Yadong County, also known as “Dromo County“, is a county under Shigatse City. Yadong means “Deep valley with rapids” in Tibetan, and there is a road to India.
Location
Yadong County is located in the southeastern of Shigatse City, neighboring Kangmar county, Bainang county and Kamba county in north, and extending in a wedge shape to south between India and Bhutan. There is a road to India.
Yadong County is one of border counties of Tibet Autonomous Region. The county seat of Xia Sima Town (also Sharsingma) is 2,945 meters above sea level, about 309 kilometers away from Shigatse City and 580 kilometers away from Lhasa City.
Best time to travel
From May to October
Local climate
Temperate continental climate
Most popular sites
Duoqing Lake is located in Duoqing Village, 80 kilometers away from the county seat. It takes about 2.5 hours to drive. Its total area is more than 1.5 million mu, and the natural pollution-free fish reserves are more than 15,000 tons. The Duoqing Lake in summer reflects the Zhuomulari Snow Mountain like a magic mirror, forming a moving and exquisite picture of nature
Zhuomulari (Jomolhari) Snow Mountain is located in Pali Town (also Phari Zong), about 50 kilometers away from Yadong County seat, which may take 1 hour drive. It is reagrded as “Goddess Peak” by local people, it is the seventh peak in the Himalayas. With an altitude of 7314 meters,
Dongga monastery is located on a conch-shaped mountain col in Dongxiang village. “Dongga” means “conch” in Tibetan. This monastery is a subordinate of Tashilhunpo Monastery, also known as “Dongga Tashilhunpo Monastery “. It has a history of more than 500 years, and was rebuilt on its initial site in 1982. There are now 11 monks in this monastery. It is one of the largest Gelug pa monasteries in Yadong.
Gagyu Monastery is also known as “Gajue Kunba”, which means “Kagyu Pa‘s Monastery”. Located in Renqinggang Village, about 10 kilometers away from Yadong County seat on the north side of the Nadui La Mountain. The monastery was built in 1747. It is 50 meters long from east to west and 29 meters wide from north to south. It is surrounded by 3 meters high adobe brick walls. The plane of the main hall is in the shape of “convex”, and it has been passed down for eleven generations.
Geography and climate
Yadong County’s terrain is low in north and south, high in middle, causing water to flow from north to south. It is 45 kilometers from east to west and 123 kilometers from north to south. The county has a total area of 4240 square kilometers, including 240,000 mu of forest area and an average elevation of 3,400 meters.
Yadong County is a high mountain landform in Himalayas. There is a foothills alluvial plain covering an area of about 1,000 square kilometers between Tuina Township and Pali (Phari) Township.
Zhuomulari (Jomolhari) Snow Mountain (7314 meters) is located in Pali (Phari) Town, 50 kilometers away from the county seat of Yadong County. The mountain is about 7,400 meters high. It is a fault-block mountain system composed of Early Paleozoic strata and Himalayan granite, forming a huge natural mountain pass.
The climate in northern of Yadong County is cold and arid with annual average temperature of 0℃. Average temperature in January and July is -9℃ and 8℃ respectively. The growth period of plants is about 150 days and the annual average precipitation is 410 mm.
The southern of Yadong County is 2000-3400 meters above sea level, and the climate is mild and humid with annual average temperature of 7.7℃. Average temperature in January and July is 0.2℃ and 14.4℃ respectively. Average annual precipitation is 873 mm.
Population and ethnicity
As of end of 2011, the total population of Yadong County was 12,950, of which Tibetan population accounted for 98%. Other ethnic groups include Han, Hui, Lhoba…
Brief History
Yadong, once belonged to Phari Zong in history, was the name of a small mountain village in Dromo Valley in early days.
Before 7th century, Pali area was ruled by King Lhoang
In 629 AD, parts of Yadong were managed by “Ru La” which is one of the 5 “Ru” (Ru means administrative divisions) established by Tubo kingdom
In the second half of 8th century, Pali area was rewarded to “Gui” clan as one of its fiefs,
In latter part of 9th century, Tubo kingdom collapsed, and most of Yadong area (including present-day Sikkim and Bhutan) was still ruled by “Gui” clan for hundreds of years.
In 15th century, Yadong County was under rule of Gyantse His Holiness family
In 1642 AD, Phari Zong was formally established, and Rina Zong (in Sikkim today) was established in Yadong, which became one of the 14 border Zong under jurisdiction of Tibetan local government.
In 1888 AD, Yadong area was turned into a commercial port
In 1960, Phari Zong was abolished, and Yadong County was established
In 1964, Yadong county was placed under Shigatse Prefecture. Its county seat is Xia Sima (Sharsingma) Town.
In 2014, Shigatse Prefecture was abolished and the prefecture-level Shigatse City was established, and Yadong County has been under jurisdiction of Shigatse City since then
