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Tibet Overview
Updated: Oct 15, 2009; by China Highlights; Comments: 0; Clicks: 108;
Tibet Autonomous Region is located in the southwest of China, with a land area of 1.22 million square kilometers and a population of 2.3 million, of which 95% are Tibetan. There are also 30 other minorities in Tibet, such as Han, Menba, Luoba, Hui, Mongol, and Naxi.
Tibet is entirely within and encompasses most of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau or the Plateau of Tibet, with an average altitude of over 4,500 meters above the sea level. It is known as The Roof Of The World and The Third Pole of the Globe. The world’s highest mountain range, the Himalayas, straddles the border between Tibet and Nepal, as does Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain at 8,848 meters above sea level. The Himalayas, along with the Karakorums, contain most of the world’s tallest 100 mountains. Everything on earth above 7,000 meters is to be found on and around the Plateau of Tibet.
The climate of Tibet varies greatly with height and between day and night. Northern Tibet is arid and cold. On the whole, Tibet has low temperatures, long days, strong sunshine, rare rainfall and thin air.
The pastoral area of Tibet is one of the five biggest in China, on which sheep, goats and yaks are grazed. Arable crops are mainly highland barley, wheat, beans and rape seeds as well as apples and walnuts. Tibet has forest coverage of 60,000 square kilometers, which is the second largest timber deposit in China. Famous and expensive animal and herb medicines can also be sourced here, such as musk, pilose antler, bear's gallbladder, Chinese caterpillar fungus, the bulb of fritillary and the snow lotus flower. Its generation of hydroelectric and geothermal power is the greatest in China by province, and its solar energy generation is the second greatest.
The capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, which means ‘place of the gods’ in Tibetan, is the political, religious, economical and cultural centre of Tibet. Lhasa has 1,300 years of history, before which it was known as Rasa, ‘place of the goats’.
Tibetan culture developed in Tibet, largely isolated from the rest of the world. Human activities can be traced back to the late Paleolithic Period. The king of Tibet, Songzan Ganbu (or Songtsan Gampo), unified Tibet in the seventh century AD and established the Tibetan Dynasty, which twice weaved matrimonial relations with the Tang Dynasty in the seventh and eighth centuries. In the thirteenth century, Tibet became an administrative region of the Yuan Dynasty. A Tibetan government was established during the rule of the fifth Dalai Lama, and it was confirmed by the Qing Dynasty government and a standing minister to Tibet was authorized. After the 1911 revolution and the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Dalai Lama proclaimed Tibetan independence, which endured while China was engaged in civil and world war. This period was ended by People's Republic of China forces in 1950, when Tibet came under Chinese government control.
8-Day Travel on the Roof of the World
Attractions: The Potala Palace, Barkhor Street, The Palgor Chorten, Everest Base Camp...
Features: Tibet fascinates many people with its exotic culture, unique highland landscapes and friendly people. See it all on two wheels or from the comfort of your private van. Your bikes will travel with you on the van so you can change your mode of transport. >> more details
Altitude Sickness
Nearly all tourists entering Tibet experience altitude sickness to some extent. For some the effect is strong, while for others it is small. This has nothing to do with age or sex, but it does have to do with physical fitness. Here are some precautions and tips to lessen the effects of altitude sickness, according to previous experiences in Tibet.
Most of Tibet is high enough to produce some adverse reaction in most people. For the majority of people, the reaction will be a matter of discomfort, breathlessness, poor sleeping patterns or limited capacity for physical exertion. In some, more serious reactions can develop. These can be potentially life-threatening conditions that may only be relieved by moving to a lower altitude; travelers should inform themselves about the symptoms so that they can recognize them.
Adverse reaction to altitude is usually reduced if one acclimatizes by reaching high altitude over a period of at least a few days. For this reason, it is often supposed that traveling to Lhasa by road or rail is better than flying. However, the altitudes where nights are spent while driving to Lhasa may be far in excess of Lhasa's 3600 meters. Roads blocked by landslides or otherwise may require travelers to exert themselves, carrying packs at high altitude, so increasing the likelihood of adverse reaction. Flying to Lhasa, acclimatizing there, and driving out may well be preferable.
On arrival by at high altitude, it is possible that no immediate effects of altitude will be felt. Nevertheless, it is advisable not to exceed the lowest level of physical exertion on the first day, and only increase exertion very gradually over the following days.
Most of western Tibet is at least 1000 meters higher than Lhasa, and is best only approached after several days acclimatizing at a lower altitude. Read more.
Tips for Combating Altitude Sickness
An individual’s reaction to high altitude is difficult to predict. Do not trust that some preventative measure prior to travel will stop you getting altitude sickness. However, it is advisable to take some precautionary steps before planning your trip to Tibet.
- People with serious heart problems should not go there and people with minor heart problems should follow doctors' recommendations.
- People with high or low blood pressure should follow doctor's recommendations.
- Try to keep healthy and not to catch a cold before entering Tibet.
- Try to keep healthy and not to catch a cold in Tibet.
- The first day after arriving in Tibet, it is suggested that visitors not take a bath and smokers not smoke.
- Drink plenty of water in Tibet, as dehydration is common at higher altitudes due to faster evaporation.
- Tell the guide as soon as possible if you don't feel well and follow the guide's advice.
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and lip cream are advisable to protect your eyes and skin, as Tibet's high altitude and the atmosphere allow the sun's solar radiation to strike the earth with unusual intensity.
- In addition to the normal medications for traveling, like aspirin and Ibuprofen, you should bring some high altitude treatment. Oxygen canisters can be bought to relieve symptoms. Ask your doctor for recommendations.
Tibet Travel Permit
There are overall four documents that may be required for foreign tourists who want to travel in Tibet:
- A Chinese Visa, which you can apply for in Chinese Embassy in your country,
- a Tibet Permit, which you have to obtain it in order to enter Tibet,
- a Travel Permit, when you are planning to travel to closed areas in Tibet, which you can obtain after you arrive in Tibet, and
- a Military Permit, which you have to obtain if you are planning to travel to military sensitive areas.
Tibet Quick Facts
- Chinese Name: 西藏
- Chinese Pinyin: xi zang
- Location: Southwest China
- Area: 120 million sq. km
- Population : 270 million
- Language: Tibetan, Mandarin
- Capital City
: Lhasa
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See Also
- Guangdong overview
- Guizhou overview
- Hainan overview
- Jiangsu overview
- Inner Mongolia overview
- Sichuan overview
