Unique highland landscapes folklore and the holy and mysterious lamaseries of Tibetan Buddhism all add to the appeal of the Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China, which has caught the attention of an increasing number of tourists from home and abroad.

The region received a record 870,000 domestic and overseas tourists in the first eight months this year, up 98 percent from the same period last year, according to the latest statistics released by the regional tourism administration.

The tourists included 60,000 overseas tourists who came from the United States, Japan, Germany, France and Britain and 810,000 domestic tourists from across the country.

Tourism income topped 800 million yuan (US$96.73 million) for the eight-month period, up 93 percent over the corresponding period of last year. The income included 20.68 million US dollars in foreign exchange.

According to the regional administration, Tibet has made marked achievements in construction of highways leading to tourist resorts and hotels in scenic areas.

The region has also arranged a series of festivals and activities, which showcase local beautiful natural scenes and unique culture, to attract tourists.

The regional tourism administration predicted that the number of tourists to Tibet will reach 950,000 by the end of September.

Covering more than 1.2 million square kilometers, or one-eigth of China's total landscape, Tibet is located in the southwestern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The region, known as the "roofof the world," has an average elevation of more than 4,000 meters.

The region boasts many high snow-capped mountains, including the Mount Qomolangma, also known as the Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. It is also home to largest number of lakes in China, totaling 1,500, vast pastures and large number of unique wild animals and plants.

Of its total population of 2.62 million, 92.2 percent are Tibetans.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2004)