Potala Palace Snow City 2026: New Shol Route, Tickets and What to See

Something new has opened beneath one of Tibet’s most famous buildings.

On September 20, 2026, the Potala Palace officially launched a separate visitor route through Snow City, the historic Shol area at the foot of the palace.

If you’ve visited Lhasa before, you may have walked straight past this part of the Potala complex while focusing on the long climb toward the White Palace and Red Palace. Now Snow City can be visited as its own route, with a separate ticket and a set of historic buildings open to visitors.

And here’s an important detail: you do not need to buy a ticket for the main palace interiors simply to visit the new Snow City route.

That makes Potala Palace Snow City particularly interesting for travelers with extra time in Lhasa, repeat visitors, history lovers, or anyone curious about what life and administration looked like below the famous red-and-white palace walls.

If you’re planning to visit the main palace too, read our How to Visit Potala Palace in Lhasa: Permits, Tickets, Rules and What to Expect first.

Potala Palace Snow City: what exactly is Shol?

Snow City is the English name often used for Shol, also written Shöl, the historic area directly below the Potala Palace.

UNESCO documents refer to it as the Shöl Area (Snow City), confirming its role as part of the protected Potala Palace setting.

But don’t imagine a separate snowy village somewhere outside Lhasa.

The name can be slightly misleading if you’re seeing it for the first time on Google. Snow City sits right beneath the Potala Palace on Red Hill.

Historically, this lower part of the complex contained administrative offices, residences and service buildings connected with the operation of the Potala Palace and the Tibetan government of the period.

That is what makes the new route different from walking through the grand halls above.

The main palace tells you a lot about religious and political history through ceremonial spaces, chapels and historic rooms. Snow City brings you closer to the less glamorous machinery that supported that world: administration, justice, residences, storage and even coin production.

It’s the downstairs part of the story, quite literally.

For a broader introduction to Lhasa before your trip, see our What to See in Lhasa guide.

Potala Palace Snow City 2026: when did the new route open?

The Potala Palace Administration officially opened the independent Snow City visitor route on September 20, 2026.

The pricing decision published by the Tibet Autonomous Region Development and Reform Commission describes it as Potala Palace Scenic Area Route 3.

That distinction is useful.

The new ticket doesn’t simply add another room to your normal Potala Palace visit. Snow City is designed as a separate route that can be purchased independently from the main palace routes.

According to the official notice:

• you can enter through the East Gate or South Gate;
• the route finishes at the Snow City West Gate;
• the visit remains inside the Snow City area;
• the Snow City-only route does not enter the main Potala Palace buildings.

So if your dream is to walk through the White Palace and Red Palace, this ticket doesn’t replace the main Potala Palace reservation.

Think of them as two different experiences.

Potala Palace Snow City tickets: official 2026 prices

The official prices are refreshingly simple.

These prices come directly from the September 2026 Potala Palace Administration announcement.

The Snow City route uses separate ticketing, and reservations should be made through the official Potala Palace Official Ticket Reservation System WeChat mini-program.

There’s another useful detail if you’re visiting Tibet this winter.

The official announcement states that Snow City is free during the Winter Tour Tibet policy period.

The ninth Winter Tour Tibet campaign runs from October 15, 2026 to March 15, 2027.

So travelers visiting during that period can benefit from free admission to the Snow City route, subject to the current reservation and operating rules.

Free doesn’t mean “walk in whenever you feel like it,” though. The official announcement still directs visitors to use the reservation system.

Potala Palace Snow City: what can you see on the new route?

The September announcement names eight main sites on the new route:

• Bixi Residence
• Snow Prison
• Shol Administrative Office
• Treasure Hall
• Qiangcang
• Treasure Bureau, including the Snow Mint
• Kansur Residence
• Longxia Residence

Some English spellings vary between sources because Tibetan and Chinese names can be transliterated differently. Don’t be surprised if your guide, ticket information or an English-language map uses a slightly different spelling.

The important thing is what these buildings reveal.

Snow Prison

Yes, the route includes a historic prison.

It gives visitors a very different perspective from the ceremonial rooms above. The Snow City area was connected with administrative and judicial functions, and the prison formed part of that system.

This isn’t the romantic side of Tibet’s past, and that’s precisely why it adds context.

Shol Administrative Office

Administrative offices formed another part of daily life below the palace.

