Tibet (Listeni/tɨˈbɛt/; Tibetan: བོད་, Wylie: Bod, pronounced [pʰø̀ʔ]; simplified Chinese: 藏区; traditional Chinese: 藏區; pinyin: Zàngqū) is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas, in the People's Republic of China. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also 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).

Cultural/historical Tibet (highlighted) depicted with various competing territorial claims. Light green.PNG Solid yellow.svg Tibet Autonomous Region within the People's Republic of China
Red.svg Solid orange.svg Solid yellow.svg "Greater Tibet"; Tibet as claimed by Tibetan exile groups
Solid lightblue.png Solid orange.svg Light green.PNG Solid yellow.svg Tibetan areas as designated by the People's Republic of China
Light green.PNG Chinese-controlled areas claimed by India as part of Aksai Chin
Solid lightblue.png Indian-controlled areas claimed by the People's Republic of China as part of Tibet Autonomous Region
Solid blue.svg Other areas historically within Tibetan cultural sphere

Tibet emerged in the 7th century as a unified empire, but it soon divided into a variety of territories. The bulk of western and central Tibet (Ü-Tsang) were often at least nominally unified under a series of Tibetan governments in Lhasa, Shigatse, or nearby locations; these governments were at various times under Mongol and Chinese overlordship. The eastern regions of Kham and Amdo often maintained a more decentralized indigenous political structure, being divided among a number of small principalities and tribal groups, while also often falling more directly under Chinese rule; most of this area was eventually incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan and Qinghai. The current borders of Tibet were generally established in the 18th century.[1]Following the collapse of the Qing dynasty in 1912, Qing soldiers were disarmed and escorted out of Tibet Area (Ü-Tsang). The region declared its independence in 1913.