Derge

Derge is also spelled as “Dege”. It is a town located in the western edge of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan and neighboring Tibet. It was once the center of the Kingdom in Kham. Traditionally it is the name given to a large independent kingdom, which occupied this area present day including Jomda (also Gyamda), Pelyul, and Sershul counties. It covers an area of 11,955.55 square kilometers and has population of more than 83,400 (2011 yr). Among of which more than 90% are Tibetan, the other people including Chinese Han people, Mongolian, Hui people, Yi people and Miao people.

Brief

The much diminished county of this area is now composed of only the valley of the Jin-Sha River (Zi-chu) tributary of the Yangtze; extending from its watershed in the Tro La range to its confluence with the Yangtze; the outlying grasslands of Xinlu lake (also Yilhun Lhatso) and Dzachuka to the North; and the valley of Mesho to the South. Its geography coordinates are Longitude 98 ° 12 ‘~ 98 ° 41’, latitude 31 ° 24 ‘~ 32 ° 43’ with county capital of “Geng-Qing Town”, which located in the Zi-chu valley, about 30 kilometers west from the bordering river of Tibet, 115 kilometers from Manigango, and 110 kilometers from Pelyul.

The highest spot of this county is Rongme Eza, 6168 meters above sea level located in the south, the lowest spot is the Mai Dian River joint, which is 2,980 meters above sea level. The mountain Tro La separates the whole county two parts, the Northeast and Southwest parts; On its northeast, the river valley is wide and flat, with fertile lands; the southwest part is low and river flows with high altitude difference. There are about more than 30 glaciers existing in this region, and more than 30 peaks are over 5,000 meters. The Yarlung river flows into this county from north and flow out via its east. The Jinsha river is border river that separate the central Tibet with east Tibet;

The Epic hero Gesar king was born in this county; the world’s longest epic “The legend of Gesar King” is sourced from here too.

Due to is long and deep history, Derge is reagrded as “The Cultural City beneath the Snow mountain”. Created in 1729, the Derge Sutra Printing House is the largest Sutra Printing House across China, Known as “possession of national culture treasure”.

Major monasteries in Derge area

–Recommended Hotels in Derge–

How to get to Derge

Derge is located in the hinterland that connects the central Tibet and the east Tibet; it is not near any airport of Tibet or Kham. The closest airport of Khangding is about nearly 600 kilometers eastward; its isolation on geographic has determined that the land transportation is the main and the only way to reach this remote town.

There are buses that connects Derge to Luhuo, Kanze, Chamdo, Kangding….etc; among of which, Kangding is the only terminal that has departure or terminal for the long distance for Derge, the other destinations are just middle way,

Bus from Kangding to Derge

• Distance: 588 kilometers
• Rate for riding with regular bus – RMB 127 per person
• Rate for the riding with new bus – RMB 169 per person

Ticketing office

• Ticketing office by Jin Kang monastery, contact: +86 836 283-8377 / 888-9851
• Ticketing office by Tai Ning hotel, contact: +86 836 282-3481

Distance from Derge to

• To Qamdo : 350 kilometers, about 7.5 hours drive
• To Pelyul : 100 kilometers, about 3.5 hours’ drive
• To Manigango : 115 kilometers, about 2 hours’ drive
• To Garze (Kanze) : 205 kilometers, about 3.5 hours’ drive
• To Sershul : 330 kilometers, about 7.5 hours’ drive
• To Yushu City: 460 kilometers, about 10 hours’ drive