Tibet

Jokhang Temple, Lhasa
  • Province:
    Tibet (Chinese: 西藏, Pinyin: Xī Zàng)
  • Population :
    2,840,000
  • Area :
    1,228,400 square km (474,300 square mile)
  • Overview:
    With an average elevation of 4,900 metres (16,000 ft), Tibet has long been a favored destination for tourists from around the world.

Tibet has a highland climate, with lower temperature and less precipitation than most parts of China. It has thin air, long hours of sunshine and intense solar radiation.

 

Winter of Tibet

 

The best time to travel to Tibet is April to October, but you have to pay extra cost for almost everything;  Few people visit Tibet in winter, in fact it is a great misunderstanding; Check the weather record in January and February, you will find out winter of Tibet is not so cold.  The snow-capped mountains are more beautiful, less people in most of the attractions...

 

There is great difference in climate between the north -- where the Northern Tibet Plateau has a mean annual temperature of -2 degrees Celsius. and is covered with snow half of the year -- and the south where the Southern Tibet Valleys are much more temperate and humid. Lhasa, for example, has a mean annual temperature of approximately 8 degrees Celsius.

 

Tibet climate

 

Sun radiation is extremely strong in Tibet. The sunlight in Lhasa is so intense that the city is called Sunlight City. The thin air can neither block off nor retain heat so that the temperature extremes can be met in daytime and the same night respectively in Tibet. However it is not impossible to visit the holy snow land. May, June and September are the tourism season in east Tibet.

 

Most annual rainfall comes in the rainy season that starts from June to September. Usually it rains at night in Lhasa, Shigatse and Chamdo area. The rainfall may block roads and make travel difficult but the scenery at the time will be the best. Here is some more specific information in different areas:

 

  • Lhasa /Shigatse /Lhatse /Tingri /Nyalan: Along the Friendship highway is basically in good conditions year around. But from December to February, the thawed road could make some trouble. Try to avoid August - landslide could happen in the rainy season.
  • Mt. Everest Area: Early May and early October are the best time to visit Mt. Everest. Due to the clear weather, you have great chance to see Mt. Everest's true face (if you are lucky). From December to February, you'd better not to go to this area because it is too cold - except you are real Great Adventure People.
  • Ali (Mt.Kailash): Even without climate restrictions, this area is already inhospitable. Big rain and snow could make the journey worse. However, for those determined tourists, the appropriate time is May, June, July, September and October.
  • Eastern Tibet: Don't go to this area in July or August (the rainy season) because the rain could ruin the road, and make terrible landslides. In winter, the road could be frozen.
  • Northern Tibet: With the average altitude of 4,500m, this area offers very limited time for tourists. Summer (July to August) is the prime time to enjoy the great plain in northern Tibet.

 

Tibet weather record

 

Month
Avg. High
Avg. Low
Avg. Precip
January
7.0° C
-10.0° C
0.00 cm
February
9.0° C
-7.0° C
0.00 cm
March
12.0° C
-3.0° C
0.25 cm
April
16.0° C
1.0° C
0.51 cm
May
19.0° C
5.0° C
2.79 cm
June
23.0° C
9.0° C
7.37 cm
July
22.0° C
10.0° C
11.94 cm
August
21.0° C
9.0° C
12.19 cm
September
20.0° C
8.0° C
5.84 cm
October
16.0° C
1.0° C
1.02 cm
November
11.0° C
-5.0° C
0.25 cm
December
8.0° C
-9.0° C
0.00 cm

 

Tibet weather forecast

 

 

 

 

Potala Palace
Potala Place
With its world-wide reputation, the Potala Palace stands on the Red Hill overlooking the Tibetan city of Lhasa as a major national cultural monument
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Jokhang Monastery
Jokhang Monastery
Located in the center of the ancient city of Lhasa, the Jokhang Monastery was built in the seventh century by Songtsan Gambo, the Tang Princess Wen Cheng.
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