With an average altitude of 4,000 meters above sea level and surrounded by famous mountain ranges and sky - scraping peaks, the Tibetan Plateau - the Earth's Third Pole - lures people from an over this planet like a magnet.
The world - renowned French woman explorer and writer, Alexandra David - Neel (1868 - 1969), traveled the length and breadth of this Plateau three times, the last time when she was 75. For her bountiful knowledge of the Orient, she was conferred a medal of honor by her government. Even as she lay in her death bed at the age of 101, her thoughts still lingered on that sacred piece of land which taught her the true meaning of life - Tibet.

What is it about Tibet that so attracts us?
Primarily, perhaps, it is the wonders nature has endowed it with. This plateau was once a turbulent sea. During the cataclysmic tectonic movement of the Tertary Period, the clash of two great earth plates lifted the Tibetan Plateau from the bottom of the sea, giving rise to some of the world's highest mountain ranges: the Himalayas to its southwest, the Kunlun and Karakorum to the northwest, the Gangdise, Tanggula and Nyenchen Tanggula cutting across the plateau horizontally, and the Hengduan Mountain Range running in a north - south direction, serving as the Plateau's eastern screen. There are six mountain peaks in Tibet towering at more than 8000 meters above sea level and 50 higher than 7000 meters. Tallest of them all is Mt. Qomolangma (Mt. Everest), shooting up to a height of 8,848 meters, its summit being the single highest point on the globe. There are many evidences to show that to this day, the Tibetan Plateau continues to rise in height. Travelers to this part of the world can frequently find fossils of palaeozoic marine life and marks showing where the two tectonic plates clashed. From such visual experience, one gets a feeling of the tremendous changes this planet has gone through and, more than that, a sense of being out of time and out of space.
Because of their height, most of the mountain peaks in Tibet are perpetually covered with snow and draped by glaciers. Furthermore, the movements of the earth crust have created many small but extraordinary climatic and environmental scenarios. It is not surprising to find thick, green forests on the slopes of snow - capped mountains, at the foot of which grow brilliantly coloured flowers and in the valleys below, flow gurgling streams.
As the snow on the mountains melts, drop by drop the water flows down the slopes and merge into turbulent rivers and placid blue lakes. The Yarlung Zangbo River, which the Tibetans proudly can their Mother River, was the cradle of this ethnic group. The Jinsha, Nu and Lanchang Rivers originating from the Hengduan Mountains are the home of the Khampa people, known for their tall and robust build. All these and other rivers bring life to large stretches of cropland and peaceful villages, while the rippling waves of the lakes seem to be playing accompaniment to the songs and ballads sung by the herdsmen on their shores.
In a world engulfed by the tide of industrialization and crying out for the need to ensure sustained development, Tibet remains the beautiful land Nature has endowed it with. Certainly, this is one major reason for its attraction.
Travelers to Tibet are invariably impressed and moved by the people who have inhabited this land for generations. Here on this 1.2 million square kilometers of highland dwell no more than 2.3 million people, making it the most sparsely populated region in China. They make their homes on the grasslands, in the river valleys, or up in the mountains, with a lifestyle unique in every aspect.
Tibet enjoys an average 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. The strong ultra - violet rays have given the people a bronze - like complexion. The powerful sand and snow - laden winds that have swept across the highland for millennia have, like a sculptor's chisel, carved out the sharp contours of this people - an image of simplicity and dignity, firmness and stamina.
Whether they farm or raise cattle or hunt in the forests, Tibetans have written a history of their own, of a civilization created in the process of both adapting to and struggling against the harshness of Nature. Wherever one may be, on a farm or on the pastures, one can always feel that peaceful harmony between Man and Nature in the songs the farmers and herdsmen sing.
Is it because they are closer to the sky than at anywhere else on this globe that the Tibetans were able to develop an astronomy and calendar with such strong highland features? Could it be their love for Nature and an its flora and fauna that enabled them to create the Tibetan medicine which is gaining increasing recognition in the world? The bright natural colours around them have imbued them with an innate sense of aesthetics, so visible even in daily life - the whitewashed walls of their simple earthen houses; the herdsmen's tents of black, woven yak hair; the robes and aprons dyed in rainbow colours. Even the cattle, sheep and horses are decorated with brightly coloured head - dresses. Likewise, one senses this strong love for bright colours in their operas and paintings. Like the fairy - tales of princes and goddesses which they tell to the mountains and the rivers and lakes, the all serve to lessen the bitter cold on the roof of the world.
An ever - present landscape of Tibet is the glittering golden roofs of the monasteries. Buddhism was introduced into Tibet in the 7th century. After many ups and downs, it eventually developed into an indigenous religion - Lamaism, and for hundreds of years thereon, the region was ruled by a theocracy which lasted until the middle of the 20th century. Over the millennia, several thousand monasteries were built in Tibet. Today, Lamaism remains the religion followed by the majority of Tibetans, its many ritualistic activities continuing to embody the Tibetans' philosophy of life.

In this sparsely populated region, the monasteries and their vicinities naturally become the centers of activity and hallmarks of a city, town or area. These are where the wealth and treasures of the Tibetan people are concentrated in the form of architecture, painting, sculpture and music, the crystallisation of their wisdom. Understandably, this over - concentration of wealth was one reason for the impoverishment of the ordinary people of Tibet in the past.

Today, the Tibetan people are creating a new life for themselves. In the process of modernization, Tibetans may find that the centuries - old influence of religion have sometimes become trammels to progress. But not so their kindness, compassion, love and tolerance, qualities fostered in them by their religious faith. These qualities, so deeply - rooted in their hearts and permeate their whole lifestyle, will surely prevail however Tibet changes.

The world is moved and inspired by the magnificent beauty and mystic profundity of Tibet. What attracts people to Tibet is not things material. Nor because it is the fashion to do so. And in fact, not even its religion. After traveling thousands of miles to pay homage to Tibet, visitors will find it to be like the crystal clear lakes in which they will see reflected the dream that has always been there, deep down in their hearts.