Why is Lhasa called the Holy City of Snow? How much is the difference between the oxygen content in Lhasa and that in the mainland?

Lhasa is a revered holy city. Pilgrims come here every day. It has been permeated with the rich Tibetan Buddhism for more than 1,000 years. The temperature in Lhasa is moderate all year round. So why is Lhasa called the Holy City of Snow? How much is the difference in oxygen content in Lhasa compared to the mainland? What should we pay attention to when traveling there?

Contents of this article

1. Why is Lhasa called the Holy City of Snow?

2. How much is the difference between the oxygen content in Lhasa and the mainland?

3. Things to note when traveling to Lhasa

Why is Lhasa called the Holy City of Snow?

1. The reason why Lhasa is called the Snowy Plateau is that it is located in the middle of the Tibetan Plateau, on the north side of the Himalayas, at an altitude of 3,650 meters. Tibet is called the Snowy Plateau, and the Snowy Plateau refers to a place covered with ice and snow all year round, so Lhasa is also called the Snowy City.

2. Lhasa is a holy city because it was formed due to religious factors. The Jokhang Temple came first, and then Lhasa. The Jokhang Temple occupies a supreme position in Tibetan Buddhism. The Jokhang Temple houses a life-size statue of Sakyamuni at the age of 12, and the Ramoche Temple houses a life-size statue of Sakyamuni at the age of 8, both of which were consecrated by Sakyamuni himself. The entire old city of Lhasa is centered on the Jokhang Temple, and pilgrims come here in an endless stream every day. The rich Tibetan Buddhist atmosphere has been permeated here for more than 1,000 years, and Lhasa has become a respected holy city.

How much is the difference between the oxygen content in Lhasa and the mainland?

The oxygen content in Lhasa is about 70% of that in the mainland, that is, the oxygen content in Lhasa is about 30% less than that in the mainland.

The oxygen content in the Tibetan Plateau is only 150-170 grams per cubic meter of air, which is equivalent to 62% to 65.4% in the inland areas. Lhasa is less than 3,000 meters above sea level, so the oxygen content should be higher, about 70% of that in the inland areas.

Things to note when traveling to Lhasa

Note:

1. Get enough sleep before going to Lhasa, avoid going to Tibet when you have a cold, and avoid strenuous exercise. There will be varying degrees of altitude sickness after entering Tibet, and generally there is an adaptation period of several hours or one night.

2. Do not wear a hat, spit, or speak disrespectfully to the lamas when visiting temples. Respect the religious beliefs and living customs of the people in ethnic minority areas and the precautions for going to Lhasa, and consciously abide by the laws and regulations of the Lhasa People's Government.

3. The temperature in Lhasa is moderate all year round, and the highest temperature in summer will not exceed 25 degrees Celsius. You must bring a sweater when traveling to Lhasa at any time. Special routes such as Mount Everest, Ali and other high-altitude areas require cotton clothes, down jackets and other cold-proof items.