from www.tibet.com : Tibet lies at the centre of Asia, with an area of 2.5 million square kilometers. The earth’s highest mountains, a vast arid plateau and great river valleys make up the physical homeland of 6 million Tibetans. It has an average altitude of 13,000 feet above sea level.
Tibet is comprised of the three provinces of Amdo (now split by China into the provinces of Qinghai, Gansu & Sichuan), Kham (largely incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai), and U-Tsang (which, together with western Kham, is today referred to by China as the Tibet Autonomous Region).
The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) comprises less than half of historic Tibet and was created by China in 1965 for administrative reasons. It is important to note that when Chinese officials and publications use the term “Tibet” they mean only the TAR.
Tibetans use the term Tibet to mean the three provinces described above, i.e., the area traditionally known as Tibet before the 1949-50 invasion.
Despite over 40 years of Chinese occupation of Tibet, the Tibetan people refuse to be conquered and subjugated by China. The present Chinese policy, a combination of demographic and economic manipulation, and discrimination, aims to suppress the Tibetan issue by changing the very character and the identity of Tibet and its people.
Today Tibetans are outnumbered by Han Chinese population in their own homeland.
| SIZE | 2.5 million sq. km. |
| CAPITAL | Lhasa |
| POPULATION | 6 million Tibetans and an estimated 7.5 million Chinese, most of whom are in Kham and Amdo. |
| LANGUAGE | Tibetan (of the Tibeto-Burmese language family). The official language is Chinese. |
| STAPLE FOOD | Tsampa (roasted barley flour) |
| NATIONAL DRINK | Salted butter tea |
| TYPICAL ANIMALS | Wild yak, Bharal (blue) sheep, Musk deer, Tibetan antelope, Tibetan gazelle, Kyang (wild ass), Pica |
| TYPICAL BIRDS | Black necked crane, Lammergeier, Great crested grebe, Bar-headed goose, Ruddy shel duck, Ibis-bill |
| MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS |
Rampant deforestation in Eastern Tibet, poaching of large mammals |
| AVERAGE ALTITUDE | 14,000 ft. |
| HIGHEST MOUNTAIN | Chomo Langma (Mt. Everest) 29, 028 ft. |
| AVERAGE RAINFALL | Varies widely. In the west it is 1 mm in Jan. to 25 mm in July. In the east, it is 25-50 in Jan. and 800 in July |
| AVERAGE TEMPERATURE | July 58 f; Jan. 24 f. |
| MINERAL DEPOSITS | Borax, uranium, iron, chromite, gold |
| MAJOR RIVERS | Mekong, Yangtse, Salween, Tsangpo, Yellow |
| ECONOMY | Tibetans: predominantly in agriculture and animal husbandry. Chinese: predominantly in government, commerce and the service sector. |
| PROVINCES | U-Tsang (Central Tibet), Amdo (N.E. Tibet), Kham (S.E. Tibet) |
| BORDERING COUNTRIES | India, Nepal, Bhutan, Burma, China |
| NATIONAL FLAG | Snow lions with red and blue rays. Outlawed in Tibet. |
| POLITICAL AND RELIGIOUS LEADER |
The 14th Dalai Lama. In exile in Dharamsala, India. |
| GOVERNMENT IN EXILE | Parliamentary |
| GOVERNMENT | Communist |
| RELATIONSHIP WITH THE P.R.C. |
Colonial |
| LEGAL STATUS | Occupied |
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Meanwhile summer 1999 in Beijing was hot, harsh & dry. Windstorm from Gobi, no rainfall. A 2 weeks holidaying throughout Tibet will be pleasing.
We’re started in Lhasa.
Take a 2 weeks soothing trip to TIBET. The land of million Temples, Shrines, Monastery, Stupas and
the natural scenery of Himalayan peak, pristine glacier water, yak bufallo…
Yuk are everywhere, in every form. From the left. The wild in the Tibetan Plateau on the way from Lhasa to Gyangze. We also found one that ready for a pose, plus a native boy, only 10 yuan per picture. But pardon me the boy’s smell… mmm. Next, 2 golden Yuk statue was in the Lhasa street. The albino Yuk we found in Sygatze. And the last one, when he’s gone.. only this giant skull left.
walking around in this glorious scenery, I mute. Praise Allah SWT the Almighty, till my tears drop, Alhamdulillah, I could be here to witness His creation. This wonderful landscape accompany us since we left Lhasa, go along the winding road to the part of Himalayas, and drive down to Gyanze.
Gyanze is a middle kingdom of Tibet
and chilling in the mid of summer.
