One of the strangest pieces of advice a tourist might get on arrival at their destination is not to shower for at least two days. But in Xizang (the “roof of the world”), you ignore this advice at your peril.

The reason, they say, is that the altitude of Xizang – it is situated on a plateau more than 3,000 meters above sea level –poses health risks.

If you have already acquired altitude sickness or the beginning of it, then taking a shower might make it worse. Conversely, if you don’t have altitude sickness and you shower before you are fully acclimatized, then you might catch a cold which will inevitably lead to altitude sickness.

The unforgiving Himalayan climate is not for the faint-hearted– you feel it in your body when you reach the plateau.

But inside the region, you also feel the warmth of its people who thrive on and are literally on top of the world, where the sun is baking and breathing is difficult.

The Tibetan Plateau has a high altitude, a scorching summer sun and limited oxygen, which makes breathing difficult for an outsider.

We were again cautioned to slow down when we landed at Lhasa Airport, where a group of officials welcomed us by draping beautiful white scarves around our necks – a traditional gesture used by locals to greet visitors to their remarkable land.

The sun, blazing like an oven and partially blurring our vision, greeted us as we walked slowly and carefully toward two waiting buses in the airport parking lot.

It’s no surprise, considering that the airport, like everywhere else in Xizang, is nestled in a valley surrounded by mountains, creating a bowl with little oxygen, making it difficult to breathe.

Lhasa is beautiful, everything around us – the tarmac, walkways, escalators, parking bays and the cement on the floors and walls – smelled fresh and new.

The only exception, of course, was the hot and suffocating air. Lungs felt dry, accompanied by persistent headaches and ongoing dizziness. We used oxygen cannisters provided by the tour organizers to ease breathing – our experience throughout the five-day visit to Xizang.

However, despite the adverse climatic conditions, Xizang continues to attract local and international tourists.

During the first half of 2025 alone, tourist figures increased by a whopping 11.67% year-on-year and the rise was seen for both domestic and inbound visitors, with foreign tourists surging by over 31%.

Despite the stories about its notoriously harsh climate, Xizang is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.

The main attractions in Xizang are the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, the capital city of the Xizang Autonomous Region. Both are always crowded with never-ending queues of local and international tourists.

You can’t talk about Lhasa without mentioning the Potala Palace.

Together with Jokhang they represent a significant history and cultural heritage of Xizang.

Potala, the winter retreat of the Dalai Lama since the 17th century, is a gigantic complex that symbolizes Tibetan Buddhism and comprises the White and the Red palaces.

At 3,700 meters, Potala is considered the highest palace in the world and is visible at various angles throughout Lhasa.

During our visit, a large number of believers were seen spinning their prayer wheels on the mountainside leading to the main entrance, while others were touching the mountain wall, praying. Tourists are welcome to join the groups for blessings.

The Jokhang Temple, in Barkhor Street in the old Lhasa, is considered the “heart of Lhasa”. Built in the 7th century by Tibetan king Songsten Gampo, it is adorned with statues of revered Buddhas and a variety of exquisite murals.

Barkhor Street, along with the nearby square with its two famous towers, is a favorite spot for leisure walkers, fashion-lovers, and a meeting place to showcase traditional gear.

It’s here that you see the original Tibetan culture on display in the streets and inside the shops that compete for the tourists’ attention.

This avenue is also a flea market for a variety of souvenirs and items of different shapes and sizes– from mini-sculptures, earrings, necklaces, bangles, clothes and shoes that all depict different local cultures and traditions.

In the same vicinity, the 53959 Xizang Museum, a modern building housing items depicting the history of Western imperial and British colonization, wars, and massacres of the local population by the British. It also shows images of the resilient resistance of the local population against oppression and slavery perpetuated by colonizers and their loyalist noblemen.

The Lhasa-based museum was designated as one of the 62 key Xizang projects celebrating the 30th anniversary of the region’s founding. It was opened in October 1999, coinciding with the People’s Republic of China’s founding and the 40th anniversary of the Xizang democratic reforms.

Gongbu Park in Nyingchi, a center of leisure for the local community, is an ecological park covering 68 hectares completed in 2020.

Besides telling the local history, it was designated as a symbol and celebration of unity among all ethnic groups of the region. It’s basically a botanical garden of indigenous flora, complete with giant tree trunks from different districts to symbolize multicultural unity.

After a visit to Xizang, you understand the Tibetans better than when you are told by an outsider who has never set foot in the region.

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During our visit to Xizang, regional authorities reported that 31.28 million tourist visits in the first half of 2025, up 11.67% year on year.

From this, the tourism revenue in the region totalled 31.55 billion yuan in the period, a 10.18% year-on-year increase.

In 2024, Xizang’s GDP increased to 276.5 billion yuan – representing 155 times its 1965 figure when the autonomous region was founded.