A tourist (right) examines a cultural product at a mall in Lhasa, capital of the Xizang autonomous region. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
The Xizang autonomous region registered strong momentum in its cultural and tourism industry in 2025, with key indicators hitting remarkable growth, local authorities announced recently at a cultural and tourism work conference in Lhasa.
The regional cultural industry raked in an output value of 15 billion yuan ($2 billion) last year, surging 35.29 percent year-on-year.
The ancient Barkhor Street in Lhasa, capital of the Xizang autonomous region, is a popular spot for tourists and pilgrims. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
The region welcomed over 70 million domestic and international tourists, a year-on-year increase of 10.71 percent, with tourism revenue reaching 81.68 billion yuan, up 9.51 percent from 2024. Inbound tourists hit 437,400, marking a robust 36.5 percent year-on-year rise.
During the fourth nationwide cultural relics survey, Xizang has discovered 3,346 new cultural relic sites, ranking among the top nationwide in the number of newly added heritage locations.
A Tibetan opera show in Lhasa, capital of the Xizang autonomous region. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
Since the region launched its tourism resource survey back in 2023, more than 31,000 new tourism resources have been verified and cataloged, among which roughly 13,500 are classified as high-grade.
Shoppers browse Tibetan carpets in Lhasa, capital of the Xizang autonomous region. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
A shopper examines local handicrafts in Lhasa, capital of the Xizang autonomous region. [Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn]
