Updated: 2006-08-15 15:24

Tibet has fairly complete types of land resource tapping and utilization: farmland, garden land, forest land, pastoral land, urban and mineral land, communications land, water area and uncultivated land.

Being one of China's biggest forest areas, Tibet maintains primeval forest intactness with a total forest area of 126,583 square kilometers. Forest accumulation stands at 2.08 billion cubic meters, ranking second in the country, and forest coverage stands at 9.8%.

Tibet has plentiful mineral resources, 94 mineral resources have been discovered, 30 reserves proven, and 11 mineral reserves including chromium, iron, lithium, copper and boron rank first-fifth in China.
Tibet has abundant water resources, total surface water resources amount to 448.2 billion cubic meters, and underground water resources amount to 110.7 billion cubic meters.

Tibet economic structure is based on farming and animal husbandry, secondary industry is properly developed, and tertiary industry is energetically developed. Five economic pillar industries consisting of forest industry, mineral products, building and building materials, agricultural and animal product processing and ethnic industry, and tourism have taken initial shape, forming an industrial pattern with local characteristics.

Tibet tourist resources are unique with 25 famous buildings, 13 historical attractions under the state's key protection, and 12 regional-level relics protection units. The Potala palace is one of the famous buildings and historical sites. In April and October of each year, the ancient buildings stand side by side with modern buildings against the breeze wind, warm sunlight, blue sky, white clouds, tall poplars, stroking willows, green grasslands, icy peaks and snowy hills, attracting numerous Chinese and overseas tourists