Tibet is a plateau region in Asia north of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas Qiang and Lhobas and is inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people. Tibet is the highest region on earth with an average elevation of 4 900 metres (16 000 ft). Tibet emerged in the 7th century as a unified empire but it soon divided into a variety of territories.
