Upward trends

In 2005, a total of 1.8006 million people hailing from inside and outside China visited Tibet, representing an increase of 47.2 percent over the previous year. This included 1.6793 million visitors from other parts of China, an increase of 49.0 percent; and 121,300 from the rest of the world, an increase of 26.6 percent. In 2005, tourism income reached 1.935 billion Yuan, an increase of 26.3 percent over the previous year. Foreign exchange income thus made was US$44.43 million, an increase of 21.4 percent. In the first six months of 2006, Tibet received some 592,000 Chinese and foreign visitors, 9.2 percent more than the same period of the previous year. They included 43,000 foreign visitors and 548,000 Chinese visitors, respectively 8.4 percent and 9.3 percent more than the same period of the previous year. Tourist income added up to 510 million Yuan, 9.1 percent increase. Tourism economy is in good shape, showing a healthy trend for development.

By June 2006, Tibet boasted 71 starred tourist hotels and 535 non-starred ones; they had 39,144 tourist beds. A total of 103,000 people engaged in tourism industry, including 1,139 tourist guides who speak English, Japanese, German or French. In addition, Tibet boasted 1,127 tourst coaches with 15,001 seats. Tibet has to work for better reception capacity.

Moreover, Tibet also set up travel offices in Beijing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Japan, Nepal, the United States and some other countries, providing tourist or consulting services for foreign individual tourists to form a team to visit Tibet.

Tourism Resources

Tibet is richly endowed with tourism resources. Its varied topography is composed largely of the Himalayas mountainous area, northern Tibet plateau lake area, and eastern Tibet high mountain valley area. Its landscape features grassland, wetlands, lakes, river valleys, forests, highland glaciers, snow-capped peaks, geothermal fields and others. The region boasts more than 50 peaks each with a height of more than 7,000 meters, and five over 8,000 meters. They include the number one peak in the world, Qomolangma. The area is the source of four major rivers in Asia and also has three lakes each covering an area of over 1,000 square km, making the region number one in China in this regard. Tibet’s forests and living timbers rank fifth and first in China, with the forest coverage rate reaching 9.8 percent.

In addition, Tibet boasts three world-class nature reserves (Qomolangma Nature Reserve, Northern Tibet Changtang Nature Reserve, and Eastern Tibet Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon Nature Reserve), and one State-class scenic area (Yarlung State Class Scenic Area). Its natural scenery includes snowy mountainous areas centered on the Himalayas, a grassland scenic area centered on the northern Tibet Changtang Grasslands, natural scenic area centered on the eastern Tibet forests and gorges, and highland lake and mountain scenic area centered on holy mountains and holy lakes in Ngari. Nam Co is representative of grassland lakes and Basum Co is representative of the highland forest lakes.

Tibet has a long history and rich culture. It boasts some 1,600 well preserved and well managed monasteries full of valuable classics. Its rich folklore gives birth to five areas of cultural interest:

(1) A political, economic, religious, historical and cultural center represented by the Potala Palace and Jokhang Monastery in Lhasa;

(2) Tibetan cultural cradle area represented by Shannan’s Yongbulakang, Samye Monastery, Qamzhub Monastery, and Tombs of the Tibetan Kings;

(3) Religious cultural area presented by Xigaze’s Tashilhungpo Monastery and Sagya Monastery; and

(4) Cultural relics area represented by the "ruins of the Guge Kingdom Capital" in northwest Tibet; and

(5) Historical and cultural area represented by the "tea-horse trade route" saturated with the Kham culture of Qamdo.

Tibet has three world-class cultural heritages—the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Monastery and the Norbu Lingka; three State-class historical and cultural cities, referring to Lhasa, Xigaze and Gyangze, five 4A scenic areas, namely Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, Norbu Lingka, Museum and Basum Co Lake; one State outstanding tourist city, Lhasa; some 2,000 cultural relics units subject to regional-level protection, and 35 cultural relics units subject to national protection, and 168 cultural relics units subject to county (city) level protection. Tibet has opened a "golden triangle" historical, religious and cultural scenic area encompassing Lhasa-Xigaze-Gyangze. There is the plan to extend the route to Ngari in northern Tibet and areas in southeast Tibet.

Historical and cultural cities

Lhasa

Lhasa, known as Rasa in ancient times, is 3,658 meters above sea level. The 1,400-year-old city is known as the sunlight city as it enjoys 3,021 hours of sunshine a year, with the annual solar radiation value hitting 202 Kcal/square cm.

In 633, Tubo King Songtsan Gambo moved his capital to Lhasa where he had the Potala Palace, Jokhang and Ramoche Monasteries built. From then on, Lhasa became the most populous city in the Tibetan Plateau. The old town formed when a ritual walking route formed around the Jokhang Monastery and more people came to perform the rite. With the rise of the three monasteries in Lhasa (Gandain, Zhaibung and Sera), especially when the Dalai Lama reincarnation system won endorsement of the Qing Dynasty after the 17th century, the Gandain Podrang regime was founded to rule Tibet, and Lhasa became its capital.

