Nyingchi : The Switzerland of Tibet
Languages Spoken
Tibetian
Long Distance Code
0894
International Access
Lhasa airport
Area
117000 sq km
Best Time To Visit
April To October & January
Location: Nyingchi, "throne of the sun" in Tibetan, is located in southeast Tibet, where the Himalaya Mountains and Nyainqentanglha Mountains extend from west to east, like parallel huge dragons, to join the Hengduan Mountains in the east. It is adjacent to Yunan and Qamdo to the east and northeast, Naqu to the north, Lhasa to the west and Shannan to the southwest. It is a neighbor to India and Myanmar to the south with a border as long as 1,006.5 km. Nyingchi area, with a total area of 117,000 square km and a population of more than 140,000, has 7 counties under its jurisdiction: Nyingchi, Mainling, Gongbo''''gyamda, Medog, Bome, Zaya and Nang. With green mountain slopes, snow-capped peaks and crystal-clear rivers, Nyingchi looks just like heaven on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.Summer is usually mild and wet, and brings most of the annual rainfall. Winter is cold, dry and windy.
Climate: The topography of Nyingchi is highly undulating with the average latitude of 3,000 meters and the lowest place- Bacuoka is only 150 meters above the sea level. Its climate is basically mild and pleasant for the whole year, which creates a desirable environment for both farming and animal husbandry and thus its nickname “the Tibetan Jiangnan”. The warm and wet air currents from the Indian Ocean bring abundant rainfalls here. The blending of various climates ranging from tropical to temperate zone climate contributes a lot to the forming of the unique landscapes and tourist attractions. Nyingchi has an annual average rainfall of 650mm, 2,022.2 hours of sun lighting, 180 days without frost and a yearly average temperature of 8.7 degree Celsius. The average winter temperature is above zero degree Celsius, and the average summer temperature 20 degree Celsius. Nyingchi is therefore a very pleasant place without harsh winter and burning summer. The rainy season, from May to September, however, is not a nice time period for visitors. The plentiful rainfalls often give rise to landslides, which poses a real threat to local transportation and highway. The tourists should avoid traveling along the Sichuan-Tibet highway at this season. Other natural disasters are sand storm, flood and hailstorms.
Description: “Nyingchi” means “the Grand Seat of the Sun” in the language of Tibetan. It is noted for its green mountains and clear water. The Himalaya and Tangula Mountains wind their ways from west to east like two colossal dragons and join the Henduan Mountains in the east. The city of Nyingchi, lying in the southeast of Tibet, is in the embrace of these three mountain ranges. Nyingchi is also called “the Switzerland of Tibet” and “the Jiangnan of Tibet” (Jiangnan means the fertile and prosperous area in the south of the Yangtze.)
The primitive forest of Nyingchi is well preserved in which one can easily find the upright ancient plateau Tibetan cypress, the Himalaya cold cedar, the “living plant fossil”- the tree bracken and a vast variety of azaleas. Nyingchi is therefore entitled “the Natural Museum and “the Natural Gene Pool”. The area around the Buqun Lake is deemed to be the place where the wild man was living.
Lying in the lower reaches of the Yaluzhangbu River southeast of Tibet, the Nyingchi Prefecture has the average latitude of approximately 3,000 meters above the sea level while the lowest place here is only about 900 meters above the sea level. This area is known for its mild wet weather and gorgeous landscape. The major townships and scenic zones include the Economic Area of the Niyang River Valley, Bayi Town and the Scenic Zones of Yaluzhangbu River. Among the above, the capital township - Bayi on the bank of the Biyang River, is the political and economic center of this prefecture.
Nyingchi is the native land to the Menba and Luoba people who have plenty of very typical traditional living customs and religious beliefs. The ancient legends, unsophisticated living customs, the totems of the tribes and villages among others all deliver these ancient and remote people a primitive, mysterious and inviting color. The widespread Tibetan Buddhism and local Ben give rise to the building of many great temples, which constitutes another tourist highlight in Nyingchi. In addition to its grand manmade tourist attractions, the natural beauty of Nyingchi is also highly appreciated by tourists. The major natural scenic attractions, to name just a few, are the Nanjiabawa Peak, the Grand Canyon of the Yaluzhangbu River, Basongcuo, Chayu and Bomi etc.
Attractions
