Zogang County, also known as “Zuogong County” OR “Dzogang County“, means “cattle back” in Tibetan.
Location
It is located in the southeast of Chamdo City, borders Markam County to east, Zayu County of Nyingchi City to south, Baxoi County to west, and Zhagyab County across the river to north.
The county seat of Zogang County is Wangda (Wamda) town which is with altitude of 3780 meters above sea level, 1067 kilometers away from Lhasa and 1010 kilometers away from Chengdu.
It is the only place where the Sichuan-Tibet Road and the Yunnan-Tibet Road must pass through, and it is also the only place where the “Ancient Tea Horse Trading Route” enters and exits Tibet.
Zogang is one important fortresses of the ancient Tea-Horse Trading Route. and overlooking Yu-Chu valley, and connecting the southern Sichuan-Tibet Highway (National Route 318) and the northern Sichuan-Tibet Highway (National Route 317)
The renovated Gelug pa monastery of Temto is one of the most important monastery among ther 12 monasteries in this county.
Best time to travel
From May to October.
Local climate
Temperate plateau semi-arid climate
Most popular sites
Dongba dwellings are located in Dongba Township along Nu River Canyon in Zogang County with a history of more than 600 years. The architecture of Dongba dwellings incorporates elements of different nationalities. The entire building is closed around with a patio as organizational center, part of the sloping roofs on both sides are covered with glazed tiles, and there are lifelike dual dragon sculptures lying on the roof. In the interior and exterior wall painting decoration of the building, cranes, flowers and birds, phoenixes, and golden toads, which are all from inner land, can be seen here. The windows inside the house are much larger than average Tibetan buildings, and decorative carvings on window frames are also exquisite.
Pabala Holy lake Scenic Area is located in Xueba Village about 78 kilometers away from Zogang County. It is composed of “sacred lake” and surrounding sacred mountains, monastery, grassland, natural caves, strange trees, strange rocks and other landscapes. The Holy lake covers an area of about 530,000 square meters. The living Buddhas of Jampaling monastery in Chamdo have tradition to worship the lake.
Zogang Three Monasteries, all of which are located in the same place of Tiantuo Town that is of 46 kilometers from Zogang county seat, the Wangda (Wamda) town. Among them, Zogang Monastery is the largest and is in Yazhong Village, where Tiantuo Town is located. It resembles the Potala Palace, built on Elephant Trunk Hill, with majestic apperance. Tukha Monastery and Tiantuo (Temto) Monastery are located on the hillsides of Tiantuo Village, facing each other across the river. There are many national historical relics in these three temples.
Zhonglinka Tombs is 110 kilometers away from Zogang County. The cultural relics include stone bowls, stone hairpins, stone hoes, stone shovel and other life and production tools. Among them, a huge lineup of sarcophagus tombs is the most famous. According to preliminary estimates, they all belong to Neolithic Age. The sarcophagus tomb covers an area of more than 500 acres, and stone inlaid in the wall several meters high is too big to be lifted even by more than 10 people.
Geography and climate
Zogang County is 408 kilometers long from east to west and 220 kilometers wide from north to south. The total area is 11,800 square kilometers.
Zogang County is located in the mountainous valley in southeast Tibet, and in the upper mountainous area between Nu River and Lancang River.
The terrain is high in north and low in south. The main mountain ranges in Zogang County include Dongda Mountain, Dola Mountain, Chawazhu Mountain, Chawaduojizhiga Mountain, and Meili Snow Mountain on the border with Yunnan;
The highest peak is Quela Mountain, with an elevation of 5434 meters; the lowest elevation is 2650 Meters; the county’s average elevation is 3750 meters; Nu River, Lancang River, and Yuqu River rush down whole territory in parallel from north to south, forming three different river valleys.
There are 81 large and small rivers in Zogang County, with a total length of 1463 kilometers. The main rivers are Yuqu River, Lancang River, Nujiang River, Liequ River, and Weiqu River.
Among them, Nu River flows through the territory for 175 kilometers, Lancang River flows through the territory for 120 kilometers, and Yuqu River flows through the territory for 240 kilometers.