In 1982, Lhasa emerged as one of the first group of 24 historical and cultural cities of China; the Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery, Ramoche Monastery, Norbu Lingka, Zhaibung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Gandain Monastery are all important cultural relics units subject to special protection. Of these, Potala Palace, Jokhang Monastery and Norbu Lingka have been included in UNESCO "World Cultural Relics List".

Xigaze

As the second largest city of Tibet, Xigaze is 3,836 meters above sea level. With a history of close to 600 years, the city was the cultural and political center of the Xigaze area and used to be the local capital. Xika Sangzhu Zezong Castle, sitting on the Sunlight Mountain in the north of Xigaze, built in 1360-1363, is a four-story structure known as the Lesser Potala Palace. Other places of historical and cultural interest include Tashilhungpo Monastery, Shalu Monastery and Natang Monastery, all subject to national protection. Xigaze became one of the second group of historical and cultural cities of China in 1986.

Gyangze

Gyangze, a historical and cultural city, lies on the northern bank of the Nyang Qu River. With an elevation of 4,040 meters, it used to be the political and economic center of the Xigaze area, and the most flourishing town then. Zonboin Mansion is kept as a living fossil for the study of feudal serfdom. Its Palkor Monastery and 10,000-Buddhist Dagoba, Parlha Manor and Gyangze Kardian cushions are also known to all in the region.

Tourist programs and routes

In the 21st century, Tibet has developed new programs to attract visitors. They include cultural tours, folklore tours, eco-tours, mountaineering tours, skiing tours, exploration tours, automobile tours, biking and hiking tours, horse riding tours, boating tours, hunting tours, fishing tours, hot balloon tours, sunlight bathing tours and hot spring tours. Thus far, it has formed four tourist zones centered on Lhasa, western Tibet, southwestern Tibet, and southern Tibet respectively. Centered on Lhasa, they bring together Xigaze and Shannan and cover Nagqu, Ngari and Nyingchi. They boast a total of over 60 scenic spots.

In 1993 Tibet developed two tour routes for the choice of visitors, respectively known as the eastern and western tour routes.

The eastern route (also known as the three river route) goes from Lhasa to Moizhogkungka, Gongbogyangda, Nyingchi, Mainling, Gyachag, Zetang and Lhasa. The western route goes from Lhasa to Xigaze, Lharze, Sagar, Zongba, Burang, Gar, Shiquanhe, Gegyi, Gaize, Coqen, Lharze, Xigaze and Lhasa. Both routes will take visitors to river valleys, forests, mountainous areas, snow peaks, scenic spots and cultural relics. At present, Tibet has also opened four tourist routes featuring landscapes. They are (1) Lhasa-Nyingchi-Shannan eco-tour, (2) Lhasa-Xigaze-Ngari sightseeing and pilgrimage tour; (3) Lhasa-Xigaze-Tingri-Zam sightseeing tour, and (4) Lhasa-Nagqu-Qinghai Grassland tour.

• In north Tibet, the average annual temperature is below zero degrees centigrade. Bitter winter lasts from October to May or June the next year. July and August are the most beautiful season on the grassland, with blossoming flowers and pleasant climate. A grand horse race is held during this period of time. So July and August are the golden season to visit north Tibet.
• In the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley of south Tibet, such as Lhasa, Shannan, Xigaze and Nyingchi, the tourist season lasts from May to October. Especially from July to August, south Tibet is nice and cool with average monthly temperature ranging 9.4-18.7 degrees centigrade. Many local festivals, such as the Shoton (Sour Milk Drinking) Festival, and tourist activities are held during the golden tourist season. Nyingchi as well as Zayu, Medog, Zam Town and Yadong, all with an elevation of less than 2,600 meters, enjoy spring-like weather. During winter and spring, Buddhists worship in monasteries in Lhasa. Visitors will also have chances to join them in attending the Grand Summons Ceremony, Lantern Festival, sorcerer’s dance in the Potala Palace, the Lunar New Year’s Day and the Tibetan New Year’s Day. There are five 4A tourist areas in the region; they are the Jokhang Monastery, the Potala Palace, Norbu Lingka and Tibet Museum in Lhasa, as well as the Basum Co Lake.
• The best time to visit Ngari in west Tibet is from June to September, especially in June and July before the arrival of the rainy season when the roads are in better conditions. From November to February the next year, as the mountain passes can be sealed by heavy snow anytime, tourist activities are almost impossible.
• Various parts of east Tibet are found in the Henduan Mountain Ranges. Mountainous highways are buried under snow in winter and spring. In July and August, as it is the rainy season and mud-rock flow and landslide may occur anytime, tourist activities are usually prohibited. Therefore, the golden seasons of tourism in east Tibet are the period before the rainy season (May and June) and the period after the rainy season (September).