Tibet People & Life

Tibet serves as a home to many communities, including Tibetans, Menpa, Luopa, Han Chinese, Hui, and a few Deng people. Among them, the Tibetans are the main inhabitants with a population of more than 5 million. They are extremely warm and hospitable to their guests, and they are so happy to laugh more than any other people in the world.

Their Religion & Beliefs

Most Tibetans are the devout Tibetan Buddhism, while a few follow the old Bon which is the oldest spiritual tradition of Tibet. Islam and Catholicism also have a few followers in Lhasa and Yanjing respectively. Strolling on the street there, you will find many Mani Stones, colorful prayer flags and people wheeling prayer wheels, all or which are important elements of local Buddhism.

If you driving on the roads to Lhasa or visiting attractions around Lhasa, you can see many religions and persistent Buddhists who prostrate themselves every 3 steps from their home and keep on prostrating all the way to the holy Lhasa city.

Their Eating Habits

For Tibetan people, Tsampa, yak butter tea and Tibetan barley wine are the staple food. They also like dairy products and air-dried beef and mutton. Usually, they mix the food with fingers of the right hand, and knead it into small lumps before eating. Tibetan food are mostly meat, especially beef or mutton, but not dog meat or fish, because they feel dog meat is dirty, and they regard fish as gods of the water.

Their Living Style

The house like castle is the most representative one in Tibet. The Tibetans built their houses close to the hillside which remain vertical for stability, with stone-wood structure of primitive simplicity. This kind of houses is usually two or three stories high and decorated with bright colors and Buddhist carvings.

Some Tibetans living in the grasslands live in a yak hair tent, which is usually square-shaped supported by eight upright pillars and enough durable against wind and snowstorm. Meanwhile, the tent is convenient to be put up and removed for their livestock.

Their Clothing

Generally speaking, Tibetan people have very characteristic clothes. Clothing is usually made of silk, sheep skin, wool and cotton. They wear different styles of clothing depending on the weather. The traditional local clothes are thick, warm and loose with wind waist and long sleeves and skirts. Usually, some space is left on the chest to hold food and children, just like a bag. When it is hot, a sleeve or two will be taken off and tied about the waist to adjust and the body temperature.

Their Entertainment

There are more than 30 major or minor festivals throughout a year in Tibet for entertainment. On the festival day, they get together and sing and dance together. It is very popular, especially amongst Tibetan living in the southern areas of Tibet. The people are considered to be the best singers and dancers. Read more about Tibetan festivals.

Their Customs

Tibetan people love to show purity, loyalty, faithfulness and respect to the receivers by presenting Hada, Even when people correspond with each other, they won't forget Hada. The most interesting thing is that Tibetans go out of Tibet and take several Hadas with them for giving the friends and relatives they come across in the journey.