Shannan, a prefecture 3,600 metres above sea level and with a mild climate in the middle reaches of the trunk Yarlung Zangbo River, was the cradle of the Tibetans. Among Shannan's cultural relics are Samye Monastery, Tombs of Tibetan Kings (Songtsan Gambo included), Chang-zhug Temple, and Yarlung River, a mysterious and breathtaking national scenic zone that showcases Tibet's snow mountains and glaciers, idyllic pastoral farms, alpine vegetation, historical sites, and folkways.