Geographical Overview of Tibet

1. Historical Background

Tibet has a long and rich history. In the early 7th century, Songtsen Gampo, the leader of the Yarlung Valley tribe, unified Tibet and established the Tubo Kingdom. He strengthened ties with the Tang Dynasty through marriage alliances. During the Yuan Dynasty, Tibet was formally incorporated into China’s territory. In the Qing Dynasty, Tibet was divided into Ü-Tsang, Kham, and Ngari, leading to its current regional distinctions.
In 1965, the Tibet Autonomous Region was officially established. The region consists of Lhasa (capital), one city district, and six prefectures: Shigatse, Shannan, Chamdo, Nyingchi, Nagqu, and Ngari, along with one county-level city and 71 counties. The capital, Lhasa, is commonly referred to as “Zang”.

2. Geographic Location

Tibet is located in southwestern China, spanning latitude 26°52′–36°32′N and longitude 78°24′–99°06′E. It shares borders with Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, and Xinjiang in the northeast and is adjacent to Kashmir in the west. To the south, it borders India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Myanmar. Tibet has a 3,842 km-long international border. Covering an area of over 1.2 million square kilometers, Tibet accounts for one-eighth of China’s total land area, making it the second-largest region in China.

3. Topographical Features

Tibet sits on China’s highest terrain level, characterized by its high altitude, vast land area, and geologically young formations.

• Average Elevation: 4,000–5,000 meters
• General Terrain: Higher in the northwest, lower in the southeast, with diverse natural conditions.
• Three Major Geographical Zones:
  1. Northern Tibetan Plateau – Spanning two-thirds of Tibet’s total area, located between the Kunlun, Tanggula, Gangdise, and Nyenchen Tanglha mountain ranges.
  2. Southern Tibet Valley and Basin – Located between the Gangdise and Himalaya Mountains.
  3. Eastern Tibet Mountain and Valley Region – Characterized by a series of deep valleys and mountains that transition from an east-west to a north-south orientation.

The region consists of six primary landforms: ultra-high mountains, high mountains, mid-mountains, low mountains, hills, and plains.
The Himalayas, located in southern Tibet, consist of multiple east-west mountain ranges, with an average altitude of 6,000 meters. The world’s highest peak, Mount Everest (Qomolangma), stands at 8,844.43 meters on the China-Nepal border.

4. Water Systems

Tibet has over 20 rivers with basins larger than 10,000 square kilometers. Many of Asia’s most significant rivers originate in Tibet, including:

• Yangtze River
• Nu River (Salween River)
• Lancang River (Mekong River)
• Indus River
• Yarlung Tsangpo River (Brahmaputra River)

Tibet holds 4,482 billion cubic meters of water resources, accounting for 16.53% of China’s total. It possesses 30% of China’s hydropower potential, ranking first in the country.

Tibet is also home to one-third of China’s lakes.

• Largest Lake by Surface Area: Namtso
• Largest Lake Basin: Selin Co
  However, many lakes in Tibet are shrinking due to environmental changes.

Tibet’s unique geography and abundant water resources make it a crucial ecological and hydrological region in Asia.

5. Climate Characteristics

Tibet’s climate is characterized by low temperatures, thin air, dry and clean atmosphere, low oxygen levels, strong solar radiation, and long sunshine duration.

• Temperature Distribution: Higher in the south, lower in the north.
• Daily and Annual Variations: Large daily temperature differences, but small annual variations.
• Seasonal Patterns:
  • Dry season: October to April
  • Rainy season: May to September
• Altitude Influence: Tibet’s high altitude results in temperatures much lower than areas at the same latitude in the Yangtze River Basin.
• Climate Zonation: Due to Tibet’s terrain, climate types range from tropical in the southeast to alpine tundra in the northwest. With increasing altitude, temperatures drop, leading to the phenomenon of “four seasons on one mountain, different weather every ten miles”.

6. Natural Resources

Tibet is rich in natural resources, especially in minerals, geothermal energy, solar energy, and biodiversity.

• Mineral Wealth:
  • Tibet ranks first in China for chromite, corundum, and crystal reserves.
  • Other abundant minerals include copper, lithium, boron, sulfur, and mirabilite.
• Forestry:
  • Tibet has China’s second-largest forest resources, with 1.43 billion cubic meters of timber reserves.
• Biodiversity:
  • Tibet is home to many unique species, including the yak, Tibetan antelope, and snow lotus.
• Solar Energy:
  • Tibet has the highest solar radiation levels in China, ranking second in the world.
  • Annual sunshine hours range from 1,500 to 3,400 hours.

7. Cultural Characteristics

Tibet has the lowest population density in China, with an average of 2.3 people per square kilometer.

• Population Distribution:
  • Densely populated areas include Lhasa Plain, Nyangchu River Valley, and Zetang Plain (50 people/sq. km).
  • Other populated regions include Lhazê, Sakya Plain, Niyang River Valley (Nyingchi), and Lancang River Valley (Chamdo).
• Ethnic Composition:
  • Tibetans are the dominant ethnic group. Other groups include Han, Hui, Monpa, Lhoba, Nu, and Naxi peoples.
• Language and Writing:
  • Tibetan belongs to the Tibeto-Burman branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family and has three main dialects: Ü-Tsang, Kham, and Amdo.
  • Tibetan script, based on Sanskrit, was created in the 7th century and is written horizontally from left to right.
• Cultural Heritage:
  • Tibet has a rich literary tradition, with the “Epic of King Gesar” being the world’s longest heroic epic.
  • Tibetan painting, traditional medicine, and arts have also achieved great accomplishments.
• Social Changes:
  • Before the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Tibet had a feudal serfdom system.
  • After the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the serfdom system was abolished, and Tibet transitioned into a socialist society.
• Cultural Exchange:
  • Since the Tang Dynasty, Tibet has engaged in cultural exchanges with Central Asia, particularly through marriage alliances.
  • The vibrant folk traditions, customs, and artistic heritage of Tibet reflect its unique Himalayan identity.

8. Economic Characteristics

Before the 1970s, Tibet had a weak economic foundation, with a pastoral economy and high-altitude agriculture as the dominant sectors.

• Economic Development:
  • In the 1980s, the “One River, Two Rivers” development strategy significantly boosted Tibet’s economy.
  • Modern industries such as electric power, textiles, leather processing, and chemicals have been established.
• Traditional Handicrafts:
  • Tibet has a long history of ethnic handicrafts, including carpet weaving, apron-making, and jewelry production.
• Infrastructure & Transportation:
  • The Sichuan-Tibet, Qinghai-Tibet, and Xinjiang-Tibet highways connect Tibet with the rest of China.
  • Tibet’s tourism industry has become its leading economic sector.
  • Lhasa serves as Tibet’s international aviation hub, with multiple flight routes.
  • In 2006, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway was completed, ending Tibet’s history of being without a railway.