Tibet Overview

TOPIntroduction

Tibet Autonomous Region lies in the southwest of China and in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is bounded to the north by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province, to the east by Sichuan Province, to the southeast by Yunnan Province, to the south and west by these countries: Burma, India, Bhutan, Sikkim and Nepal.

Tibet Autonomous Region is huge, covering an area of about 1.2 million square kilometers, which, by comparison, roughly equals the combined areas of France, Germany, the UK and Luxembourg. Tibet Autonomous Region is second only in size to Xijiang Uygur Autonomous Region, among all the provinces of China. With an average altitude of above 4,000 meters, Tibet Autonomous Region has very complex topography and falls into three geographic parts: the west, the south and the east. The west part, known as the North-Tibet Plateau, lies between Kunlun Mountain and Kangdese Mountain, and Tonglha Mountain and Nyainqentanglha Mountain. This part takes up 2/3 of the total area of Tibet. Most of the north part is uninhabited. The south part of Tibet consists of valleys and lies between Kangdese Mountains and Himalayas. The east part is mainly made up of canyons and is marked by a gradual decline in altitude intercepted by small ranges called Henduan Ranges. Most of the tourism resources now opened to foreign tourist are in the east and west parts.

Tibet remains a religious and spiritual sanctuary. The numerous monasteries, temples and chapels scattered around the region, and the pious pilgrims worshiping in front of these temples are testimonies to Tibetan people’s passion about their ancient religion.

Tibet is probably one of the last unspoiled lands in the world. Despite of the influx of tourists in recent years, Tibet’s natural scenery is largely remained untouched. The snow-capped mountains, abundant gemstone-like lakes, countless species of wild life, clear and blue sky excursive hold of imagination of many travelers.

Tibet is now easier to access since the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in 2006, which have made it possible for budget travelers to lay eyes on this land of “Roof of the Word”by taking a train from Beijing , Shanghai , Guangzhou , Xining or Chongqing .

TOPHighlights of Tibet

1. Feel the mysterious ancient religion, and marvel at the architectural essence at Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor pilgrim circuit in the holy city of Lhasa .
2. Take in resplendent hues of sunset or sunrise at Lake Namtso as the first or last ray of sunshine cast across the surface of the lake.
3. Behold the breath-taking natural scenery of vast grassland, snow-copped mountains, gorges, lakes by taking a overland trip from Lhasa to Kathmandu. Check out Tours from Lhasa to Kathmandu.
4. Obtain a glimpse into the local Tibetans’ lifestyle by paying a visit to a family in the countryside around Lhasa.

TOPTibet Facts

Population: 4.22 million

Urban Population: 1.22 million

Area: 7,266 sq km

Nationalities: Han, Hui, and She

History: a quiet market town before 1949 and has since expanded to become an industrial center 

Climatic Features: subtropical humid monsoon climate with frost-free period of 245 days, 4 seasons clearly

Average Temperature: 15.7℃ annually

Rainfall: annual precipitation of 1000 mm

Rivers: the Cao Lake - one of the 5 famous fresh-water lakes in China, Feihe River - a branch of Huaihe River, Sili River; Ershili River and Banqian River

Products: paddy rice, wheat, legume, potato, cotton, flue-cured tobacco,

TOPBest time to visit

The best time for traveling in Tibet is May and the period from middle August to October. The rest of the year is not suitable for touring activities because of harsh weather condition.

Major tourist regions

Tibet Autonomous Region has 7 districts under its jurisdiction, they are Lhasa, Shigatse, Chamdo, Lhokha (Shannan), Nyingchi, Nagri(Ali) and Nagqu.

TOPTibet Entry Permit

Tibet Entry Permit is issued only to tour groups traveling with a Chinese tour operator. You travel agency will represent you to go on the application process. A permit to Tibet usually costs around 200 yuan. You need to apply for the permit at least 10 days in advance. Read more

TOPThings You Need to Know Before Traveling to Tibet

1. The only way to enter Tibet is to travel in a group. No individual travelers are allowed to travel to Tibet at the moment. China Travel provide group tours to Tibet which you can choose to join in.
2. All tours must be booked in advance by a Chinese travel agency. Your whole tour within Tibet must be accompanied by a licensed tour guide.
3. All Hotels must be booked in advance. Not all hotels in Lhasa have the right permits to allow foreign travelers. All hotel reservations must be made at hotels that officially allow foreigners.
4. Book the tour at least 15 days in advance. It normally takes 2-3 days to confirm the hotel bookings and about 10 days for the Tibet Tourism Bureau to issue you the Tibet Permit . It would be wise to leave enough time to prepare for the trip in advance.
5. All the members in a group are required to provide the following information to their travel agency: a), a copy of China Visa; b), a copy of your passport(must be clear and high resolution); c), full names; d),your birthday, ; e),your current profession; f),your nationality ; g), your gender. All the information must be true. Your travel agency will need to submit your information to Tibet Tourism Bureau who will strictly review before issuing the permits. Failure by one member to meet all the requirements will mean the whole tour group may be refused a permit. Details to apply for a Tibet Travel Permit
6. Some of the attractions in Tibet is still unavailable to foreign tourists. We have been informed that Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, Gandan Monastery in Lhasa, Samye Monastery in Shannan, Tibetan Family visits are now closed to foreign tourists.

Besides, you still need to be aware that to avoid any political issues and to respect Tibetan custom when you are traveling in Tibet, some of them are:

1. Do not talk about sensitive topics like politics when in Tibet.
2. Do not try to talk with some lamas about their lives and religions.
3. Walk clockwise around the Barkhor Street, especially during the rush hour of pilgrimage from 9 am to 6 pm.
4. Ask permission first before taking pictures of other people in the Barkhor areas. Sometimes they will ask you for money but most of time it is ok to give them a little gift.