A Frame with a View - 11 Best Places to View & Photograph Potala Palace 2026

For any visitor to Lhasa, the Potala Palace Square offers the most classic photograph of the iconic palace. This vast, open square provides the definitive front-on view, with the reflected image of the Potala Palace standing as the predominant photographic composition.

• Pro Tip: Visitors can utilize portable mirrors, smartphone screens, or puddles as creative reflective surfaces. By positioning the camera at a low angle close to these reflective mediums, one can capture stunning mirror images of the palace. The scene becomes particularly breathtaking after dusk when the lights are turned on.

• Location: Directly south of the Potala Palace with a distance of approximately 50-100 meters, just across Beijing Middle Road. It is easily accessible on foot and can be reached in around 5 minutes via the underground pedestrian passage.

This Viewing Platform is precisely the location featured on the back of China's fifth series 50-yuan banknote. Unlike the frontal perspective from the square, this vantage point masterfully captures the Potala Palace's terraced architecture ascending the mountainside, presenting a profile of its layered structure against the natural slope.

• Pro Tip: Bring a 50-yuan banknote to create comparative compositions with the actual landscape. When capturing the photo, you may find it difficult to achieve sharp focus on both elements. The camera often prioritizes either the banknote in the foreground or the Potala Palace in the background. For camera users, we recommend using a wide-angle lens and setting a narrow aperture. For smartphone photographers, try switching to manual focus mode and adjusting the focus distance to approximately 0.7–0.8 meters.

• Openning Hours: 8:00-19:40 (15th Apr. to 15th Oct.); 9:00-19:00 (16th Oct. to 14th Apr.)

• Location: Southwest of the Potala Palace with a direct distance of approximately 100-150 meters, just across Beijing Middle Road, directly adjacent to the western end of the Potala Palace Square. It is easily accessible on foot and can be reached in around 5 minutes via the underground pedestrian passage.

If you wish to experience Lhasa from a grand and sweeping perspective, Nanshan Park is an absolute must-visit on your itinerary. From the viewing platform, you are treated to a unique bird's-eye view: to the north lies the majestic Potala Palace, below winds the Lhasa River, and the entire city of Lhasa unfolds before your eyes, nestled among surrounding mountains. This kind of expansive vista is an experience unmatched by any other attraction. It also offers fresh air and serves as an ideal spot for a stroll and relaxation.

• Warm Tip: For this photography spot in Nanshan Park, take Hiking Trail No. 1 to reach the Glass Viewing Platform in about 15-20 minutes, which offers the classic panoramic view of the Potala Palace. For reaching the summit, take Hiking Trail No. 3. The climb is demanding at high altitude, so a slow pace is essential.

• Openning Hours: 8:00-20:30 (1st May to 10th Oct.), 9:00-19:00 (11th Oct. to 30th Apr.)

• Location: Nanhuan Road, Najin Street, Chengguan District, Lhasa 拉萨市城关区纳金街道南环路; about 6km away from Potala Palace for 15min's drive

Zongjiao Lukang Park is traditionally known as "the Back Garden of the Potala Palace". It provides the premier photographic vantage point for capturing the rear elevation of the Potala Palace, famously framing its majestic architecture through the reflective surface of Dragon King Pond. You might even capture a flock of birds or a traditional boat adding life to your scene.

This beautiful public park is free and open to all. As you explore, you'll find yourself sharing the path with Tibetan pilgrims circling the lake on a kora, spinning prayer wheels and chanting scriptures. You might also encounter joyful gatherings where locals dance in circles to traditional Tibetan music.

• Pro Tip: For the best shot, position yourself by the water's edge. Frame your picture to include the palace, the clear blue sky, and their perfect mirror image on the tranquil surface for a symmetrical composition.

• Location: No. 9, Niangre South Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa 拉萨市城关区娘热南路9号; Behind (north of) the Potala Palace. When you exit the palace's north gate, you will find yourself at the park's entrance

While there are numerous spots around Lhasa to photograph the Potala Palace from a distance, for an impressive close-up photo with the palace, the best location is undoubtedly the Potala Palace itself during your visit. Before entering the main buildings, you can capture a perfect photo of yourself with the majestic palace towering behind you.

• Pro Tip: To capture a successful photo with a person standing close to the tall Potala Palace, it's recommended to employ a low-angle shooting technique. When framing the shot, place the subject's feet at the very bottom edge of the frame while leaving ample space above their head to fully encompass the majestic structure of the palace. Half-body shots are also a great option. This focuses more on the subject's expression while still capturing the grandeur of the palace.

• Openning Hours: 9:00-15:30

• Location: No. 35, Beijing Middle Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa 拉萨市城关区北京中路35号

Tuanjie Park offers a distinctive photographic experience, capturing the Potala Palace from its less-photographed eastern flank while framing panoramic views of the park's daily life. Through its meandering pathways that weave through the grounds, this vantage point seamlessly connects scenes of local residents engaged in leisurely strolls and traditional exercises with the distant palace silhouette. As evening descends upon Tuanjie Park, the awakening street lamps cast a warm glow along the winding paths, creating luminous ribbons that guide the eye toward the brilliantly illuminated Potala Palace.

• Warm Tip: For capturing the panoramic view, the optimal camera position is located closer to the midpoint of the hiking trail, near the exit side. If you prefer to minimize climbing effort, you can start your ascent from the trail exit and walk upward rather than beginning from the main trail entrance.

