Medog County is a county under Nyingchi City. Medog means “Hidden lotus” in Tibetan. Medog County has a total area of 34,000 square kilometers, among of which 12,000 square kilometers actually controlled by Tibet.
Location
Medog is located in the southeast of Tibet, on the lower reaches of Yarlung Tsangbo River, in eastern section of Himalayas and southern slope of Gangri Gabu Mountains, borders Zayu County to east, adjacent to India to south, connecting Mainling County, Lhunze County, and Cona County in west, and neighbouring Bome County and Bayi District to north.
The main residents of Medog County are Lhoba and Monba people, the language is Lhoba, however, the writing is generally in Tibetan.
Medog County is the last county where Yarlung Tsangbo River flows through Tibet before entering Brahmaputra Plain. The main section of Yarlung Tsangbo Grand Canyon is in the county. This is the place with the lowest elevation, the mildest, the most abundant rainfall, and the best ecological preservation on Tibet Plateau.
Best time to travel
From June to November
Local climate
Subtropical humid climate zone of Himalayas
Tourism in Medog
There are world class canyon landscape and snow mountain landscape in Medog County. Yarlung Tsangbo Grand Canyon in the territory is 505 kilometers in length, with an extreme depth of 6,009 meters and an average depth of 2,673 meters in core area.
It has two world records for “the deepest” and “the longest” grand canyon. It is one of the most majestic grand canyon landscape on this planet. One of the most distinctive landscapes in the Grand Canyon is the “horseshoe-shaped” bend of Yarlung Tsangbo River in Pangxin village, and Namcha Barwa Peak, Gyala Peri Peak are on both sides of Yarlung Tsangbo River.
Water scenery
There are many rivers, lakes and waterfalls in Medog County. Among them, there are more than 500 large and small waterfalls. The popular waterfalls include “The big bend Waterfall”, “Tinger mouth Waterfall”, “Khanmi Waterfall”, “Didong Waterfall”, “Beibeng Waterfall”, “Lage Waterfall”, etc.
Different Bridges
There are many types of bridges in Medog County. Among various types of bridges such as steel suspension bridges, rattan bridges, zip-lines, and single-plank bridges, which rattan-net bridges and zip-lines are the most characteristic bridge landscapes in the Grand Canyon. Dexing rattan bridges which the whole bridge has no piers and no iron nails. It is woven into a net cylinder with special white rattan strips.
Cultural attractions
There are about more than 40 monasteries in Medog County, among of which the most popular ones are: Renqingbeng Monastery, Luobang Monastery, Dergong Monastery, Gelin Monastery, Bargung Monastery, Malbeng Monastery
Geography and climate
Medog County is a landform of mountains, rivers and valleys in the lower reaches of Yarlung Zangbo River. The county is surrounded by mountains in north, east and west.
In south, it transitions from middle high mountain to low mountain, with an average elevation of 1,200 meters. The terrain dropped sharply from north to south, from Namcha Barwa Peak (7756 meters) to only 155 meters in south.
The two peaks of Namcha Barwa and Gyala Peri are the two highest peaks in Eastern Himalayas. Yarlung Zangbo River forms Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon between this two peaks.
The northern mountainous area is eroded by flowing water and strong warm and humid air. The mountain is cliffy, the valley is deep, and the relative elevation difference is 3000-4000 meters. The middle and low hills in south have gentle slopes and gradually open terrain, with a relative elevation difference of 500-1000 meters.
The climate in Medog County is like spring in all four seasons with abundant rainfall. Average annual temperature is 16℃, average temperature in January is 8.4℃, and average temperature in July is 22.6℃.
Annual extreme minimum temperature is 2℃, the maximum temperature is 33.8℃, and annual rainfall is 2358 mm, the maximum precipitation in south can reach 5000 mm, annual sunshine hours are 2000 hours,
Annual frost-free period is 340 days, and relative humidity is above 80%. Its climate is similar to that of the southern coast of China.
The huge altitude difference gives Medog County the most complete mountain vertical climate zone spectrum in China, including tropical, subtropical, alpine temperate and alpine frigid climates.
Population and ethnicity
As of 2016, Medog County has a total population of 14,040 people (in actual controled area of China), of which Monba accounted for 75% of total population, Lhoba accounted for 15% of total population, Tibetans accounted for 9.5% of total population, Han nationality and others minorities are 44 people in total, about 0.5% of total population
Brief History
During primitive society, this place was residence of Lhoba people.
In the middle of 17th century, Monba people who lived in Menyu began to migrate here.
In 1881, Didong Zong was established, the area of Medog and the Grand Canyon regions were under its rule
In 8th year of Republic of China (1919 AD), Zong government was moved to Medog, and Didong Zong was changed to Medog.
From 16th to 20th year of Republic of China (1927 to 1931), a war broke out between Kashag regime and King Bome. King Bome was defeated and Medog was directly under jurisdiction of Kashag regime.
In 1959, Medog County was established, belonging to Tagong region
In 1964, it was placed under jurisdiction of Lhasa City.
In 1986, it was placed under jurisdiction of Nyingchi District.
In 2015, Nyingchi District was abolished and Nyingchi City was established. Medog County has been under jurisdiction of Nyingchi City since then
