Tibet
Tibet is a mountainous region of Central Asia, located in southwestern China and occupying one-eighth of that nation’s area. Formally, Tibet is considered an autonomous region with Lhasa as its capital. Culturally and geographically, it is much larger, encompassing the entire Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, although it does not have clear boundaries everywhere; in addition, Tibetans also inhabit Western Sichuan, Southern Gansu, and Northern Yunnan. Ethnically, linguistically, and religiously, the people of Tibet are fundamentally different from those of other Chinese territories.
Video: Tibet
” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen> Contents- Highlights
- Natural attractions of Tibet
History and Modernity - Tibetan Buddhism
- Tibetan Medicine
Lhasa Sights - Shigajie Monuments
- The famous stupa of Gyangje township
- Interesting facts
- Tourist information
Highlights
The Tibet Autonomous Region became accessible to foreign tourists only 30 years ago. Despite the administrative and natural obstacles facing travelers: the need to obtain entry permits from Chinese authorities and the thin mountain air, the number of tourists from abroad has increased year after year.
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The region is located on a high mountain plateau, the vast majority of the area is at altitudes of over 4,000 meters. Tibet is full of mystery and mystery with its thousands of years of history. The beauty of the Himalayan mountains and ancient philosophical teachings have merged here. Once in Tibet, you immediately feel that the mystical secrets of this country are not just rumors. They are all around you.
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Natural Attractions of Tibet
History and Modernity
Tibet continued to grow stronger, and in the 8th century it even conquered large areas of the Tang Empire, including taking possession of the Dunhuang Oasis for 67 years. After an era of state collapse, preceded by persecution of Buddhists in the ninth century, Buddhism took root again in the eleventh century. Its own unique version of Tibetan Buddhism was formed only in the XIV-XV centuries. thanks to the founded by the reformer Tsongkhapa “school of virtue” or “school of yellow hats” (Gelugpa), in the bosom of which in the XVI-XVII centuries. originated the institution of the Dalai Lama.
.The problem of autonomy
Since 1722, Tibet belonged to the Manchu Empire. It was represented in Lhasa by two so-called ambans, who exercised also political influence; thanks to them the Manchu rule was not only formal. In 1913. The 13th Dalai Lama proclaimed the independence of Tibet (which had meanwhile fallen under British influence), but the Republic of China did not recognize it.
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The conflict reached its climax in 1959 when a popular uprising was put down by force, causing the Dalai Lama, and with him many monks, to flee the country. Since then, there has been a “Tibetan government in exile” in the city of Dharamsala, India, and the Tibet problem has taken on international significance. Tibetans fared even worse during the Cultural Revolution, when monasteries were dissolved and Mao’s “Red Guard” destroyed many sacred works of art. Although these barbaric atrocities were committed not only in Tibet but throughout China, here their injustice, because of the greater importance of religion in public and daily life, was much more acutely realized.
The uneasy relations between Tibet and China in modern times
The later monuments of religious architecture, built 300-400 years ago, have survived to this day, and even they were severely damaged during the Maoism period, when China fought against any manifestation of faith. By the end of the 20th century, the government tried to make amends to Tibet by restoring the ancient sites to pristine condition.
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Broad, according to the Chinese, but insufficient, according to Tibetans, autonomy was granted to the area in 1965. Young citizens receive their primary education in Tibetan, and records are kept in the language. From time to time, Tibet is plagued by unrest. The world community pays lip service to them, but does not risk intervening, given China’s weight on the international stage.
.Tibetan Buddhism
According to the beliefs of Tibetan Buddhists, the bearer of the teachings is the Dalai Lama, an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, who symbolizes compassion. Tibet’s most revered temple, Jokang, is located in Lhasa, the regional capital. It is a center of attraction for Buddhists performing worship, but ordinary tourists are not prohibited from entering the temple premises either. Dozens of important religious sites are scattered throughout Tibet, and most of them are accessed by quality highways. Foreign novices are not accepted in Tibetan monasteries, this is due to both the resistance of the Chinese administration and the lack of such a tradition in the local branch of Buddhism. In the absence of Dalai Lama XIV, who lives in exile in Dharmsala, India, the highest religious figure is formally recognized as the next Panchen Lama, who resides at Tashilunpo Monastery, in the town of Shigadze.
.Tibetan medicine
Tibetan folk medicine is closely related to religious practices. Many travelers come to the region for a visit to a doctor to hear a diagnosis and receive treatment. Those who wish can take short courses to learn the basics of Tibetan medicine, but do not be seduced about their value: true healers learn their craft over many years.
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Besides the Potala, it includes Norbulinka, or “Jewel Park”, laid out 10 minutes west of the Red Palace. Secular and religious festivals are celebrated here in the summer and fall. The most popular of these is August’s Yogurt Festival, or Shoton. According to legend, it was invented by the secular authorities to encourage monks who were forced to spend half the summer in voluntary confinement for fear of stepping on insects fluttering in the fresh air. During the celebration, the park is open all night, with bonfires burning and troupes performing ethnic songs and dances.
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The Jokang temple, easily recognized by its symbol – two golden fallow deer stretching on both sides towards the dharma wheel – houses ancient Buddha statues brought as a gift to King Songtsen Tampo, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The figure of the monarch and his wives can be seen in the neighboring Jokang Hall. The site is open to the public from 8am to noon daily, afternoon opening hours should be checked locally. Around the building are stalls of artisans and souvenir vendors.
The second most important monastery in Lhasa is Ramoche. It houses a bronze statue of a young Buddha, according to legend, made by master Vishwakarman, who at the same time created our universe. Sera and Drepung monasteries are built about 10 kilometers away from the city..
Shigadze Monuments
The famous stupa of Gyangdze village
The humble village of Gyangdze, lying 240 kilometers drive southwest of Lhasa, is famous for the Pelkor Chedyo Monastery with its four-story Kumbum stupa. Inside the elegant religious building there is room for 108 halls and altars. The settlement, which has hardly undergone any Chineseization, is usually visited by travelers heading from Tibet to Nepal.
.Interesting facts
Every house in Central Tibet flies flags of five different colors. Blue symbolizes the sky, white symbolizes clouds, red symbolizes the sun, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes land. On many of the doors is painted a recumbent sickle, with a circle hovering between its ends, from which a plume of fire departs: these are the Sun and the Moon. The image of a scorpion on the wall of a house protects its inhabitants from misfortune.
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Food
The traditional food of Tibetans is tsampa, a dough made from burnt barley that is eaten with tea and yak butter, but it is not a restaurant dish.
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Climate and Health
How to get there
To enter the Tibet Autonomous Region, in addition to a regular Chinese visa, tourists need to obtain a “Tibet Travel Permit” – a special permit to visit Tibet. It is only granted to organized groups of 5 or more people, so singles have to join together at least at the entry document issuance stage.
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Once you have entered, the Tibet Travel Permit will no longer be needed. Certain regions, including Lhasa and surrounding areas and Shigadze, can be traveled freely, while others in turn require another permit, which can be obtained, for example, in Lhasa through the travel agency where you book your tour.
When traveling through Nepal, a double-entry Nepali visa is additionally required in order to travel back to Kathmandu for your flight home without any problems. On the outskirts of Lhasa, an hour’s drive from the capital, the high-altitude Gonggar Airport is open, connecting the region to Kathmandu and Chinese metropolitan areas. The other airports in the area are for local irregular flights.
There is a daily train from Beijing to the capital, reaching its destination in two days. A railroad with many tunnels and bridges at an altitude of 4,000 meters links Lhasa and Shigadze. Tibet’s major population centers are connected by a network of highways.
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