Gonjo County is located in the east of Tibet Autonomous Region and the east of Chamdo.
It is across the river from Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture with total area of 6323 square kilometers. The county seat of Molo Town is 3640 meters above sea level, 255 kilometers from Chamdo City and 216 kilometers from Derge County
Gonjo means “the living Buddha named “Gon” settles in a place called “jo”” in Tibetan. In the past, Gonjo was divided into Gonjo Zong and Sanyan Zong, which were two of the 28 Zongs of Chamdo.
It faces Baiyu county and Batang county across the river in east, Markam County in south, Zhagyab County and Chamdo City in west, Jomda County in north. It is about 1374 kilometers to Lhasa, and 1196 kilometers east to Chengdu.
Best time to travel June, July, August, September, October
Local climate Plateau temperate sub-humid climate
Most popular sites
Latuo wetland is an important water conservation area for the tributaries of Lancang River and the upper reaches of Maqu River. With a total area of about 30 square kilometers and an average elevation of 4,300 meters, it is one of the best wetlands in Chamdo. There are black-necked cranes, black swans, red ducks, vultures and other national first- and second-level protected waterfowl; there are also national-level protected animals such as argali, white-lipped deer, Tibetan gazelle, lynx, fox, and roe.
Tongxia Monastery, also known as Pelha Monastery, located near Xiangpi Township, it was a Kagyu monastery, and then transfered to be a Sakya pa monastery; It was found in 1096AD, in its early time, the masteres who graduated from become founders of Da-long kagyu which was one branch of Kagyu pa. The original three-story hall with a unique shape is called “Maddui Hall” which the first floor is Tibetan style, the second floor is Indian style, and the third floor is a Chinese Han style. Its roof is of single-eave style and covered with glazed tiles. It is said that this is one of the monasteries which were built by Princess Wencheng in order to suppressing the female devil’s limbs and joints, and this is a monastery that specially suppresses the palm of the female devil. Today, there are still many precious cultural relics remained in the monastery, including religious tools from the Yongle period of Ming Dynasty, Thangkas that were woven with wool silk.
Geography and climate
Gonjo County is located in the southeast of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the northern section of Hengduan Mountains of Tanggula Mountain, and the west bank of the upper reaches of Jinsha River.
Gonjo County belongs to canyon area of Hengduan Mountain in the Three River Basin. The terrain slopes from southeast to northwest, with the lowest elevation of 2570 meters and the highest elevation of 5443 meters. The average altitude is 4021 meters.
Its landform can be roughly divided into the southeast canyon area, the west river area and the southwest valley area.
Gonjo County has well – developed water systems, crisscrossing rivers, dotted with lakes, more than 20 large and small rivers, 46 large and small lakes throughout the county.
Gonjo County is with low temperature and long winter; low rainfall and clear rainy season in dry season; long frozen soil time; long sunshine time, strong radiation, large temperature difference between day and night;
Due to the influence of latitude and altitude, annual average temperature is 6.5℃, average temperature in July is 14.6℃, average daily temperature is above 0℃ continues for more than 200 days, frost-free period is 85 days, and annual average rainfall is 480mm; annual sunshine is about 2100 hours .
Population and ethnicity
As of end of 2018, Gonjo County had a total of 51,000 people, of which Tibetans accounted for 99% of total population, in addition to Han, Monba, etc.
Brief History
Gonjo was divided into Gonjo Zong and Sanyan Zong, which were two of the 28 Zongs of Chamdo
In 1956, it was under jurisdiction of Jomda County
In 1959, Gonjo Zong and Sanyan Zong merged to form Gonjo County.
In 1966, the resident of Gongjue County was moved from Moruo Village to Kasha
In 2014, Chamdo prefecture was abolished, and Chamdo city was established, Gonjo County has been under its jurisdiction since then
