Nedong District is a municipal district under Shannan City. It means “In front of the tip of elephant trunk” in Tibetan.
In Tibet history, Phagmo Drupa regime used Nedong as its ruling center, so it was also called Nedong Dynasty
Location
Nedong District is now regional seat of Shannan City. It borders Zhanang County to west, Maizhokunggar County of Lhasa City to north, Qonggyai County, Lhunze County, and Comai County to south, and Sangri County and Qusum County to east. It is an area where Tibet’s agriculture and animal husbandry developed earlier, and is known as the “Tibetan granary”
Tsetang Town of Nedong District is the capital of Shannan City, it is also the tourist center and most important transportation hub of Shannan City.
Tsetang Town is 3560 meters above sea level, about 96 kilometers from Lhasa Gonggar Airport, 158 kilometers from Lhasa City, 322 kilometers from Shigatse City, and 310 kilometers from Gyantse County
Best travel time
All year round
Local climate
Plateau temperate semi-arid monsoon climate zone
Most popular sites
Changzhu Monastery, also knownas “Tradruk Monastery“, located on the southeast bank of the Yarlong River in Changzhu Town, belongs to Gelug pa. It was built during Songtsen Gambo period, and it is said that Princess Wencheng once practiced in this monastery. Padmasambhava and Milarepa were both to practice in and around Changzhu Monastery. Pearl Thangka is the treasure of Changzhu Monastery, which is 2 meters long and 1.2 meters wide. It consumed 29,026 pearls and being inlaid with diamonds and gems of various colors. Its form is similar to Jokhang Temple in Lhasa. There are 12 Buddhist halls in the monastery.
Yongbu Lakang is about 5 kilometers southeast of Zedang Town. It is the earliest palace in Tibet with history of more than 2,100 years. It is a 3-story building built on a top of a small hill
Yala Xiangbu Snow Mountain, 6836 meters above sea level, is covered with snow all year round. It is in southern part ofNedong district and connecting to Lhunze County. According to legend that its mountain god resembles a fierce yak. It is the first of the four great sacred mountains in Tibet, representing “yak totem”. It is also main water source of Yalong River. Padmasambhava once practiced in this mountain. It is one of the three monastic places in the period of Trisong Detsen. On its east side, Gonpori Mountain is 4,472 meters above sea level, which is said that the legend of monkeys turning into humans took place here.
Geography and climate
Nedong District is located in the middle reaches of Yarlung Tsangbo River valley. The area is 94 kilometers from north to south, 31 kilometers from east to west, and has a rectangular shape with an average elevation of 3560 meters.
The terrain is dominated by mountains and valleys. There are 11 peaks above 5000 meters above sea level in this area, Yala Chambord Mountain with the highest elevation of 6647 meters is the highest point.
The four seasons in Nedong District are unclear, with large temperature differences between day and night. The rainy season is from June to September with plenty of rain at night, sufficient sunlight, and dry winter and spring.
The frost-free period is about 143 days per year. Annual average temperature is 8.2℃, the highest temperature is 30.1℃, and the lowest temperature is -18.3℃. Annual average rainfall is 382 mm
Population and ethnicity
As of 2017, the total population of Naidong is 76976, of which Tibetan population accounts for 88.44%, Han population accounts for 10.83%, and there are 25 ethnic groups including Monba, Luoba, and Hui…etc,
Brief History
127 BC, after the tribal chief Nyatri came to Nedong area from Bome, he was elected as the leader of Yalong “Bo tribe” and became the 1supTsenpo (King) in Tibetan history.
In the early part of 7th century, Tubo kingdom raised in the area of Trandruk of Nedong region.
After the fall of Tubo kingdom, the son of the last Tibet Tsenpo (King) Lang Darma took Trandruk as a base, and later it became the center of the reign of King Yarlong
In 1235 AD, Nedong became the central area of Phagmo Wanhu after the rise of Phagmo Drupa
In 1353 AD, Nedong Zong was established.
In 1354 AD, Nedong became the seat of the capital of Phagmo Drupa regime.
In 1751 AD, Kashag regime was established, and Nedong was subordinate to Kashag regime
In 1793, Kashag regime reorganized Nedong Zong.
In 1909 AD, Kashag regime established “Lokki Ji Qiao” in Nedong Zong
In 1956, the local goverment office of Nedong was established
In 1959, Nedong Zong and Wen Zong, Pozhang, Zedang, and Yadui were merged to form Nedong County which was under jurisdiction of Shannan Prefecture.
In 2016, Nedong County was abolished and Naidong District was established, with the former administrative area of Nedong County as the administrative area of Nedong District.
