Objective To investigate the influencing factors for carotid intimamedia thickness in Tibetan people. Methods 1409 participants were enrolled in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Ganzi, Sichuan Province, who were either Tibetan Buddhists or Tibetan ordinary residents. Standardized questionnaire, physical examination, fasting blood sampling and carotid ultrasonic inspection were performed. Results 1. When grouped into normal and increased CIMT, there were significant different in age, diastolic blood pressure(DBP), systolic blood pressure(SBP), waistline, hipline, fasting blood glucose(FBG), total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), LDL-L, Buddhism activity participation time, and rate of hypertension, drinking tea with salt, frequent intaking vegetables, and being Buddhists (all P＜0.05). 2. When grouped into Buddhists and ordinary residents, there were significant different in DBP, BMI, waistline, FBG, HDL-C, Buddhism activity participation time, and CIMT. 3. Logistic regression analyses showed that increased CIMT was associated with age, waist to hip ratio (WHR), SBP, FBG and TC in Tibetan. Being Buddhists, longer Buddhism activities participation time and HDL-C performed the protective factors of the CIMT value in in Tibetan. Conclusion Age, SBP, WHR, FBG, TC are significant risk factors for CIMT in Tibetan. And Buddhism activity participation is an independent protective factor for CIMT in Tibetan.