Living Area: Tibetan Autonomous Region, Qinghai , Gansu , Sichuan , Yunnan

Population: nearly 4.6 million

Language: Tibetan

Dialect: Weizan, Kang, Ando

Religion: almost 1300 years ago, Buddhism was brought into Tibet from India .

From the 13 th to 16 th century, Buddhism was prevailing. With frequent ceremonies, Buddhist temples were everywhere in Tibet . Potala Palace is the largest and the most well-preserved Buddhist temple of China .

History: in the 7 th century, Songtsen Gampo set up a kingdom. It was called "Tubo" in Tang and Song Dynasty and "Tibet" since the reign of Kangxi in Qing Dynasty. In 641, the marriage between Songtsen Gampo and Princess WenCheng of Tang was a great contribution to the promotion of Tibetan culture, which reached the climax from the 10 th century to the 16 th century.

Customs: Presenting Khada is a common local practice in Tibetan to send best wishes with each other when people are on wedding ceremonies, festivals, visiting the elders and entertaining honored guests. The white Khada is made of raw silk, symbolizing purity and good fortune. Normally, people accept a Khada with both hands. And they present a Khada to a statue or a high lama by raising the Khada above shoulders and bowing. 

Ethnic Costume: Men wear collarless gowns with a long sleeve matching on the right shoulder, and women wear long-sleeves dresses with graceful rainbow-like "apron". In the street of Lhasa , women of Gongpo and Dapu wear sleeveless jackets trimmed with golden corner decorations and long waistcoats with opens down the front gaily colored striped woolens on both side, and caps with golden lace hemmed around.

Diet: Yak butter tea is the typical non-alcoholic Tibetan beverage, which is considered the best offering to guests by hospitable Tibetans. Dried Yak and Lamb cutlets are typical Tibetan specialties. The crispy slices are popular with not only local people but also foreign visitors. Besides Zanba, mutton and beef, in some areas, rice and noodles are also regular parts of the diet.