Hi,

I have got that Tibet will be closed during July 2011. Originally, I had planned a Tibet tour from July 7 to 17. And now I will change my itinerary. Need some suggestions that which city or destination will be a replacement? I am interested in culture and Chinese ethnic group as well as natural scenery.

Thanks!

If you want to taste Tibetan culture. you can go to Shangri-La in Yunnan, the western parts of Sichuan and southern parts of Gansu and Qinghai provinces.

Shangri-La in Yunnan and Jiuzhaigou in SIchuan are probably the most tourist-friendly and very scenic.

Why does Tibet close? Is this an annual occurrence?

It is whenever the Beijing government thinks there may be unrest and protest in Tibet and don't want the world to see it. Mostly in March. Why this July is anybody's guess.

Thanks ... good angle I had forgotten.

Who said that Tibet will be closed in July? I stay here and never heard of this? Don't believe the news broadcasted by medias.

See http://www.tibetdiscovery.com/latest...t-permit-news/

If you are actually in China you are behind the great Chinese firewall, and do not get all the news.

It is widely reported by all the travel agents specialized in getting foreigners TTB Permits and arranging their travel. They are the party most affected by the closure. The foreign media basically reported that fact.

Read this:

Tibet Closed to All Foreigners from 2011-06-20 to 2011-07-25
CTT, 3 Jun, 2011

The Tibet travel for foreigners will be closed from 2011-06-20 to 2011-07-25 due to political activities. The Tibet Travel Permit can’t be applied in that period. Please change your travel planning. Thank you for your kindly understanding.

Oh China. You really do bring a whole new meaning to the word represssion.

You might want to also look at Lijiang. It's on the cusp of the Himalayas and tremendously beautiful. It would be a great companion destination to Shangri-La as rkkwan suggested.

That's what happens when you rule a people that is ethnically and culturally different, and doesn't want to be ruled by you. History aplenty. Including in the American West in the 1800's.

Well, now we know. A bunch of top leaders of Beijing are in Lhasa now to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Tibet's "Liberation".