Shiquanhe or Ali Town

Shiquanhe Town

Shiquanhe, also known as Ali Town in English, is the main town of Ngari Prefecture. The name derives from the Shiquanhe River.

Most of the places that Shiquanhe flows through are no man’s lands, so the river has not any pollution. At the depth of four to five meters, fish and river stones in the water can be view clearly. When the river flows through Shiquanhe town and Tashigang township, a beach with lush willows is formed which is rare to see in Ngari region. This beach is a special gift of nature to Ngari.

Near to Shiquanhe, there is a airport named Ali Kunsha Airport, which started operations since July 1, 2010. It is the 4^th civil airport in Tibet and its elevation is more than 4,200 meters above sea level.

Nowadays, there is one flight from Lhasa to Ngari and one flight from Ngari to Lhasa each day:

Lhasa Gongga Airport - Ali Kunsha Airport

07:20 - 09:20

Ali Kunsha Airport - Lhasa Gongga Airport

10:00 - 11:35

The flight makes you more convenient to travel to Mount Kailash from Lhasa. 

Ali Kunshan Airport

Shiquanhe Town

Pangong Tso Lake

Surrounding Pangong Tso Lake, the scenery is very beautiful and gorgeous. It is on the tour from Lhasa to Kashgar. 

The lake is also surrounded by the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The water of the Lake is clear and its visibility is about 3 to 5 metres. Due to factors such as illumination, depth and brightness, the water presents different color, such as dark green, light green and dark blue, very beautiful. 

Guge Kingdom Historic Site

Guge Kingdom Historic Site, with housing construction, pagodas and caves on the whole mountain, is a huge ancient architectural complex in Ngari region. It shouldn't not be missed in your Ngari trip.   

Guge Kingdom was built on a small heaped-up mountain, outer with walls and corners with towers. Everywhere the color of buildings and caves is the same as that of earth. The entire site is large-scale, layout rigorous and magnificent. 

Lake Manasarovar (Mapam Yumco)

The legend tells that Lake Manasarovar is the wife of Mount Kailash, together known as “Holy Mountain & Sacred Lake”. Traditionally, the pilgrims saw pilgrimage around the Lake and bathing in the Lake as the biggest blessing of life.

The clear water and blue sky set each other off perfectly, broad and level. The lake and Naimona Nyi Snow Mountains surround each other, marvelous and sublime.

Mount Kailash (Gang Rinpoche)

When you want to learn Tibetan religion and its history, you will find a place that can not be bypassed. It is Gang Rinpoche, also well known as Mount Kailash.

The surroundings of holy peak gave birth to more than 250 glaciers and brought significant amounts of water. It is the birthplace of the Ganges River, the Indus River and the Yarlung Zangbo River, winning the religious believers’ adoring. 

You Should Have A Trip to Ngari after Viewing These Photos

If that Tibet is "the roof of the world", then Ngari is "the roof of the roof" and is also "the Tibet of Tibet".

Disappeared in the history, Guge Kingdom tells the vicissitudes of life to people in the past; magnificent Zhada Sand Forest describes the traces of the history of soil changes.

In Ngari, there are so-called holy Mount Kailash, the “center of the world”, and Lake Manasarovar, one of the “three sacred lakes in Tibet”. The holy mountains and scared lakes make Ngari become the most holy land in the hearts of pilgrims. In addition, four rivers originating from Mount Kailash and flowing quartet are Shiquan River Sutlej, Maquanhe, Peacock River separately.

Here, it is close to the sky, and the clouds are low. Here, there are the vast land, stretches of snow-capped mountains, sacred lakes. Entering into Ngari area, as if the clock back one million years and if entering into the chaos prehistoric world.

Faced with the vast miles of snow-capped mountains, people become more and more small, but the mind become increasingly broad. Walk all the way, feel the beauty of the wilderness, only the piety and awe in your heart.

Gyirong Port's Reopening in June Will Bring More Travelers From Lhasa to Kathmandu by Road

According to the latest news on China Tibet Online, Gyirong Port, Chinese "Jilong Kouan", the new gateway between Tibet and Nepal, was expected to open for other countries ( besides China and Nepal ) this year, reported from CCTV 13. Gyirong Port's reopening will bring more travelers to Kathmandu form Lhasa by road, after one year's closure due to the Nepalese Earthquake in April 25, 2015.

According to the news in the video, the status of Gyirong Port's reopening will be redefined as an International Entry and Exit Border, instead of the previous Sino-Nepal overland gateway. After its opening, International travelers will be able to travel to Kathmandu from Lhasa by road via Gyirong Port, and vice versa. Welcome to travel to Tibet and Nepal.

Recommended Overland Tour from Lhasa to Kathmandu

Before the tour, you should arrange one or more days to acclimatize yourself to the altitude in Lhasa city. And then you start this unforgettable overland tour.

Day 1: Lhasa (3650m) to Shigatse (3900m), via Gyantse

Today, you will drive 355km from Lhasa to Shigatse and visit Lake Yamdrok-tso, Karuola Glacier, Pelkor Monastery and Gyantse Kumbum.

Day 2: Shigatse to the EBC (5200m) on asphalt road

Today, you will drive 340km from Shigatse to Mt. Everest Base Cap and visit Tashilunpo Monastery, Rongbuk Monastery and see the sunset of Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world.

Day 3: EBC to Old Tingri (4300m)

In the early morning, you will take the local sightseeing bus to the No.2 Mt. Everest Base Camp for the near distance view of Mount Everest. Then you will drive 145km back to Old Tingri.

Day 4: Old Tingri to Gyirong Port

( When Gyirong Port is open, you will drive from Old Tingri to Gyirong Town for overnight stay, and on second day drive to Kathmandu via the port. )

Sky Railway Extends from China to Nepal via Tibet

As is well known that the Sky Railway refers to the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which began operation on July 1st, 2006. The railway was extended to Shigatse from Lhasa and officially operated on August 16, 2014. By 2020, Chinese railway would arrive at the China-Nepal border; even for Nepal, railway connection up to the Chinese border could be an accomplishment. In the near future, passengers will be able to take a Tibet tour package ( www.tibettour.org ) by train from China, and finally end the trip in Nepal.