A: The cultural life in Tibet is diverse. The autonomous region now has over 400 cultural palaces and clubs at various levels, offering entertainment and sports facilities. The Tibet Library opened in July 1996, and has so far registered over 100,000 Tibetan readers. Tibet now has 17 county-level itinerant performing troupes, and some 160 amateur folk theatrical troupes, that are active throughout the year in agricultural and pastoral areas. Quite a number of programs staged by these troupes and teams have won prizes at national and regional festivals. There are altogether 5,000 people engaged in theatrical work in Tibet, 90 percent of them Tibetan. They have created a large number of ethnic stage productions, and some of their works have won international awards.
Meanwhile, various prefectures, cities and counties in Tibet often sponsor spontaneous festivals to promote mass cultural activities. The state has invested 2.6 million yuan in establishing the Rural Children's Cultural Garden in Doilungdeqen County, and in 1996 founded the Tibet Children's Art Troupe. The troupe went to the United States in 1998 for the International Children's Art Festival and proved a great success. From 1995 to 1999, 40 professional and amateur Tibetan art troupes or groups, totaling 360 members, went on performance and exchange tours to over 20 countries and regions. They were warmly received wherever they went.
Traditional Tibetan sports activities have developed on a broad scale. Since the 1980s, over a dozen Tibetan folk sports have been restored and listed as formal events on the National Minorities Traditional Games. During Tibetan festivals, various places of Tibet hold traditional sports competitions and demonstrations. Tibet has also improved steadily on its modern sports level, and in particular, has made outstanding achievements in mountaineering.