Emergencies
In case of an emergency, contact your hotel manager for assistance. If you speak Chinese (or are traveling with someone who does), you can also call energency numbers.
Police:110 Fire Department: 119
Internet services
In Lhasa, Shigatse, and other decent-size towns throughout Tibet, Internet access is available at almost every hotel and guesthouse for Y5 to Y10per hour. Internet cafes are also sprinkled almost everywhere, but not to the extent seen in eastern China.
Money matters
The larger hotels all offer foreign-exchange service, but cannot process credit-card advance. Only the Bank of China,open weekdays 9 to1 and 3:30 to 6:30, weekends 10:30 to 3, can facilitate cash advances for Visa and MasterCard. Debit-card withdrawals usually work from the bank's ATM machine. The main Bank of China is west of the Potala Palace, a few minutes' walking north from the yak statues. For most of your needs, however, you may find the branch just east of the Kirey Hotel more convenient.
Safety
Dont't openly talk politics with Tibetans. If they speak out against the government they may be charged with treason and receive a 20-year jail term. Public Security Bureau personnel are everywhere, sometimes in uniform, sometimes in civilian clothes or even in monks' robes. The PSB monitors civil unrest, visa extensions, crime, and traffic. Beware of the charming Tibetan who may be a secret policeman trying to entrap you into giving him a photograph of the Dalai Lama. You could be detained, deported, and even risk being beaten. PSB offices are in all towns and many of the smaller township.
Time
Tibet observes Beijing standard time, which is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich mean time and 12 hours ahead of U.S eastern standard time.
Tours
Foreign travelers are required by law to book a tour when securing a Tibet Travel Bureau permit, although enforcement of this regulation is nonexistent. In fact, fewer foreigner are prebooking tours, preferring the flexibility of arranging travel once they arrive in Lhasa. If you're the independent type, tell your travel agent that you don't want a tour of any kind when you're arranging your flight tickets. Once in Lhasa, visit any tour operator to see what's available. The five-day trip to Everest Base Camp is the most popular tour, but others include the two-day trip to Nam Tso Lake, the two-day trip to Samye Monastery, and the mammoth 12-day trip to sacred Mount Kailash.One reliable local company is Tibet FIT Travel.
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