A Detailed Guide about Shannan Tour

Shannan is reputed as the cradle of Tibetan civilization. Numerous ancient architectures like temples, palaces, tombs tell us the story and culture of Tibet. Spectacular natural landscapes like snow-mountains, holy lakes, and vast prairie show the extreme landscape of Tibet. Do you want to travel to mysterious Shannan, Tibet? To make sure you have a wonderful Shannan travel experience, we prepare a quick and easy tour guide below for you. It covers everything you need for a Shannan tour, including Shannan facts, accommodation, transportation, permits and packing list. Now, you can follow this page to prepare a perfect Shannan tour.

Tip 1. Shannan Facts

 
Yamdrok Lake in Shannan

Chinese name: Shannan
Location: Southeastern Tibet, western China
Altitude: 3,700m (12,139ft)
Area: 79,700 square kilometers (30,772 square miles)
Population: 330,000
Administrative Division: 1 district, 11 counties

Tip 2. When & How to go to Shannan?

In general, tourists can go to Shannan from Lhasa Bus Station, which locates at 1, Minzu Lu, Chengguan District to the capital of the region, Tsedang Town. The whole distance from Lhasa to Shannan is about 190 kilometers (118 miles). Notably, there is no direct flight or train to Shannan from other Chinese cities, so all travelers need to go to Lhasa first, and then travel to Shannan by bus.

Gongga Airport in Shannan

The best time to travel to Shannan is from April to October, when the weather is comfortable and nice for traveling. If you want to save a bit of money, just travel to Shannan in winter. Some landmarks that are located in low altitudes are accessible in winter. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sun hat or other items that can protect you from strong sunlight since Tibet has a strong sunlight all year round.

Tip 3. What to See & Do in Shannan

There are many great historic relics and wonderful natural landscapes in Shannan. Traveling there you can meet magnificent rivers, alpine lakes, picturesque forests, vast prairies, etc. Anyway, there are a lot of wonderful attractions are waiting for you. Here we will outline some of the most famous.

Yamdrok Lake - Yamdrok Lake is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet. With an area of about 638 square kilometers, it is the largest freshwater lake. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Yamdrok Lake looks like a fairy tale world.

Samye Monastery - It is the first monastery in Tibet. By visiting this holy monastery, you can explore the ancient heart of Tibetan Buddhist world. Every year, numerous Tibetan Buddhists come here to make a pilgrimage. You can join them to make a kora and that will be an unforgettable journey in your life.

Samye Monastery

Yumbulangang Palace - It is the first palace in Tibet that was built by the first Tibetan King, Nyatri Tsanpo, in the 2nd Century BC. If you are interested in Tibetan history, don’t miss this palace. Many precious historic relics that are collected in this palace will tell you the past of Tibet!

Tip 4. Where to Stay in Shannan

Most hotels gather in Tsetang town. Tsetang town is the most prosperous place in Shannan. There are plenty of travel resources, good accommodations, and nice restaurants. More importantly, some famous scenic spots like Tibet-Yalong River senic zone, Samye Monastery, the Yungbulhakang Palace and Trandruk Monastery are very close to Tsetang town. If you are finding somewhere to stay in, just live in hotels in Tsetang. Tsetang Hotel, Yulong Holiday Hotel and Yalong River Hotel are nice choices.

Tip 5. Necessary Permits for Shannan Tour

Wherever you are going to visit in Tibet, a Tibet Travel Permit that is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau is a must. Normally, it can be applied by travel agency before you enter Tibet. Without this permit, you are not allowed to aboard flight or train. Additionally, Aliens’ Travel Permit is also necessary for Shannan tour. This permit can be applied after entering Tibet. Also, your tour guide will apply it with your Tibet Travel Permit and passport.