By: Bo Yang
Edited by: Xi Luo and Elizabeth Gonzales
Americans in Tibet: Journey to the Roof of the World
美国人在西藏：探索世界屋脊之旅
During fall break, seven American members of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC) set out on an extraordinary journey to explore the “roof of the world” – Tibet. This group of mountain enthusiasts, all first-time visitors to Tibet, spent four unforgettable days there, delving into the region’s unique culture and natural wonders. The following is a narrative based on an interview with student Sam Trizza, capturing the essence of his journey. Special thanks to Sam for the interview and for contributing to the content and images in this article.
在秋假期间，七位来自美国的HNC成员踏上了一段非凡之旅，去探索世界屋脊——西藏。这个团队由一群热爱登山的人组成，团队成员都是第一次前往西藏，在那里度过了四个令人难忘的日夜，探索了这个独特地区的文化和自然奇观。以下是作者基于对崔采善（Sam Trizza）的旅途采访形成的文案，感谢其接受采访以及其在本文文案和图片上提供的帮助。
Exploring Tibet’s Unique Entry Requirements
西藏观光所需的特别入境要求
Tibet, renowned for its breathtaking natural landscapes, is one of the top destinations for numerous Chinese travelers. However, while Tibet is accessible to all Chinese citizens, Sam informed me that for international travelers, visiting Tibet remains a challenging endeavor, requiring submitting relevant information and obtaining permission before the journey. Even then, the activities in Tibet are subject to restrictions.
对许多中国人来说，西藏是一个体验自然风光的绝佳旅行目的地。然而，虽然所有中国公民可以进入西藏旅游，但崔采善告诉我，对于国际旅客来说，前往西藏旅行依然是一件复杂和困难的事情。国际游客需要填写相关的信息进行申报，取得许可后才能前往西藏。即便如此，国际游客在西藏的活动范围也受到一些限制。
The allure of the “Roof of the World” has long beckoned mountain enthusiasts from around the globe. Therefore, before embarking on a journey to Tibet, it is essential to know the intricate entry procedures. As Sam noted, exploring Tibet as an international traveler involves meeting specific criteria: being located in Nepal or China, acquiring a standard Chinese entry visa, and securing a Tibet visitor’s permit through a recognized Chinese travel agency.
长久以来，”世界屋脊”的吸引力一直召唤着来自世界各地的登山爱好者。在开启前往西藏的旅程之前，有必要注意一下进入西藏的复杂程序。据崔采善介绍，作为国际旅行者，探索西藏需要满足一些特定的条件：这包括在尼泊尔或中国境内，获得中国的标准入境许可，通过中国的旅行社获得西藏访客许可。
In fact, the seven-member team proactively reached out to a Chengdu-based Chinese travel agency a month in advance. They provided the agency with the necessary information for registration, including, but not limited to, passports, HNC enrollment details, travel dates, and the travel itinerary to and from Tibet. Fortunately, international travelers are spared the need to personally visit police stations or government offices; they only need to provide the information to the travel agency. Then, finally, with all the essential procedures completed and their entry permit in hand, the team smartly timed their departure to coincide with the fall break to embark on their unforgettable adventure in Tibet.
事实上，此次HNC七人团队提前一个月与同一家总部位于成都的中国旅行社取得了联系，并向其提供了登记所需要的相关信息，包括但不限于护照、HNC就读信息、旅行时间以及往返西藏的飞机时间和航班。幸运的是，国际旅客不用自行前往公安局或政府部门去完成这些琐碎的登记手续，只需要将信息提供给旅行社即可。在完成所有手续并取得入藏许可之后，七人登山团队决定抓住秋假这个完美的时机展开这次冒险。
Lhasa: A City of Warmth and Tradition
拉萨：温暖与传统的城市
Upon arriving in Lhasa, Sam mentioned that the group immediately felt the remarkable warmth of the Tibetan people. After years of pandemic lockdowns, the locals were elated to welcome the arrival of tourists, and it was evident that a sense of kindness is in the blood of their culture. While the team could freely explore the streets and alleys of Lhasa, adventures beyond the city required the company of a local guide, a requirement for all international visitors.
