and Tibert is a place you will never regret to visit, once visited, you will plan to revisit.

BBC says this is the biggest crackdown on TAR since the cultural revolution, which sounds a bit exaggerated. Apparently the increase in self-immolations is one of the causes...

@yuanyangren
There are MANY different forms of Buddhism, including the multiple Tibetan factions, as generally signified by the different colored hats - which represent major factions.

Tibetan Buddhism practices castes by birth, so the religion is inherently discriminatory and oppressive. As practiced historically, the religion is rife with human rights abuses, to include murder, rape, torture - all the worst parts of human nature exemplified - perhaps similar to the Spanish inquisition and definitely similar to India's caste societies.

This religion, lead by the current Dalai Lama in exile, is the precise one glorified by the Nobel Peace prize, a host of other alleged humanitarian awards, and foreigners around the world. The DL is an incredible public relations machine, deceiving the masses around the world with his shallow rhetoric, but history doesn't lie. An invitation for the DL to visit as an exiled head of state is an inherent statement of support for a violently oppressive caste-oriented society. I find the behavior of most foreign countries and dignitaries that invite this abomination supremely offensive.

If any of you are interested, research the history of Tibet yourself - look past the glossy touchy feely PR surface. You'll be amazed, shocked, perhaps sickened that this kind of practice is exhorted and respected by many leading, allegedly civilized, industrialized nations around the world, to include the USA et al. To respect this man is tantamount to elevating butchers such as Stalin, Hitler, the Spanish inquisition, etc to the paramounts of human civilization. Simply unbelievable.

@laotou
If you bring Hitler into the debate, you lose automatically.

@Natsymir
I think asking in GoChengdoo about other areas is a good option. Also, Chengdu hostels have updated info on travel restricitons. My best guess is the western parts of Sichuan and Qinghai will be off limits for foreigners too (meaning no fine or blacklisting, but when spotted you get sent on a bus back to Chengdu). Some areas are like that currently I believe.

Scene: There was an embarrassed silence, it seemed everyone either left to take a comfort break or top up their glasses. Then just as the gathering was about to break up Jeeves bumbled into the room and brought the whole thing back on topic:

"Hey chaps and chapesses, good news!" He paused only to take air and continued excitedly:

"There are no Foreign Office warnings against travel in China and organised travel to Tibet is possible".

As it had been for many a long year.

"Here it is: www.fco.gov.uk/[...]

As usual Jeeves was keeping it simple and Wooster decided further investigation was required.

@AlexKMG: my post was in reference to the post before yours. Unlucky timing.

@laotou, thanks for the introduction to Tibetan History 101.

Back on track though, these restrictions leave me curious: I read in "the rough guide to China" that there was a Dutch couple running a restaurant in Lhasa. Does this mean the government will force them out of Tibet too or will they just be out of foreign customers during this time?

Quoting religious history is not helpful. This is more about the combination between religion, politics and culture.

Most religions are combination of doctrine, tradition, and practice. That is why Catholics no longer burn protestants at the stake. It is why many Muslim countries no longer stone people for crimes.
The Tibetan Buddhism of today is not the same as 100 years ago. I have met and worked with a Tibetan in exile. He was a typical secular asian. Living with his gf and smoking weed, and homesick for his country (that he had never been to).

@dazzer, smoking weed? And we all know how "enlightened" of a world view that people who smoke weed have.

Yep, weed.

Just goes to show that the despotic feudal lords, or the serf role models no longer apply to the exiled Tibetan. I doubt very much that Tibet would return to feudalism, I doubt that this is what the DL supports either.