Walking through spaces like these helps explain something that can be easy to miss when you’re staring up at the Potala from the plaza: this wasn’t simply a monumental religious building. It was connected with a much larger administrative system.

Treasure Hall

The Treasure Hall is among the named stops on the independent route.

Rather than rushing through Snow City just to say you’ve done it, give yourself enough time to look at the exhibition material. This section of the visit makes more sense when you understand how the individual buildings were connected to life around the palace.

Snow Mint

One of the most curious stops is the former mint, officially referred to in the announcement as the Treasure Bureau (Snow Mint).

Money being produced beneath the Potala Palace isn’t normally the first image that comes to mind when someone says “Lhasa”.

And that’s exactly what makes Snow City interesting.

It moves the story beyond prayer halls and palace façades and into the practical workings of historic Lhasa.

Historic residences

The route also includes several residences associated with Snow City’s former inhabitants and officials.

These smaller buildings provide a much more human scale after you’ve spent time staring at the enormous Potala Palace above you.

The Development and Reform Commission’s earlier pricing documentation notes that the Snow City area includes 22 historic buildings in the broader visitor area, although the final September route announcement specifically lists the eight stops above.

Potala Palace Snow City vs the main Potala Palace: what’s the difference?

This is probably the most important question for travelers planning their Lhasa itinerary.

The new Snow City-only ticket does not include the main Potala Palace interiors.

The official route is limited to Snow City and doesn’t enter the White Palace or Red Palace.

Here’s the simplest way to think about it:

If it’s your first time in Tibet and you only have time for one Potala experience, the main palace is still the obvious priority.

But if you’re spending several days in Lhasa, Snow City makes a lot of sense as an additional visit.

It also works well for repeat visitors who already know the main palace and want to see another side of the complex.

For the main palace planning details, use our Potala Palace visitor guide rather than relying on Snow City ticket information.

Potala Palace Snow City: current opening hours

For the Snow City route, the official 2026 schedule is:

Peak season: May 1 to October 31

Opening: 09:00
Last admission: 15:40

Low season: November 1 to April 30

Opening: 09:30
Last admission: 15:20

There has also been an important change to the wider Potala Palace schedule.

From September 21, 2026, the Potala Palace restored its regular Monday closure, except during national public holidays. The palace operates Tuesday through Sunday under its seasonal timetable.

Because the Snow City route is very new and its September announcement doesn’t separately spell out Monday arrangements, check the official booking system for your exact date before going.

That’s safer than assuming that every route follows exactly the same operating pattern.

How to book Potala Palace Snow City tickets

The Potala Palace Administration tells visitors to reserve through the official Potala Palace Official Ticket Reservation System WeChat mini-program.

This is separate from simply turning up at the gate.

The wider Potala Palace guidance published by Lhasa tourism in September also warns that the main palace does not sell same-day tickets and requires advance real-name reservations.

For Snow City, follow the instructions currently displayed in the official system because reservation rules can change.

And don’t assume that advice from someone’s 2024 travel blog still applies. This route didn’t even exist as a separately ticketed visitor route then.

Foreign travelers also need to remember that a Snow City ticket is only one small part of visiting Tibet.

International visitors still need the travel documents required for their Tibet itinerary. For current information, see our Tibet Travel Permit Online Application 2026 guide and our Types of Permits for Tibet guide.

Is Potala Palace Snow City worth visiting?

If you have enough time in Lhasa, yes.

But it helps to know what you’re signing up for.

Don’t visit Snow City expecting another Red Palace filled with grand ceremonial spaces. That’s not its purpose.

Its appeal is quieter.

You walk through buildings that explain how the world beneath the Potala operated. There are administrative spaces, residences, a prison, exhibitions and the old mint. The scale is smaller, and the subject matter is different.

For history-minded travelers, that’s a good thing.

And because it sits directly below the main palace, you can understand the Potala as more than the giant white-and-red building you see on postcards.

The palace above starts to feel connected to an actual working community below.

If all you want is the classic photograph and the famous interiors, concentrate on the main palace.

If you’re curious about how historic Lhasa functioned, add Snow City.

How to fit Potala Palace Snow City into a Lhasa itinerary

I wouldn’t turn your first day in Lhasa into a race between monuments.

Lhasa sits at high altitude, so a sensible itinerary gives you time to arrive, rest and move at a comfortable pace before stacking major visits one after another.

