Tourism -- A Rising Industry

In Lhasa, a holy city rich in tourist resources, there are eight major tourist services, including the Tibet Tourism Corporation and the Lhasa Municipal Tourist Service. There are 13 hotels that accommodate foreign tourist services; they include the Lhasa Holiday Inn, the Tibet Hotel, the Sunlight Hotel, the Snowland Hotel, and the Yak Hotel. Many restaurants are designated to serve foreign tourists, who are treated to their Chinese food, Tibetan food, and Western food.

Visitors to Lhasa are surrounded by ancient castles, monasteries, ruins, and streets. There are also gardens, markets, and emerald mountains in the surrounding area. Visitors are intoxicated by the beauty of the Nyainqentanglha Peak and the Nam Co Lake (both to the northwest of Lhasa); the Lhasa River, the Yarlung Zangbo River, and the Yumzhog Yumco Lake (all to the south of the city); the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Cannon and the Namjagbarwa Peak in Nyingchi in eastern Tibet; and the Yangbajain Geothermal Power Station. Tourist departments organize the Lhasa Culture Tour, the Scientific Exploration Tour, the Moun-taineering Tour, the Festival Tour, the Worshipping Tour and the Trekking Tour. These activities make it possible for visitors to enjoy themselves with the picturesque landscapes, folklore, culture, and religion in Tibet.