a brief introduction of Shigatse of Tibet

If you have ever had any tours to tibet, you are very likely to know the place, Shigatse, for it is usually the must-pass region for Everest Base Camp Tour as well as your tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu. Shigatse, also Xigatse, means "fertile land" and stands at the junction of the Yarlong Tsangpo and Nyangchu River. With an area of 170,000 square meters and a history of 600 years, it used to be the capital of Tsang and now is the capital of Shigatse prefecture. The city is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama, who is one of the two prestigious spiritual leaders in Tibet and the abbot of the Tashilhunpo Monastery. About 300 km from Lhasa, it is an important stop between Lhasa and west Tibet where pilgrims and tourists often wander. Being the second largest city after Lhasa, Shigatse has a population of over 80,000, and 97% of them 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. There are wonderful monasteries in Shigatse which are comparable with those in Lhasa, like Tashilhunpo, Sakya and Shalu. The highlight of Shigatse is surprisingly high snow capped peaks. As for the climate, it is usually mild and wet in summer and cold, dry and windy in winter. Now do you know Shigatse? I hope this article may help you know it better. If you know where is tibet, you should also know where is Shigatse. And I wish you a good time in Shigatse during your Tibet tours.