Photos show a rare look inside Tibet, 75 years after what China calls a 'peaceful liberation'

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The Potala Palace is reflected off a polished tile on a square in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
The Potala Palace is reflected off a polished tile on a square in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A tourist walks inside prayer flags near Yamdrok Lake in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A tourist walks inside prayer flags near Yamdrok Lake in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A Chinese paramilitary policeman stands on guard on a square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A Chinese paramilitary policeman stands on guard on a square in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A visitor prays near inside the monastery of the Yumbulagang Palace, regarded as Tibet's first palace, in Shannan in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A visitor prays near inside the monastery of the Yumbulagang Palace, regarded as Tibet's first palace, in Shannan in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A child climbs onto a woman as she performs prostrations inside the monastery of the Yumbulagang Palace, regarded as Tibet's first palace, in Shannan in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A child climbs onto a woman as she performs prostrations inside the monastery of the Yumbulagang Palace, regarded as Tibet's first palace, in Shannan in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A child pets a cat during a visit to the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A child pets a cat during a visit to the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Visitors pose for photos from a viewing platform overlooking Yamdrok Lake in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Visitors pose for photos from a viewing platform overlooking Yamdrok Lake in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A billboard with the words "Warmly celebrating the 75th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet" is seen on a highway near Shannan in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A billboard with the words "Warmly celebrating the 75th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet" is seen on a highway near Shannan in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Tourists looks at their phones at a cafe in Pangdatsang Compound in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Tourists looks at their phones at a cafe in Pangdatsang Compound in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A child stands near a pilgrim performing full body prostrations along Barkhor Street in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A child stands near a pilgrim performing full body prostrations along Barkhor Street in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A pilgrim performs full body prostrations along Barkhor Street in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A pilgrim performs full body prostrations along Barkhor Street in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A stand selling trinkets near Yamdrok Lake in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A stand selling trinkets near Yamdrok Lake in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Visitors tour Jokhang Temple in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Visitors tour Jokhang Temple in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Visitors stand near flocks of birds on Yamdrok Lake in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Visitors stand near flocks of birds on Yamdrok Lake in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
An elderly man looks out from Yumbulagang Palace, regarded as Tibet's first palace, in Shannan in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
An elderly man looks out from Yumbulagang Palace, regarded as Tibet's first palace, in Shannan in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Thursday, July 23, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A lightning strike flash across the sky near the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. Starry effect is due to shooting through the net of a window. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A lightning strike flash across the sky near the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. Starry effect is due to shooting through the net of a window. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A child reacts to a man holding a photo of a Tibetan monk during a visit to the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A child reacts to a man holding a photo of a Tibetan monk during a visit to the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A tourist poses for a photo at Jokhang Temple in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A tourist poses for a photo at Jokhang Temple in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A man performs push-ups near a large mural depicting Chinese President Xi Jinping, bottom center, and other Chinese leaders at a public square at the base of the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A man performs push-ups near a large mural depicting Chinese President Xi Jinping, bottom center, and other Chinese leaders at a public square at the base of the Potala Palace in Lhasa in western China's Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, as seen during a government organized visit for foreign journalists. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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11:14 PM on Tuesday, July 28

By NG HAN GUAN

LHASA, Tibet (AP) — This year marks the 75th anniversary of what China calls the “peaceful liberation” of Tibet in 1951, which critics describe as an invasion that has widely curtailed the rights and culture of Tibetans.

Foreigners face tight restrictions on traveling to Tibet, a remote, high-altitude region also known for its Buddhist faith and snow-capped mountains. The Associated Press last week joined a government-organized trip to the autonomous region, where journalists visited palaces, temples, tourist sites, an eldercare center and local businesses.

Government officials accompanied AP journalists during the media trip to sites that authorities selected in advance. AP journalists were not free to move around or conduct reporting independently. The AP retained full editorial control of its content.

The visit offered a glimpse into daily lives of Tibetans and the growing number of Han Chinese residents. In the capital, Lhasa, visitors flock to the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple, some to sightsee and others to pray. Others travel to sacred Yamdrok Lake, at 4,441 meters (14,570 feet) above sea level, or to Yumbulagang Palace, regarded as Tibet’s first palace and later converted into a monastery, where worshippers make offerings.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

This content is used here with permission. To view the original visit: https://apnews.com/article/china-tibet-photo-gallery-f7afc056f1c4fc32402b6902685e4a84
 

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