grandeur of the Potala Palace. Standing in the Potala Palace Square, I had a panoramic view of the Potala Palace!
The scenery is very good. I have always seen pictures from photos or TV. I never thought that I could take pictures like posters with a mobile phone. It is not because of my good skills, but because the scenery is so beautiful. Normal activities in Tibet will not cause any high altitude reaction. As long as it is not strenuous exercise, there is no problem. The sunset time in Tibet is relatively late, and the time difference is about two hours, so it is just getting dark at 11 o'clock in the evening.
Opposite the Potala Palace. After the fountain stops at night, you can take pictures of the reflected night view.
If you take photos holding a banner or slogan, will anyone stop you?
It is separated from the Potala Palace by a road, so you can take clear photos of the Potala Palace. Don't be too excited when you first see the Potala Palace in Lhasa. Don't jump and jump like us, as it is easy to get altitude sickness!
On the morning of March 28, people from all walks of life in Lhasa will hold a grand rally in the Potala Palace Square to solemnly commemorate the Liberation Day of One Million Serfs in Tibet and celebrate the 59th anniversary of the liberation of one million serfs in Tibet.
Policemen and patrol members directed the crowd on the north side of the square, informing tourists that because Tibet Television was going to record the celebration, pedestrians on the sidewalk facing the Potala Palace were not allowed to stop or gather.
The road between the Potala Palace and the square was temporarily closed, and there was no usual hustle and bustle of pedestrians and vehicles.
Representatives from all walks of life in Tibet dressed in festive attire and stood neatly in the middle of the square. The leader of the autonomous region delivered a speech and then raised the national flag.
I asked an aunt in a Taiwan tour group for the picture. The Potala Palace is very beautiful, but I personally feel it is a bit commercialized, especially the tour guides, most of them only care about money.
It is a good place to take panoramic photos of the Potala Palace. No reservation is required, but you need to go through security check.
The outer square of the Potala Palace is surrounded by red walls and serves as the government office area.
There was a fountain running on the square. At first I thought there was a lake in the square. The reflection was actually the reflection of the ground after the fountain stopped.
There are so many squares in China, and the Potala Palace Square is one of the top five squares to visit. It owns the entire Potala Palace and is full of openness and freedom under the sun during the day. At night, the world's highest musical fountain is turned on, and songs from the plateau resound throughout the square. Looking up at the sky above the Potala Palace, you can see a group of eagles circling in the sky. The white and bright Potala Palace is so holy!
There were a lot of people gathered in front of a fountain in the square. It seemed that the fountain would turn on soon, so I waited for a while. Sure enough, the fountain turned on and the crowd cheered. Unfortunately, I was lazy and didn’t bring a tripod, so I simply sat on the ground and put the camera on the ground to take pictures.
At night, the water curtain show in the square in front of the Potala Palace. Every time I came here to take pictures, I was blocked by tree branches and couldn’t take the ideal reflection. I always thought that if I were in charge of Tibet tourism, I would definitely cut off the branches. This time, I came here and saw that the obstructing branches were really cut off, and I could perfectly take the front reflection of the Potala Palace.
The square in front of the Potala Palace is a place where traditional and modern civilizations intersect.
The highest city square in the world. There are almost no people in the square. If you stay too long or sit or lie on the ground, the armed police will come to persuade you to leave. It makes people feel that there is still some political sensitivity here from time to time.
There are not many tourists in the huge square. The guards in the sentry box stand upright, guarding this sacred place. There are not many people in the Potala Palace Square. I imitated the shooting techniques on the Internet and found a pool of water in front of the square, and took a picture of the reflection of the Potala Palace.
Waiting for the lights of the Potala Palace at night, I saw the photos taken by a brother the night before when I was in Barkhor Street, which were very beautiful. So I wandered around the square in front of the Potala Palace. The map showed that there were lakes in the square in front of the Potala Palace and in the park behind it. The reflection of the Potala Palace in the lake should be very beautiful. Lhasa was very cold at night, and the camera was also cold. My hands would be numb if I put them outside without gloves for a while. At around 9 o'clock, the lights finally came on. I seized the opportunity and took as many photos as I could... Unfortunately, the lights went out again after only a few minutes. Fortunately, I had found a good camera position while wandering around, and took a few photos while the lights were on for a few minutes. The effect was acceptable!
There are many tourists in the square, and some tour guides will ask if you are willing to join the tour group to visit the Potala Palace. The Potala Palace has separate entrances for individual and group tickets, so be careful not to go to the wrong entrance. The accompanying picture is a photo of "Gugu" and "Wangjiang" sunbathing in the Potala Palace Square.
I don't think I need to say much here. Everyone who comes to Lhasa must visit the Potala Palace, and you can fully appreciate its beauty in the square, especially the Potala Palace at night. However, the music in the square is too loud at night, at least it was like that for the few nights we stayed there
The Potala Palace Square should be 3646.31 meters above sea level
After dinner, I walked to the Potala Palace Square and sat there for a long time, facing it face to face. The wind made my ears hurt. It was hard to imagine that this huge building with the highest altitude in the world and built on the mountain was right in front of me. "It was enough to enjoy the sight and hearing, which was really a pleasure." I didn't want to leave for a long time.
Walking in the Palace Square, it was really exciting. There were also pigeons in the Palace Square~~
There were not many people in the square, mostly tourists from other places like us. The local Tibetans were circumambulating the Potala Palace clockwise.
The fountain and music at the Potala Palace Square at night seemed to be no different from those in all other cities at dusk, but the music full of age, coupled with posters of leaders of past dynasties, gave people a feeling of happiness and well-being of the socialist people... At about 9:30, the fountain stopped, and we saw various heroes setting up tripods on one side of the fountain. Only then did we know that this was how the reflection of the Potala Palace came about.
The Potala Palace Square is a must-visit. You can take panoramic photos of the Potala Palace and its reflection in the water. You can also take 50-yuan background photos on Yaowang Mountain on the far left of the Potala Palace.
It's just to see the whole view of the Potala Palace. Anyway, you have to pass by it, so it's not a matter of whether to recommend it or not.
My physical condition was probably good. Three hours after arriving in Lhasa, everything was still normal. After getting off the bus at the Civil Aviation Administration Station, I walked to the Potala Palace with a large bag on my back to inquire about booking tickets, and then went to the "Monument to the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet" in the Potala Palace Square. After receiving a half-hour phone call from my workplace, I walked to Yutuo Street. After having a characteristic Tibetan meal, I went north around the Potala Palace and went to Xinxue Village behind Zongjiaolukang Park, where I checked in at a hotel.