Bands of Chinese military destroyed most of Tibet's Buddhist temples and persecuted monks and nuns. Today Buddhism once again has a stronghold on Tibetans, and many of the temples have been rebuilt. But the Chinese government still monitors the religious activity in Tibet and limits the number of religious buildings and leaders. The government has also outlawed any public display of the Dalai Lama's picture. Like their Nepali neighbors, agriculture is the lifeblood of Tibetans.
Useable farmland is limited to the river valleys.
Leading crops are barley, wheat, buckwheat, rye, potatoes, and various other fruits and vegetables. The primary occupation on the Tibetan Plateau is raising sheep, goats, cattle, yaks, horses, and camels.