Chamdo (Qamdo)

A Khampa hub on the Sichuan–Tibet Highway where the Dza Chu and Ngom Chu merge to form the Mekong (Lancang), surrounded by ancient monasteries such as Jampaling, Karma Gön and the Chagyelma Hall, plus the Karuo archaeological site.

Chamdo (Qamdo) lies in eastern Tibet. It is the main city of the Kham Tibetan region and a transport hub where the Sichuan–Tibet highways G317 and G318 meet the Yunnan–Tibet Highway G214. The urban district of Karuo is built at the confluence of the Dza Chu and Ngom Chu rivers, which join here to become the Lancang (Mekong). The city sits at about 3,200 m — a little lower than Lhasa, but altitude sickness is still a concern. May–Oct has the most pleasant weather, though landslides are possible in the Jul–Aug rainy season; winters are cold but sunny, with few visitors. The city's sights are compact and walkable: Jampaling Monastery stands on a terrace between the two rivers and is one of the largest Gelug monasteries in Kham; below it are Tea Horse Square, the Chamdo Museum and the former office of the Chamdo People's Liberation Committee. The Karuo site, about 12 km south of the city, is one of Tibet's most important Neolithic sites. Day trips head in three directions: north along the Dza Chu to Karma Gön in Karma Township (the mother monastery of the Karma Kagyu school); northwest to the Chagyelma Hall in Riwoqê; and southeast to the Rinda cliff carvings in Zhagyab. About 100 km to the south lie the Pamda (Bangda) grasslands and Qamdo Bamda Airport, on the way to Baxoi and Rawok. Qamdo Bamda Airport has flights to Chengdu, Chongqing, Lhasa and elsewhere; it is about 130 km from the city, a 2–3 hour drive. You can also self-drive or hire a car with driver along the Sichuan–Tibet Highway from Chengdu or Lhasa. Plan on 2–3 nights in the city: one day for the city and the Karuo site, and another day or two for one of the monastery routes. Bring your ID card for entering Tibet; photography is usually prohibited inside monasteries, and kora (pilgrim circuits) should be walked clockwise.

Top sights

• Jampaling Monastery – A major Gelug monastery on a terrace between the Zachu and Ngom Chu rivers. It is one of the largest monasteries in the Kham region and a n…
• Karma Gon Monastery – The seat of the Karma Kagyu school, founded in 1185 by the first Karmapa. The main hall combines Tibetan, Han Chinese and Naxi architectura…
• Riwoche Monastery (Chagyelma Hall) – A famous monastery of the Drikung Kagyu school. The Chagyelma Hall, built in the Yuan Dynasty, has exterior walls striped red, white and bl…
• Karuo Neolithic Site – A Neolithic village site dating back about 5,000 to 4,000 years, one of Tibet's three major prehistoric cultural sites and a national key c…
• Chamdo Tea Horse Square – A city square in the center of Chamdo themed on the ancient Tea Horse Road. In the evening, locals dance guozhuang, making it the starting…
• Lancang River Confluence (Dza Chu & Ngom Chu) – The Dza Chu and Ngom Chu meet south of Chamdo to form the Lancang River. Standing on the bridge or on the hill of Jampaling Monastery offer…
• Chamdo Museum – A large prefecture-level museum in Tibet, displaying artifacts from the Karuo site, dinosaur fossils, and Kham folk culture. Admission is f…
• Former Office of Chamdo People's Liberation Committee – The former office of the Chamdo Prefecture People's Liberation Committee, established after the 1950 Battle of Chamdo and now a museum of r…
• Renda Cliff Carvings – Tubo-period rock carvings on the bank of the Lancang River in Chayu County, depicting Vairocana Buddha with the Eight Great Bodhisattvas an…
• Bamda Grassland – A high-altitude grassland at about 4,300 m, home to Chamdo Bamda Airport, where G318 and G214 meet at Bamda Town.
• Zizhu Monastery – An ancient Yungdrung Bon monastery at about 4,800 m above sea level on Zizhu Mountain in Dengqen County, known as the “City in the Sky.”

Where to eat

• Delecang Music Restaurant – A well-known Tibetan restaurant beside Tea-Horse Square, where diners enjoy Tibetan hotpot and stone-grilled meat while…

Itineraries

• Sichuan-Tibet Highway G318: Chengdu to Lhasa – Traverse Western Sichuan and Eastern Tibet along National Highway 318, crossing high mountain passes, glaciers, and lus…