Visitors from abroad may now enjoy unrestricted sightseeing in all 70 counties of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

More than 1.3 million foreign travelers toured Tibet from 1980 to 2003, with 51,000 visiting in 2003 alone.

"We welcome more foreigners to travel in Tibet. No areas are off limits to them," said Wang, an official with the local tourism bureau.

Overseas travelers must have confirmation letters issued by the Chinese government before they enter Tibet, in accordance with a 1989 central government regulation.

In Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou visitors can easily obtain a confirmation simply by presenting their passport. Chinese nationals are also required to have such a letter, according to Wang.

"I planned my Tibet trip for one year, but finished all the procedures in one day," American Ben Long told Xinhua at the square before the Potala Palace. An English teacher working in northeast China's Liaoning Province, Long has an interest in Tibetan Buddhism.

During the peak tourism season from June to September, Tibet's capital city Lhasa receives thousands of overseas visitors each day. They stroll at Norbu-Linkag Park and the Potala Palace, browse for Tibetan accessories at the many shops and stands, and hang out in bars at night.

Chris and Erin, from the United States, toured Xi'an and Dunhuang before flying to Lhasa. "The travel agency did everything for us, so the application procedure was not hard," said Chris.

More than 100 tour guides fluent in English, French, German and Japanese have helped visitors from around the world to understand the culture of Tibet. Beginning next year, scores of new college graduates will join their ranks, noted Wang.

Many devout Buddhists make pilgrimages to Tibet. Nearly 600 Indian Buddhists visit each year to pay homage to the Holy Mountain and Holy Lake in Ngari Prefecture.

Thonden, an official in charge of religious affairs in Tibet, said that now Tibetans worship many times more frequently than the period before 1958 because of improved living standards and better transportation.

"Seeing is believing, so we'd like you to come to Tibet to have a look," Wang Pijun, an official with the Information Office of the State Council, usually tells foreigners.

Tibet has also received many special guests in the recent years. Earlier this month, delegations of journalists from several other countries, including Belgium and Nepal, wrapped up their visits.

However, one thing that has bothered Ben Long and other travelers was the cost. A roundtrip ticket from Beijing to Lhasa runs 5,000 yuan (about US$602), nearly equivalent to Long's monthly salary in China. Because of its high altitude and underdeveloped transportation infrastructure, a trip to Tibet tends to be more expensive than to other areas in China.

But according to Wang Wenpei, transportation costs will be slashed by two-thirds after the completion of the 1,142-kilometer Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The line is expected to open to traffic in 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2004)