# Tibet: inventory and research for seven collections

Researched on 4 October 2026. This is an artistic brief, not evidence of an already completed generation. The map is a visual source; its captions and geographical placement are not automatically accepted as verified facts.

## Inventory of the source map

Kunlun Mountains, Nyenchen Tanglha, Hengduan Mountains, Himalayas; sources of the Yangtze, Salween, Mekong, Indus, Yarlung Tsangpo and Lhasa River. Ngari/Ali, Mount Kailash, Manasarovar Lake with pilgrims and stupas; Nagqu, tent, yaks, Namtso; Chamdo and a pack caravan; Lhasa with Potala/Jokhang--like architecture; a domestic butter tea scene with people, a wooden churn, bowls; Shigatse and monastery roofs, Gyantse with a stupa; Yamdrok Lake; Nyingchi with a green gorge, forest, blossoming tree, waterfall and Namcha Barwa; Everest/Qomolangma with a camp and yaks. The central route has rolled bundles/rolls: without additional evidence we do not call all of them tea. The real tea areas Yigong/Bomi, Medog and Zayu are added from official sources, not inferred from the conventional green slopes of the map. Foreign state borders, peak elevations and disputed labels are not copied.

## Verified tea contexts and limitations

**Real cultivation:** despite the cold plateau image, southeastern Tibet has confirmed tea farms. The regional agricultural department in the 2025 results separately mentions Yigong tea, Zayu black tea, and Medog (S2). The regional government confirms Bomi, Zayu, Medog, and Yigong/Zayu farms (S3). Therefore, in C1–C3 there are three independent production clusters: Yigong/Bomi, Medog, and Zayu. We do not draw tea fields near Kailash, Everest, or Nagqu.

**Medog and processing:** a district government source describes tea gardens, fresh leaf harvesting, and modern processing with fixation/rolling/drying (S4). For Yigong, black/green tea lines and brick pressing are also confirmed (S5). We do not present modern technology as ancient monastery production.

**Beverage culture:** the official culture administration describes everyday sweet teas of Lhasa and socializing at tables (S6); another material confirms butter tea based on tea, butter, salt and water (S7). The wooden churn and bowl are a domestic scene. Milk and butter are not evidence of local leaf cultivation on high-altitude pasture.

**Limitations:** we do not use claims about treating altitude sickness, mandatory soda, number of cups per day, specific British origin of sweet tea, fictional caravan museums, or guaranteed monastery tastings. Pilgrimage and sacred architecture remain respectful geographical motifs. The tea pack denotes transport; exact dating of a particular route is not claimed.

## Sources

- **S1** — [tea.travel — Tibet](https://tea.travel/en/region/tibet/). Editorial source for the route and general tea culture; medical/unconfirmed historical details are excluded.
- **S2** — [Tibet Agriculture Department: Nyingchi tea industry results for 2025](https://nynct.xizang.gov.cn/xwzx/xzsn/202512/t20251229_516413.html). Yigong, Zayu and Medog confirmed.
- **S3** — [Tibet Government: Nyingchi tea farms](https://www.xizang.gov.cn/xwzx_406/dsdt/202506/t20250622_485433.html). Bomi, Zayu, Medog and specialized farms; the list matches S2.
- **S4** — [Medog Government: Gardens and Modern Tea Processing](https://www.motuo.gov.cn/mtx/zjmt/202512/1151fb07eee3482d90dbb8153135b878.shtml). Fields, fresh leaf, technological stages; financial details are not used.
- **S5** — [Tibet Government: Yigong development](https://www.xizang.gov.cn/xwzx_406/ztzl_416/cxzt/yzgz/202408/t20240817_430640.html). Modern processing of red/green tea and pressing.
- **S6** — [Tibet Culture Administration: Lhasa tea houses](https://wlt.xizang.gov.cn/xccx/lytg/202206/t20220621_304126.html). Sweet tea and everyday urban socializing.
- **S7** — [Tibet Culture Administration: local beverages](https://wlt.xizang.gov.cn/xccx/lytg/202507/t20250728_492049.html). Basic composition of butter tea; medical assessments from the source are not borrowed.

## Seven compositional solutions

- **C1 — Tea constellation:** Whisk and sweet tea form two pillars; three real southeastern tea clusters retain independence.
- **C2 — Large Letters — Tea Worlds:** Five letters TIBET interact with urban tea drinking, butter tea and three production scenes.
- **C3 — Tea territories:** A climatic fold connects humid gardens, Lhasa and high-altitude preparation without false geography.
- **C4 — Illustrated atlas:** Potala and the large tea slope are unequal supports of the atlas; sacred architecture is separated from production.
- **C5 — Parade of landmarks:** Confident outline procession: household vessels, city tea house, southeastern farms and mountains.
- **C6 — Lines of travel:** The path from the picker's basket to the city table and the whisk; tea processes set the direction.
- **C7 — By Real Cups:** Ten major episodes in the manner of real cups; three confirmed tea districts are not lost among mountain symbols.

## General parameters

English only. C7 contains only the main title; C1–C3 allow short verified captions. Native RGBA 3840 × 1280, significant elements in x60–3780/y110–1170; final central export 3840 × 1152, 250 × 75 mm. No mockup, opaque substrate, or fixed empty-space ratio. Region palette: #24477D, #D6A135, #A34B43, #779EA4, #8F678C. C1 uses the first two inks, C2–C3 all five, C4–C7 the first three. The reference defines the manner, not the transfer of Guangdong subjects.