Map of Xizang
Xizang is a first-level division of China. Its largest mapped city is Lhasa, with about 219,599 people in the metropolitan area. The interactive map below is centred on Xizang, and the tables list its 7 mapped cities along with the mountains, lakes, World Heritage Sites nearest to them.
- Cities Mapped
- 7
- Largest City
- Lhasa
- Country
- China
- Highest Point Mapped
- 7,782 m
Interactive Map of Xizang
About Xizang
The Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), often shortened in English to Tibet and sometimes to Xizang, is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It was established in 1965 to replace the Tibet Area, a former administrative division of the Republic of China.
The current borders of the Tibet Autonomous Region were generally established in the 18th century and include about half of cultural Tibet, which was at times independent and at times either under the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty or Qing dynasty rule. The TAR spans more than 1,200,000 km2 (460,000 sq mi) and is the second-largest province-level division of China by area. It has a harsh and rugged terrain, with a population of 3.6 million people or approximately 3 inhabitants per square kilometre (7.8/sq mi).
Summary adapted from Wikipedia: Tibet Autonomous Region (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Xizang in Depth
History
In the 6th century, the 32nd Tibetan king, Namri Songtsen, began to annex neighboring tribes by force; he was later assassinated by a coup, and his son Songtsen Gampo succeeded him and quelled rebellions in various regions. Songtsen Gampo inherited his father's will and successively conquered and annexed other kingdoms such as "Songbo" in the Yushu area of Qinghai, Sumpa in the west, "Kangguo" (called "Dongnwu Kingdom" in the Old Book of Tang) in Qianduo (now Chamdo), "Fuguo (Chinese: 附国)" in Ganzi, "Fanlu (Chinese: 蕃绿)" in Litang, and Tuyuhun in Qinghai. Songtsen Gampo led a large army to attack Zhangzhung in 642. After three years of war, Zhangzhung became a vassal state with General Khyungpo Pungse Sutse as its governor.
Yarlung kings founded the Tibetan Empire in 618.
Geography
The Tibet Autonomous Region is located on the Tibetan Plateau, the highest region on Earth. In northern Tibet, elevations reach an average of over 4,572 metres (15,000 ft). Mount Everest is located on Tibet's border with Nepal.
China's provincial-level areas of Xinjiang, Qinghai and Sichuan lie to the north, northeast and east, respectively, of the TAR. There is also a short border with Yunnan Province to the southeast. The countries to the south and southwest are Nepal, Myanmar, India and Bhutan. China claims Arunachal Pradesh, which is administered by India, as part of the TAR. It also claims some areas adjoining the Chumbi Valley that are recognised as Bhutan's territory, and some areas of eastern Ladakh claimed by India.
Economy
In general, autonomous regions of China have some of the highest per capita government spending on public goods and services. Providing public goods and services in these areas is part of a government effort to reduce regional inequalities, reduce the risk of separatism, and stimulate economic development. Tibet has the highest amount of funding from the central government to the local government as of at least 2019. As of at least 2019, Tibet has the largest total per capita government expenditure of any region in China, including on health care, the highest per capita government expenditure on education, and the second highest per capita government expenditure on social security and employment.
The Tibetans traditionally depended upon agriculture for survival.
Demographics
In 2024, only 39.7 percent of Tibet's population was urban, with 60.3 being rural, amongst the lowest in China, though this is significantly up from 22.6 percent in 2011.
In 2020 the Tibetan population was three million. The ethnic Tibetans, comprising 86.0% of the population, mainly adhere to Tibetan Buddhism and Bön, although there is an ethnic Tibetan Muslim community. Other Muslim ethnic groups such as the Hui and the Salar have inhabited the region.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Tibet Autonomous Region (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Xizang: Key Facts
| Population | 3,648,100 (2020) |
|---|---|
| Area | 1,228,400 km² |
| Capital | Lhasa |
| Head of government | Yan Jinhai |
| Highest point | Mount Everest |
| Established | 1965 |
Facts from Wikidata Q17269 (CC0).
History of Xizang: Empires and States
The atlas records 8 polities whose mapped territory included part of Xizang, from Tibetan Empire in 623 CE to 2024 CE. They are listed in the order they first appear.
| Polity | Period here |
|---|---|
| Tibetan Empire | 623–849 CE |
| Tibetans | 850–1249 CE |
| The Mongol Empire | 1250–1293 CE |
| Yuan Dynasty | 1294–1362 CE |
| Tibet | 1363–1952 CE |
| The Qing Dynasty | 1794–1911 CE |
| Republic of China | 1912–1949 CE |
| People's Republic of China | 1950–2024 CE |
Historical Maps of Xizang
Xizang on the world map in each year one of these states held it:
Derived by testing mapped cities against dated territorial polygons. Dates are when the polygons cover this place, not the polity's whole lifespan, and polities absent from the source dataset are not listed.
Largest Cities in Xizang
7 cities mapped. Ranked by metropolitan population. A port city's harbour is written up on the page of its sea.
| # | Name | Population | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lhasa | 219,599 | Xizang | Admin-1 capital |
| 2 | Chamdo | 100,000 | Xizang | Populated place |
| 3 | Xigaze | 80,000 | Xizang | Populated place |
| 4 | Gyangze | 10,000 | Xizang | Populated place |
| 5 | Gar | 10,000 | Xizang | Populated place |
| 6 | Nagchu | 2,500 | Xizang | Populated place |
| 7 | Nyingchi | 100 | Xizang | Populated place |
Highest Mountains in Xizang
5 mountains mapped. Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Elevation | Feet | Region |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namcha Barwa | 7,782 m | 25,531 ft | Asia |
| 2 | Gangkar Punsum | 7,570 m | 24,836 ft | Asia |
| 3 | Gyala Peri | 7,294 m | 23,930 ft | Asia |
| 4 | Nyainqentanglha Feng | 7,162 m | 23,497 ft | Asia |
| 5 | Nganglong Kangri | 6,720 m | 22,047 ft | Asia |
Largest Lakes in Xizang
3 lakes mapped. Ranked by mapped surface area. A lake on a border is listed under each country it lies in, with the area of the whole lake. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Surface Area | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nam Co | 1,880 km² | Lake |
| 2 | Yamzho Yumco | 671 km² | Lake |
| 3 | Puma Yumco | 257 km² | Lake |
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Xizang
1 World Heritage Site mapped. Listed by year of inscription, earliest first. Sites shared with another country appear under each. Assigned by the nearest mapped city, so features near the boundary may belong to a neighbouring division.
| # | Name | Inscribed | Type | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | World Heritage Sites in Tibet | 1994 | Cultural | (i) (iv) (vi) |
Xizang: Quick Answers
- Where is Xizang?
- Xizang is a first-level division of China, in Asia. Its mapped cities centre on 30.3179° N, 90.4771° E.
- What is the largest city in Xizang?
- Lhasa is the largest city mapped in Xizang, with a metropolitan population of about 219,599.
- How many cities are in Xizang?
- YearMaps maps 7 cities and towns in Xizang, with a combined metropolitan population of about 422,199. This counts mapped settlements, not every municipality.
- What is the highest mountain in Xizang?
- The highest summit mapped in Xizang is Namcha Barwa at 7,782 m.
- What is the largest lake in Xizang?
- The largest lake mapped in or beside Xizang is Nam Co, at about 1,880 km².