General Information

Tibet, often referred to as the "Roof of the World" or the "Land of Snows", lies at the heart of the Asian continent. Bordered by the Himalayas, it has an average altitude of over 13,000 feet above sea level and an area of 2.5 million square kilometers. It is the source of many of AsiaÕs major rivers, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus, Yangtze and the Mekong. It is home to various pilgrimage sites for a number of religions, including Mount Kailash and the sacred capital city itself, Lhasa.

Tibet is divided into three provinces: Amdo in the north-east (now incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan), Kham in the east (now incorporated into Yunnan, Sichuan and Quinghai) and U-Tsang (which is now referred to by the Chinese as the Tibetan Autonomous Region). Approximately 6 million Tibetans live within these regions today. Their staple food and drink is Tsampa (roasted barley) and yak butter tea. The majority of Tibetans live in rural areas and practice agriculture and animal husbandry. Tibetan are united by their deep faith in Buddhism and reverence of the Dalai Lama, their spiritual (and until 1950) temporal leader.

Due to a persistent migration policy initiated by the Chinese government, Tibet is also now home to over 7.5 million Chinese, thereby making Tibetans a minority in their own country. These Chinese enjoy economic benefits and receive the majority of the wealth and good jobs in Tibet. Tibetans are openly discriminated against, often described by the Chinese as a "lazy" and "backwards" culture. Tibetans cannot learn their own language in school, and their religious practices are tightly monitored.

Given its strategic location, Tibet has traditionally acted as a natural buffer between the superpowers of Asia: China, India and the Soviet Union. However, following invasion and illegal occupation by Chinese forces in 1950, India and China now share a common border, which has resulted in increased tension and war, and threatens the overall stability of the Asian Continent.

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