Tibet Facts

Official Name: Xizang Zizhiqu
Short form: Xizang
Int'l long form: Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR)
Int'l short form: Tibet
Etymological: the name Tibet is derived from the Sanskrit word Trivistapa which means "heaven." Tibetans called their homeland Bod.

Geography:

Location: Asia, north of India, located on the Tibetan Plateau, the world's highest region.
Area: 1.2m sq km (471 700 sq miles), Bod: 2.5 million sq. km, approximately the size of Western Europe.
Terrain:70% Grassland; from high plateau to tropical forest
Climate: Average temperture 28 degrees Celsius (Summer) -15 degrees Celsius (in Winter), extremely dry except during rainy season (July-August).

History:

Tibetan history can be traced thousands of years back. Tibet's history can be diveded into four period: The Tsanpo's Period, The period of Decentrailzation, The period of Sakya, Pagdu, and Karmapa's Rule, and The period of the gandan Podrang's Administration.

People:

Population: 2.72 million
Ethnic Groups: primarily ethnic Tibetans; Menba, Lhoba, Mongols, Hui and a growing number of Han Chinese.
Religions: Tibetan Buddhism, Animism.
Culture: Wedding, Funeral
Languages: Tibetan, Chinese.
Festivals: Tibetan New Year, Shoton Festival, Bathing Festival.. Click to see more Fesitivals celebrated in Tibet.
Natural resources: Forests, wildlife, mineral resources, uranium (world's largest uranium reserve), hydro-, geothermal energy.
Agriculture products: Livestock and livestock products.
Industries: Mining, wool spinning, carpets, forestry, food processing, printing, building materials and machinery, tourism.
Currency: Chinese Yuan Renminbi (CNY)

Time:

Local Time = UTC/GMT + 8 hours

Government:

Type: Communist party-led state (People's Republic of China)
The Tibet Autonomous Region was founded on 9 September 1965.

Regions and Cities: