Batang County

Batang County means “a vast grassland where sheep can be hearded everywhere” in Tibetan language. Its location is in the west of Kham, separated from Tibet by Jinsha River; It spreads out across the fertile and densely populated Batang-chu valley. The capital town of Batang is at altitude of 2,700 meters. The average altitude of the whole county is about 3,300 meters above sea level; the highest peak in this county is called “Guo-Yin-Ri-Ze” with altitude of 5020 meters above sea level; The “Batang-Xian-Zi”, which a local Tibetan Music-Dance performance, is very much well-known and unique in the entire Tibetan area;

Batang is at the core area of “Three River Parallel Region”, it is at the east bank of Jinsha river valley, its terrain is higher in North and lower in South; the average altitude of North mountain area is about 3,300 meters above sea level; the middle south high-mountain valley area is about below 2,800 meters above sea level; the area of middle east of the half mountain area is about at the altitude from 2,800 meters to 3,300 meters above sea level;

The whole river system in this county is all belongs to Jinsha River, which cross through Batnag county from north to south with distance of 167.1 kilometers; there are about big or small lakes of 107, small rivers and streams are abour more than 50.

Its east is Xiangcheng county and Litang; south to Derong county; west to Markhang and Yanjing (Salt Well) of Tibet; south to Deqin of Yunnan province; and bordering Pelyul county in the north.

There are about more than 40,000 (2006 yr) people living in this county, most of them are Tibetan, according to local authority that more than 96% of population are Tibetan, the rest are Chinese han, Yi people, Hui people, Qiang people, Naxi people, Mongolian, and Miao people; The earliest habitation is attributed to a legendary garude bird, which modern sculptured form is built in the center of Batang. Gelug pa monasteries were established since 16^th century, two monasteries of Batang Chode and Rito Pendeling Gonpa were built then. There were also American protestant and French Catholic missions that focused on medical and education project in Batang county

Dwarf Blue Sheep is one featured creature of Batang county. The “Zu-Ba-Long Nature Reserve” is located at between “Zu-Ba-Long village” and “Su-Wa-Long village”, with coordinates : Longitude 99 ° ~ 99 ° 9’7 “, latitude 29 ° 38’23” ~ 29 ° 48’55 “, it is 19 kilometers from south to north, and 12 kilometers from east to west, covering a area of 14240 hectares, the highest spot of this area is 5,096 meters, the lowest spot is at 2,680 meters. This is the only Nature reserve for protecting Dwarf Blue Sheep in southwest of China.

How to get Batang county

The airports that near Batang county are three, one is Qamdo Bangda Airport (BPX, 4,334m), which 420 kilometers approximately northwest from Batang. It takes more than 8 hours to cover this distance, however, due to the permit and travel restriction on foreign visitors, this airport is not recommended;

Another one is Daocheng Yading Airport, it is 280 kilometers southeast from Batang via Litang, it takes about 5 hours to cover this distance;

The 3^rd one is Kangding Airport (KGT, 4,238m) which is 385 kilometers eastward, it takes 6-7 hours drive to cover this distance.

Batang has regular buses to Litang, Kangding, and Chengdu, and short distance bus to Markhang of Tibet,

Be advised: without Tibet Travel Permit, Foreigners are not allowed to enter Tibet from Batang

By vehicle between Batang and Litang

There is one daily bus to Litang from Batang;
In addition to this daily bus, there are rented vehicle available in this town, it usually cost RMB 600.00 – 900.00 one way for a private ride between Litang and Batang

By flight

Taking flight to Daocheng Yading Airport (DCY) or Kangding airport(KGT), then switch to local bus to get to Batang;

• by bus departure from Daocheng Yading Airport: it takes 5 hours to reach Batang
• by bus departure from Kangding: it takes 7-8 hours to reach Batang

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Distance from Batang to

• To Litang : 170 kilometers, about 3 hours drive
• To Yading Nature Reserve: 400 kilometers, about 7 hours drive
• To Zogang : 260 kilometers, about 5.5 hours drive
• To Kangding : 450 kilometers, about 9 hours drive
• To Shangri La : 366 kilometers, about 10 hours drive