Tibetan Autonomous Region

Introduction

The main shrine in Gyangzê

© All Rights Reserved Lavafalls

Whenever the Chinese government refers to Tibet, it refers to the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), a province in the west of China. The extent to which it is autonomous is a matter of great debate, as many human rights organisations argue that the Chinese government has actively oppressed the local Tibetan population.^[1]

Brief History

The Tibetan Autonomous Region’s (TAR) borders roughly match the borders of the semi sovereign Tibet of pre 1951. Tibet was first conquered by an outside power, the Mongolians, during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 CE). But with the rise of the Ming Dynasty there was a brief period of sovereignty until the Mongols took over again in the mid 15th century by supporting the Dali Lama who had fled to Mongolia. Mongolian clans had on and off political control of Tibet until the Tibetans appealed to the new Qing Dynasty to remove the Mongolians in the late 17th century. At that point Tibet in the official view of international politics became a tribute state to the Qing Dynasty. Although the presence of the Qing Dynasty was not felt by the average Tibetan, the Qing government did have bureaucrats and troops stationed in Lhasa, the capital of the TAR. With the decline of the Qing Dynasty, in the mid 19th century, the mountain kingdom of Tibet gained more and more autonomy and by the 1890s Tibet was independent in every aspect accept in name. Any dream of an independent Tibet at that time was ended in 1912 when the new Republic of China paid all the debts of the Qing Dynasty in order to maintain the internationally recognized borders of the Qing Dynasty. Dealing with internal and external threats the Republic Government did not have the resources to influence any control over the internal running of the TAR but the Republic government used international pressure to make sure other countries did not recognize the TAR as an independent country.

When the Communists defeated the Republic in 1949 they quickly turned their peasant army towards the “liberation” of the TAR. By 1951 the TAR was incorporated into China, with limited resistance, by the signing of the 17 point agreement. If the 17 point agreement had been honored the TAR would roughly have a similar government relationship with Beijing that Hong Kong has today. But due to conservative Tibetans and Communists the tensions escalated until the 1959 uprising during which the Dali Lama fled the TAR to India. In 1965 the 17 point agreement was nullified and the Tibetan Autonomous Region was established. Since that time the degree that the TAR is actually autonomous has changed with who ever is currently in charge in Beijing. Many senior government officials have had their careers start by having a leadership position in the TAR including the current president of China Hu Jintao.

Geography

The TAR is considered a high altitude plateau with high altitude lakes with stunning peaks. The summers are short and the winters are harsh. Most of the province is used for yak grazing because it is one of the few domesticated animals that can live up there. Tibet shares international borders with India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.

Regions

The Tibetan Autonomous Region has seven administrative divisions known as Perfectures.

• Lhasa
• Nagqu
• Nyinchi
• Ngari
• Qamdo
• Shannan
• Xigaze

Cities

• Gyangze is a town that is famous for its hilltop fortress.
• Lhasa, The capital, largest city and spiritual center of the Tibetan world. Lhasa is home to the famous Potala Palace and many stunning monasteries.
• Xigaze is the second largest city and home to a great horse festival every summer.

Sights and Activities

Mount Everest

Mount Everest from Basecamp

© All Rights Reserved ChrisEvans

The highest mountain of all, the Mount Everest or Chomolungma in the local language, is on every climber's list to do. But this mountain is not without risks and many people die when climbing or descending (!) the mountain. About 2500 people have reached the top and over 200 deaths have been recorded. The mountain is part of the highest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas.

It is internationally recognized that the mountain was first climbed and successfully descended by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay in 1953, although controversy still exists about the question whether George Mallory and/or Andrew Irvine had climbed the mountain 29 years earlier! Unfortunately, neither of them survived their early expedition. More recently, questions about the commercialization have come up as more and more climbers make the climb. Even a double-amputee (Mark Inglis) and a helicopter have made it to the top during the last year, although both did so with risk.

