Xigatse

Xigaze (日喀则; Rìkāzé), also Shigatse, is a prefecture in Central Tibet. Named after its capital city Shigatse, it has numerous places of interest for tourists, and has good public transportation by Tibetan standards.

Cities

• 1 Shigatse - officially known as Samzhubzê District, this is the administrative centre and the only major urban area in the region.
• 2 Gyantse - the fourth largest city in Tibet. Home to a famous stupa.
• 3 Dram - town located at Nepal border
• Drongpa
• Lhatse - a minor town with little tourist interest, but important as a transportation hub as it is final destination for all public transportation in the direction of Mount Kailash and Nepal. There are a few guest houses and several shops.
• 4 Nyalam - site of 'Milarepa's cave'.
• 5 Sakya - a large village with an important old monastery.
• 6 Shelkar - launching point for the landrover trip to Qomolangma National Nature Reserve.
• 7 Tingri - the closest town on the "highway" to Nepal and Mount Everest. It offers a wide, but simple choice of accommodation and is a good place to view Mount Everest. With camping equipment, it's also possible to trek to Everest back camp - a journey of about four days.

Get in

By plane

Xigatse Peace Airport is located 43 km from Shigatse city, It has flights to Chengdu, Shanghai and Xi'an.

See

• 1 Qomolangma National Nature Reserve. A reserve spanning the foothills of the northern side of Mount Everest.
• 2 Rongbuk Monastery . A sacred monastery near Everest with a magnificent view of the north face of Everest.
• Nyalam Pelgyeling Monastery, 10 km north of the village of Nyalam. A monastery built around a cave where the enlightened yogi Milarepa (1040-1123) and his disciple Rechungpa spent many years in meditation.