Tibet Travel Guide
Global Tibetan population: 5.5 million Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) population: 2.81 million (2006) Area of TAR: 1.23 million sq km Language: Tibetan, Chinese |
Tibet is a plateau region in China,Asia, north of the Himalayas. It is home to the indigenous Tibetan people, and to some other ethnic groups such as Monpas and Lhobas. Tibet is the highest region on earth, with an average elevation of 4,900 metres (16,000 ft).
It is also sometimes referred to as "the roof of the world".Though locked away in the recess of the Himalaya, it has been a magnet for travelers from all over the world. For travelers, Tibet is without doubt one of the most remarkable places to visit in Asia. It offers fabulous monastery sights, breathtaking high-altitude treks, stunning views of the world’s highest mountains and one of the most likeable peoples you will ever meet.
Lhasa, in Tibetan, “The Land of Gods”, is the spiritual and political capital of Tibet, where numerous tourist and cultural sites can be found. Potala Palace, the holy sanctuary of Tibetan Buddhism, is a 13-storied imposing palace which was once the residence of Dalai Lama. Now it is an impressive and must-go site when people travel to Tibet. Much of Lhasa has been replaced by post-1950 Chinese developments with only a small quarter under renovation to attract tourists. It is still worth to take a stroll through the old part of Lhasa and buy goods from Tibetan vendors, who sometimes come from remote villages of Tibet.