Shigatse Attractions

Shigatse is located in the south of Tibet, north of the grand Himalaya mountains, and the middles reach of the Yarlung Zangbo River. As a prosperous, traditional cultural city in Tibet, Shigatse is a center for Tibetan Buddhism. It is used as the residence of the Panchen Lama. With thousands of years’history, Shigatse was the center for Tibetan politics and culture. That’s why you can see a great number of grand architectures in this city. In the past, those buildings were the symbol of power. But now, it has been remolded as scenic spots and highlights.

Temples and monasteries are here and there, which show the history of Shigatse, and the importance of Buddhism in Tibetans' daily lives, such as Yungdrungling Monastery, Rongbuk Monastery, Nartang Monastery, Shalu Monastery, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Sakya Monastery, etc. Besides those Buddhist buildings, you can also enjoy the charming natural scenery in this Tibetan plateau. Sightseeing by the bank of Yamdrok Lake, Peikutso Lake, seeing the sunrise and sunset at Everest Base Camp, enjoying the shining Karola Glacier, and exploring the mysterious Milarepa's Meditation Cave are the best experiences.

The best time to visit Shigatse is from April to October. The rainy season will last from July to August. If you want to do a trek, you’d better avoid the two months because the roads may be blocked by natural disasters such as the landslide. Winter is too chilly to travel. The roads will be covered by heavy snows.

Everest Base Camp

Everest Base Camp

There are two Everest Base Camps in different nations, Nepal and China. It is highly recommended to travel to EBC from Tibet, China. The best time to visit is in Spring and Fall and you may need to prepare well enough to visit this place.

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Yamdroktso Lake

Yamdroktso Lake

Yamdrok Lake (羊卓雍措湖) is a freshwater lake in Tibet, it is one of the three largest sacred lakes in Tibet.

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Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashilhunpo Monastery

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by the 1st Dalai Lama, is a historic and culturally important monastery in Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet. This monastery is the traditional seat of successive Panchen Lamas.

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Pelkor Chode Monastery

Pelkor Chode Monastery

The Pelkor Chode Monastery, aka Palcho Monastery, is the main monastery in Gyantse. The Pelkor Chode Monastery is a symbol of Tibet, where three sects of Tibetan Buddhism get together.

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Sakya Monastery

Sakya Monastery

Sakya Monastery is a Buddhist monastery situated 25 km southeast of a bridge which is about 127 km west of Shigatse on the road to Tingri in Tibet.

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Karola Glacier

Karola Glacier

The Karola Glacier (Kǎruòlā Bīngchuán, 卡若拉冰川), one of Tibet's three major continental glaciers, is located on the boundary of Langkatse and Gyantse counties.

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Gyantse Dzong

Gyantse Dzong

Gyantze Dzong,also known as Gyantse Old Castle, is the highest building in the Gyantse Town. Different from other Buddhism sites in Tibet, Gyantse Dzong is famous for patriots.

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Peikutso Lake

Peikutso Lake

Peikutso Lake is a beautiful alpine lake located near Shishapangma, the 14th highest mountain in the world.

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Tingri

Tingri

Tingri County or Dingri County can be divided into old Tingri and new Tingri. When we mention Tingri, we refer to New Tingri, Shegar Town as its county seat, has now become the political, economic, and cultural center. Tourists basically stay in Shegar, which is 115 kilometers away from the Everest Base Camp.

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Narthang Monastery

Narthang Monastery

Narthang Monastery, built by monk Tumtön Lodrö Drakpa in 1033, is 20 km away from Shigatse. It is not so magnificent as Tashilhunpo Monastery, yet 400 years older than it. As one of the famous monastery in Shigatse, Nartang Monastery belongs to the Yellow sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

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Mount Everest

Mount Everest

At a height of 8,848 meters, Mount Everest(aka Mt. Qomolangma) stands as the highest mountain in the world. It's located on the border of Nepal and Tibet. Check facts about Mt.Everest, geographical environment, weather conditions, and useful travel tips.

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Yungdrungling Monastery

Yungdrungling Monastery

Yungdrungling Monastery is 170km west of Lhasa on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo(Brahmaputra River), just east of where the Nangung-chu meets.

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Shegar

Shegar

Shegar is known as New Tingri, but not to confused with Tingri.

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Shegar Dzong

Shegar Dzong

Shegar Dzong (Crystal Fort), built into the side of a steep mountain. The remains of Shegar Dzong’s defensive walls snake up the near vertical pinnacle that looms over the town.

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Rongbuk Monastery

Rongbuk Monastery

Rongbuk Monastery is located in the Shigatse Region, southwest of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and to the north of the oblate Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world. Seen from here, Mt. Everest appears like a lofty pyramid surrounded by mountains that touch the sky.

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Gyirong Valley

Gyirong Valley

Gyirong Valley is regarded as“Himalayan Back Garden.”The width of the valley ranges from 300 meters to 2,000 meters. Visiting this valley is surely one of the most memorable experiences you'll ever have in your lifetime.

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Shishapangma

Shishapangma

Shishapangma(also being referred to as "Gosainthān") which means "the God of the Grasslands" is the only eight-thousander located wholly in Tibet. It is 8,027 meters above sea level. You can get there from Kathmandu, Nepal, or Lhasa, Tibet.

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Shalu Monastery

Shalu Monastery

Shalu Monastery is a treat for the traveler when a sight is both a pleasure to explore and of great importance in local history and culture.

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Rongbuk Glacier

Rongbuk Glacier

Located on the north slope of Mount Everest in Tingri County, Shigatse, Tibet, the Rongbuk Glacier is distributed at the vast region at the foot of Mount Everest. It is the most fully developed and well-preserved unique glacier valley in the world.

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Gyirong Port

Gyirong Port

Gyirong(Kyirong) Port is located in Gyirong county, Tibet. It's the transportation hub connecting Tibet and Nepal.

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Milarepa’s Meditation Cave

Milarepa’s Meditation Cave

Milarepa’s  Meditation Cave is located at Nyalam village, 11km north of Gangka County, 450km from Shigatse. Founded in 1059, it is a well-known Tibetan monk Milarepa’s later practice cave. 

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Lhasa-Shalu-Shalu To Nartang Trek-Shigatse-Lhasa

9

days

Shalu to Nartang Tibet Trekking Tour

This tour package is a good choice if you want a taste of middle-level trekking in Tibet in 2 to 3 days. This journey will follow the ancient trade routes and show you a lively splendid chapter of Tibetan history.

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Kunming-Dali-Lijiang-Shangrila-Lhasa

10

days

Kunming Dali Lijiang Shangrila Lhasa Tour

This tour package will lead you to the charming Lijiang and mythical Shangrila and then fly to Lhasa to view famous monasteries and sacred Yamdrotso Lake. This route is absolutely a paradise for photographers.

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Lhasa-Shigatse-Lhasa

6

days

Lhasa Gyantse Shigatse Tour

This classic journey will offer you a great chance to explore the central Tibet tour, take you to visit the three biggest old cities in Tibet. After visiting Lhasa, it will extend the your way toward west to Gyantse and Shigatse for visiting the glamorous turquoise color lake Yamdrok, breathtaking Karola Glacier, and marvelous Tashilhunpo Monastery.

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