<正>September 2005 marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Tibet Autonomous Region. In anticipation of the event, our August issue carries a series of reports on the region and its people. Tibet's unique natural and cultural environment is a source of fascination to people both inside and outside of China. As overseas Ti-hetan scholar Jambyang Norbu observes, the fondly perceived image of the 'Roof of the World' is that it is the Shangri-La of nature, culture and Tibetan Buddhism.