Lhasa
Lhasa, the capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region,
has a history of more than 1,300 years. It is the
political, economic, cultural and transport center of
the region. Lhasa covers an area of close to 30,000
square km. It has a downtown of 544 square km and a
population of 400,000; 140,000 of its people live in the
downtown area. Lhasa is home to the Tibetan, Han, and
Hui peoples, as well as many other ethnic groups, but
the Tibetan ethnic group makes up 87 percent of the
total population.
Lhasa has beautiful scenery. The Lhasa River, known as
the "merry blue waves," runs through the snow-covered
peaks and gullies of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains,
extending 315 km. The river empties into the Yarlung
Zangbo River at Quxu, forming a scenic wonder that
features blue and white water waves.
The ancient city of Lhasa stands by the Lhasa River.
Inside the city towers the Potala Palace. The city
features a combination of traditional and modern things,
including prayer wheels and computers.
Located at the bottom of a small basin surrounded by
mountains, Lhasa has an elevation of 3,650 meters and
sits at 91'06E and 29'36N, the center of the Tibet
Plateau. Blessed with flat land and mild weather, Lhasa
is free of frigid winters and unbearably hot summers,
having an annual average daily temperature of 8 degrees
C (43 degrees F). It enjoys 3,000 hours of sunlight
annually, much more than all other cities in this
regard, giving the city its title of "sunlit city."
Lhasa enjoys an annual precipitation of 500 mm. It rains
mainly in July, August and September. The rainy seasons
in the summer and fall are the best seasons of the year,
when it rains mostly at night, and is sunny in the
daytime.
Tsedang
Tsetang (Zetang) is the birthplace of earliest Tibetans
and the political and economical centre of Shangnan
prefecture. It sits on the south bank in the middle
section of the Yarlung Tsangbo River with a moderate
climate at an altitude of 3,600 meters.
The nearby Yarlung River scenic area is a national
scenic park with Samye Monastery, Yumbu Lhakang Palace,
burial site for Tsampos and Traduk Monastery spotting
the region. It is located between two mountain ranges at
the northern side of Himalayas, to the south of Nyanchen
Tanggula mountains, just by the Yalong zangbu river,
with land area over 800,000 square kilometers. The
Yalong river flows from the south through the area and
empty itself into Yalong zangbu river, hence the Yalong
river formed a huge river delta at its end when it
merges into another.
There are several No.1s-- the first farming land, the
first king of Tibet, the first palace (Yhongbulakhang),
the first monastery in Tibet (Samye monastery). And
several kings tombs are here: the world treasure-Pearl
Tangka (A type of painting) was also and is still kept
in Changdrok monastery.
The Chenpu meditation caves area (located to the north
of Samye monastery) is still a dream place for Tibetan
Buddhism practices. You can have a touch and visit to
the holy lake Larmulatso--which was and now still the
image reflection watching lake for finding clues to
choose the rein carlated boy of the Past Dalhai Lhama
and Panchan Lhama.
