Recently Lhasa, Lhoka, Nyingchi, Shigatse and other places in southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region have experienced heavy rainfall as the snow plateau ushers in the rainy season.

Experts caution that the temperature difference between morning and evening can be huge during this season, so tourists to Tibet should come prepared in order to prevent cold and cold-induced plateau diseases.

Doctors from the People’s Hospital of the Tibet Autonomous Region reminded visitors that they should keep themselves warm to prevent a cold. A fever brought on by a cold will increase the body’s oxygen consumption and aggravate altitude sickness. At this high altitude a cold virus will affect the body much more strongly and could induce high altitude pulmonary oedema, and in extreme cases also cerebral oedema.

Days of rainfall have caused the climate to become more humid and improved oxygen production from plants across the plateau, making the rainy season a very suitable time for tourists to visit Tibet. Recently, several rainbows have appeared in the sky over Lhasa: a beautiful sight for tourists.

The weather forecast shows continuing rainfall for most areas in Tibet next week. Experts advise first-time visitors to Tibet to take American ginseng, rhodiola rosea, salvia miltiorrhiza pills and other drugs prior to arrival to alleviate their body’s reaction to the high altitude of the plateau. At the same time, tourists are advised to not be anxious about the altitude, in order to eliminate any psychological burdens.