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Known as a sacred land nestled amidst towering mountain ranges, Tibet remains a fascinating puzzle on the world map.
As a sun and wind-swept plateau, Tibet (China) never fails to impress with its distinct cultural traditions and awe-inspiring natural landscapes, making it a dream destination for adventurous souls.
Being the homeland of Buddhism, the remote corners of Tibet harbor countless ancient customs and temples with unique architecture. Despite attracting a significant number of tourists each year, this land still retains its inherent pristine beauty. Here are 5 intriguing facts about Tibet to deepen your understanding of this sacred land.
1. Tibet Once Shut Its Doors to Tourists
Before opening its doors to tourists, Tibet was a relatively secluded region, completely closed off to visitors. It wasn't until 1980 that the area welcomed its first batch of curious travelers.
Currently, while Tibet still closes during the Lunar New Year period (typically from January to February), they remain open to tourists in other months with the condition that visitors must participate in a guided tour.
2. Tibet is Revered as One of the Most Remote Areas on Earth
Due to its geographical features, primarily mountainous terrain, Tibet also stands as the least populated area in China. With the majestic Himalayas as its prominent feature, the average elevation of the region's mountains exceeds 6,000 meters.
This unique natural condition has transformed Tibet into one of the most remote areas on Earth while boasting majestic scenery unmatched anywhere else.
3. 47% of the World's Population Depends on Freshwater from Tibet
Dubbed the 'Third Pole' on Earth, Tibet possesses the world's third-largest reserves of water and ice after the North and South Poles. With lakes, rivers, or glacier rivers at every turn, the water resources of this region are immeasurable.
Hence, this is also the source of many of Asia's largest rivers, including the Mekong, Yangtze, and Indus rivers.
4. Infants at 1 Year Old Must Immerse Under Glacier Rivers
In a region with extremely harsh cold climates, not everyone can easily survive here. Therefore, since ancient times, Tibetans have been known for their physical training to withstand the harsh weather, even as infants.
According to tradition, on the first birthday of any child, the most respected elder woman in the village will immerse the child in the icy glacier water for 1 minute, leaving only the head exposed. The child will then be brought up, dressed, and wrapped normally. If the child survives and remains completely normal, it means they have passed through the rigorous life-and-death selection process.
5. Tibet Cannot Grow Tea
When talking about Tibetan specialties, yak butter tea is likely the first thing to come to mind. Yak butter tea is a traditional beverage of this high plateau region. For the locals, yak butter tea is even considered a 'divine drink' due to its excellent heat retention and nutritional properties, helping the body withstand the harsh weather.
However, few are aware that the Tibetan Plateau is not where these tea leaves are grown. Due to its characteristic climate, tea cultivation is impossible. Therefore, all tea is traded using horses and transported from India over a distance of nearly 4000 km.
Due to the length and rugged nature of the transportation route, the 'tea-for-horse trade route' (Tea Horse Road) has become one of the legendary trading routes in the world, equivalent to the famous Silk Road in history.
Source: Wild life China
