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Tibet, or XiZang to use the Chinese name, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China and
covers 1,0700,000 square kilometres in China's southwest corner. Nepal, Myanmar, India and Bhutan cluster along its
southern border. Most of Tibet consists of high-altitude plateaus and mountain wilderness, which is how it has earned
the name of the Roof of the World.
Lhasa, the ‘City of
Sun,’ is nestled high in the Gyi Qu Valley and is blessed with seasonally mild and humid weather from monsoons in India
160 kilometres to the south. Tibetan winters are fiercely cold. For half the year, strong sunlight warms the thin air,
making most days in Lhasa comfortably mild and, owing
to protective mountains, relatively windless. Summer temperatures hover above 30ºC and only to drop to a
searing -23ºC in midwinter. The best time to visit is from late spring to early fall.
Visiting - Health Considerations: No matter when to visit Tibet, however, the
3,600-metres/12,000-feet altitude of the Lhasa Valley will be a factor to consider, even if you live year-round in the
Rocky Mountains or Switzerland. For the first few days, at least, the ubiquitous green canvas oxygen bags will be
constant-and most welcome companions. Any form of over-exertion (such as running or strenuous climbing) is patently
dangerous, with even the fittest court dehydration and pulmonary strain.
Most visitors will feel some form of mild discomfort-usually some combination of headache, nausea,
dizziness, chest pain, or insomnia. Lots of rest and aspirin are the best remedies, although extreme symptoms may signal
the onset of more serious
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The Potala Palace |
forms of altitude sickness. In such cases, a physician should be consulted at once. The best cure in
most cases may be an immediate return to a level ground. Smoking and drinking will only exacerbate the discomfort.
Prior to 1980, the Chinese required rigorous physical exams of all passengers prior to
boarding their flight to Lhasa. Since then, however, this requirement has been waived for many groups. But visitors with
high blood pressure, or any respiratory or heart ailments, are advised to attend to the risks and reconsider their
travel plans.
Tibet is beautiful an majestic. Until 1950, no cars or trucks or carts were permitted to traverse the
few dirt roads for fear that their wheels would scar the earth and thereby release evil spirits. No pollution mars the
magnificent, jagged mountain peaks or darken the deep, clear waters and lakes.
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Tibetan King Tombs |
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Tibet's History: Tibet also has a mystical charm. The atmosphere of fatalistic serenity and
powerful beliefs in evil spirits stemmed in part from Lamaism, an ancient sect of Tantric Indian Buddhism, coupled with
Tibetan Shamanism, which held sway every aspect of Tibetan life from the 7th Century until political reforms begun in
1959 – when China invaded Tibet. Albeit most of the monasteries and temples are now officially designated as historical
monuments, hundreds come to worship daily, with large throngs still appearing on religious holidays.
Tibet's entire history is marked by intense preoccupation with religion, and by sporadic
political autonomy through the centuries. Briefly conquered by the Mongols when they ruled China (1279-1368), the region
came under Manchu control in the 18th Century.
Before
the invasion by China, which they call the Democratic Reform of 1959, the
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Jokhang Temple |
Chinese say ‘Tibet had long been a society of feudal serfdom under the despotic religion-political rule
of lamas and nobles. Although they accounted for less than 5% of Tibet's population, they owned all of Tibet's farmland,
pastures, forests, mountains and rivers as well as most livestock. Serfs made up 90% of old Tibet's population.’
The central people's government of China coerced the government of Tibet to sign, in 1951, a
17-Article Agreement on measures for the ‘peaceful liberation’ of Tibet, and Tibet was ‘peacefully liberated’ by the
invasion of the Chinese Army.
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Freedom of Religious Belief: The majority of Tibetans believe in Tibetan Buddhism. There are also
about 2,000 Muslims and 600 Catholics in the autonomous region. Respect for and protection of freedom of religious
belief is a basic policy of the Chinese government. Protected by the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and
laws, the Tibetan people enjoy full freedom to participate in normal religious activities.
The Chinese government has appropriated more than RMB/Yuan200-million in special
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Barkhor Street |
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funds to implement the religious policy in Tibet. For the renovation of the Potala Palace alone, the
central government allotted more than RMB/Yuan40-million.
To date, more than 1,400 religious centres have been renovated and opened to tourists, meeting the needs of the
religious people for their normal religious life.
Tibet started to implement the Eighth Five-Year Plan and the
Ten-Year Program in 1991. Major State-financed projects include the comprehensive development of the drainage area of
the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo, Lhasa and Nyang Qu rivers, a project started in 1991 with a total investment
of 1 billion yuan; - construction of the Yamzhog Yumco Pump-Storage Power Station, one of the state's key projects aimed
at helping ease the power shortages in Lhasa and the surrounding area.
Construction of the Qinghai-Tibet, Sichuan-Tibet, Nagqu-Qamdo and China-Nepal highways with an
investment of over RMB/Yuan1-billion and the expansion of the Gonggar Airport in Lhasa to accommodate Boeing 747s and
other jumbo passenger aircraft; construction of the Lhasa Post and Telecommunications centre, which entails the addition
of 11,000-line program-controlled telephone exchanges.
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