Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The most common hitching gesture is to stick out one or two fingers towards the ground
and wave them up or down, though the thumbs-up gesture is increasingly popular with
young Chinese hitchhikers.
Local Transport
Local city transport only really operates in Lhasa and Shigatse. Buses run on set routes
and charge a fixed fare of ¥1.
Pedicabs (pedal-operated tricycles transporting passengers) are available in Lhasa, Gy-
antse, Shigatse and Bāyī, but require extensive haggling and are often as expensive, if not
more, than a taxi.
One result of China's economic infusion into Tibet is the large number of taxis now avail-
able in most towns, even Ali in western Tibet. In Lhasa most fares are ¥10, more for a trip
outside town to Drepung Monastery, for example. Fixed-route passenger taxis (which you
can pay for by the seat) run between several cities, including Lhasa and Tsetang.
Tractors can be an option for short trips in rural areas, especially in the Yarlung Valley.
For a few yuan, drivers are normally quite happy to have some passengers in the back.
Rides of anything over 10 minutes quickly become seriously uncomfortable unless on a tar-
mac road.