Garze County is also spelled as “Ganze County” or “Kanze County”. It extends from the lower region of Yi-chu valley and Rongpatsa township as far as the Latseka watershed pass (also known as Dresel La) in Trehor. The county capital is located at Kanze town, 95 kilometers east of Manigango, and 105 kilometers northwest of Luhuo county.
Yi-chu Valley follows Yi-chu downstream from Manigango, the road passes the turn -off for Xinlu lake (Yilhun Lhatso) after 13 kilometers and continues along the South bank of the river. Soon the Pak-tse Mani Wall is in view on the South, while, on the distant hilltop across the river, you can see Nyduka Retreat Hermitage, a branch of Dzogchen Monastery, decked in streaming red prayer flags. After, the river cuts NE to join the Yalong, while the road continues East to Rongpatsa that has a cave containing an image of the deity Vajrabarahi, which is thought to the most important power place in this district.
Rongpatsa flows east from Yangkar. The road crosses Luo-guo-liang-zi pass to enter the wide fertile valley of Rongpatsa. Fields of barley extend on both sides as far as the distant foothills. To the right you will pass the side -valley leading from Dzengko and Horpo and the village of Lakhar. Just before entering Rongpatsa town (57 kilometers east of Manigango), a turn -off on the left leads towards a ridge overlooking the valley. There, you can visit Bongen Gonpa, a reconstructed temple in the midst of a flower garden, which is the seat of the late Kalu Rinpoche of the Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu traditions. The ruins of the original temple occupy the hillside far to the Northeast. The present Kalu Rinpoche is being educated at Sonada in Darjiling, where his predecessor passed away.
The capital of this county has become a large township on the Sichuan-Tibet North High-way. It’s the major logistic supply of gas, medical, food, among others for those whom travel through in Kham.
–Hotels in Garze county–
How to get to Garze County
The quickest way is to use Kanze Gesar airport, which is schedule to be tested in 2018 for the first flight; and will be officially open in the end of 2018 or even earlier; Land transportation is now still the major option;
Address: Laima village
IATA Code: GZG
Altitude: 4,061 meters
Address: No, 164, Chuan-Zang Road
Phone: +86 836 752-2353
Altitude: 3,780 meters
Distance from Garze (Kanze) to
- To Xinlong : 100 kilometers, about 2 hours’ drive
- To Pelyul : 230 kilometers, about 7 hours’ drive
- To Manigango : 90 kilometers, about 1.5 hours’ drive
- To Sershul : 320 kilometers, about 6 hours’ drive
- To Yarchen monastery: 110 kilometers, about 2.5 hours’ drive
- To Kangding : 360 kilometers, about 7 hours’ drive
- To Serta : 150 kilometers, about 4 hours’ drive
