Nyingchi (Linzhi) Travel Guide

Population: 158,200

Area: 117,000 square kilometers (45,173 square miles)

Nationalities: Tibetan, Han

Administrative Division: 7 counties (Nyingchi, Kongpo Gyamda, Mainling, Medog, Bomi, Zayu, Lanxian)

Seat of the city government: No.21, Shuangyong Road, Bayi Town, Nyingchi County

Useful Telephone Numbers:
Tourist Complaints: 0894-5998811
Weather Forecast: 121
Zip Code Inquiry: 184

China Post Nyingchi Branch: No.13, Zhuhai Road, Bayi Town, Nyingchi County

Location: Located in the southeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region on the middle and lower reaches of the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Tsangpo River), Nyingchi Region is an inevitable pass to Tibet from Yunnan and Sichuan. It neighbors Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan Province in the east, and is bordered by Lhasa in the west. In the south, it shares boundary with India and Burma. The government of Nyingchi is seated in Bayi Town, over 400 kilometers (249 miles) from Lhasa.

History: Nyingchi is one of the important cradles of ancient Tibetan civilization. As early as four or five thousand years ago, ancestors of Tibetan began to live and work on this vast land. It was under domination of Tupo Kingdom for two hundred years (7th Century - 9th Century). Then, it mooned away the feudal serf society since the liberation of Tibet in 1951.

Physical Features: Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain, east section of Himalayas and offshoots Gangdise Mountains lay east and west respectively in northern, southern and northwestern Nyingchi. The Hengduan Mountains lies in the east of the region. Between the mountains, there are river valleys and alpine gorges distributed. Its terrain basically declines from northwest to southeast. Alpine gorge and river valley between mountains are typical landforms in this region.

Climatic Features: Southeastern Nyingchi belongs to north tropical and subtropical humid mountain climatic zone, while the rest part of the region enjoys a temperate semi-humid or humid plateau climate. It has long winter without clear summer. Its annual average temperature in winter is above zero (32 degree Fahrenheit), and in summer falls around 20 degree centigrade (68 degree Fahrenheit).

When to Go: May to September is the rain season of the region. Therefore, October to April the next year is the ideal period to Nyingchi.

Special Local Products: precious Chinese herbal medicine, Menba wooden bowl, bamboo weaving product, pottery

Local Highlights: Apart from the religious ritual of saluting full body kowtow and moving around and around sacred mountains or lakes, the New Year's Day in Kongpo Gyamda (Gongbu Jiangda) County is held in October, 1st in Tibetan Calendar (November in Gregorian Calendar). In the first day of the eighth month in the Year of Horse of Tibetan Calendar, Niangbulasu Festival will be held in Kongpo Gyamda County. Sacrificing activities, horse racing, folk performances and trading fairs are held during the festival.

Scenic Spots:
Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon (Brahmaputra Canyon) is a grand horse hoof shaped turn round the highest peak of east Himalayas, Nanjabarw Peak. The canyon is situated in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River with a total length of 496 kilometers (308 miles). Its depth is superior to the Grand Canyon in America, being the deepest canyon in the world. In the inmost recesses of the canyon, there is the Medog which is the only county in China with out road constructed. It is an isolated and mysterious 'Xanadu' in Plateau outside the earthly world. Traveling Medog's country landscape by foot is the best of tour.
Zayu, like a water town only found in South China, Zayu is fertile place at the convergence of the Himalayas and Hengduan Mountains. It is crisscrossed by rivers and the weather is moderate throughout the year. There are rice, vegetables and fruit growing on terraces and plains. Zayu, is like a picturesque painting on southeast of Tibetan Plateau.
Other Scenic Spots: Baksum Tso Lake, Bon Ri Scared Mountain, Pugu Monastery

Tourist Tips:
Nyingchi Airport is 12 kilometers (12.5 miles) from Mainling (Milin)'s county seat, and the 72 kilometers (45 miles) airport road from Mainling to Nyingchi (Linzhi) County. At present, it operates five flights a week from Nyingchi to Chengdu.

Long-distance bus in Bayi Town of Nyingchi County offers regular buses to Lhasa every day since 08:30 in the morning. Furthermore, according to the news, road from Bomi and Medog is unnder planning. It is expected to start in 2008 and completed in two years.