Mount Kailash

Mount Kailash is one of the holiest mountains in the world! Since it is a holy mountain for Buddhist, Hindu, Jainist and Bon traditions, thousands of pilgrims make the journey every year to this remote mountain on the edge of the world. The Hindus consider Mount Kailash to be the home of Lord Shiva, a principle Hindu deity. These pilgrims come to do a kora, spiritual walk, around the mountain. It is believe that one kora around the mountain will wash away a lifetime of sins. It can take several days to complete the kora around Mount Kailash, and some pilgrims complete it multiple times.

The other amazing fact about this mountain is the number of rivers that start from it. The Indus, Sutlej and Brahmaputra rivers find their sources from the different sides of this mountain. Many of the other rivers coming from this mountain feed into the Mekong, Ganges and Yellow rivers. Getting to Mount Kailash is very difficult and expensive, as it requires arranging a tour from Lhasa with a Land Rover. The standard tour, including transportation time and a kora around the mountain, takes 10 days. Some tours include visiting ancient cities beyond Mount Kailash, but this adds about 5 more days.

• Manasarovar Lake is a stunning holy lake in the western part TAR.
• Namsto Lake is the worldest highest lake is beautiful.
• Potala Palace was the winter palace for several Dali Lamas.

Events and Festivals

Most major urban centers have a large celebration for Tibetan New Year (Losar) in which many nomads come in from the country side to attend.

Weather

Getting There

See also: Overland Border Crossings In China

Tibet shares international borders with India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. At this time tourists can only cross legally into Nepal although it might be possible in the future with India.

By Plane

Lhasa Gonggar Airport (LXA) has some connections. These include Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Xi'an with China Eastern Airlines, Beijing, Kathmandu, Qamdo and Chengdu with Air China, Chongqing with China Southern Airlines and Chongqing and Chengdu with Sichuan Airlines.

By Train

qinghai-tibet-photo-01

© All Rights Reserved Tarri

Qinghai-Tibet Railway
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is one of the newest train services in the world, officially inaugurated on the 1st of July, 2006 with the opening of the last leg from Golmud. Officially called the Qingzang Railway, it travels from Xining in Qinghai province, China, to Lhasa. There are, however, other cities in China, where you can get on the train and travel directly to the Tibetan capital, including all the way from Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and even Guangzhou. From Golmud, it's 1,142 kilometre, from Xining about 1,950 kilometres. The line includes the Tanggula Pass, which, at 5,072 metres above sea level, is the world's highest rail track. The 1,338-metre-long Fenghuoshan tunnel is the highest rail tunnel in the world at 4,905 metres above sea level. Over 80% of the Golmud-Lhasa train is at an altitude of more than 4,000 metres and there are oxygen supplies are available for each passsenger in the train, hopefully preventing altitude sickness. It is expected that new lines and branches will open, connecting Lhasa with other places like Nyinchi, Shigatse and Xigaze and even on to the border with Nepal. Some of the constructions have begun already and most of them will be completed before 2020. Rumors about extensions towards India and other Asian countries are not more than rumors!

By Car

By Bus

The train from Golmud makes buses not a reasonable option anymore to reach China.

By Boat

Getting Around

Traveling in the TAR can be quite difficult. The roads in most areas are very basic, although improving, and weather can be extreme any time of the year. The most difficult part of moving around the TAR is the fact that most local transport is off limits or randomly goes off limits to non TAR residents. Making it that traveler’s must hire cars with drivers or in most cases land rovers with drivers when the roads become more basic. Also many areas of the TAR require extra permits other then just the Tibet Permit, which can sometimes take a few days to be processed. Although expensive luckily the hiring of vehicles is very easy to do in Lhasa and other travelers can usually be found on the different message boards located in hostels and cafes. Almost all of the travel agencies in Lhasa offer vehicle hire and arrangement of permits for other areas in the TAR.

By Plane

By Train

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Red Tape

In the last few years the permits and red tape for entering the TAR have been constantly changing. Many hoped with the opening of the railroad that for foreigners the annoying Tibet Permit would no longer be needed. Due to events of March 2008 everything dealing with permits has gone haywire. It is recommended to either contact hostels in Chengdu or Chinese travel agencies to find out the most current information.

• Tibet Tour is a good government travel agency and is good at responding to emails.

• Tibet F.I.T. is another government travel agency based in Lhasa and has offices in Chengdu and Kathmandu. They are very helpful and can arrange any kind of trip.

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