While it is not required, it is appropriate to tip bell boys, waiters, tour guides, yak men, porters, and camp staff. 5 to 10 yuan is a good amount for bell boys and 5-10% of the total bill is acceptable for restaurants. Tipping is more common in large hotels and travel agencies.
Religious beggars are found throughout Tibet, and alms givers are highly regarded. Giving donations is a common practice; consequently, many people bring small notes when visiting the Barkor or any other religious site. Donations are usually somewhere between 1 jiao to 1 yuan.
By giving medicine or candy to beggars or children, you encourage them to continue their begging. If you are interesting in helping, medicine or donations for children are best given to schools, clinics, or a reputable charity.
Foreign visitors are usually welcome, but there are some customs that should be observed. If there is a choice, you should choose a Tibetan guide over a Chinese guide because the Tibetan will likely know much more about religious practices and traditions.
In terms of clothing, hats and shorts are not suitable. All dresses and pants should be calf length or longer. You should take your hat off before entering. You should only take your shoes off is there is a large pile of them by the doorway because Tibetans usually do not remove their shoes in a temple. Smoking is inappropriate in or around a monastery.
Once inside the temple, it is acceptable to walk around the room, even if monks are in a religious service, as long as you are respectful. Always walk around a monastery or the grounds in a clockwise direction unless it is a Bon monastery. You will probably be offered butter tea, so it's convenient to bring a cup with you.
Prayer flags and rock carvings should not be disturbed, you should not accept to buy art or artifacts from a monastery.
You should ask permission before taking pictures. Pictures of the exterior are usually permitted, but rules on pictures of the interior may exist. While monks may not mind, larger monasteries are required to charge between 10-50 yuan for a photograph. Monasteries that are less frequented by tourists are less likely to charge money, but it's always a good idea to ask.
Monasteries always appreciate donations, usually between 1 to 10 yuan, for butter lamps and the maintenance of the building. Admission fees usually go to authorities, so it is best to leave a donation on the altar. If you do so, you may ask to have a butter lamp lit.
It is a privilege to stay the night in a monastery, and thought it is not a requirement, a donation of 10 yuan or more is a nice form of gratitude. Make sure your feet do not point towards any religious images if you sleep in a room with an altar.
Sky burials are the most common type of Tibetan funerals. Three days after a death, the body is carried to the burial site where it is chopped and mixed with tsampa for vultures (or wild dogs) to eat. The Tibetan views of death stress the idea of impermanence and that death is not to be feared.
If you are not invited to attend a sky burial, you should not go, but under no circumstances should you ever pay money to attend. Even if you are invited by a Tibetan, other Tibetans may resent your presence, and you should never take pictures.
Due to the controversy surrounding Tibet, it's best not to discuss the political situation with anyone because it may lead to a difficult or threatening situation. You should not hand out pictures of the Dalai Lama or politically minded literature.
You will typically be offered butter tea, which is similar to broth, and tsampa. Although Tibetans are very respectful of house guests, it's wise to keep valuables out of sight and keep your bag closed.
Many Tibetan homes don't have toilets, and some don't have toilets outside, so you may have to find a private place outside.
Although it's not necessary, you may want to pay or compensate your host for staying the night. If so, be sure to establish a price the night before. 20-50 yuan per person for a night is an appropriate amount.
You should make every effort clean up all garbage at your campsite. Feminine hygiene products, cigarette butts, bottles, and cans should all be stored in trash bags until they can properly be disposed of. Toilet paper should either be burned or stored with other trash, but burning any other type of trash is not recommended because of the sever environmental consequences. When outside, dig a hole and then cover bowel movements with dirt.
Washing your body, clothes, or dishes should all be done in a basin away from the water source. When finished, pour the soapy water away from the lake or stream to avoid chemical contamination.
You should avoid products that are in some way made from endangered animals such as snow leopards, snow tigers, Tibetan antelope, or Himalayan brown bears. Be aware that many medicinal products may contain parts of endangered animals.
Tour guides, especially the Chinese, are typically unconcerned with minimizing the environmental impact of tour groups. You many have to suggest that the group not leave garbage behind and negotiate with the tour guide.
You should avoid holding hands or kissing in public.
Try to buy from Tibetans than from Han Chinese immigrants. Also, do not buy antiques or religious artifacts, particularly if secrecy is involved in the deal.
Elizabeth Tseng