In Damxung County, Lhasa, Yangpachen contains rich geothermal resources and is famous as a geothermal museum. The well known Yangpachen Geothermal Power Station stands here. It has hot sprigns everywhere and when the valve is switched on, hot water spurts several meters or even dozens of meters high, constituting a magnificent scene.

Yangpachen, 87 kilometers (54 miles) north of Lhasa, is famous for its hot springs. It was said that long time ago, before the sky and the earth was separated, the whole world was in total darkness. People living at the foot of Mt. Nyainqentanglha were suffering. One day, a golden phoenix flied to the area, determined to create brightness by sacrificing itself. It threw one of its bright eyes onto the ground. A fairy caught the eye, and then a bright lamp arose in the air. Snow capped peaks of Mt. Nyainqentanglha appeared; grassland like huge carpet emerged; happiness came into Tibetan people. However, a greedy man near Yangpachen coveted the lamp. He took a witch man's idea to sharpen his hatred into an arrow to shoot the lamp. The lamp was broken then, the pieces of the lamp dropped onto the ground, turning into hot springs and burned the man to his end. People said that the hot springs were the fairy's tears.

Yangpachen is 87 kilometers away from Lhasa. It can be reached by taking the long distance bus in Lhasa. Around the Yangpachen Transport Station there are guesthouses for 4 years.

Gandain Monastery is the ancestral monastery of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism, and Zhaibung Monastery also belongs to the Gelug Sect. It was stipulated in the past that the number of lamas at Gandain Monastery was to be 3,300, there were to be 5,500 at Sera Monastery, but 7,700-10,000 at Zhaibung Monastery. The majestic monastery was first constructed by Jamyang Qoigyai Zhaxi Bedain, a disciple of Master Zongkapa, in 1416 with donations made mainly by Namge Sangbo, magistrate of Liuwo Zong County during the pagmo Zhuba Regime. Before the monastery was built, Zhaxi Beiba led his followers in mediation at the site. The mountain caves and a temple in which they meditated are still well preserved. Zhaibung Monastery is composed mainly of the Gormang. Lhoseling, Deyang and Ngaba Zhacang, the Gandain Phodrang Palace and Coqen Hall. Coqen Hall covers an area of 4,500 square meters. In front of the hall is a square area paved with stone slabs and covering 2,000 square meters. The Grand Sutra Hall covers 1,800 square meters, and is supported by 183 pillars. The hall is full of Buddhist statues, sutra books, sutra streamers hung on pillars, painted tangka scrolls and mysteriously flickering butter lamps. The hall houses the holy stupas for the remains of the 3rd and 4th Dalai Lamas, the white conch used by Master Zongkapa, and the statue of Miwang Qamba or Maitreya which was presented by the Tubo king Porlunei.

Northwest of the monastery is the Gandain Phodrang Palace, residence of the 2nd to the 5th Dalai Lamas. On top of the mountain stands Genpewoze Temple and at the foot is the Hall of the Neqoin Buddhist guardian. Both are closely related to the monastery. During the Shoton (Sour Milk Drinking) Festival held by Zhaibung Monastery on the 30th day of the 6th month in the Tibetan calendar, a huge portrait of Sakyamuni is hung from Genewoze Hill. Tens of thousands of Buddhist followers and visitors come to worship during the grandest event of the year at the monastery.

Located at the southeast corner of Norbu Lingka, Lhasa, Tibet Museum is the first modern museum in Tibet. It covers an area of 53,959 square meters and has a floor space of 23,508 square meters including an exhibition area of 10,451 square meters. The museum demonstrates a strict and magnificent traditional Tibetan architectural style. Also it reflects a salient feature of modern architectural art.

The museum houses a rich collection of cultural relics including various kinds of cultural relics of pre-history, handwritten Tibetan classics, colorful Thangka pictures, music and ritual instruments, unique handicrafts and pottery. From the exhibition, the visitors can see the long-standing history and profound culture and art of Tibet.

Outside the exhibition hall are green lawns and shadowy trees. Also there are a performance area for modern cultural and physical activities, a garden of local customs and folk culture and manor houses. In addition, the museum has a cultural gallery, handicraft shop and other service facilities. It is a good place for people to relax while visiting the exhibition.

Address: No.19 Norbu Lingka Road, Lhasa
Opening Hours: 9:30-17:30 in summer
               10:00-17:00 in winter.

Zhayaba was one of the four major places at which Buddhist masters practiced mediation. Located in the Lhari Nyingbo Mountains about 20 km northeast of Lhasa, the area features grotesque peaks, strangely shaped rocks, streams, grassland, caves and a monastery. Its long history, the holiness of the environment, and the unique scenery combine to confirm the sayings often heard in Lhasa that “Lhasa is the holy land of Tibet, and Yaba is the holy land of Lhasa”; and “To miss Yaba while in Lhasa is like making a jacket without a collar”. From this we can see the importance of Yaba in the eyes of the Tibetan Buddhists.

Driving eastwards from Lhasa one reaches the Najain Power Station. After crossing a steep mountain behind the station and following Mountain Yaba Gully into the Lhari Nyingbo Mountains, one reaches the Zhayaba Cave area.

Zhayaba teems with small temples. The most important of these is the Zolhakang, where the Tubo king Songtsan Gambo's Tibetan concubine, Mamsa Trizun, worshipped the statue of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism. Sang'aling monastery was built by Kezhugyai Geleg Besang, the first disciple of Zongkapa, founder of the first disciple of Zongkapa, founder of the Yellow Hat sect. The monastery is famous for a three-storey-high statue of the Qamba Buddha (Maitreya), the highest of its type in the Lhasa area.

Hayaba is famous throughout Tibet for the caves where Buddhist masters mediated. Legend has it that there are 108 such caves in the area, including the Moon Cave where Master Padmasambhava conducted his mediation, the Master's Cave in which Adixa, who came from India and who lectured on Buddhism in Ngari, resided; and the Lhalung Cave which, according to legend, served as the secret residence of Lhalung Bedo, a Tantric monk who Killed the Tubo king Dama Wodongtsan who was responsible for the suppression of Buddhism in Lhasa in the mid-9th century.

This small two-storey temple marks the site of Songtsan Gampo's living quarters before the construction of the Jokhang, as well as his favorite place for meditation. It can be found near Sera Monastery to the North of Lhasa city.

The Pabang Kang has a long history although the original construction date is unknown. In the days of Songtsan Gampo, the palace was nine-storey high, and as well as Practicing Buddhism there, he also handled state affairs and met with foreign envoys. In a nearby cave, hidden by a huge stone slab, is the earthen throne where Songtsan Gampo sat and meditated. A stone carving of the famous Buddhist chant “Om mani padme hum” was first presented at Pabang Kang, to Songtsan Gampo. The disciple Thonmi Sambhota had devised a Tibetan script after many years of study in India.

Throughout the era of the Tubo King this temple was an important place for all religious activities. It was destroyed however, during the region of King Long Dama (836-842) who tried to extinguish Buddhism. For 100 years religion was hardly practiced.

By the early 15th century after the establishment of the Gelukpa Sect, Pabang Kang was once again a favourite place of meditation-this time for Tsong Khapa.

It has remained a sacred place for all devout Buddhists.