Xizang Autonomous Region, abbreviated as “Zang”, is one of the five ethnic minority autonomous regions of the People’s Republic of China. Located in southwestern China, it lies in the southwestern part of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, known as “the Roof of the World”, between 26°50′–36°53′ North latitude and 78°25′–99°06′ East longitude, with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters. It administers 6 prefecture-level cities and 1 prefecture, with Lhasa as its capital.
Xizang is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Since the Yuan Dynasty, the central government has consistently exercised effective jurisdiction over Xizang. The Xizang people are an important member of the Chinese nation. Xizang was called “Tubo” in the Tang and Song dynasties, “Usang” in the Yuan and Ming dynasties, and “Tangut” or “Tibet” in the Qing Dynasty. The name “Xizang” has been used since the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Xizang was peacefully liberated on May 23, 1951, and the Xizang Autonomous Region was officially established on September 9, 1965.
Affected by topography, geomorphology and atmospheric circulation, the climate of Xizang Autonomous Region is unique, complex and diverse. Generally, the climate is cold and dry in the northwest, and warm and humid in the southeast. Accordingly, climate types range from tropical, subtropical, plateau temperate, plateau subfrigid to plateau frigid zones from southeast to northwest. In the high mountain and canyon areas of southeastern Xizang and the southern slopes of the Himalayas, temperatures gradually drop with rising terrain, showing vertical climate changes from tropical or subtropical to temperate, cold temperate and frigid zones.
In terms of transportation, Lhasa Gonggar International Airport is located in Jiashelin Town, Gonggar County, Shannan City, Xizang Autonomous Region, on the magnificent south bank of the Yarlung Zangbo River at an altitude of 3,600 meters. It can accommodate large aircraft such as Boeing 747 and Airbus, making it one of the highest-altitude civil airports in the world. For highways, there are the Qinghai-Xizang Highway (from Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, via Chaka, Dulan, Golmud to Lhasa), the Xinjiang-Xizang Highway (from Yecheng, Xinjiang to Lhasa), the Sichuan-Xizang Highway (from Chengdu, Sichuan, via Ya’an, Kangding, dividing into north and south lines at Xinduqiao, with a highway connecting Changdu and Bangda between the two lines), the Yunnan-Xizang Highway (from Xiaguan, Yunnan, via Shangri-La north to Mangkang County, Xizang Autonomous Region), and the China-Nepal Highway (from Kathmandu, Nepal, via Zhangmu Friendship Bridge into Nielamu County, Xizang, passing through Xigaze, the second-largest city in Xizang, to Lhasa). Major railways include the Lhasa-Xigaze Railway and the Sichuan-Xizang Railway.
Religions in Xizang Autonomous Region mainly include Yungdrung Bon, Xizang Buddhism and folk religions, as well as Islam and Catholicism. There are more than 1,700 Xizang Buddhist monasteries with about 46,000 resident monks and nuns; about 88 Yungdrung Bon monasteries with over 3,000 monks, 93 Living Buddhas and more than 130,000 believers; 4 mosques with around 3,000 Muslims; and 1 Catholic church with over 700 parishioners.
Xizang Autonomous Region boasts not only the singular geological landforms and unique natural scenery of the Roof of the World, but also distinctive social and cultural landscapes. At its historical peak, there were more than 2,700 monasteries, plus numerous palaces, gardens, castles, fortresses, ancient tombs and stone tablets. The Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and other sites are popular attractions. There is the Manasarovar Wetland National Nature Reserve, and the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon Scenic Area has been awarded a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Mount Qomolangma is located in Xigaze City, Xizang Autonomous Region.
On January 24, 2026, it was announced at the 2026 Xizang Autonomous Region Cultural and Tourism Work Conference that the Xizang cultural tourism market continued to boom in 2025, receiving 70.7337 million domestic and international tourists.