Jokhang Temple in the old town of Lhasa
The Jokhang Temple sits in the centre of the old town of Lhasa, a short distance from the Potala Palace on its Red Hill. Most people who come to see the palace add the Jokhang, because the two form a natural pair: the palace is the former winter residence of the Dalai Lamas, while the Jokhang is the temple at the heart of the old quarter and of daily pilgrim life.
Around the temple runs Barkhor Street, a ring of lanes with traditional shop fronts. Visitors and pilgrims walk it clockwise, and many plan the temple visit and the walk as one morning.
Our picks: tours that include the Jokhang
The private Lhasa tour is the short, flexible option, the Lhasa and Shigatse group tour goes further out, and the train tour via Beijing and Xi'an brings the Jokhang at the end of a long rail journey.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
11-day train tour from Beijing and Xi'an to Tibet
- High-speed train Beijing to Xi'an
- Overnight train to Lhasa
- Tibet Travel Permit
Local guides in Beijing and Xi'an and a Tibetan guide in Lhasa, with 3 to 4-star hotels and breakfast. Flights and the Chinese visa are extra.
Check availability โ
Private 3-night Lhasa tour with local guide
- Entrance fees
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Tibet travel permit (TTP)
A private vehicle, a driver and a professional local guide, plus lunch on days 2 and 3. The listing does not state the hotel nights, so confirm accommodation before booking.
Check availability โ
6-day Lhasa and Shigatse group tour
- Airport or railway transfer
- Hotel accommodation
- Guided tours and entrance fees
Breakfast is included. The listing does not name a permit service, so check this before booking.
Check availability โTours that include the Jokhang Temple
A private tour with a local guide, a train journey from Beijing and a six day group tour with Shigatse, all with live prices and availability.
Jokhang Temple tickets and opening hours
What the latest notices say.
An article from the regional tourism authority, published on 11 June 2025, gives the entry fee as 85 CNY per person and the opening time as 08:30. Treat it as a guide and check the price when you reserve. Check the current hours on the booking page or with your guide before you plan the afternoon around the temple.
If you book a tour, the entry is normally listed in the includes. The private tour with a local guide names entrance fees among its inclusions, and the six day group tour lists entrance tickets as well. Read the includes of the tour you pick, because they show which tickets are covered.
Booking one day ahead on WeChat
Reservation works through a mini program.
The city of Lhasa asks visitors to reserve the Jokhang with their real name one day before the visit, on WeChat under the name ๅคงๆญๅฏบ. On the day, show the reservation QR code or your identity document at the ticket office, pay and collect the ticket. Your guide or agency normally handles this for you, but it helps to know that the booking is tied to a day and a name.
A summer guide of 20 July 2026 also names a morning time window for the Jokhang, from 08:30 to 13:30. If your booking falls in that window, keep to your slot. Plan the temple for the morning and use the afternoon for Barkhor Street or another sight.
Barkhor Street and the kora
The pilgrim circuit around the temple.
Barkhor Street is the lane that circles the Jokhang. Pilgrims walk the Barkhor kora clockwise, and an older official text describes the circuit in the same way. The street is usually free to enter and open during the day, but access can vary by entrance and date, so ask your guide when you arrive.
Expect incense smoke and prayer poles on the square in front of the temple. Lhasa lies at around 3,700 m, so take the walk slowly on your first days. Our page on altitude sickness in Lhasa explains how to pace the first 48 hours.
Winter free-entry campaign excludes temples
Free entry does not cover the Jokhang.
From 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027 Tibet runs its ninth winter campaign with free entry to many sights, and the Potala Palace and Norbulingka are among them. Temple complexes are excluded from the general fee waiver, so do not assume that a free Potala ticket means a free Jokhang ticket. Confirm transport costs and reservation requirements with your agency before booking. For the palace side of the campaign, see the Potala Palace tickets page.
UNESCO since 2000
Part of one World Heritage listing.
The Potala Palace was inscribed in 1994. The Jokhang Temple joined the listing in 2000 as an extension, and Norbulingka followed in 2001. The listing is not a joint ticket: each site has its own entry and its own booking. The things to do in Lhasa page covers Norbulingka and the two large monasteries, and the Potala Palace inside page explains the palace itself.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Jokhang Temple ticket?
An official article of 11 June 2025 gives 85 CNY per person. Check the price when you reserve or ask your agency.
Do I need to book the Jokhang in advance?
Yes, the city asks visitors to reserve with their real name one day before, on WeChat. On the day you show the QR code or your identity document at the ticket office.
Is the Jokhang free in winter?
No. The winter campaign from 15 October 2026 to 15 March 2027 excludes temple complexes from the general fee waiver.
Which way do you walk around Barkhor Street?
Clockwise around the Jokhang, the same direction as the pilgrims.
Can I visit the Jokhang and the Potala Palace on one trip?
Yes, many tours combine them. Book the palace first, since its tickets have to be reserved early, and place the Jokhang on another half day. See our Potala Palace tours page.