Nine journalists from Italy and Slovenia have begun a visit to the Tibet Autonomous Region in the southwest of China. They're exploring the cultural and socio-economic development in the area.

Nine journalists started their Tibet trip in the regional capital Lhasa, where they were shown how Tibetan incense is produced. The technique has been handed down for centuries, from one generation to the next.

Local residents told them almost every household understands how to make this unique fragrance, making it an important source of income.

An Italian correspondent said he was deeply impressed.

The reporters visited famous sites like the Norbulingka Summer Palace, the Potala Palace, and the Jokhang Temple. They also visited universities and hospitals to get a view of the local economic development, cultural protection, religious beliefs, and conservation of the old city.

The five-day trip which started on Monday will also take them to Shannan prefecture in the southeast of Tibet. That region is deemed as the birth place of the Tibetan culture.

                                                                                                                                     Editor: Lily Li