VISAS, ENTRY RULES, CUSTOMS REGULATIONS in Country list Tibet, China
If you are entering Tibet from China, you will need a valid Chinese visa and a Tibetan Tourist permit. The permit is issued for a different number of days. Please note that some cities require a separate permit from the general one. You will also need a special permit if you want to move around Tibet on your own. When ordering an organized tour in Russia, permits are issued by a travel agency; when entering Tibet from Nepal – to Kathmandu at the Chinese Embassy; independently from the territory of China – in travel agencies. Formally, there is still a rule for issuing permission to visit Tibet for groups of at least 5 people. However, now it can be purchased by one person, but at a higher price. It should be taken into account
Import and export of foreign currency is not limited (the declaration is required for amounts over 5000 USD). Duty-free import of 400 cigars, up to 2 liters of alcoholic beverages, up to 72 photographic films, up to 20 pairs of underwear is allowed. The import of fresh food products is prohibited. It is strictly forbidden to import any printed and other products directed against the state ideology of China, in particular, related to the issue of independence of Tibet. Export of souvenirs is not limited. The export of any antiques made before 1949 is prohibited.
Embassy in Countries list Tibet, China
Tibet, China, Embassy in Moscow
Chinese Embassy in Moscow: 117330, st. Friendship, 6
Tibet, China, Russian Embassy in the country:
00600, Beijing, Dongzhimennei Beizhong Ulitsa, 4
Phone: (8-10-8610) 65-32-2051, 65-32-1381
Fax: (8-10-8610) 65-32 -4851
Contact in Tibet, China
In Tibet, communication is not everywhere. Some hotels have telephones from which international calls can be made. You can also call from phone booths using a card or from the Telecommunication Center. There are two Telecommunication Centers in Lhasa. There are many internet cafes in Lhasa.
Emergency Phones in Country directory Tibet, China
Police – 110
Fire protection – 119
Emergency service – 120
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS
Week in January or February – Chinese New Year
Week in February or March – Tibetan New Year (Losar)
March 10 – Rebellion Day
May 1 – Labor Day
July 6 – Dalai Lama’s Birthday
Week in late August – early September – Xuedong or Sour Milk Festival
September 2 – Democracy Day
October 1 – Founding Day of the People’s Republic of China
Tibetans celebrate more holidays and hold more national festivals than any other of China’s 56 nationalities. The total number of festivals is about 150. New Year (Losar) is the most significant and beloved holiday. It is celebrated on the next new moon after the Chinese New Year. On the last day of the old year, a general cleaning is carried out. New icons are hung in the altars; walls, pillars, beams of the house and even the ground in the yard are decorated with auspicious signs, such as a vase, flower, sun, moon, etc., which are applied with flour or batter. Juniper branches are attached to the doors. They bake mountains of pies for New Year’s treats for relatives and friends, as well as 8 special buns intended for eating at noon on the first day of the New Year. These buns have a fortune-telling character – pieces of wood, paper, pebbles, coals, lumps of salt, dung, yak hairs, or a healing root can be baked in them. He who received a bun with paper will become a scientist in the coming year, and the one who who got a wooden chip, poverty awaits. Dung predicts good luck, and the healing root of health and victory over the enemy. The central rite of the holiday is Cham – a dance performance associated with both the farewell to the old year and the meeting of the new one.
Of the festivals, Xuedong or the Sour Milk Festival deserves attention.. It is usually celebrated in early July according to the Tibetan calendar, that is, it falls on the period from late August to early September according to the new style, and lasts about a week. The history of the festival goes back to the 11th century. As the legends say, in those distant times, the monks were forbidden to leave the holy monastery all summer, and only at the end of August this ban was lifted. Then they descended to the foot of the holy mountains and enjoyed the sour milk that the common people brought to them. The time has come for fun, games and fun. Later, Xuedun got another name – the festival of the theater. The connection of Tibetan opera with this holiday arose in the middle of the 17th century. Then every summer during the Xuedun Festival, famous Tibetan opera troupes from different parts of Tibet came to Lhasa and staged performances in temples. The time has passed
There are also many local holidays in Tibet: the Chomolungma Mountain Cultural Festival in Shigatse County, the Yalun Cultural Festival in Shannan, the Azalea Cultural Festival in Nyanchi, horse racing in Gyantse and others. Equestrian competitions in Gyantse have a long history, the first mention of them dates back to 1408. Tibetans love this holiday very much. It starts early in the morning. Horse racing, shooting competitions and festivities continue for several days. Performances, ball games, national songs and dances, lively trade complete the picture of the holiday.
USEFUL THINGS
The air in Tibet is very dry, when breathing, a significant amount of liquid is lost, so you should always have water with you. Due to the thinness of the air in the highlands, a greater amount of ultraviolet radiation is passed through, and therefore it is necessary to cover completely, and smear sunscreen on open areas of the body. Two types of clothing should be taken – light for the daytime and warm for the night.
SHOPS
Shops are usually open from 9:00 to 12:30, after a break – from 14:30 to 17:30. Sunday is a non-working day in most stores.
Tipping
Tipping is officially prohibited in China, but it can be given to a porter or for a therapeutic massage at a hotel.
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS
The national characteristics of the Tibetans are friendliness and curiosity. All Tibetans are very religious and their whole life is devoted to religion. Everything they do is determined by Buddhist ethics and customs.
ELECTRICITY
220V, 50Hz;
HEALTH CARE
In Tibet, qualified medical care can be obtained only in Lhasa, where there is a large hospital, qualified doctors, preparations of both Western and Tibetan medicine. In very serious cases, a helicopter can be called. In smaller cities there are small dispensaries with 1-2 doctors and a couple of beds. Here they can provide first aid, prescribe the necessary medicines, put a dropper.
In pharmacies, drugs are made in China, sometimes comments in English are attached to them. Here you can find herbal medicines based on Western and traditional approaches to healing. If you have planned a route far from cities, then you should stock up on medicines in advance. According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, mandatory vaccinations for a trip to Tibet are not required. Since this is an alpine region, mountain sickness can begin, manifested in nausea, dizziness, and loss of appetite.
If you take out an insurance policy, then when you return home, you can reimburse most of the costs of medical care.
