Shopping in Tibet
Local Specialties and Souvenirs
Apart from taking photos, seeking for the favorite Tibetan local specialties and souvenirs is a memory of joy as well. The Tibetan local specialties are distinctive, like the Tibetan sword, DZI, mask, Thang-ga and Tibetan rugs.
DZI
DZI is a rare gemstone can be found only in the Himalaya Mountains region, which is regarded as a god-given present. DZI in Tibet means virtue, reputation and fortune. Therefore, Tibetans wear the DZI round the neck, on the wrist, on the ears or on the waist as the decoration as well as the wish of best luck.
Thang-ga
Thang-ga is a kind of scrolling religious painting with a colored silk frame. It manifests the Tibetan art in painting, on which all the respects of life are painted, therefore Thang-ga is deemed as the Tibetan encyclopaedia.
Tibetan rugs
Tibetan rugs fall into three sorts, namely the one made of woolen yarn and yak-wool, the one made of Berlin wool and the one made of the hair of river deer and cattle hide. The first kind with more figures is bright-colored and feels soft. While the second is plain and the third is the toughest. This traditional Tibetan handicraft is commonly used as the decoration of the living room.
Tibetan sword
Tibetan sword has been a necessary of the Tibetans as well as a symbolic baldric for 1600 years. Tibetan swords wear scabbards that are made of wood, iron or copper and are engraved with the dragons, phoenix, tiger or flowers and plants. The Tibetan swords produced in Kongpo district and Shigatse are of higher quality.
Tibetan Medical material
The extremely poor environment is always the home to the rare species. It holds true to Tibet where there are many rare animal and plant species such as the Tibetan antelope, Tibetan wild yak, aweto and saffron crocus etc. Most of these rare species can be used as Chinese medicine.
In addition to the above specialties, there are many other specialties reflecting the Tibetan customs and culture, such as the prayer wheel, stone inscription, Tibetan boots, tapestry etc.
Daily Articles Shopping
Shopping Center
Barkhor Street in Lahsa is the shopping center in Tibet, just as the Teemall in Guangzhou. All the local specialties mentioned above are available here, but whether the quality of the goods you buy is satisfactory or not depends on you in that some goods are inferior. Here you can bargain with the vendors. The closing price is one third of the bid.
For the fruits and vegetable, you should go to the Zongjiao Lukang Market in Lahsa--the largest fruit and vegetable market.
Note: Never buy the Tibetan medicine, aweto and saffron crocus in the Barkhor Street for most of them are adulterant. Go to the pharmaceutical factories or drug stores, but no bargain.
Other Shopping Places
Yutuo Market
Address: Yutuo Rd., Lhasa
Tel: 0891-6321787
Golden Valley Market
Address: 21 Yutuo Rd., Lhasa
Tel: 0891-6330360
Blue Shield Mall
Address: 27 Duosenge Rd., Lhasa
Tel: 0891-6335865
National Trade Market
Address: Jokhang Monastery Square, Lhasa
Tel: 0891-6325582
Tibetan Pharmacy
Address: North of Jokhang Monastery Square, Lhasa
Tel: 0891-3685301
Turquoise handicrafts and Supermarkets for native products
Address: 5 East Kang'ang Rd.,Lhasa
Tel: 0891-6825126
