Tibetans flock to lingka for leisure time

During the three-day May Day holiday, Tibetan residents began to go outdoor and enjoy leisure time, heralding the coming of a new "lingka season", Xinhua reported.
 
In Tibet "Guo Lingka", literally meaning "spending leisure time in the lingka (parks)", is the most common way to relax and is favored by almost every Tibetan, including going outings or having picnics in parks or suburbs with family or friends.
 
With the increasingly pleasant climate, Tibetans have fun from ethnic featured delicacies, singing and dancing, and various games such as Tibetan chess and Tibetan cards. "Guo Lingka" is also an important part of some festive celebrations, such as the Shoton Festival.
 
In the past, only the upper classes of Tibetan society, such as officials and the rich could have the ability and chance to enjoy "lingka", which has become a common way of relaxation for ordinary Tibetans .
 
During this past May Day holiday, Tibetan residents in Lhasa gathered in the Dzongyab Lukhang (also known as Naga King) Park behind the Potala Palace, sitting on the lawn and chatting in small groups, with sweet tea, beer and candies.
 
"It is the beginning of the lingka season in Lhasa, which meets the public vacation exactly, thus I would like to seize the chance to have fun," said Pubu Tashi, staff of Bank of Tibet, who sat together with his friends and played traditional Tibetan dice game.
 
According to Yeshe Tezin, a scholar at Tibet University majoring in cultural studies, "Guo Lingka" is a custom of Tibetan people, which is developed in the unique plateau climate and living condition.
 
On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, winter is long while summer is short. The weather wouldn't become warm until May when the rainy season begins, which is considered to be the best time of outdoor activities.
 
"Guo Lingka" has also boosted a series of related industries such as catering and tourism housing.
 
Kelsang, a lingka owner of Tsalna Township, Chushur County of Lhasa City, has run a fishing lingka for two years, as his village Junpa Village is the most famous fishing village in Tibet.
 
"I have received a dozen of groups of visitors enjoying lingka here simply within one day on May 1," said Kelsang. "Many people consider Tibetans don’t eat fish. In fact, only a few Tibetans do not eat fish."
 
According to him, it is his cuisine such as fish meat buns, stewed fishes, fried fishes and dried fish that attract many guests. Both Tibetans and other ethnic groups would drive two hours to enjoy lingka there.
 
Just like Kelsang, there are many others benefiting from the lingka fever. More and more holiday villages and rural tourism businesses have sprung up around Lhasa, meanwhile the city also keeps improving forestation coverage in order to provide more places for lingka-goers.