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Population: 2,400,000 History:Tibet is thought of as the "Land of the Snows" or the Rooftop of the World." Until the mid 1980s most of Tibet was closed to tourism. Since then, however, many tourists have visited the Buddhist holy city of Lhasa and the surrounding area. Most of Tibet is uninhabitable as one of the westernmost regions of China.The majority of its land is on a plateau 4,000 to 5000 meters above sea level. The majority of the population resides in valleys with a less extreme climate than the plateau. Temperatures can vary from below zero in the evening to early morning, to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) mid-day. Since the 7th century, the Yellow Hats, a group of Buddhists who had combined the Tantric Buddhism of India with the Bon beliefs of Tibet, ruled Tibet under the leadership of the Dalai Lama. In 1911 with the fall of the Qing Dynasty (Chinese), Tibet operated with political independence. Between 1950 and 1970 China fought to regain Tibet and drove its leader and 100,000 of his followers out of the country. More than 1.2 million Tibetans were killed during the 20-year siege. China continues to occupy Tibet today. Background info in Tibetan photos:PSB: The Public Security Bureau is China's police force. According to Lonely Planet's book on China, the PSB's responsibilities include, "suppression of political dissidence, crime detection, preventing foreigners and Chinese from having sex with each other (no joke), mediating family quarrels and directing traffic." Lhasa: Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet and the home of the Dalai Lamas. It is one of the world's highest cities. The Potala Palace is the largest structure in the city, towering above the horizon. The spiritual center is just outside the city at the Johang Temple. Potala Palace: The Palace is the site of the tombs of past Dalai Lamas. When Tibet was independent, the government offices and the winter home of the Dalai Lama were within its walls. Jokhang Temple: The Temple is the most sacred Tibetan temple. The Barkhor, a circular prayer pathway surrounds the Temple and is lined with retail stalls selling religious items, street performers, tourists and devout Buddhists praying and striking their foreheads and the walk around the Temple. |
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