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| Xigazê Prefecture | |
|---|---|
| Name | Xigazê Prefecture |
| Native name | གཞི་རྒྱས་རྫོང་། |
| Settlement type | Prefecture |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | People's Republic of China |
| Subdivision type1 | Tibet Autonomous Region |
| Seat | Shigatse |
| Area total km2 | 182000 |
| Population total | 800000 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
Xigazê Prefecture is a prefectural-level division in southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, centered on the city of Shigatse. The prefecture borders Nepal, India, and Bhutan and includes major sites such as Mount Everest, the Yarlung Tsangpo River, and the Gyantse Dzong. Historically a crossroads of Himalayan trade, the region links routes between Lhasa, Kathmandu, and Sikkim and hosts significant religious institutions like Tashilhunpo Monastery and Samding Monastery.
The prefecture spans high-altitude plateaus, alpine valleys, and Himalayan peaks including Mount Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, Shishapangma, and Cho Oyu; river systems such as the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Nyang River, Matsang Tsangpo, Brahmaputra tributaries, and Gandaki River shape its drainage. Glacial landforms like the Khumbu Glacier, Pumori Glacier, and Rongbuk Glacier coexist with lakes including Yamdrok Lake, Lake Manasarovar, and Pangong Lake (note: Pangong spans contested borders near Ladakh). Rugged passes such as Nathu La, Gyatso La, Karo La, and Tanggula Pass connect to corridors toward Tibet Plateau basins and the Himalaya foothills. Vegetation zones range from alpine tundra (near Mount Qomolangma) to sagebrush steppe and montane forests with species comparable to those in Sikkim Himalaya and Nepal Himalaya.
This region was central to premodern polities including the Tibetan Empire and later principalities linked to the Sakya and Phagmodrupa Dynasty, with military and religious influence exerted by figures connected to Tsangpa Dynasty and events like the Guge Kingdom interactions. During the 17th century, the rise of the Dalai Lama institution and alliances with the Ganden Phodrang reshaped control around Shigatse and Tashilhunpo Monastery, while conflicts such as clashes involving the Dzungar Khanate and expeditions associated with the Qing dynasty affected frontiers. The 20th century saw incursions by British India during the Younghusband Expedition era and later incorporation into the People's Republic of China following agreements influenced by the Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet and interactions with the Central Military Commission and People's Liberation Army. More recent decades feature infrastructure projects associated with the China Western Development initiative and events tied to border negotiations with Nepal and India.
The prefecture-level entity comprises county-level divisions including Shigatse (city), Gyantse County, Ngamring County, Lhatse County, Sakya County, Ngari Prefecture-adjacent counties, and areas administered alongside Lhasa and Nyingchi corridors. County seats such as Shigatse City, Gyantse Town, Sakya Town, and Lhatse Town function as local administrative centers; township-level units include historic towns like Tashilhunpo and monastic jurisdictions tied to Tibetan Buddhist institutions such as Tashilhunpo Monastery and Samding Monastery.
Population groups include primarily Tibetan people with minorities of Han Chinese, Nepali migrants, and small communities connected to Sherpa and Ladakhi cultural zones; major languages spoken are Tibetan language dialects, Chinese language (Mandarin), and Nepali among trade communities. Religious affiliation centers on Tibetan Buddhism with monastic networks at Tashilhunpo Monastery, Sera Monastery-linked traditions, Samding Monastery, Dzong-based ritual centers, and Bon influences traceable to Bon religion sites. Demographic changes reflect migration policies tied to projects like China National Highway 318 development, urbanization around Shigatse City, and census activities administered by the National Bureau of Statistics of China.
Economic activity blends agriculture and pastoralism—yak and sheep herding systems similar to those in Qinghai and Gansu—with mineral extraction of resources resembling deposits in Ngari and Qamdo; local markets trade goods comparable to those in Lhasa and Kathmandu. Key economic drivers include tourism connected to Mount Everest base camps, pilgrimages to Tashilhunpo Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum, and transport corridors such as Qinghai–Tibet Railway spur proposals and the completed Sichuan-Tibet Highway routes. Development projects align with initiatives by entities like the China Development Bank and provincial planning offices, and investments by state-owned enterprises including China Railway Construction Corporation in road and rail segments.
Major arteries include the China National Highway 318 and China National Highway 219 with links to Lhasa, Shigatse City, and border crossings toward Nepal and India such as pathways used historically to reach Gyirong Port and Nathu La. Rail expansion proposals and studies consider extensions of the Qinghai–Tibet Railway and connections promoted by China Railway groups; airports such as Shigatse Peace Airport and proposals for additional airfields enhance links to Lhasa Gonggar Airport and interregional hubs like Chengdu Shuangliu Airport and Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport. Mountaineering logistics and trekking routes around Everest Base Camp, Rongbuk Monastery, and approaches via Zhangmu and Gyantse remain vital for adventure travel and cross-border trade.
Cultural heritage centers on monastic architecture exemplified by Tashilhunpo Monastery, sculptural art akin to pieces in Potala Palace, and festivals comparable to Monlam Prayer Festival and regional cham dances featuring masks from Sakya traditions. Tourist attractions include Mount Everest, Gyantse Kumbum, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Pala Fortress ruins, Rongbuk Monastery, and pilgrimage circuits that intersect with sites in Lhasa, Shigatse City, and Gyantse. Museums, heritage efforts, and conservation projects coordinate with institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and UNESCO evaluations for cultural landscapes, while adventure tourism operators from Nepal and India collaborate on expeditions to Himalayan summits.
Category:Prefectures of Tibet Autonomous Region