Nyingchi

Geography and landmarks

The prefecture-level city contains the Namcha Barwa Peak, and the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, located in Mêdog County, which attracts significant tourism and geoscientific and biological study to the area.

Approximately 90 kilometers west of Gongbo'gyamda County, is the alpine Basum Lake in the upper catchment area of the Ba River, the largest tributary of the Nyang River lying on average about 3,538 metres (11,608 ft) above sea level. The lake surface is on average about 3,538 meters above sea level. Covering an area of 25.9 km² (10.0 sq mi), the surrounding is populated by a diverse wildlife including leopards, bears, goats, musk deer and Tibetan snow lions. In 1997, the Basum Lake was listed by the World Tourism Organization as a top tourist attraction. The lake also contains an inlet with a Gelug monastery. East of Nyingchi County, is the Seche La Mountain, a mountain of the Nyainqentanglha Mountain Range, which forms part of the watershed of the Nyang River and the Polung Zangbo River. Benri La Mountain near the small town of Dagze is a known sacred site of the Tibetan Bon Sect. Considered by Tibetans as one of the four great holy mountains in Tibet, on every tenth day of the eighth month of the Tibetan calendar, a day of intense worshipping called "Nangbolhasoi," is performed (meaning "seeking for treasures from immortals.")

Bayi Town is the administrative seat of Nyingchi, located 406 kilometers east of Lhasa. The vicinity is known for its cypresses which can grow up to 30 meters.

The Nangpo Gully, located about 50 kilometers northwest from Gongbo'gyamda County, is one of the northern tributaries of the Nyang River and its upper stream is formed by the confluence of Yangwo, Gyixing and Boru streams. The area contains the hot springs the Nun's Hot Springs, the Lama's Hot Springs and the Boru Hot Springs and many old pine trees and cypresses, and caves. At the foot of the gully is the Yellow sect (Gelug) Bagar Monastery, which was built during the period of the Fifth Dalai Lama. The cave above the monastery contains murals of holy animals and Buddhist images, and below the cave is the famous karst springs. show jade-red bear branches, forming a "Red Cloud Gully" of 5 kilometers. The cobbles in the bed of the stream look like scattered pearls, so this place is also called "Pearl Shoal." The scenes here are unique and beautiful.

Burqug Lamaling Monastery is located on the third terrace on the left bank of the lower reaches of the Nyang River.

Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as subtropical highland (Cwb).

Forestry and agriculture

"According to local forestry officials, Nyingchi hosts the country's largest primitive forest region that covers 26.4 billion cubic metres, storing over 800 million cubic metres of wood." The forests of Bomi, Zayu and Loyu have ancient dragon spruces which reach heights of over 80 metres and diameters of 2.5 metres. Wildlife species include "the Bengal tiger, leopard, bear, snub-nosed monkey, antelope and lesser panda."

"There are over 2,000 species of higher plants, including some 100 species of xylophyta, 165 species of medical herbs and fungus. Crops include "rice, peanut, apple, orange, banana, lemon." Agricultural products include medicinal materials, "edible fungus, orange, tangerine, sugar cane, honey peach, apple, pear, grape, walnut and other fruits."

Transportation

It takes about 10 hours to travel from Lhasa to Nyingchi by road. The railway between Lhasa and Nyingchi has been under construction since late 2014. It is estimated that it will take about 2 or 3 hours from Lhasa to Nyingchi when the railway come into operation.

An airport was opened in Nyingchi in March 2017, which may be used to support both commercial air traffic and the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

Tourism

Guangdong province announced that it plans to invest more than RMB 400 million (US$63 million) in Nyingchi's tourism industry. According to the plan, Guangdong will help build 22 "prosperous model villages" in Nyingchi in counties such as Bomê and Zayü.

Administrative subdivisions

The two counties of Zayü (察隅县) and Mêdog (墨脱县), collectively called South Tibet, are considered by the Chinese government to be under Chinese jurisdiction, however they are de facto under the control by India's state of Arunachal Pradesh.