Tibet (Xizang) the Roof of the World remained unknown to the world until the beginning of the 20th century. The massive snowy land has exerted an awesome draw on travelers and adventurers ever since. Its majestic scenery mysterious and exotic religious culture and wonderful people reward every tourist with an indelible life long memory!

Tibet (Tibet Autonomous Region TAR for short) borders Xinjiang Qinghai Sichuan and Yunnan internally while India Burma Bhutan Sikkim and Nepal meet its external borders. It covers a massive 1220000 square kilometers (470920 square miles) which is about 12.8 % of the whole of China. With an average height of 4000 meters above sea level Tibet is encompassed by some of the worlds highest mountains. The Himalayas to the south the Karakoram to the west and the Kunlun to the north are the dream lands of all adventurers and mountaineers.

The vast land is also the cradle of several great rivers such as the Yangtze River the Yellow River the Nu River (Salween) the Lancang River (Mekong) the Yarlong Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) the Indus and the Ganges. Tibet also offers awe-inspiring scenery of beautiful lakes and valleys. Over 1500 lakes including Heavenly Lake Namtsoand the holy Lake Manasarovamake Tibet the plateau with largest amount of lakes. Without irrigation and nurturance of these rivers and lakes the surrounding lands may not flourish.

The long history and exotic religion allures more and more tourists every year. Tibetan Buddhism inhabits most Tibetans hearts. Thus a great deal of splendid monasteries vivid murals and sculptures and solemn stupas were built to worship the unparalleled Buddha. Lhasa and Shigatse the most important cities of Tibet feature most of the religious monuments including the Potala Palace Jokhang Temple Drepung Monastery Sera Monastery Ramoche Monastery Tashilunpo Monasteryand Sakya Monastery. Besides the monasteries sacred mountains and holy lakes are also great places to show the Tibetan peoples devotion to Buddha.

Western Tibet Ngari is a vast barren plateau and renowned as the Roof of Tibet. As the place where the Holy Lake (Lake Manasarova) joins the Sacred Mountain (Mt.Kailash) Ngari is a holy pilgrimage destination of both Tibetans and Hindus as well as a popular challenge to trekkers. The ancient Shang Shung Kingdom and Guge Kingdomalso exert a pull. As the climate is so inclement few people live in this region. Therefore Ngari is also the home of wild yak Tibetan antelope wild donkey and many other rare wild animals.

In Tibet five mountains exceed the altitudes of 8000 meters (26240 feet) and many of the mountains exceed the altitudes of 7000 meters (22960 feet). Hence southwestern Tibet has been a popular destination for mountaineers. Mt. Everesttowers over the region. Besides more than 40 snow capped peaks are open to mountain climbing enthusiasts. Each year thousands of adventurers and mountaineers come to Tibet to challenge both nature and themselves. Southern Tibet also offers primeval forests running waters and a relatively mild climate. Yarlong Tsangpo Canyon the largest canyon in the world is the home of rare plants and animals and remains unknown to anyone other than the local people.