Tourists discover exotic beauty of Tibet
November 2, 1996 From Correspondent Bruce Kennedy 
LHASA, Tibet (CNN) -- To much of the world, Tibet is best known as the former home of the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist spiritual leader who now lives in exile in India.
But Tibet also is gaining recognition as a popular
destination for tourists.
China first inched open Tibet's doors in 1980, offering the world a glimpse of breathtaking beauty with spectacular Buddhist temples framed against an awe-inspiriting mountain backdrop. The landscape and the unique lifestyle of its people are luring tourists to Tibet in ever-growing numbers. 
The mountain region's biggest claim to fame remains the Dalai Lama and his campaign for Tibetan autonomy -- and the tension between the spiritual leader and the Chinese government is not lost on residents or visitors. The Dalai Lama fled from Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule. "I do not want to say too much about the political situation for several reasons," said Norwegian tourist Bodil Grindal. "But as Norwegians, we gave the Nobel Peace Prize to the Dalai Lama and ... I think we have said what we need to say." 
Despite the antagonistic relationship between Beijing and the Dalai Lama, China has played a considerable role in developing tourism in Tibet. One such aid was recreational facilities set up to draw more tourist dollars to a poor, underdeveloped and largely inaccessible region. "From the point of view of the government, the Tourism Bureau, and my own personal view, we are all very confident about the development of tourism in Tibet," said Zhou Lizong, vice director of the Tibet Tourism Bureau. 
One of the more popular attractions is the Jokhang Temple in the capital, Lhasa. At the temple, devout Buddhists chant prayers and spin prayer wheels that contain tightly rolled scrolls of handwritten scripture. Each spin of the wheel is a symbolic way of reading the prayers hidden inside. Outside the temple, pilgrims pray while juniper incense burns in huge urns. Lhasa's Potala Palace, the former home of the Dalai Lama, is another popular tourist destination. And from the temple to the palace, Lhasa's skyline is lit by the ornate golden rooftops of religious shrines. 
The Chinese government's attitude toward Tibetan Buddhism has varied from complete rejection two to three decades ago to the public policy of tolerance today. Behind the scenes, however, China has been placing hand-picked choices within the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy in an effort to reign in its influence. At any rate, there are a growing number of Buddhists in Lhasa, most making pilgrimages to ensure that their next life will be a better one. In addition to Jokhang Temple and the Potala Palace, pilgrims and tourists are drawn to Sera Monastery on the outskirts of the capital, near cliffs decorated with religious paintings. Their backdrop is a breathtaking view of the Himalayan Mountains. U.S. tourist Mary Beth Cooper thinks Tibet is worth the trip. "It's pretty much indescribable," she said. "It's vast, overwhelming, awesome, beautiful, interesting." Reuters contributed to this report. 
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