Tibetan Tourism Info > Facts For The Visitor > Shopping

Shopping

Tibetans always bargain for their purchases and will expect travelers to do the same. Avoid buying artifacts imported from Nepal as you may not export antiques unless you have obtained a receipt or red seal as per government regulation. However, there are some galleries in Lhasa that will supply documentation to allow exportation of antiques in checked baggage. Go to the Cultural Department office to get customs clearance, located just south of the Tibet Museum.

What to Buy

• Books Found at outlets of Xinhua Bookstores and private book sellers. Most texts are in Chinese or Tibetan, but photographic and art books with English captions are sometimes available.
• Buddhist artifacts Sold in most main market places and include traditional loose-leaf style woodblock printed books, offering materials, and ritual instruments.
• Carpets Woven at local carpet factories and sold at outlet cities such as Lhasa, Zhigatse, Gyantse, and Kandze.
• Ceramics and Coins Elegant Tibetan ceramic teacups and a number of Japanese and Chinese coins from the Meiji and Guomitang periods are often attractive to collectors. Old pre-1951 Tibetan money is also available.
• Clothes Large department stores will have modern manufacture Chinese clothes. Open-air markets will have traditional Tibetan clothing, shoes and hats.
• Electrical goods Large department stores in Lhasa, Ziling and Zhigatse carry modern Chinese and imported electric good such as cameras, mobile phones, DVD equipment and televisions.
• Furniture Wooden cabinets, tables and altar shrines carved and painted in the traditional motifs are for sale in cities such as Lhasa and Zhigatse.
• Jewelry Traditional Tibetan jewelry is available but be careful as it is often fake.
• Metalwork Intricately carved amulet boxes, brass stupas, jewelry settings and traditional Khampa knives (which are almost impossible to export).
• Musical Instruments In some cities traditional Tibetan guitars (dranyen) can be purchased.
• Offering Scarves Silk and cotton scarves (katak) are sold to pilgrims and devotees for offering in temples or to important people.
• Paintings Antique and modern painted scrolls are available in Lhasa. It's better to commission a painted scroll from a reputable artist to be sure that the iconography is accurate.
• Photography Simple print film is the only type widely available. Be careful of what you photograph as you might be charged a fee or have your camera taken away.
• Prayer Flags Multicolored sets of prayer flags of various sizes are sold in all traditional markets.
• Statues The best statues sold in Tibet are the cire perdu images made of gilded brass and copper manufactured in Patan in Nepal.
• Textiles Old Chinese and Tibetan textiles are available through special galleries and dealers. Newly manufactured brocades and silks can be found in some smaller shops.
• Trekking equipment Specialty outlets can be found in Chengdu, Ziling, Lhasa and Zhigatse. Tents, boots, sleeping bags, down jackets and pants are a few of the things sold.
• Woodwork Carved book covers, containers and drinking cups inlaid with silver or pewter are some of the more popular wooden goods.

In Lhasa

Lhasa Department Store (Lasa Baihuo Dalou) One-stop shop for most trekker supplies and some clothing.
Outlook Outdoor Equipment(11 Dekyi Shar Lam across from the Kirey Hotel) Sells Western-quality sleeping bags, Gore-Tex jackets and tents and many hard-to-find travel supplies. Some equipment such as stoves, mats, and tents can be rented. Prices can be as high as abroad but are usually negotiable.

Souvenirs

• Barkhour circuit is lined with stalls selling all sorts of tourist items. Expect to haggle for a reasonable price. Prayer flags, shawls, prayer wheels and daggers are the most popular buys. Jewelry found here often contains turquoise and coral but is almost always fake. Take a closer look at what you're buying and realize that the majority is manufactured. Buddha eye beads know as zee are also popular but most are copies.
• Dropenling (www.tibetcraft.com) is run by the Tibetan Artisans Initiative, a non-profit organization aiming to boost traditional handicrafts over Chinese and Nepalese imports. Craft work can be watched by tourists and all profits go to wages and social funds.
• Snow Leopard Carpet Industries is next to the Snowlands Restaurant and sells high-quality carpets and souvenirs and can arrange abroad delivery.
• Mami Thangka Arts is opposite the Pentoc Guesthouse and features thangkas made by local artist Phurbu Tsering. Most other thangka workshops are owned by Chinese traders.
• Nirvana Tibetan Handicrafts sells jewelry, bags and carpets made in Nepal according to Tibetan designs.
• Yaks ‘n’ Nomads Gift Shop in the Pentoc Guesthouse has interesting souvenirs and a great selection of postcards and Tibetan calendars.

Contributors to This Page

Pamela Riis