Tibet permit again start to release in Chengdu!

Replies: 15 - Last Post: 28-May-2007 19:11 Last Post By: Khema

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chengdu_mix_hostel

12-May-2007 05:29
Posts: 8

Tibet permit again start to release in Chengdu!

Hi this is Mix from Chengdu Mix Hostel, I post this thread is in order to tell those who are anxiously waiting in Chengdu for permit to Tibet that there is a good news from Lhasa i just got couple of minutes ago.

From today the permit started to release again, but you can leave only after 15th of May. Because of the demonstration which the local authority is very nervous about, traveling in Tibet now has become more restricted. You have to understand the following rules in order to have a successful and enjoyable trip to Tibet.

1. The permit says no to diplomat, journalist (reporter) and Tibetan Expat.
2. The permit which you can now obtain from Chengdu is restrictively for Lhasa, should you venture to other places out of Lhasa, you have to be organized in a group by FIT (foreign individual travel) in Lhasa. There are numbers of FITs in Lhasa you can compare the price, check out the list in Mix Hostel.
3. If you are caught without a proper permit in restricted area, you can be detained in police station, fined, sent out of Tibet or the worst case is that you will be listed in blacklist which means that you can never have chance to come back to China anymore (which has just happened lately several Japanese travel to restricted area and try to measure the area with GPS devices)!

If you are in a sweat now, check out Mix Hostel and ask any question for Laura or Sara (our travel consultants). Good luck and wish you a nice journey to Tibet.

Sincerely regards,
Mix

(If the admin thinks this thread is too commercial, please leave it for one day, this may be very helpful for those travelers in Chengdu)

My dream to open a backpacker's hostel has come true, therefore I do it my best.

Wallami

12-May-2007 20:05
Posts: 76

Leo Hostel has said that the permit office is closed on the weekend so where are you getting this information?

Yes, I'm skeptical, and you really should have waited to confirm this when the office actually opens. We don't need any more false hope around here.

When I hear of someone getting a permit and landing in Lhasa I'll believe the situation has changed.

chengdu_mix_hostel

12-May-2007 22:01
Posts: 8

Mix and Leo are friends, you can call to Leo to ask if the Mix is trustwhile or not. We don't tend to lie on anyone. Things can be changed on minute in Tibet, this is not the first time. Many travel agencies from Chengdu have gone to Lhasa just for this and the news i got is confirmed by them yesterday so i didn't try to make up a story.

Those who have bought ticket and are anxiously waiting in Chengdu may be cheerful to hear any good news about permit, this is my original idea to post this thread, i mean it's better for them to try than just waiting and doing nothing.

Actually the FIT has never closed, still many foreign tourist groups flew into Lhasa on everyday, but one thing you should always keep in mind is that the individual travel for foreigner so far is still not open or let's put in another way "illegal", before the local authority just opened one eye and closed one eye, travel agencies just tried many ways to get around this and all the hostels in China inlcuding Mix just play a role as a bridge between them and travelers.

What i can do now is to cross my finger and wish all the travelers a good luck.

Sincerely,
Mix

My dream to open a backpacker's hostel has come true, therefore I do it my best.

Wallami

12-May-2007 22:50
Posts: 76

Hold on there. I am not accusing you of lying. However, coming out with this announcement late in the evening on a Saturday made me wonder about the accuracy of your statements. You gave no background at all, just a happy statement.

Now you are telling us that many travel agencies went to Lhasa for this news and it was they who told you. Okay, that is a little clearer. But still second hand news and not confirmed by you, as far as I can tell. Who did these agents meet with? Who are these agents?

Look, I'm not trying to be mean here, but I've been waiting to fly to Chengdu for almost two weeks now as I don't want to end up wasting my time hanging out there because of yet another false report. If you want to provide hope then give an accurate report on how you got this information so we can decide if the report is hopeful or not.

Sorry, but a lot of us have a fair amount of time and money at stake here.

