Qamdo

Qamdo (also spelt Chamdo; Chinese: 昌都 Chāngdū; Tibetan: ཆབ་མདོ་གྲོང་ཁྱེར། Qamdo) is a city in southeast Tibet.

Understand

As a capital of the former region of Kham, Qamdo has a rich history and heritage. On the banks of the Mekong River, this pleasant and laid back city is a logical place to take a break before traveling deeper into Tibet.

Qamdo was the site of the Battle of Qamdo in 1950, in which the Tibetan Army lost to the a People's Liberation Army force led by future Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, resulting in Tibet losing its de facto independence and being incorporated into the People's Republic of China.

Go next

• Neydo Tashi Choeling — the main monastery of Karma Chagme Rinpoche, the head of the Neydo Kagyu lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism, is among stunning scenery near the village of Ngom, about three hours from Qamdo city.