Tourism

2004-03-01 18:00

Tourism Resources The Tibet Autonomous Region has continually developed and exploited its unique tourism resources, both human and natural. In terms of tourism, the region is currently perceived as four areas Lhasa, the west, southwest and south. The Lhasa tourist area includes Lhasa, Yangbajain, Damxung, Gyangze, Zetang, Xigaze and Yamzhoyum Co Lake. Lhasa itself is more than Tibet's political, economic, cultural and transportation centre: it is the centre of Tibetan Buddhism.

Major tourist sites include the Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple, Potala Palace, Barkhor Bazaar, Norbulingka Palace and the three great monasteries Ganden, Drepung and Sera. The Jokhang Temple, the Potala and Norbulingka pa laces and Ganden, Drepung and Sera monasteries are key cultural relics under state-level protection The great Tibetan leader Songtsen Gampo built the first palace on the Red Hill, site of the Potala, in the seventh century The present structure, built in the seventeenth century, is the most magnificent, most intact palace fortress complex in Tibet.

The palace crowns the hill rising up its southern slope, Iooking out over the Lhasa River valley. The palace runs 360 metres east to west and 140 metres north to south. The highest building atop the hill stands 1154 metres high Its layout is complex to say the least, but basically consists of multiple levels of abutting rectangular buildings.

There are more than 600 chambers of varying size covering more than 90,000 square metres The palace was the Dalai Lama's residence from which he administered political affairs and is the repository of a great wealth of historic and cultural relics including gold-leaf diplomas, jade diplomas and gold seals belonging to the fifth, twelfth and thirteenth Dalai Lamas, a golden urn used by the Qianlong Emperor of the Qing Dynasty in a ceremony approving an incarnation of the Dalai Lama, a rare sutra written on pattra leaves and a great number of sutras written in Tibetan, along with a great variety of thangka Buddhist paintings, brocades, ceramics, enamelware, jadeware and precious stones.

The halls and chapels, vestibules and corridors are all painted with splendid murals. A particularly striking example can be found in the "mural corridor" in the "Great Western Hall" on the second floor. The best example is the mural corridor on the second floor of the Western Hall. There, 698 murals painted by more than 400 artists from all over Tibet depict the Buddha in various manifestations, Bodhisattvas, tutelary dieties, founders and lineages of various orders including the Dalai Lamas, and scenes from the jataka and from other Buddhist stories and sutras.

The UNESCO has included the Potala Palace in the Listing of the World's Cultural Heritage. Places of interest near Zetang include the Tombs of the Ancient Kings Yombulagang (site of the oldest building in Tibet), Trandruk Temple, Samye Monastery (the first monastery built in Tibet), and the Qonggyai Drong mountain castle.

This area is considered the cradle of Tibetan civilization. The Tombs of the Ancient Kings and Samye Monastery are key cultural relics under state-level protection. The Xigaze area is sometimes referred to in China as Houzang or "Posterior Tibet." Major tourist sites include Yamzhoyum Co Lake, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Shalu Monastery, Sakya Monastery, Palkhor Chode Monastery and Mount Qomolangma.

Western Tibet is Nagari Prefecture, the so-called "rooftop atop the world's rooftop." The area draws visitors because of its great religious significance. Many tourists and pilgrims from Nepal and India come into Tibet through the Burang port of entry to visit the area's sacred mountains and lakes.

In ancient times the kingdom of Shang-shung ruled here, followed in later years by a series of mutually independent kingdoms. The most splendid remains of this earlier era are Tsarapang Castle, the older of the two capitals of the Guge Kingdom, and Toling Monastery, both in Zanda County.

The former is a key cultural relic under state-level protection. The pearl of the Gandise Mountains, Mount Kangrenboqi, is located in Burang County. This strangely shaped, domed 6,656-metre-tall pea is snow-capped through the year.

It is sacred to followers of many religions. Mapamyum Co Lake to the south, among the world's highest-elevation freshwater lakes, is also sacred to believers of certain religious faiths. The southwest Tibet tourist district is a place for mountaineers, many of whom are Nepalese who come to Tibet through Zhamu entry/exit port to enjoy the mountain scenery or do some climbing.

Beginning in 1980, China opened 21 mountains too foreign tourists including Qomolangma and Xixabangma. In 1993 an additional 22 mountains and climbing routes were opened to foreign tourists and mountain climbers. More than 70 groups from over ten countries including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan have come to Tibet too explore the mountains.

In southern Tibet, centred around Nyingchi, one can pass through the four seasons of the year in a single day. There are snow-capped mountains, dense primeval forests, surging rivers and azalea-covered mountainsides.

This beautiful scenery is easy to enjoy given the pleasantly humid and mild climate. New Tourist Routes and Specialty Tours For those who want to explore beyond these single tourist areas, several new itineraries have been added in recent years: Lhasa-Nyingschi-Shannan-Lhasa (eastern circle line), Lhasa-Xigaze-Ngari-Xigaze (western circle line), and a route tracing the path Princess Wencheng followed on her way to Tibet.

Specialty tours include exploration by automobile, trekking and scientific investigatory tours. Other special events include the Shoton Theatrical Festival in Lhasa, the Qangtam Horseracing Festival in the North Tibet Plateau and the Yarlung Culture and Alts Festival in Shannan.

Tourist Facilities Tibet currently has more than 30 travel agencies of various types, and 50 tourist hotels open to foreigners, seven of which are rated. There are more than 400 buses and cars and over 3,000 staff waiting to serve visitors. The Tibetan tourism network extends to hotels established by the region in Beijing, Chengdu and Xi'an and tourism offices set up in Hong Kong, Nepal, Beijing and Chengdu.

In 1994. 28,000 overseas tourists visited Tibet (13 percent over the previous year), generating 180 million yuan (up 64 percent), and more than US$ 10 million in foreign exchange (up 22.5 percent). This is particularly impressive when it is remembered that tourism industry in Tibet was nonexistent prior to 1978.