Tourism
resources
Tibet
continually developed and exploited its unique tourism resources,
both human and natural. The region currently has four tourist
areas of Lhasa, the west, southwest and south.
The
Lhasa tourist area includes Lhasa, Yangbajain, Damxung,
Gyangze, Zetang, Xigaze and Yamzhoyum Co Lake. Lhasa itself
is not only Tibet's political, economic, cultural and transportation
center, but also the center of Tibetan Buddhism. Major tourist
sites include the Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple, Potala
Palace, Barkhor Bazaar, Norbulingka Palace and three great
monasteries of Ganden, Drepung and Sera. The Jokhang Temple,
the Potala and Norbulingka palaces and Ganden, Drepung and
Sera monasteries are key cultural relics under state-level
protection.
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.
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.
In southern Tibet, centered 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 have been added in recent
years. New routes are Lhasa-Nyingschi-Shannan-Lhasa (eastern
circle line) and Lhasa-Xigaze-Ngari-Xigaze (western circle
line). Specialty tours include exploration by automobile,
trekking and scientific investigation 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 Arts Festival in Shannan.
Tourist
facilities: By the end of 1994, Tibet had opened 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,
generating 180 million yuan, and more than US$ 10 million
in foreign exchange. |
