Xizang or Tibet, located on the Tibetan Plateau is one of the most important provinces of China.
Xizang is the Chinese name of Tibet Autonomous Region or Tibet which lies in the south-eastern part of China and is the capital of Lhasa. Tibet lies between 78°25′ and 99° 06′ E and 26° 44′ and 36° 32′ N longitude and latitude respectively.
Xizang is the largest city of China and has the largest density of population. Xizang in China occupies a total area of 1,228, 400 square kilometers and occupies the entire Tibetan plateau, which is also known as the ‘Roof of the World’.
Xizang geography
Mount Everest, the highest peak of the world lies on the border of Xizang and Nepal. The Tibetan Plateau is one of the highest plateaus of the world which comprises of uneven steppes and deserts on the west and south. The plateau is bordered in the north by the Kunlun Mountains and most of the highest peaks of the Himalayan Ranges lie within the Xizang province. The Sutlej, Indus, Brahmaputra, Irawadi, Nujiang, Yarlung Zangbo Jiang and Lancangjiang rivers originate from the Tibetan Plateau and flow from west to east. The plateau also has more than 1,500 lakes including the renowned Manasarovar and Hevanly Lake Namtso among many others.
Xizang Demography
The Xizang province of China is divided into one prefecture-level city, Lhasa, and six administrative prefectures namely Shannan, Qamdo, Ngari, Nagqu, Nyinchi and Xigaze prefecture. The total population of Tibet, as of 2002, is 2, 67,000 and most of them are ethnic Tibetans. Most of them follow Buddhism and Bon religions. Other prominent ethnic groups comprise Lhoba, Han, Hui and Moinha.
How to Reach Tibet
The Tibetan region enjoys a well-developed transportation facility. The Lhasa Airport has regular flights to Shanghai, Chengdu, Beijing, Chongqing, Kathmandu and Guangzhou regions. Other prominent airports in the region are Banda Airport and Gonggar Airport which lies outside Lhasa. One can also avail the Qinghai-Tibet rail as it is the most significant railway system of the region which connects Xizang to other Chinese provinces. The Qinghai-Tibet Highway which runs from Lhasa to Xining is also an important transport network of the province and can be availed by tourists for reaching Tibet.
Xizang Travel Guide
The best time to visit Tibet is from April to October since the region is extremely chilly in winter and cool in summer. It receives only 450 millimeters of rainfall and snowfall is rare. Tibet has always been a favorite tourist destination of travelers from all across the globe as the region has many splendid tourist attraction sites. Some such sites include:
- Potala Palace
- Barkhor Bazaar
- Ramoche Temple
- Jokhang Temple
- Norbulingka Palace
- Ganden Monstary
- Drepung Monastery
- Sakya Monastry
- Tashilunpo Monastery
- Sera Monastery
- Mount Everest
- Palkhor Monastery
- Yamdrok Yumsto Lake
- Chambaling Monastrey
Apart from these attractions, Tibet also has many sacred lakes and mountains which are visited by millions of visitors each year.
Xizang Hotels
Xizang hotels provide all the necessary comforts required by both the leisure and business travelers. Some of the luxurious and popular hotels of Tibet include:
- Snowland Hotel-Lhasa
- Zhangmu Hotel-Zhangmu
- Lhasa Deluxe Wing-Lhasa
- Mount Everest Hotel-Shegar
- Gyantse Hotel-Gyantse
- Lhasa Century Hotel
- Jardin Secret Hotel, Lhasa
- King Sun Grand Hotel, Lhasa
Apart from these, there are many other hotels in different provinces of Tibet which offer ultimate comfort and luxury to its visitors.
Xizang province of China has always been a favorite spot of tourists since it offers many adventurous tours, attractions, great food, and enjoyable climate and has all that it requires making a holiday trip a really memorable one.