Yadong

Deep forests in the Yadong Valley on the southern slope of the Himalayas, views of Chomolhari from the Phari grasslands, Dochen Tso lake and the Nathu La pass.

Yadong County lies at the southern tip of Shigatse, Tibet, wedged between Sikkim (India) and Bhutan; its heart is the Yadong Valley (Chumbi Valley) on the southern slope of the Himalayas. The terrain drops dramatically: in the north, the Phari grasslands sit at about 4,300 m beneath the towering snow peak of Chomolhari, mirrored in the waters of Dochen Tso; descending into the valley, the altitude plunges to about 2,900 m at the county seat of Xiasima, where fir forests, streams and mist feel more like southern China's lush lowlands. Main sights include the Yadong Valley forests, Chomolhari, Dochen Tso, Phari Town, Donkar Monastery, Kangbu Hot Springs and the Nathu La pass on the China–India border. Use the county seat as your base: spend one day in the valley and at Donkar Monastery, and one day heading north to Phari and Dochen Tso for the mountain views. Yadong is a border control area, so you must obtain a border area permit in advance at your place of household registration or in Lhasa or Shigatse; access to Nathu La and similar spots depends on local regulations. It is about 300 km from Shigatse via Gyantse and Kangmar, mainly by self-drive or hired car, as public transport is infrequent. The best season is May–Oct; in the rainy season (Jul–Aug) landslides and rockfalls are common in the valley, and in winter the Phari area is bitterly cold and roads may be closed by snow. The county seat's relatively low altitude makes it a good place to recover from altitude sickness, and the top local dish is Yadong fish.

Top sights

• Yadong Valley (Chumbi Valley) – A deeply cut valley on the southern slope of the Himalayas, with primeval forest, streams and wooden village houses. It is known as Tibet’s…
• Chomolhari (Jomolhari) – A sacred mountain on the China–Bhutan border, about 7,300 m high. From the Phari grassland you can look up close at its pyramid-like snowy…
• Dochen Tso – A highland lake at the foot of Chomo Lhari, where the snowy peak is reflected in the water. It is a classic viewpoint on the Gyantse–Yadong…
• Phari (Pagri) – A border old town at about 4,300 meters, once a major trade route between Tibet, India and Bhutan, with the open Phari Grassland all around…
• Dungkar Monastery – An old Gelug monastery on a hillside above Yadong Gorge, where the Dalai Lama once stayed, with views over the Chumbi Valley.
• Nathu La Pass – A China–India border pass at about 4,300 meters, also a channel for border trade, where on clear days you can see the Himalayan peaks.
• Xarsingma (Yadong County Town) – A county town hidden in the forests of Yadong Gorge at about 2,900 meters, where you can taste the famous Yadong fish. It makes a good base…
• Kangbu Hot Spring – A natural hot spring in Kangbu Township, upstream in Yadong Gorge, a traditional Tibetan place for healing and counted among Tibet’s famous…

Itineraries

• Self-Drive Tour of Yadong, Mount Everest, and Gyirong Valley in Tsang – Drive along the northern foothills of the Himalayas, connecting Yadong Valley, Mount Everest, and Gyirong Valley to exp…