[00:04.78]The Tibetan plateau is a quarter of China
[00:11.18]Much of it is extremely remote and inhospitable
[00:16.22]Its southern border runs through the world's highest mountain range
[00:20.84]the formidable Himalayas
[00:27.66]Its central part is a windswept and freezing wilderness the size of Western Europe
[00:37.6]But this challenging place is home to incredible wildlife
[00:41.82]There are more large creatures here than anywhere else in China
[00:57.28]Tibet has been a province of China for more than 50 years
[01:01.4]yet it has a unique character, shaped by over 1,000 years of Tibetan Buddhism
[01:11.26]This obscure and archaic-looking religion has produced one of the most enlightened cultures on earth
[01:20.14]Here, people have a long tradition of co-existing peacefully with the creatures and landscape around them a relationship
[01:29.65]which has helped to protect their fragile environment
[01:37.93]In this programme we will discover why  this harsh land with its ancient culture
[01:42.60]is vitally important for much of our planet