The Potala Palace is a palace, not a temple. It is politically similar to the Forbidden City and is the political center of the Tibetan region in history, not a Buddhist center. The building is divided into three parts: Snow City, White Palace and Red Palace. At this stage, there are only the East Side White Palace and some of the main halls on the east side of the Red Palace open for visiting. The west side has never been open to visitors. The tour route of The Potala Palace is very fixed. There is no turning way back. After the tour, you will leave from the mountain in the back. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
a) According to the regulations promulgated by the Tibet Autonomous Region, tickets for all star-rated scenic spots before April 31, 2018 were free of charge. The Potala Palace has a daily limit for traffic, and tickets must be taken only 1 day in advance to queue up by yourself with your ID card for a free visit reservation ticket (need to be queued before sunrise), the next day according to the designated time of the reservation ticket to queue for entry.
b) Normal off-season tickets are 100 yuan/person.
c) On the day of the visit, the time for the appointment ticket is 9:00 a.m., and the security check is 10:00 a.m.
d) It is said that during the peak season, a ticket can be raised to 1,000 Yuan. It is recommended to purchase the ticket online in advance, which is economical and convenient.
e) Although the Potala Palace is only over 100 meters high, it is a plateau area after all. When climbing a mountain, don’t be too fast.
f) The tour guide starts timing from the time of entering the White Palace and they must bring the group out of the Potala Palace within 1 hour.
g) Photographs-taking are forbidden in the White Palace and the Red Palace.
i) Potala Palace ‘s Treasure – Pabarakan avalokitesvara.
j) The world’s first decoration – the spiritual tower of the Fifth Dalai Lama.
k) The place to take a photo of 50 Yuan RMB with The Potala Palace, is the Yaowang mountain across the road.
Just enjoy your tour in the Potala Palace.