Gyantse

The Hero City of Gyantse: Pelkor Chöde's Kumbum, Gyantse Dzong fortress and Palhe Manor, with Manla Reservoir and Karola Glacier to the east. A classic stop on the southern Lhasa–Shigatse route.

Gyantse lies in the eastern part of Shigatse Prefecture, in the upper valley of the Nyang Chu River, with the county seat at about 4,000 m. It is a historic Tibetan town; in 1904 soldiers and civilians fought the invading British forces at Dzong Hill, earning it the title "Hero City", and the film Red River Valley is based on these events. Gyantse sits midway along the southern Lhasa–Shigatse route (via Yamdrok Lake and Karola Glacier), about 260 km and 5–6 hours' drive from Lhasa and about 90 km and 1.5 hours from Shigatse; most visitors stop for half a day or stay one night. The main sights are concentrated in town: Pelkor Chöde Monastery and the Kumbum (Gyantse Stupa) blend Sakya, Gelug, Kadam and other traditions, with exquisite murals and statues inside the stupa; across from it on the hilltop, Gyantse Dzong and the anti-British memorial offer views over the whole town; between them, the old street of Jiarijiao preserves traditional Tibetan homes and everyday life. Nearby are Palhe Manor (the best-preserved aristocratic manor in Tibet), the ruins of Zijin Monastery and Nenying Monastery; heading east toward Lhasa you pass Manla Reservoir, the Simila Pass and Karola Glacier at about 5,000 m. The best season is April to October: in summer the barley fields in the Nyang Chu valley are at their greenest, and in September–October the skies are high and clear; winters are cold and dry, and snow may close the Karola Pass. Beware of altitude sickness and avoid strenuous activity when you first arrive; foreign visitors need Tibet travel permits and must travel with a group, and photography inside monasteries usually costs extra.

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