Tibet To Reopen To Travelers??

UPDATE April 18: The Tibetan regions in Qinghai ARE OPEN. The Tibetan regions in Sichuan, Gansu and in the Tibet Autonomous Region are NOT open. The Tibetan regions in northwest Yunnan are also open.

A few weeks ago the Shanghai Daily reported that Tibet will open again beginning on May 1st. The China Daily reported the same story saying that both foreign and domestic tourists would be allowed back into Lhasa starting on May 1st. However, THIS HAS CHANGED. The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) WILL NOT BE OPENING on May 1st. Right now there is no date set for the reopening of Lhasa, the TAR or the Tibetan regions found in Sichuan and Gansu provinces.

The only Tibetan regions of western China that are open to foreign travelers are those in Qinghai province and in Yunnan province. If you have any questions about travel in these areas or anywhere on the Tibetan Plateau, please email us at
lhasapermits@tibetanconnections.com or at info@tibetanconnections.com

We try to have all the current travel news concerning all Tibetan regions of western China.

Comments

[Singing Bowls]

As you wrote in your latest report, Tibeet will not open on May 1, 2008. That means I have to satisfy myself looking at my Tibetan Screenasaver. The Screensaver is available from http://www.tibetansoul.com/tibetan-screensaver/

[karel]

Hi Losang, thanks for the comments on the current siyuation. As things stand, we will are making new plans to travel through Sichuan an Yunnan from Xian; skipping Tibet :-((
Traveling around Lijang, Dali and Xsishuangbanna should be no problem I hope?

Good luck to you Losang, I hope your future will turn to the good soon!

I have recently run a 10km contest, and dedicated it to the Tibetans. I did see many of them along the race track, waving national flags.

Regards from the Netherlands

[Losang]

Karel,

Actually what I have reported on this site is not contrary to what you heard. Forgive me if I led you to believe that Tibet would 100% open up. When the news of Tibet possibly reopening became available, I wrote that it still was NOT 100% sure. At this time it doesn't look like Tibet will be opening anytime soon. No timetable has been given on when it will open.

[karel]

Hi Losang;

I have followed the Tibet info on Lonely Planet Forum. I did see that today there was some talk that the permit situation is not going to change soon, on this page I see the contrary. I am not sure what is now correct, but I want to travel to Lahsa with 3 friends from Xining on May 13 by train. We will arrive the 12th in Xining, and will stay at the Lete Youth Hostel. Can you comment on the chances of obtaining a visum realistically? We are arriving in bejing on May 4th, and already have a 30 day china visum. We want to arange a trip in Lhasa with you, and also a 6/7 day trip to Shigatze, EBC etc.
kind regards from the Netherlands.

[Kathryn]

Fantastic news, we will contact you soon about our trip in May :) We had been making a plan B RE our china trip, very good news! Fingers crossed that this eventuates