Nyingchi Guide

Nyingchi map

Nyingchi, located in the southeastern part of Tibet Autonomous Region, is bordered by Yunnan Province and Chamdo to the east and northeast, Naqu to the north, Lhasa to the west, Shannan to the southwest, India and Myanmar to the south. The borderline totals 1006.5 km. Nyingchi means "the throne of the sun" in Tibetan. Nyingchi is also praised as "Jiangnan of Tibet", "Switzerland of the Orient", and "ecological oasis". Nyingchi covers a total area of 117,000 square km and holds a population of about 190,000, among which Tibetan population accounts for 90% and Monpa population makes up 5%, together with over 10 ethnic groups such as Han, Monpa, Dulong, Naxi, Lisu, Luoba and Nu. Nyingchi was called Kongpo in Tubo Era, which included present Nyingchi, Gongbo'gyamda County and Mainling County.

Mt. Namcha Barwa

Nyingchi is located in the Himalayas, Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains and Hengduan Mountains. The mountain ranges within the area all stretches from east to west. The terrain is high in the north and low in the south, with an average elevation of 3100 metres. Mt. Namcha Barwa and Sejila Mountain are the main mountains here. Namcha Barwa, the highest point in this area, has an altitude of 7787 metres, ranking the 15th in the world. Yarlung Zangbo River in Nyingchi divides Himalayas and goes through the passage between Namcha Barwa and Gyala Peri.

The average depth of Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is 5000 metres, with 6009 metres at its deepest point. The length of the canyon is 504.6 kilometres, the steepest parts stretching from Pai County Daduka to Motuo County Bangbo with a total length of over 240 metres. The whole canyon is wide on the top and steep at the bottom. The special geographical feature enabled the formation of unique climate conditions and natural environment of Nyingchi. Nyingchi lies in a zone where the climate of tropic, subtropical, temperate, frigid zones co-exists. The average annual temperature is 8℃, and the average annual sunshine duration is 2022 hours. The average annual rainfall is 650mm and the frost-free period is 180 days. There are 106 kinds of national key protected wild animals in Nyingchi, such as deer, dwarf musk deer, tiger, leopard, argali, antelope, Mongolian gazelle, wild ox, takin, wild boar, otter, bobak marmot, snowcock, frog, vulture, red deer, black bear, snow leopard, Tibetan bear, parrot, red panda, black-necked crane, red goral and golden monkey, among which 30 kinds of animals are Grade 1 national key protected species, and 65 kinds are Grade 2 national key protected species.

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Nyingchi

Nyingchi, with a long history, profound cultural heritage, abundant natural resources and beautiful ecological landscape, is endowed with a unique advantage in tourism resources, which makes it a scared destination for tourism, sightseeing, scientific expedition. The prevalence of traditional ethnic culture and Bon and Tibetan Buddhism in Nyingchi area provides the old land with many rare cultural landscape and peculiar folk customs. The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon---the No. 1 Grand Canyon in the world, the Namcha Barwa---the 15th highest peak in the world, the rare primitive forest, Grand Canyon national Nature Reserve, Sejila and the Basumtso Lake, Yigong National Geological Park, the Lulang Forest Sea known as "Alps of Tibet", and the Giant Cypress known as "living fossil".

Nyingchi Peacha Blossom Festival near Nnamjagbarwa mountain

Tourist industry has already become a new economic growth point for local development. Natural and cultural tourism resources such as the Lulang primitive forest, the great bend of Yarlung Zangbo River, Namcha Barwa, Lang County Lieshan Cemetery have been developed, and Yarlung Zangbo River Tourist Festival is held. Every year in March, April and June, Nyingchi holds Peach Blossom Festival and Azalea Festival which integrate tourism, sightseeing and attracting investment to attract tourists.