What is the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region?

Lhasa is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, southwestern China. It is located at an elevation of 11,975 feet (3,650 metres) in southern Tibet near the Lhasa River. Tibetan Buddhists consider Lhasa a holy land, and it is a state-level historical and cultural city in China.

Lhasa had been designated as the capital of Tibet by the 9th century CE. However, national power became decentralized following the assassination of the Tibetan king in 842, and Lhasa lost its position as the country’s capital, though it gained in religious importance in succeeding centuries.

The 2000 census gave a total population of 474,490, of whom 387,124 were ethnic Tibetans. The Han Chinese population at the time was mainly concentrated in urban areas. The prefecture-level city is traversed by two major highways and by the Qinghai–Tibet railway, which terminates in the city of Lhasa.

The population is well-served by primary schools and basic medical facilities, although more advanced facilities are lacking. Tibetan Buddhism and monastic life have been dominant aspects of the local culture since the 7th century. Most of the monasteries were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, but since then many have been restored and serve as tourist attractions.