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Profiles of China Provinces, Cities and Industrial Parks



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Content provided by :  China Knowledge
   
29 Aug 2011
Lhasa ( Tibet ) City Information

Major Economic Indicators (2010)

Land Area (km2) 31,662
Population (million) 0.5
GDP (RMB billion) 15.4
GDP Composition
Primary Industry 5.5%
Secondary Industry
(Industry & Contruction)		 29.9%
Tertiary Industry (Service) 64.6%
GDP Per Capita (RMB) 29,885
Unemployment Rate 4.3%
Fixed Asset Investment (RMB billion) 13.6
Utilized FDI (USD million) N.A
Total Import & Export (USD million) 29.1
Export (USD million) 25.1
Import (USD million) 4
Sales of Consumer Goods (RMB billion) 7.6
Source Source: Lhasa Economic and Social Development Report 2009

 
Introduction
 

Lhasa, the capital city of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, is also the center of Tibet’s politics, economy and culture.

The city is located in the middle of southern Tibet with an altitude of 3,650 meters. It is one of the highest cities in the world. Lhasa does not have extremely frigid winters or unbearably hot summers. It enjoys 3,000 hours of sunlight annually, giving it the nickname of "sunlit city."

Lhasa is an important transportation hub in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Lhasa Gongga Airport is located in Gongga County, about 65 km south of Lhasa city. It connects Lhasa with most western Chinese cities.

Traveling by train to Lhasa is an option for visitors. With a total length of 1,956 km, Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the longest plateau railway and also the highest in the world. It starts at Xining in Qinghai and ends in Lhasa. In addition, there are national highways and provincial highways running through Lhasa, spanning a total of 1002 km.
 
Economic Features
 
Lhasa is Tibet’s largest economy. In 2009, the city realized GDP of RMB 15.4 billion, up 12.7% year on year and accounting for approximately 34.9% of Tibet’s total.

Lhasa's secondary industry (industry & construction) realized a value added industrial output of RMB 4.6 billion, accounting for only 29.9% of the city's total. Major industries of the city include mining, building materials, folk handicrafts and Tibetan medicine.

In 2009, the service industry accounted for 64.6% of the city's total GDP. Tourism has been an important pillar of the industry. Lhasa attracted 3.2 million tourists, realizing tourism revenues of RMB 3.3 billion, up 173% year on year.

Within the same year, Lhasa’s total foreign trade reached US$29.1 million, down 36% from 2008 and accounting for 7.2% of Tibet's total. Lhasa’s main export goods include Chinese caterpillar fungus, wool, garlic, wood products and medlar, while its key import goods include excavators. Japan, Hong Kong, the United States and Russia are important trade partners of the city.
 
Cultural Highlights
 

In the Tibetan language, Lhasa means ‘Holy Land’ or ‘Buddha Land’. It has been hailed as one of the 24 historical and cultural cities of China. Walking in Lhasa, tourists are able to experience its mysterious religious atmosphere and witness the pace of modern society.

Tibetans are the main inhabitants in Lhasa. They account for over 80% of the city's population. Most of Tibetans are devout Buddhists. They are optimistic, straightforward and brave people.
 
Tourist Attraction
 

Lhasa attracts people around the world with its unique plateau scenery and mysterious religious atmosphere. A popular tourist attraction is the Potala Palace – a masterpiece of Tibetan architecture built for Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty during her trip to Tibet. In addition, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Sera Monastery, Drepung Monastery, Ganden Monastery, Ramoche Monastery, Tibet Museum, Mentsekhang, Lhasa Carpet Factory and Chakpori Hill are considered must-see attractions in Lhasa.

August and September are the best months to visit Lhasa due to the cool weather during that period.

Restaurants in Lhasa serve Tibetan cuisine, Sichuan cuisine and western style dishes. Some hotel restaurants even provide Nepalese and Indian foods.
 
Major Development Zones
 

By the end of 2010, Lhasa had one state-level development zone.

Name
Area (km²)
Pillar Industries
GDP in 2010
(RMB billion)
Lhasa Economic & Technological Development Zone
5.5
 Mining, building materials, folk handicrafts, Tibetan medicine, tourism, characteristic plateau food processing
2.3 (2009)

Source: Lhasa Municipal Government
 
Honors
 

National Model City for Double Supports (Double Supports: local government and people support the People's Liberation Army and their relatives while the People's Liberation Army advocates national policies and loves local people) (2008)
- Ministry of Civil Affairs, P. R. China

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