General introduction       

Shigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet. It is also named Xigatse, which means 'the fertile land'.

History

Shigatse has a history going back more than 600 years and  this ancient holy city  is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, one of the spiritual leaders in Tibet. The city is also the cultural, economic and political center of Tibet. Before the 1950s, Shigatse remained in a primitive state in terms of its economy and its people's lifestyle. Following reformation and the opening up to the modern world, a series of highways were built such as the No.318 National Highway and the China-Nepal Highway. These connect Shigatse with the outside world while opening up the outside world to people in Shigatse. Nowadays, Shigatse is an important Tibetan communication hub and an air of modernization pervades the area. New industries including mechanics, chemicals and food production thrive here. Meanwhile, the traditional handcrafts have been encouraged and expanded. Products such as Tibetan knives as well as items of silver and gold are sought after throughout China and are exported abroad.

Shigatse sits on the plain at the confluence of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu Rivers, where Tibet's most fertile land is to be found. With some thirteen ethnic groups including Tibetan, Hui and Man, Shigatse is a typical area for minority nationalities. Due to its high elevation, the climate of Shigatse is quite harsh. Shigatse has a semi-arid, plateau temperate, monsoon climate. Today Shigatse is the transportation center of Tibet. The China-Nepal Highway connects Lhasa and Shigatse then stretches into Nepal. Without readying access to water and air transportation, the highway plays a very important role in the economy and day-to-day life of Shigatse.

Features

Shigatse is a prosperous Buddhist city as it is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama. In the past ,it was the most important political and cultural center of Tsang. A series of majestic buildings added strength to its political status. Nowadays, these buildings, the former symbols of power, have been converted into tourist highlights. These cultural relics, especially the monasteries, with their mystery and rich holy color tell the history of Shigatse and show the status of Buddhism in people's lives. In addition to the cultural relics, Shigatse occupies a charming high-plateau land with attractive natural beauty. The complex landscape of this region endows it with various natural tourism resources. Many special types of natural scenery, like Mount Qomolangma (Mt. Everest), the world's highest peak and other snow-capped high peaks add much charm to this remote land.