Ngari

Ngari is situated in the western region of Tibet. The region is made up of lakes and rivers, mountains and glaciers, as well as pastures and clay forests. The scenary is breathtaking, and will be sure to leave the onlooker in awe.

The region is roughly 300,000sq km with a population of just over 80,000 people. It is divided into 7 counties. Once an important center that acted as a communications link between the east and the west, it now plays a smaller role with respect to other regions in Tibet.

Ngari has an interesting historic past. It is the site in which the famous indigenous Bon religion was created. The Bon religion was the predecessor(or at the least contributed to) of what is now Tibetan Buddhism. Even today, traces of the Bon religion are still evident in their most purest of forms.

Among the counties, Shiquanhe is one of the main towns located in the region, as well as all of western Tibet. Despite being small, it has recently experienced a growth surge economically. One can witness small shops and restaurants, as well as a number of goverment offices popping up throughout the town. Many people from the nearbye Chinese provinces also come into Shiquanhe to do business.

As with most Tibetan regions, there are many natural and historic sites of interest located here. Among them are the Guge Ruins and the Toding Temple. Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar(south of Mt. Kailash) are worth seeing as well. Mapam Yumco lake and the Dongar frescoes of Zada should also be checked out.