Tour in Tibet(Xizang)

Tibet is situated on the Qingzang (Qinghai-Tibet) Plateau. It has the world's highest mountains and several large, rushing rivers. Its unique culture, celebrated monasteries and its magnificent scenery make it charming and mysterious. Tibetans are nomads, or farmers raising barley, yak, and sheep. Different tribes wear dresses of distinctive style. In the seventh century, the king of Tubo, Songsten Gampo, married Wen Cheng, a Tang princess. The princess brought Chinese culture into Tibet. Before 1949, Tibetans were divided into two classes of slaves and slave owners. In 1964, Tibet became an Autonomous Region of China. Religion is most important in the life of Tibetans. The religion here is Lamaism, a sect of Buddhism that believes strongly in reincarnation and a torturous hell for sinners. Lamaism has many mystical elements. Lamaism is divided into 2 sects, the Yellow Hats and the Red Hats. Head of the Yellow Hats, Dalai Lama, is believed to be incarnation of God Chenrezi, and when each incarnation dies, his spirit takes on the body of another Tibetan child at birth. So a babie recognizing objects used by itself in its previous incarnation is chosen as the succesive Dalai Lama. Another traditional Tibetan custom is giving Hada, a long silk scarf as token of esteem and good luck. The remains of the dead are cut up by funeral workers at dawn to feed vultures, in the belief that these birds take the spirits to heaven. Today, Tibet has 50 monasteries open. The mountains, including Mount Qomolangma, are impressive with their height and snow covering.
Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is called City of Sun, because of its sufficient sunshine at an altitude of 3607 meters. The Potala Palace perches on a lofty cliff. It is 13-story-high, with 1000 rooms, 10,000 chapels and tombs of eight Dalai Lamas. It was built by Songsten Gampo, and was the official residence of Dalai Lama. From the 18th century, the palace was used only in winter. The Jokhang Temple, the most important Buddhist temple in Tibet, is the heart of Lhasa. Princess Wen Cheng brought with her the seated statue of the child Sakyamuni. The Tibetans believe that the statue was made by the Buddha himself. The Great Prayer Festival is held annually here. The temples are full of worshipers. The Sera Monastery was built in 1419. It is one of the four major monasteries in Tibet. The 18 sandalwood arhats and four Heavenly Kings here were gifts from the Ming emperor. The Drepung Monastery, another one of the major four monasteries, was built in 1416. It has a white conch and a gildes Buddha. Norbulingka Park, once the summer residence of Dalai Lama, is set in a 100-acre garden and has 370 rooms.
Xigaze, a city 225 km west of Lhasa, has the Tashilhunpo Monastery, a very important religious city. It was founded in 1447 and was the home of the Panchen Lamas, the reincarnations of the Buddha of Eternal Light. The tenth Panchen Lama died here in 1989.
Zhangmu is a place on the Tibet side of the Nepal border. Visitors can see a pastoral area and a forest area, and live in yak-hair tents.