A typical short stay might combine:

Day 1: arrive in Lhasa and rest
Day 2: Drepung and Sera monasteries
Day 3: main Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor area
Extra time: Snow City, local museums, tea houses or slower exploration around central Lhasa

Our 4-Day Lhasa Holy City Tour already includes the main Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery and Sera Monastery.

If you have another day and want to add natural scenery, the 5-Day Lhasa & Yamdrok Lake Tour combines Lhasa’s main cultural sites with Yamdrok Lake.

Snow City can then be considered an extra piece of Lhasa exploration depending on your schedule and current ticket availability.

Potala Palace Snow City in winter 2026–2027

Winter is an especially interesting time for this new route.

The official Potala Palace announcement states that Snow City admission is free during the Winter Tour Tibet campaign.

For 2026–2027, that program runs from October 15, 2026 to March 15, 2027.

From November 1, Snow City also moves to its low-season timetable:

09:30 opening
15:20 last admission

Normally the low-season full ticket is 10 RMB, but the specific Snow City announcement confirms free admission while the Winter Tour Tibet policy is in effect.

If you’re considering Tibet between October and March, our Winter Tibet 2026–2027 guide explains how the wider winter tourism program works and why attraction opening conditions still need to be checked close to departure.

And yes, Lhasa in winter is cold.

But there is something rather satisfying about walking around the base of the Potala with crisp winter air, fewer people around you and nowhere urgent to be afterwards except perhaps a tea house.

Practical tips for visiting Potala Palace Snow City

A little preparation makes the visit easier.

First, check the official reservation system before going. The route is new, and current operating instructions should always override older information online.

Second, don’t confuse the Snow City ticket with a ticket to the White Palace and Red Palace. They’re separate visits.

Third, keep your schedule relaxed. Even though Snow City sits below the main palace, you’re still in Lhasa at high altitude.

Fourth, give the historical buildings some context. A local guide can make places such as the administrative office and mint much easier to understand than simply walking past room labels.

And finally, leave time for the area around the Potala itself. The view from below changes as the sun moves across those huge white walls, and sometimes the nicest part of the afternoon is simply not rushing away.

Frequently asked questions about Potala Palace Snow City

What is Potala Palace Snow City?

Potala Palace Snow City is the historic Shol area at the base of the Potala Palace in Lhasa. In September 2026, a new independent visitor route opened through this part of the palace complex.

When did the Potala Palace Snow City route open?

The new independent route officially opened on September 20, 2026.

How much does a Potala Palace Snow City ticket cost?

The official full ticket costs 25 RMB from May 1 to October 31 and 10 RMB from November 1 to April 30. Reduced tickets are 12.5 RMB and 5 RMB respectively.

Is Potala Palace Snow City free in winter?

Yes, according to the official Potala Palace announcement, the Snow City route is free during the Winter Tour Tibet policy period. For 2026–2027, that campaign runs from October 15, 2026 to March 15, 2027.

Does the Snow City ticket include the main Potala Palace?

No. The official notice clearly states that the Snow City-only route doesn’t enter the main Potala Palace buildings.

Where do you enter Potala Palace Snow City?

The official route allows entry through the East Gate or South Gate. Visitors leave through the Snow City West Gate.

What can you see in Snow City?

The official visitor list includes Bixi Residence, Snow Prison, the Shol Administrative Office, Treasure Hall, Qiangcang, the Treasure Bureau/Snow Mint, Kansur Residence and Longxia Residence.

Do foreigners need a Tibet Travel Permit to visit?

Foreign visitors still need to meet the current requirements for travel in Tibet. Opening a new Potala Palace route doesn’t change Tibet’s permit system.

Visit Potala Palace Snow City with Experience Tibet

Snow City gives you a new reason to spend a little longer in Lhasa.

You can still climb to the famous Potala Palace, walk through Barkhor and visit Jokhang, Sera and Drepung. But now there’s another layer beneath the palace itself, one that explains more about the people, offices and everyday systems that once operated below those famous walls.

Experience Tibet has been organizing Tibet journeys for more than 15 years with local guides, and we can help arrange your Lhasa itinerary, Tibet Travel Permit and current sightseeing plan.

Start with our 4-Day Lhasa Holy City Tour, browse our Tibet tours, or contact our Tibet travel team for a trip built around your dates.

Planning to see the Potala Palace in 2026? Tell us how many days you have in Lhasa, and we’ll help you combine the main palace, the new Snow City route and the city’s key monasteries without rushing your first days at altitude.