Closest to heaven, closest to altitude sickness

Friends! If you're tired of the city's hustle and bustle and want to find a pure land (while also showing off on social media), then Tibet is absolutely your best choice! Here, you'll find not only breathtaking scenery (literally breathtaking due to the lack of oxygen) but also altitude sickness that will make you question your life choices. Ready? Let's embark on this pilgrimage of "pain and pleasure"! 【Potala Palace: Stair climbing is more intense than gym workouts】 As the highest-altitude palace in the world, it not only immerses you in the awe of Tibetan culture but also offers a free "stair-climbing fitness class." Pro tip: When climbing steps at 3,700 meters above sea level, it's advisable to stop every 10 steps to pretend to take photos (actually, you're just catching your breath). The treasures inside will make you forget the pain of oxygen deprivation—until you step outside and start gasping for air again. 【Jokhang Temple: Spinning prayer wheels is more exhausting than lifting weights】 Here, you'll see devout pilgrims performing full-body prostrations, while we tourists are busy: 1. Spinning prayer wheels clockwise (counterclockwise will earn you a correction from a Tibetan grandma) 2. Pretending to be pious while taking photos (actually just looking for the best lighting angle) 3. Counting how many rounds we've spun (then forgetting the count due to oxygen deprivation) Tip: The stone slabs in front of the temple, polished smooth by pilgrims, are slicker than your waxed floors at home. Be careful not to "prostrate involuntarily"—unless you want to experience true pilgrimage. 【Nam Co Lake: So beautiful you'll forget to breathe (or maybe it's the altitude)】 This sacred lake at 4,718 meters will teach you: ✓ "The sky and water merge into one" is not an exaggeration ✓ "So beautiful it takes your breath away" is a factual statement ✓ "The lakeside is windy" is an understatement (it can literally blow you into a kung fu pose) Recommended activities: 1. Strike a "embracing nature" pose for photos (then struggle to stand steady in the wind) 2. Try counting the mani stone piles by the lake (give up halfway due to altitude-induced headaches) 3. Take a selfie at the altitude marker (to prove you were really there, not Photoshopped) 【Everest Base Camp: The ultimate social media flex destination】 Here you can: ✓ Take a photo with the world's highest peak (though Everest often shyly hides behind clouds) ✓ Experience tent accommodations (freezing cold enough to make you question life at night) ✓ Gaze at the stars (if you haven't already retreated into your sleeping bag due to the cold) Important notes: 1. Mentally prepare yourself for bathroom breaks (cold wind + altitude = extreme experience) 2. You might get the world's highest-altitude 4G signal (but save your social media posts for after you descend, to conserve oxygen) 3. Avoid running around excitedly (unless you want to experience ambulance oxygen services) 【High-altitude survival guide (life-saving edition)】 1. Rhodiola? Consider it a placebo. 2. Walk at 0.5x speed by default. 3. Apply sunscreen thicker than foundation (unless you want Tibetan-style sunburned cheeks). 4. Sunglasses aren't for style (the sunlight can literally blind you). 5. Warmth trumps fashion (down jackets with hiking boots are the ultimate chic). 【Final friendly reminder】 A trip to Tibet will teach you: ✓ How sweet flatland air really is ✓ That walking slowly is a form of philosophy ✓ That thinking without needing oxygen is a blessing So, ready to challenge yourself? (Don't forget to stock up on oxygen canisters.) Tibet is waiting for you—it's not going anywhere, so take your time (because you physically can't go fast anyway). Tashi delek! (Learn this phrase—it sounds extra cool when shouted in photos.)