1.5.1 Profile of Tibet Autonomous Region

Tibet Autonomous Region contains a prefecture-level city（Lhasa City）, a country-level city（Shigatse City）and six prefectures（Shigatse, Chamdo, Shannan, Ngari, Nakchu and Nyingchi）. According to administrative divisions, there are only two cities in Tibet—Lhasa City and Shigatse City.

Lhasa, which literally means“Land of the Gods”, is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It has always been the political, economic, and cultural center over its 1300-year history. Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world with an altitude of 3600 meters, and sits in a valley next to the Lhasa River. The valley location protects the city from intense cold or heat and heavy winds. Lhasa City administers one district（Chengguan District）and seven counties（Lhünzhub County, Damxung County, Nyêmo County, Qüxü County, Doilungdêqên County, Dagzê County and Maizhokunggar County）. Lhasa City had 223001 people in the Chengguan District in 2000（117004 men and 105997 women）, and nearly half of Lhasa city's population lives here. There are 7 sub-districts and 28 communities in Chengguan District. The seven sub-districts are Gamagongsang, Jibenggang, Gongdelin, Bakuo, Zhaxi, Jiri, and Chongsaikang.

Shigatse City, which means“the fertile land”, is the administrative center of Shigatse Prefecture as a county-level city, and the second largest city in the TAR of China. Shigatse City had a population of 99863（51915 men and 47948 women）in 2000 and sits in southwest of Lhasa City about 250 kilometers. It is located in flat terrain surrounded by mountains at an elevation of 3840 meters. Shigatse governs two sub-districts（Chengbei and Chengnan）and ten town ships: Lian, Nianmu, Jiangdang, Bianxiong, Dongga, Nierixiong, Jiacuoxiong, Qubuxiong, Qumei, Na'er. There are five communities in the Chengnan Sub-district and five communities in the Chengbei Sub-district.