Derge | 德格县
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.
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”.
Derge Location
Derge Sights
Derge Recommended Accommodations
Achiguota Kangzang Hotel | 阿池果塔康藏大酒店
Add : No.18, Cha Ma Upper Street, Derge | 德格 茶马上街18号
Contact: +86 836 822-2999
Facilities: Parking-lot | WiFi | Hot-water shower | Restaurant
Debit card (China Union) is supported
Ying Jin Yuan Hotel | 迎金缘酒店
Add : Cha Ma Upper Street, Derge | 德格 茶马上街
Contact: +86 836 822-6678
Facilities: Parking-lot | WiFi | Hot-water shower | Restaurant
Credit Card and Debit card (China Union) are not supported
Que Er Shan Hotel | 雀儿山宾馆
Add : Zheng Street, Gengqing Town, Derge | 德格 更庆镇正街
Contact: +86 836 822-6666
Facilities: Parking-lot | WiFi | Hot-water shower | Restaurant
Credit Card and Debit card (China Union) are not accepted
Jun Lan Hotel | 军兰宾馆
Add : Cha Ma Upper Street, Derge | 德格 茶马上街
Contact: +86 836 822-5222
Facilities: Parking-lot | WiFi | Hot-water shower | Restaurant
Credit Card and Debit card (China Union) are not accepted
Banda Hotel | 班达酒店
Add : No. 119, Cha Ma Upper Street, Derge | 德格 茶马上街119号
Contact: +86 836 822-5588
Facilities: Parking-lot | WiFi | Hot-water shower | Restaurant
Credit Card and Debit card (China Union) are not accepted
Golden Yak Hotel | 金牦牛宾馆
Add : No. 43, Cha Ma Upper Street, Derge | 德格 茶马上街43号
Contact: +86 0 136-7836-9022
Facilities: Parking-lot | WiFi | Hot-water shower | Restaurant
Credit Card and Debit card (China Union) are not accepted
Shan Shui Business Hotel
Add: No 63, Cha Ma Zhong Street
Contact: +86 836 8225553
Facilities: Parking-lot | WiFi | Hot-water shower | Restaurant
Credit Card and Debit card (China Union) are not accepted
Shan Lian Hua Hotel
Add: No. 7 Ba Gong Street
Contact: +86 836 8228333
Facilities: Parking-lot | WiFi | Hot-water shower | Restaurant
Credit Card and Debit card (China Union) are not accepted
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 127.00 per person
- Rate for the riding with new bus – RMB 169.00 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
Kangding Bus Station Facts
Add: Qing Ge Ave, Kangding
Contact: +86 836 282-2211
Working hour: 06:30 am – 18:00 pm
Altitude: 2,650 meters above sea level
Derge Bus Station Facts
Add: No. 18, Cha Ma Upper Street
Contact: +86 836 822-2888
Working hour: 06:30 am – 18:00 pm
Altitude: 2,950 meters above sea level
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