崔采善说，从抵达拉萨的那一刻起，他们就立刻感受到了藏族人民的热情。在数年的大流行封锁后，当地人迫不及待地欢迎游客的到来。可以看出，他们的文化血液中流淌着一种善意。虽然团队成员可以自由探索拉萨的街头巷尾，但城外的探险活动必须要有当地导游的陪同，这是对所有国际游客的要求。
While much of Lhasa is available for photography, a few sacred spots are restricted. Signs prohibiting photography were often found in temples and monasteries, a measure likely intended to preserve the sanctity of the places and respect the devotions of worshipers.
尽管拉萨的大部分地方可以拍照，但在一些神圣的场所会受到限制。在寺庙和寺院这样的地方，会贴出不允许拍照的标语提示保护这些地方的神圣性，表达对信徒的虔诚和仪式神圣性的尊重。
Referring to specific experiences in Lhasa, Sam said they visited many of the most important sites in Tibetan Buddhism, mainly those from the Gelug sect—the newest of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the Yellow Hat tradition. Among these attractions, the Potala Palace is the most famous, full of endless rooms of Buddha sculptures, intricate art, tombs of several Dalai Lamas, and the Dalai Lama’s meeting rooms and thrones. They also stopped at several monasteries, where monks keep alive practices and traditions passed down through the ages. Furthermore, they could not help but notice the pervasiveness of yak butter, an essential ingredient in Tibetan cuisine, in everything from candles to tea to sculptures.
提到在拉萨的游览经历时，崔采善说他们参观了许多藏传佛教最重要的场所，主要来自格鲁派——是藏传佛教中四大分支之一，也被称为黄教传统。布达拉宫是西藏最著名的景点，充满了大量的佛像雕塑、复杂的艺术品、数位达赖喇嘛的陵墓，以及达赖喇嘛的会议室和宝座。HNC七人小组还参观了几座仍然在传授世代古老传统和经文的寺庙。此外，他们也不禁注意到牦牛酥油的无处不在，这在藏族烹饪中是不可或缺的原料，用在从蜡烛到茶再到雕塑的各种事物中。
Yamdrok Lake and Beyond: Unveiling Tibet’s Natural Beauty
羊卓雍措及更远：揭示西藏的自然之美
One of their favorite visits was to Yamdrok Lake, Sam recalls, one of Tibet’s four holy lakes. Getting there, they went over Kampala Pass, which is at an altitude of 5,000 meters, or over 16,000 feet. They were able to see mountains over 23,000 feet tall. The beauty of the sacred land from this vantage point was vast, impactful, and stunning, and even more so on the Tibet-Qinghai Railway, the 21-hour train journey from Lhasa to Xining in Qinghai province. This railway is an impressive engineering feat due to the altitude of the Tibetan plateau and permafrost. In Xining, Sam and the group found an interesting blend of cultures, including Muslim, Buddhist, and Han Chinese, showing the unique side of the plateau’s edge. On this trip, they not only saw some of China’s most beautiful landscapes but also its cultural diversity.
据崔采善分享，他们最喜欢的一段旅行经历是参观了羊卓雍错，羊卓雍错是西藏四大圣湖之一。在前往那里的路上，他们经过了海拔5,000米、超过16,000英尺的坎巴拉山口。他们能够看到超过23,000英尺高的山峰。神圣土地美丽而辽阔，深远且令人惊叹。他们在青海—西藏铁路上更是深刻体验到这一点，这是从拉萨到西宁的21小时火车旅程。考虑到高海拔和常年冻土等地理环境对施工造成的困难，中国成功在青藏高原建设铁路干线无疑是一项工程壮举。在西宁，崔采善和同学们发现了一个有趣的文化融合，包括穆斯林、佛教和汉族文化，在高原的边缘呈现出独特的一面。在这次旅行中，他们不仅欣赏到了一些最美丽的风景，还得以一窥中国的文化多样性。
Reflections：Challenging Stereotypes and Embracing Cultural Learning
反思：挑战刻板印象，拥抱文化学习
As a graduate student deeply interested in learning about China, Sam viewed the trip as an opportunity to study the history of Tibet, learn about Tibetan Buddhism, and see what China’s governance of Tibet looks like today in Lhasa. Sam concluded that as an outsider, he wanted to approach this visit with respect for learning about another culture.
作为一位对深入研究中国感兴趣的研究生，崔采善将这次旅行视为一个了解西藏历史、学习藏传佛教以及了解今天中国在拉萨对西藏进行治理的机会。作为一个外来者，他希望以尊重学习另一种文化的态度来对待这次西藏之旅，崔采善最后总结道。