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Tibet Facts

Name: Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区; Xizang Zi Tai Qu /tai-bet/)
Meaning: "western storehouse"
Other names: Bod, Tufan, Tubo

Features

Super-high mountains and valleys
Old Buddhist temples and monasteries
Tibetan culture
Tibet's Sacred Mountains and Lakes

History

618 Songts?n Gampo (604–650) came to power and then unified parts of the Yarlung River Valley and founded the Tibetan Empire.
637 Songtsan Gampo raised the first structures for his capital of Lhasa for his empire.
763 Tibetan troops captured Changan (Xian).
1642 The Fifth Dalai Lama made Lhasa the capital of his kingdom.
1950 Communist troops captured the capital city of Lhasa.

Geography

Beautiful Scenery of the Potala Palace

Capital city: Lhasa
Tourism: ancient Buddhists sites, spectacular scenery, Tibetan culture and religion.
Significance of the province: Tibet is the second largest province, and it has great potential for mineral and energy production. Domestic tourism may also grow rapidly in the future.
Adjacent provinces and territories: Sichuan, Qinghai,Xinjiang, Yunnan
Terrain: Tibet is on the Tibetan Plateau that is the highest region on earth.
Elevation: 4,500 m (14,763 ft)
Main rivers: Yangtze and many tributaries, Yarlung Tsangpo River, Nyang River, Salween River, Mekong River, Yellow River.
Province location: 27° 18' to 36° 29' N, 78° 55' to 99° 07' E; southwestern China.
Population: (2010) at least 3,000,000
Area: 1,288,400 sq km (474,300 sq mi)
Population density: 2.2/sq km (5.7/sq mi)

Climate

The climate depends on the elevation and location. Tibet is impacted by the Southwest Indian Ocean Monsoon. Much of the province is arid, and the high-altitude creates diurnal temperature extremes and altitude sickness.

Economy

Bajiao Shopping Street in Tibet

Average annual income: 15,141 RMB (2,102 USD)
Development: developing; the province one of the poorest and the climate is harsh, but its mineral and energy resources hold great industrial promise.
Industry: 55.2% tertiary industry (services, administration, tourist industry), 28.7% secondary (industry), 16.1% primary (mining, animal husbandry, agriculture)

Transportation

4 regional airports
1 train line linking Lhasa with the rest of China
Tibet tours: If your goal is to go up to Tibet, we at China Highlights are here to help you get over all the peaks.

Hi, I'm Ruru Zhou
I updated this article on May 19, 2013
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