Zogang County has 78 large and small lakes with a total water storage capacity of 5.36 million cubic meters. Among them, Cuogong Lake in Wutong Township (It is regarded as Soul lake of Pabala), with an area of about 3000 square meters; Cuomda Lake in Tiantuo Township covers an area of 2500 square meters.
Annual temperature difference in Zogang County is relatively small. Rainfall is unevenly distributed. Summer precipitation is concentrated, and its climate is dry and cold in winter and spring.
Annual average temperature is 4.2°C, average temperature in January is -6.7°C, average temperature in July is 13.2°C,
daily average temperature above 5°C lasts for 176 days, and daily average temperature above 0°C lasts for 220 days, frost-free period is about 90 days, average annual precipitation is 405 mm.
Population and ethnicity
As of 2013, Zogang County has a total population of 45,852 people, of which Tibetan population accounts for 99% of total population. Other ethnic groups include Han, Naxi, Hui and Miao.
Recommended Hotels in Zogang
Guo Ga Grand Hotel
Add: No. 17, Wangda Middle Road
Contact: +86 895 455-5555
Hong Yi Hotel
Add: No. 11, Wangda Xia Road
Contact: +86 895 455-3082
Jin Fu Lai Hotel
Add: No. 46, Wangda Middle Road
Contact: +86 895 455-2291
Jin Hua Grand Hotel
Add: No. 31, Wangda Middle Road
Contact: +86 895 455-3699 / 455-3683
Juyuan Grand Hotel
Add: No. 9, Wangda Middle Road
Contact: +86 895 455-3599 / 455-3598
Snow Lotus Hotel
Add: No. 1, Ying Bin Road
Contact: +86 895 455-2280
Zogang Hotel
Add: No. 42, Wangda Middle Road
Contact: +86 895 455-3198
Zogang Grand Hotel
Add: No. 2, Wangda Heng Road
Contact: +86 895 455-3999
How to get to Zogang
Zogang is a small county, located in the bottom of a narrow valley, it is almost at “Y” intersection that connect to Kham to east, Chamdo to north and Lhasa to west. The closest airport is Chamdo airport, which is about 150 kilometers, approximately 2.5 hours’ drive
Chamdo Bangda Airport
Add: Baxoi, Qamdo, Tibet, China
IATA Code: BPX
Contact: +86 895 482-1004 / 491-2001
Altitude: 4,334 meters
Distance from Zogang to
- Lhasa City: 1,050 kilometers, about 19 hours drive
- Bome County: 420 kilometers, about 8 hours drive
- Nyingchi City: 650 kilometers, about 12 hours drive
- Chamdo City: 275 kilometers, about 4.5 hours drive
- Markam County: 160 kilometers, about 3.5 hours drive
- Qamdo Bangda Airport: 150 kilometers, about 2.5 hours drive
- Batang County: 260 kilometers, about 5.5 hours drive
Brief History
About 6th century, the whole area of Zogang was part of Dong Nv Kingdom (Eastern Women’s Kingdom in Chamdo)
In Tang Dynasty(AD 618-AD 907), it was a territory of Tubo kingdom
In 20th year of Zhenguan period of Tang Dynasty (AD 804), Buddhist culture began to influence Zogang area
During Yuan Dynasty(AD 1271-AD 1368), it was under jurisdiction of Tubo Itinerant High Commandery Marshal’s Mansion.
In the Middle of 13th century, it was under jurisdiction of Mdo-khams Itinerant High Commandery
From the middle of Ming Dynasty(AD 1368-AD 1644), it was under jurisdiction of Chamdo region
In 3rdyear of Emperor Yongzheng of Qing Dynasty (AD 1725), Zogang area was awarded as a dependent land to the Dalai Lama. It is under management of Markam
In the 1styear of Republic of China (1912), Kashag Regime of Tibet established administrative district called “Zong”. The administrative divisions were divided into three sects: Bangda, Zogang, and Bitu, collectively called Zogang Zong.
In 1959, Zogang County was established, which was subordinate to Chamdo Prefecture and the county seat was Yazhong Village.
In 1967, the county seat was moved to Wangda (Wamda) town
In 2014, Chamdo region was abolished, and Chamdo City was officially established, and Zogang County has been under its jurisdiction since then
