Tibet - Shigatse

Tibet - Lhasa

Shigatse, also Xigatse, means "fertile land" and stands at the junction of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu River, 300 kilometer from Lhasa. It used to be the capital of Tsang and now is the capital of Shigatse prefecture. The 600 year old city is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, who is one of the 2 prestigious spiritual leaders in Tibet and the abbot of the Tashilhunpo Monastery.

Although it has undergone rapid development in recent years it offers few tourist facilities, but is nevertheless a popular destination for adventure travellers and mountaineers, being within reach of Mount Everest. It is also a haven for pilgrims travelling from western Tibet to Lhasa.

Shigatse has a population of over 80,000, of which 97% are Tibetan. Most tourist facilities stand along Jiefang Dong Lu, Beijing Bei Lu, Zhufeng Lu and Shandong Lu. West of the market and below the Dzong is the old Tibetan quarter where many people like to visit.