About Tibet

About Tibet

Location: The Tibetan Plateau is located in central Asia, bordered by India and Nepal in the southeast; Bhutan in the south; and a number of Chinese provinces in the north and the east.

Population: 2.84 million in the Tibet Autonomous Region, 5.5 million in all ethnic Tibetan regions in China.

Area: 1.2 million sq km in the Tibet Autonomous Region, 2.5 million sq km in all contiguous ethnic Tibetan areas in China (approximately the size of Western Europe).

Average Elevation: 4,900 m.

Terrain: 70% grassland, with forested areas in the lower elevations and tall mountain ranges at higher elevations.

Climate: Warm in the summer (avg. 28°C), cold in the winter (-15°C), and extremely dry (except during the rainy season in July and August).

Languages: Tibetan and Chinese.

Economy: Agriculture and animal husbandry.

Livelihoods: Most Tibetans are farmers and nomads, though Tibetans who live in larger towns or cities work in a variety of different jobs.

Religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Bon (the indigenous religion of Tibet), and Islam (practiced by a number of different minority groups and only a handful of ethnic Tibetans).

Main Crops: Barley, wheat, buckwheat, rye, potatoes, and assorted fruits and vegetables.

Main Livestock: Sheep, cattle, goats, yaks, dzo, horses, and camels.

Native Wildlife: Tibetan antelope, wild yak, wild ass and Tibetan argali, blue sheep, black-necked crane, Tibetan gazelle, giant panda, red panda, golden monkey.

Main Handicrafts: Carpets, hats, jewelry, wooden items, clothing, quilts, fabrics.

World Heritage Sites: The Potala Palace (Lhasa) and the Norbulingka Summer Palace (Lhasa).

Traditional Cuisine: Roasted barley flour (tsampa), steamed dumplings (momo), noodle soup (thukpa), yak meat, goat meat, mutton, jerky, potatoes, yak yogurt (sho), butter, and cheese.

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