Ngari (Ali) Travel Guide
Population: 86,300
Area: 345,000 square kilometers (133,205 square miles)
Nationalities: Tibetan, Han
Administrative Division: 7 counties (Gar, Burang, Zada, Rutog, Ge'gyai, Gerze, Coqen)
Seat of the city government: Wenhua Road, Shiquanhe Town, Gar County
Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0897-2824977
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184
China Post Ngari Branch: Senge Community Association, Shiquanhe Town, Gar County
Location: Ngari Region stands in western Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest frontier of China. It neighbors Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the north and Shigatse and Nakchu in the east. Furthermore, it has a total frontier of 1,116 kilometers (693 miles) bordering upon India and Nepal in the South and Kashmir in the west.
History: Before 1949, Ngari was ruled under the feudal serf system, practicing the combination institution of politic and religion and dictatorship of feudal seignior. Chinese People's Liberation Army marched into Ngari in 1950 and set it free one year later. By 1959, the feudal serf system had been abolished.
Physical Features: Himalayas, Gangdise Mountains, Kunlun Mountains, Karakoram Mountains and several other arch-shaped mountains lay in order from southern to northern Ngari. They extend northwestward and converge at the Pamirs. Among theses mountain ranges and their branches, strips of mountain valleys and basins are distributed. Therefore, the general terrain of the region declines from north to south.
Climatic Features: Basically, Ngari enjoys a plateau monsoon climate. In summer, the monsoon from the Indian Ocean may bring precipitation to this area. During winter and spring, gales and strong temperature drop may frequently occur. Its annual average temperature remains around 19C (66.2F). During daytime in August, the temperature is above 10C (50F), but it may drop to the subzero.
When to Go: May to July and September to October are suitable for traveling. Due to the great temperature difference in a day, warm clothes should be the prime priority. Ngari's annual rainfall is extremely slim and mainly happens during July to early September. Road conditions are really awful at that time.
Special Local Products: highland barley wine
Local Highlights: Where there are religious, there are pilgrimages. Kangrinboqe is considered as a sacred mountain in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon religious. Every year, devotees from Tibetan, India, Nepal and Bhutan will make pilgrimages to the sacred places for blessing following the old traditional way: saluting full body kowtow all the way from afar and moving around and around the sacred mountain.
Scenic Spots:
Tholing Monastery was a famous Buddhist temple in Tibet built in the 11th Century by the prince of Guge Kingdom. In 1042, an Indian dignitary once gave sutra lectures here, greatly promoting the development of the Buddhism in Ngari. The monastery is also a witness of the renaissance of Ngari's Buddhism. Over one thousand deer antlers, pictographs and hieroglyphics collected in the temple are of great archeological value.
Ruins of Guge Kingdom was constructed on a mountain 18 kilometers (11 miles) west of Zada (Zhada) County. During the 10th Century to 17th Century, Guge Kingdom created a brilliant history. Hundreds of rooms and caves are built on the mountain 300 meters (984 feet) above the mountain foot. After its national destruction, frescos in temples on the mountainside about Sakyamuni, the king and queen of the Guge are the most precious treasure the lost kingdom left behind.
Other Scenic Spots: Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarova (They are considered as the 'Sacred Mountain' and 'Holy Lake' by Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bon both located in Burang or Pulan County)
Tourist Tips:
Due to the 'Sacred Mountain' and 'Holy Lake', Burang is drawing increasingly more attention of tourists. It is about 400 kilometers (249 miles) from Shiquanhe Town, and only 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Sino-Nepal boundary in neighborhood of India. Pilgrims and peddlers often choose this port entering Tibet.
Two routes to Burang County:
1. southward from Urumqi along the Xinjiang-Tibet Road, passing Yecheng and Shiquanhe and finally arriving in Burang, whole course of 3,044 kilometers (1,891 miles)
2. westward from Lhasa passing Shigatse and Saga to Burang, whole course of 1,433 kilometers (890 miles)
There are also two ways from Lhasa to Ngari:
1. North Route: 1,760 kilometers (1,094 miles)
Lhasa - Shigatse - Lhaz (Lazi) County - Kaga Town - Sangsang Town - 22 Daoban (Road Gang) - northward to Coqen County - Dongcuo (salt lake) - Gerze - Songba (Xiongba) Town - Ge'gyai County - Shiquanhe Town
2. South Route: 1,190 kilometers (739 miles)
Lhasa - Shigatse - Lhaz (Lazi) County - Kaga Town - Sangsang Town - 22 Daoban (Road Gang) - southward to Saga County - Zhongba County - Paryang Town - Dagon Monastery (Dajin Si)