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Travelers from all over the world have grown to appreciate China's history and scenery. In 2008, the growing world power is sure to become an even more popular destination with the start of the Beijing Olympics. Officially sanctioned by the Chinese government, Travel Around China is an overview of tourism in this intriguing country, from Beijing to the Great Wall and beyond.

Considering a trip to China? This beautiful, four-color guide gives you a full account of everything to expect. Each province is broken down into regional sections—perfect for planning tours. Also included are local cuisine, popular festivals, recommended travel routes for long and shorter tours, and transportation and accommodation tips.

Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of color pictures of China's highlights, this book is a must-have for anyone planning a trip to this unique country.

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Travel Around China

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Chapter One

Tibet Autonomous Region

Geography at a Glance

Tibet Autonomous Region lies in the southwest of China on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is bounded to the north by Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province, to the east by Sichuan Province, to the southeast by Yunnan Province, and to the south and west by Burma, India, Bhutan, Sikkim, and Nepal. The region covers an area of around 475,800 square miles, which accounts for 12.8 percent of the total area of China.

With an average altitude of over 13,120 feet, Tibet Autonomous Region has very complex topography and falls into three geographic parts: the west, the south, and the east. The west part, known as the North-Tibet Plateau, lies between the Kunlun Mountains, Kangdese Mountains, Tonglha Mountains and Nyainqentanglha Mountains. This part takes up two-thirds of the total area of Tibet. The southern part of Tibet consists of valleys and lies between the Kangdese Mountains and the Himalayas. The eastern part is made up mostly of canyons, and the entire area is marked by a gradual decline in altitude interrupted by small mountain systems called the Henduan Ranges.

Nearly all Tibetans follow Tibetan Buddhism, known as Lamaism, with the exception of approximately 2,000 followers of Islam and about 600 Roman Catholics. In its infancy, Tibetan Buddhism was greatly influenced by Indian Buddhism, but after years of evolution, Tibetan Buddhism developed its own distinctive qualities and practices. A well-known example is the belief that there is a living Buddha, who is the reincarnation of the first, a belief not held by Chinese Buddhists.

The climate varies greatly in different parts of Tibet. In southeastern Tibet, it is mild and temperate, with an average temperature of 46°F. In western Tibet, the average temperature is below 32°F. In Lhasa and the central part of Tibet, the climate is temperate and nice for traveling. Visitors would be neither too cold in winter nor too warm in summer, especially from March to October, the best seasons for traveling. Most rainfall comes in the rainy season that lasts from May to September. The precipitation gradually decreases from 196 inches in the lower part of the southeast to just 2 inches in the northwest.

Excerpted from Travel Around Chinaby Ingrid none Copyright © 2008 by Ingrid none. Excerpted by permission.
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