Saga County

Saga county means “the Lovely Place” OR “Happy Land” in Tibetan. Saga County is the center county of three counties of Western Shigatse. The other two are Zhongba County, and Gyirong county.

Location

It is Located in northern foothills of Himalayas, Southwest edge of south Kailash Mountains, belonging to upstream area of Brahmaputra River;

It has grown rapidly in the recent years due to well developed tourism. It is approximately 470 kilometers east of Mt. Kailash. Almost a must stop for overnight when travel to Ngari Prefecture.

Saga county borders Ngamring County and Nylamu county in east, and Gyirong county in south, Zhongba County in west, and Coqen County in north;

Saga county is with a total size of 25,500 square kilometers and a population of 13,000. Its Terrain is typical “West Plateau Mountainous Terrain”; high in north, and lower in east; With average altitude of 4,600 meters above sea level.

National road No. 219 cross through the whole area from east to west, which is also the main road that connect Lhasa and Ngari Prefecture and Burang (Purang)

The capital town of this county is called “Jia-Jia town” that seated 14 km west of old Kyakya village and about 60 km southwest of Raga Road-junction. Dargye Tsanpo River pass through here and join Brahmaputra at Saga Chakzam. “Jia-Jia town” is located at the intersection of four roads which are:

• Lhatse county from the East: 300 kilometers, about 6 hours’ drive
• Coqen county from North: 290 kilometers, about 6 – 7 hours’ drive
• Kailash mount from the West: 470 kilometers, about 6-7 hours drive
• Gyirong county from South: 105 kilometers, about 4 hours’ drive

Most popular sites

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Rujiao Hot Spring, located in the northwest of Rujiao Township, about 5300 meters above sea level. There are three hot springs. According to legend that these three hot springs are the stoves of “Pulaxi Qiongshan”.

Darjyeling monastery, located in the north of Saga County, about 35 kilometers away from the county seat, it was founded in 1729 AD. The monastery is one of the sub-monasteries of the Ramoche monastery in Lhasa and belonging Gelug pa of Tibetan Buddhism.

Budza monastery is located in Xiongru Township, about 45 kilometers away south from the county seat. Founded in 1780 AD, it is a Gelug pa monastery of Tibetan Buddhism.

Geography and climate

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Saga County is a plateau and mountainous area, the terrain slopes from north to east. The total area of the whole county is about 12,500 square kilometers, accounting for 11.6% of the total area of Shigatse City, and 1.77% of the total area of the Tibet Autonomous Region;

The average altitude is more than 4600 meters. There are Gangdise Mountains in north, Himalayas in south, Qiangla Mountain, Tongri Lumb Mountain and many other high mountains in the middle. The mountains are separated by open valleys and rivers that are not connected to each other.

Saga County has thin air, abundant sunshine, large temperature difference between day and night, dry and cold, and there are no four seasons, only the difference between warm and cold seasons.

The frost-free period is 120 days for agricultural areas and 90 days for pastoral areas. There is no absolute frost-free period. The county has long sunshine days and high radiation intensity. Annual average sunshine is generally between 3000-3400 hours.

The dry season and rainy season are distinct. The rainy season is basically concentrated in July, August, and September. Average annual water volume is only about 200 mm, and annual relative humidity is only 35%-45%.

Population and ethnicity

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As of end of 2010, the total population of Sakya County was 47,304, among which Tibetans accounted for 99% of total population. Other ethnic groups include Han, Mongolian and Hui.

Recommended hotels

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Brief History

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Saga County was once known as Saga Zong and was under jurisdiction of Kashag regime. This Zong has two Zongben (Zongben means “Leader”), which are called “East” and “West” Or “monks” and “lays”, whom were selected and appointed by Kashag regime from Drepung monastery, Sera monastery and Jokhang Temple. The form of regime system is a feudal serf system of “integration of politics and religion”.

In 1354 AD, Phagmo Drupa regime established “Saga Dunpa Dzong”, and the government was stationed in Saga.

In 1960, Saga County was established, and was under jurisdiction of Shigatse Prefecture

In 1974, The county seat was moved to Jiajia Town

In 2014, Shigatse Prefecture was abolished and the prefecture-level Shigatse City was established, and Saga County has been under jurisdiction of Shigatse City since then