Wallami

12-May-2007 23:08
Posts: 76

Okay, Leo Hostel is now reporting on their website that THEIR agents say permits will start again on the 16th. So all we know for sure is some people are telling us that permits will start up again next week sometime which is what I knew on Friday.

Do you get my point Mix? Next time if you want to report what you have heard make it clear, and provide a few caveats, such as you haven't confirmed this, and please no one make plans based on this report.

Be responsible.

This is what Leo wrote:

"(12th May. “*maybe*” permits will re-start on the 17th) (13th May: Mix Hostel says the 15th, our agents now say the 16th, so we hope soon…"

See the difference?

chengdu_mix_hostel

13-May-2007 00:32
Posts: 8

That's alright Wallami, i got your point.

15th or 16th is not that important as long as traveler can finally pack their bags and head to where they are eager to go. Several major travel agencies who deal with tibet tour are all about to come back from Lhasa with positive news, so soon most of hostels in China will announce "we can do it again".

Anyway, sorry my expression may be not very proper in my previous thread, please take it easy and feel free come to my place to slip cup of puer tea in lazy afternoon. :-) Good luck and enjoy your trip.

Regards,
Mix

My dream to open a backpacker's hostel has come true, therefore I do it my best.

Wallami

13-May-2007 00:48
Posts: 76

For a good cup of puer cha I will forgive you anything.

chengdu_mix_hostel

13-May-2007 02:34
Posts: 8

Wallami, come to try ^^

My dream to open a backpacker's hostel has come true, therefore I do it my best.

ruby98103

13-May-2007 13:01
Posts: 119

Thanks for the information and the civil way the various posters were able to express and resolve their concerns about the quality of the information. Two further questions: Are the permits that are now being issued only for airfare or are you requiring a hotel or guide in Lhasa to be included? When you say the permits for individual travelers are only for Lhasa does that mean that travel to nearby sites like Depung, Sera, Ganden and Samye would not be covered by the permit and would require a separate FIT permit? I'd prefer to take local transport to those locations if possible. Look forward to checking out Mix Hostel as a source of help.

chengdu_mix_hostel

13-May-2007 19:56
Posts: 8

you are not required a hotel or guide in Lhasa city. Permit is not only for plane. Drepung, Sera and Ganden is no problem, Samy is no way , It's located in "U" not Lhasa anymore.

My dream to open a backpacker's hostel has come true, therefore I do it my best.

Wallami

15-May-2007 20:26
Posts: 76

Hi Mix,

Well, it is Wednesday the 16th now. Any word on the permit situation?

Wallami

18-May-2007 00:57
Posts: 76

Hi again,

It's Friday the 18th. Any word on permits? Even a "we don't know" is better than nothing. I can't see how your (Mix) and Leo's reluctance to speak up now is anything but Chinese face-saving bullshit. Look guys, we know the permit situation is not your fault. Tell us what you know and your reputation will be that much better when this is all over. Stay silent now and no one is going to trust you in the future. You're call, but it seems you guys are cutting your own throats.

DavidLehman

18-May-2007 01:46
Posts: 30

I'm pretty well fucked. I'm in Hong Kong right now and am flying into Chengdu tomorrow. I'll only be there until Tuesday when I'm "scheduled" to fly to Lhasa. Can't imagine I'll get my hands on a permit. Thankfully my tickets are refundable. I'm having my Chinese visa changed to a multiple entry as we speak - thinking I'll spend the few days I was supposed to have spent in Lhasa back in Bangkok. I should probably go somewhere else, but I love BKK and try to get there every opportunity I can (this would be the 4th time this year).

Unless I get some solid leads, I give up - I'll try Tibet again in the summer or something. Can't do much else, right?

Wallami

18-May-2007 02:26
Posts: 76

Good luck David, and please keep us informed.

benectar

28-May-2007 00:10
Posts: 2

When is the permit checked? When one gets off the plane?

If I can get a plane ticket to Lhasa, am I safe? I am second-generation Chinese American and speak fluent Mandarin.

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