The mystery is solved! This is how you should visit the Potala Palace

🎫Ticket information and ⏰opening hours: Peak season (May 1st to October 31st every year): Open at 8:30 - Entry cut-off at 16:10 - Close at 18:00. Ticket prices: Line 1 is 200 RMB/person, Line 2 is 100 RMB/person Off-peak season (November 1st to April 30th): Open at 9:30 - Entry cut-off at 15:20. Ticket price: 100 RMB/person; 🔺During both peak and off-peak seasons, those with relevant documents can enjoy a half-price discount Note: If the 'Winter Tour Tibet' campaign is on, tickets are free. For example, from November 1st, 2023, to March 15th, 2024, you don't need to purchase tickets. 🆎Interpretation of Lines 1/2: 🔺Line 1 tour route: Includes 8 Snow City attractions and 16 thematic attractions; 🔺Line 2 tour route: Covers 8 Snow City attractions and 9 thematic attractions; 🔺Line 2 is only open when the number of visitors exceeds 5000 during peak season, and it requires a reservation on-site one day in advance. Online reservations are only available for Line 1; 🔺Each WeChat account can only make a reservation once a week, and each reservation is for one person. 🚶Visitor's tour process: 1⃣Reserve in advance on the 'Potala Palace Official Platform', 7~10 days in advance during peak season and 1~2 days during off-peak; 2⃣Arrive early at the first ticket checkpoint with your ID and reservation code, mainly at two locations: opposite the Yaowang Mountain Viewing Platform and near China Post; 3⃣Undergo a second ticket check at the Potala Palace main entrance (South Gate), after which you can freely visit the eight Snow City attractions below for free; 4⃣Go through a third security check next to Qiang Cang at the reserved time; 5⃣After climbing the mountain, there are two ticket offices, one next to the Inscriptionless Stele, and another a bit higher up. If the first ticket office is crowded, you can go to the second one. During the 'Winter Tour Tibet' campaign, visitors with free tickets can skip this step; 6⃣Check tickets before entering the palace, then follow the flow of people to start the tour. 💙Warm tips: 🔹It's best not to visit the Potala Palace on your first day in Lhasa, as it involves climbing 100 meters at an altitude of 3650 meters. Even those without altitude sickness will find it tiring. Prepare oxygen and water; 🔹If you need a guide, you can hire one at the ticket office inside, 200 RMB for a group of 1~10 people, to avoid joining a random group at the main entrance, which could be more expensive and possibly less professional; 🔹Dress code: Do not wear skirts, and showing ankles is also not allowed. Wear conservative clothing; 🔹Photography is not allowed inside the palace; 🔹Prepare some change for offering to the Buddha statues inside. There is a 1:1 change service inside, cash only. Do not exchange money at the main entrance; 🔹Some paths inside the palace are narrow and steep, be careful with your footing; 🔹After visiting the Potala Palace, you can go to the Yaowang Mountain Viewing Platform across the street to check in. 50 RMB allows you to take photos together, open from 7:00 to 19:00.