Viewpoints in Lhasa

Potala Palace Square is the broad, open plaza at the base of Marpo Ri hill, directly below the Potala Palace. It provides the classic vantage point for photographing the palace in its full grandeur and is a gathering place for both locals and visitors.

Sera Utse is a remote hermitage perched on the mountainside above Sera Monastery, offering one of the most spectacular panoramic views of the entire Lhasa Valley. The steep hike from Sera rewards visitors with solitude, prayer flags snapping in the wind, and a horizon-spanning vista.

Chakpori Hill is a sacred rocky outcrop directly across from the Potala Palace, traditionally regarded as the soul mountain of Lhasa. Once home to Tibet's renowned medical college (Mentsikhang), it now features hundreds of ancient rock carvings of Buddhist deities and offers one of the best viewpoints in the city.