Abstract: Based on the daily precipitation data of 48 stations over the Tibetan Plateau from 1961 to 2008, the characteristics of spatial and temporal distribution during the summer and winter half years over the Plateau are analyzed. It is shown that the spatial distribution of strong precipitation is very similar to that of the total precipitation over the Plateau, which decreases from southeast to northwest during the summer half year, while declines from the hinterland of the Plateau located in the east of Tanggula Mountains to the surrounding during the winter half year. The heavy precipitation during the summer half year has inter-annual oscillation cycle with quasi-three years, quasi 6 years and decadal oscillation cycle with quasi 10-11 years, while has the cycle with 6-7 years and decadal cycle with quasi 15 years during the winter half year. The trend of heavy rainfall is quite different in spatial distribution. During the summer half year, it increases (decreases) in most regions over the northern (southern) Plateau. The overall heavy precipitation of the Tibetan Plateau shows a weak decreasing trend during the summer half year and an increasing trend in the Yarlung Zangbo River during the winter half year. There was an abrupt change of precipitation in 1976.