CHINA / About Tibet
Tibet in General
Updated: 2006-08-15 15:24
Locked in by towering mountains, the Tibet Autonomous Region, on the
southwestern border of China, lies in the main part of the
Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, which is the highest in the world. Set up as an
autonomous region in 1965, it is situated 78'24"-99'06" east longitude
and 26'52"-36'32" north latitude with an area of more than 1.2 million
square kilometers, taking up 1/8 of the country's total area and ranking
the 2nd in China, only next to Xinjiang. Tibet neighbors Qinhai and
Xinjiang in the north, Yunnan in the southeast, and Kashmir, India,
Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Burma in the west and south.
Climate
Tibet has a highland climate, with lower temperature and less
precipitation than most parts of China. It has thin air, long hours of
sunshine and intense solar radiation. There is great difference in
climate between the north and south -- the Northern Tibet Plateau has a
mean annual temperature of -2oC and is covered with snow half of the
year, and the Southern Tibet Valleys are much more temperate and humid.
Administrative Division and Population
It is divided into 1 prefecture-level city, 6 districts, 1 county-level
city and 76 counties, with a population of 2.62 million as of 2000.
Populated principally by the Tibetan people, Tibet also has the Han,
Menba, Luoba, and Hui ethnic groups.
Food
Zanba, mutton and beef are the staple food of Tibetans. Tea with butter
or milk, sour milk and cheese are the favorites of all Tibetans. Other
special food includes Qingke barley wine, roasted highland barley flour,
and snow-lotus, etc.
Culture
Tibetans like singing and dancing. Another local art is Tibetan Opera.
Brief Introduction
Tibet Autonomous Region, Zang for short, is located on southwest China
border areas, with Lhasa as the provincial capital. The Tibetans first
settled along the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet. At
the beginning of the 7th century, King Songzan Gambo established the
slavery kingdom known as "Bo", which was called "Tubo" in Chinese
historical documents. After the Tubo regime was established, the Tibetans
increased their political, economic and cultural exchanges with the Han
and other ethnic groups in China. In 641, King Songzan Gambo married
Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). From the 10th to 12th
century, Tibet fell apart into several independent regimes. The Yuan
Dynasty (1279-1368) founded by the Mongols in the 13th century brought
the divided Tibet under the unified rule of the central government.
Tibet has rich resources of hydraulic, geothermal, solar as well as wind
energy, and abounds in forest resources in eastern gorge area. As one of
China's five major pastoral areas, agriculture and livestock breeding are
the backbone of its economy, whose outputs of green pear, goat and herbal
medicine occupy important positions in China. The growing of the highland
barley, peas, horse beans, jute and beet, etc are also of great
importance. Its industries of handicraft, ore and agricultural machinery
are developing fast.
Known as the "Roof of the World" at an average altitude of about 5,000
meters, Tibet has spectacular and fascinating snow-capped peaks,
glaciers, high mountains, wide rivers, unique highland lakes, geothermal
springs, vast pastoral areas, magnificent monasteries, brilliant
religious arts and interesting ethnic customs. Main famous scenic spots
and historic sites include the Potala Palace in Lhasa, the Drepung
Monastery, the Sera Monastery, the Tashlunbu Monastery, the Yalong River
in southern Tibet, and the Tombs of the Tibetan Kings, etc.
Qomolangma (Mount Everest) is a transliteration from Tibetan, meaning
goddess of mountain. The 8,848-meter Qomolangma is the main peak of the
Himalayas. Situated on the border between China and Nepal, it is the
highest mountain in the world. This majestic peak has long attracted
mountaineers, scientists, and ordinary tourists.
Tibetans are also good dancers and singers. Their dancing is beautiful
with movements executed either with the arms and waist or with legs and
feet, and the tap dance is the most typical Tibetan style. The Tibetan
opera is one of the famous opera forms in China. Tibetans believe in
Lamaism, which was introduced in the 13th century.
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