• Location: Southwest of the Potala Palace with a distance of approximately 500 meters, just across Beijing Middle Road. It is easily accessible on foot and can be reached in around 10 minutes via the underground pedestrian passage.

Tibet Museum is an excellent spot for photographing the Potala Palace against a backdrop of majestic mountains. After exploring the cultural exhibits, visitors can relax at the viewing platform on the third floor, where a selection of beverages is available for purchase. From the east side, you can capture stunning photos of the Potala Palace, while the west side offers picturesque views of the Norbulingka and the Drepung Monastery.

• Openning Hours: 10:00-17:30 (1st Nov. to 4th Apr.), 9:00-18:30 (1st May to 31st Oct.), closed on Monday

• Location: No. 34, Norbulingka Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa 拉萨市城关区罗布林卡路34号; about 2km away from Potala Palace under 10mins' drive; about 150m away from Norbulingka for 5mins' walk

Barkhor Street Times Square (八廓时代潮流文化广场) is located within the renowned Barkhor Street circuit. After exploring Barkhor Street, you can head to the overpass near Times Square to capture a photo of the Potala Palace with a steady stream of traffic flowing through the city. It becomes particularly mesmerizing after nightfall, when the city lights create a breathtaking contrast with the illuminated palace.

• Pro Tip: For capturing the perfect shot of the Potala Palace against the city traffic, the optimal timeframe is during the blue hour, approximately 30-50 minutes after sunset. This period offers a dramatic color contrast between the deep blue sky, the warm lights of the palace, and the flowing vehicle trails, creating a dynamic and visually compelling image. A tripod and long exposure technique are essential to smoothly capture the city's motion during this time.

• Location: The intersection of Beijing East Road and Balangxue Fourth Lane, Chengguan District, Lhasa 拉萨市城关区北京东路与八朗学四巷交叉口; about 3.5km away from Potala Palace for 10mins' drive; about 1km away from Jokhang Temple for 20mins' walk

The Princess Wencheng Theater is a large open-air theater, famous for its spectacular setting against a backdrop of real mountains and skies. The theater is dedicated to the grand Princess Wencheng Drama, which tells the moving story of the Tang Dynasty Princess Wencheng's arduous journey to marry Songtsen Gampo, the king of Tibet, thereby promoting peace and cultural exchange between the Han and Tibetan peoples. Whether you visit before or after the show, you can enjoy a distant view of the Potala Palace and the gleaming lights of Lhasa city.

• Performing Hours: 21:00-22:30 (Showtimes are for reference only and are subject to change due to seasonal variations and other factors)

• Location: Princess Wencheng Theater, Cijuelin Village, Chengguan District, Lhasa 拉萨市城关区慈觉林村文成公主实景剧场; about 8km away from Potala Palace for 20mins' drive

Tibetan Family Kitchen (更潘藏家厨房) in the Barkhor Street circuit offers a feast for both the palate and the eyes. While you savor authentic, home-style Tibetan meals made from traditional staples like yak meat and barley flour, you can enjoy a direct view of the majestic Potala Palace. Or simply order a pot of sweet tea or a local beer, and capture the grandeur of the palace during a leisurely moment.

• Openning Hours: 10:00-22:30

• Location: No. 16, Barkhor South Street, Chengguan District, Lhasa 拉萨市城关区八廓南街16号; about 3.5km away from Potala Palace for 10mins' drive; about 100m away from Jokhang Temple under 5min's walk

Lalu Wetland National Nature Reserve, known as "the lungs of Lhasa", is a vast natural wetland located at the highest altitude in the world. It offers a unique and peaceful perspective of the Potala Palace, far from the city's hustle.

For photographers, this is a prime spot to capture the palace in a completely different light. The wetland's serene waters create perfect mirror-like reflections of the Potala Palace. With the wide, open landscape of reeds and grasslands in the foreground, the palace appears both majestic and isolated, standing against the backdrop of distant mountains. It’s an ideal location for photos that emphasize nature, tranquility, and the grand scale of this iconic structure.

• Warm Tip: North Gate provides the closest and most direct access to the prime viewing spots. From there, you can frame the Potala Palace against the wetland's serene waters.

• Location: Dangre West Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa 拉萨市城关区当热西路; North Gate of Lalu Wetland is about 8km away from Potala Palace for 20min's drive

How to Get to Lhasa : Nonstop flights to Lhasa Gonggar International Airportfrom Chengdu (about 3 hrs), Chongqing (about 3 hrs), Beijing (about 4.5 hrs), Xi'an (about 4.5 hrs), Xining (about 2.5 hrs), Kunming (about 3 hrs), Shangri-La (about 2.5 hrs), etc. and Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Lhasa Railway Station from Xining, Chengdu, Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai...

Best Time to Visit Lhasa : all year round, with the summer (Jun.~Aug.) and autumn (Sept.~Nov.) seasons being the optimal time to visit.

Where to Stay in Lhasa : Central Lhasa's Chengguan District, with the Barkhor Street or Potala Palace areas being highly recommended.

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• Lhasa Travel Guide
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• Top Things to Do in Lhasa
• Potala Palace
• Namtso Lake
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• Barkhor Street
• Lhasa Cooking Class
• Princess Wencheng Drama
• Lhasa Hotels & Hostels
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• Lhasa Altitudes Guide

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• Trains to/off Lhasa
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