Travel report TIBET – “The roof of the world” with its own culture in China’s Himalayan highlands

Tibet is a plateau in the Himalayas in Central Asia with a population of around 13 million. Tibet's desired independence is not recognized by any other state in the world, which is why the autonomous region belongs politically to China. The territory is also called the “roof of the world” and has had its own culture for many centuries.

Tibet lies at an average altitude of 4,600 meters and borders Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, the Sikkim region, autonomous Kashmir and India.

The largest cities in Tibet include Lhasa, Chengguan, Shigatse, Shannan, Garze, Golmud, Golog, Gyantse and Zetang.

The inhabitants of Tibet are predominantly Buddhist.

The most important Tibetan economic sectors are agriculture, where around 80% of the population work, and the ever-increasing tourism.

Tibet has enormous deposits of mineral resources such as gold, petroleum, aluminum, iron, chromium, lead, copper, lithium, potassium and zinc. However, the mining of these abundant raw materials has not yet progressed very far.

Thanks to the recently completed airport, some 43 kilometers from Lhasa, and the Lhasa Railway running from Beijing to Lhasa, Tibet now welcomes nearly 27 million annual tourists, mostly from China.

The most important sights in Tibet include the Potala Palace - the largest building in Tibet and the former government seat of the Dalai Lama, the Jokhang Temple, the Yamdrok Yumtso Lake, the Norbulingka summer palace, the Barkhor pilgrimage route, the Yambajan hot springs, the Drepung monastery , the monastery town of Tashilhunpo, the Mount Everest base camp at an altitude of 5,200 meters, the Yumbulagang Castle, the ruins of the ancient Guge Kingdom, the Gandain Monastery, the Balkor Monastery, the Tibet Museum, the Ramoqe Temple, the Old Street of Gyangze, the sacred Yaowang Mountain of Lhasa and the Drak Yerpa Monastery.

The capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region is Lhasa with around 700,000 inhabitants. Lhasa lies at an altitude of around 3,700 meters and has great religious significance, which is why countless monks live in the city. In addition, according to the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, Lhasa is a frequently visited pilgrimage site.

I haven't been to Tibet yet.

A visit there was planned in 2016, but failed due to obtaining the necessary visa.

Hence no photos!