Xiahe

A mostly rural county in Northwest China, Xiahe is home to the Labrang Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism. The Labrang monastery is one of the largest Tibetan Buddhit monasteries outside of the Tibetan Autonomous Region.

1. Population: 150,000
2. Area: 8687 square kilometers
3. Located in the Gansu province
4. Lies along the northeast edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
5. Named Xiahe in 1928

On March 16, 2008, Protests in Tibet spread to Xiahe and were quickly shut down by Chinese military. An estimated 4,000 people gathered near the Labrang Monastery to protest against the unfair treatment of Tibetans in China. According to reports, the protesters were met by large numbers of security officers and military police who used tear gas to subdue the crowds. Residents reported hearing noises akin to gunshots or explosions and say that several people were admitted to hospital with injuries. The New York Times: Tibetans Clash With Chinese Police in Second City (March 16, 2008)