Chinese Lunar New Year Meets Tibetan New Year in 2013

The celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year meets the celebration of the Tibetan New Year in 2013. The New Year Day of the two festivals is just one day apart from each other. A large number of domestic tourists choose to spend the New Year holiday in Tibet so as to experience a different festival atmosphere. It is reported that the number of visitors come to Tibet during the celebration of Tibetan New Year breaks the historical record in 2013.

According to the statistics provided by Tibet Tourism Bureau, Tibet has received 278,485 tourists both at home and abroad during the public holiday between February 9th and 18th . The total number of tourists during the celebration of Tibetan New Year 2013 is 2.4 times of the same period of 2010. Tibet realized a total tourism revenue of 204.54 million RMB in Tibetan New Year 2013 and that is about 2.6 times of the same period in 2010.

In the first seven days of the public holiday of the Chinese Lunar New Year 2013, different regions in Tibet received 213,500 visitors both at home and abroad in total. It increased 22 percent compared to the spring festival golden week of 2011. It is reported that Tibet has realized a tourism revenue of 163.44 million RMB in this golden week and that increases 27.6 percent compared to the same period of last year.

It is reported that a large number of tourists come to Tibet during the celebration of Tibetan New Year 2013 indicate that they've been planning a self-help Tibet tour in winter for a long time. This solemn festival provides them the best chance to explore the special culture of Tibet through various tourism products explored by the scenic spots in different regions on Tibet Plateau. The fresh experiencing and recreational activities are of great charm for tourists who've never been to Tibet.

Tibetan New Year Festival is the most important and solemn festival for Tibetans. Both the ordinary citizens and lamas in the monasteries would make a lot of preparation for the celebration of the New Year. Except for the daily religious ceremonies, the lamas in the monasteries would also prepare for the festival celebration with the coming of the New Year. Tourists making a Tibet tour and pay a visit to the monastery before the celebration of the Tibetan New Year would find that the lamas in the monastery are busy with changing their window curtains, cleaning their yaks and manufacturing the special articles of tribute.

According to the tradition, the monasteries would hold a grand prayer ceremony. Generally, the prayer ceremony in different monasteries would begin from the January 7th according to the Tibetan calendar and lasts for 10 days. Hence, the lamas go home for family reunion would back to the monasteries before January 7th. Tourists join the Tibet festival tours during the Tibetan New Year will have the chance to witness the magnificent prayer ceremony in Drepung Monastery, Tashilhunpo Monastery and some other big monasteries in Tibet. It would also be a good choice to join the circumambulating pilgrims.