The expedition approached Cho Oyo through China and Tibet. We spent several days in Lhasa acclimatizing and seeing the sights. Lhasa is dominated by the Portala Palace, formally the winter home of the Dali Lama. With the Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Portala became largely a museum, used to attract tourists and the dollars they bring. By the time of our visit, a limited amount of religious activity had been allowed to resume.
Pilgrims visit the many temples, making offerings of yak butter.
Pervasive, however, are the Chinese security cameras, installed it would appear as much to intimidate as to detect behavior of which they disapprove. The status of Tibet as an occupied country is clear. Chinese soldiers are everywhere. The Chinese control all aspects of the economy. It is, for example, quite hard to get a Tibetan meal anywhere in Tibet.