Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures

Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture was traditionally part of the historical region of Kham. In 1930, the Tibetan army invaded and captured Garzê, but withdrew two years later. In 1950, the People’s Liberation Army took over and the region was placed under the control of the People’s Republic of China, becoming an Autonomous Prefecture. Today, approximately 880,000 Tibetans live in these highlands in western Sichuan.