Despite of enjoying Tibet's fantastic sights, shopping is another great choice. The great charm of the local culture, religion, art and folklore has made Tibet great place for picking up spectacular souvenirs.

Barkhor is the best shopping market in Lhasa and is a must for every tourist. Tourist can find lots of odd and fascinating stuff, for religious and secular uses. Small shops and stalls on the street sell a variety of items like prayers flags, Buddha figures, conch-shell trumpets, rosaries, amulets, fur hats, horse bells, bridles, copper teapots, wooden bowl, inlaid knives and jewelry inlaid with turquoise and other gems. A curious seeker can find temple bells, conch-shell trumpets, rosaries, prayer wheels, amulets and a variety of jewelry made of turquoise, coral and silver. Most of the prayer wheels, bracelets, necklaces and other small items are made by Tibetans in Nepal and India. A useful item is a wooden tea cup, with or without a lining of beaten silver.However, attention shall be paid to the quality of the jewelry since many items are coarse.

Walking around the octagon street, your eyes will be dazzled by the numerous kinds of handicrafts-- ornaments, knives, tanka, tapestries, religious musical instruments, gold and silver ware, masks and so on. There are many antiques available which are produced in great numbers, but you can also find real treasures-- precious natural gems, valuable porcelain ware, unearthed ancient coins and relics from temples. Yak horns and the skulls of wild takin are very popular with tourists. Even Buddhist scriptures and colorful inscribed banners win favor with the tourists, especially those from abroad.

Exotic Tibetan opera masks and costumes are interesting items to buy. Bright and beautiful homespun Tibetan rugs and Tibetan khaddar are also popular souvenirs. Tourists can easily find things which are of individuality and appeal to them.

Tibetan rugs can be found hanging on display along the Barkhor. Some of these have more individuality and appeal. Older house and horse rugs are of wool and usually have soft colors; newer rugs are usually of a wool mix and are brighter. As you amble clockwise around the Jokhang Monastery you may be approached by Tibetan pilgrim-traders eager to sell you their own swords, invalid knives, jewelry, Buddha figures.

In Xigaze, Zetang and Gyangze there are quite a few markets displaying these crafts. If time permits, tourists can visit gold factories, witnessing the whole process of production, or watching a piece of handicraft made according to your own specifications.

There are three Xinhua bookstores in Lhasa. One is on Yuthok Lu,another on east Barkhor. The third one is on Beijing Zhong Lu, west of Tibet Hotel. They sell maps of Lhasa, Tibetan primers, Tibetan-Chinese dictionaries, and Tibetan and Chinese books. There is also a bookshop that carries Tibetan literature on north Barkhor.

Finally, don't forget the other special Tibetan "commodity",-- Tibetan medicine. It has been enjoying an increase in fame due to its somehow magical effect on some hard-to-cure diseases. Rannasangpei (also known as "pearl 70") and changjue are perhaps the best examples.

The most interesting thing to shop in Barkhor is that you can bargain with local people and may buy nice things in a lower price. Just cut the price by 50 percent. Shopping along the street accompanied by hundreds of pilgrims prostrating will be a thrilling experience. Tibet carpet and tent can be bought at Lhasa Carpet Factory and Lhasa Tent and Banner Factory respectively.

Department stores, mostly on Yuthok Lu and for everyday requirement, are becoming usual in Lhasa. Lhasa Department Store (General Department Store), on the west end of Yuthok Lu, is the largest and famous one in Lhasa. It sells handicrafts as well as practical items, such as cotton clothing, mugs, canned food, towels and toothpaste and other stuff tourist may need to buy before they move to other remote towns. Supermarkets can also be found in Lhasa.

Any visitor to Lhasa notices the decorated tents, canopies and awnings that Tibetans use for numerous outdoor purpose. These are becoming a popular item for travelers to take home.