Yanjing Catholic Church in Markam County, Chamdo
Chinese Name: 盐井天主教堂
English Name: Yanjing Catholic Church in Markam County, Chamdo
Location: Located in Markam County, Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region
Admission Fee: Free
Opening Hours: All Day
About Yanjing Catholic Church
Catholic Church of Yerkalo also known as Yanjing Catholic Church, is a Christian temple located in Yanjing Village, the southern end of Markam County, Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, which is about 2650 to 3109 meters above sea level.
It was founded in 1865 by Félix Biet and Auguste Desgodins, French missionaries of the Foreign Missions of Paris. Bringing with them thirty-five of their faithful, having been expelled from the main mission of Bonga in Yerkalo, conquered by the Chinese empire, were legally established in some plots of land with the complicity of the population and silence of local leaders . Historically, China and Tibet disputed the possession of the Yerkalo saline wells, which passed from one side or the other of the Sino-Tibetan border. Finally, in 1932, the village was placed under the administration of the Lhasa government.
According to the Xinhua news agency, the establishment of a small Catholic parish in Tibet was not an easy task. Frequent clashes took place between Catholics and nearby groups, culminating in the death of one of Father Biet’s successors, Father Maurice Tornay in 1949.
Attraction Transportation
The Sichuan-Tibet National Highway 318 and Yunnan-Tibet National Highway 214 converge in Markam County, and there are many stops on long-distance coach routes at both Markam and Yanjing. Transportation to the area is convenient but it’s a long journey, and a bumpy road. Hitchhiking is common in Tibet, but at a negotiated price. It is possible, but rare, to rent a car for around RMB 2.5 to 5 per km. There are about two flights to Bangda from Chengdu and Lhasa every week, depending on the (changeable) weather.
Attraction Travel Tips
- Traveling Hours: 3 hours
- Traveling Seasons: May to October.
- High Altitude Sickness Avoiding: Better take some medicines for relief and keep warm all the time.
- As there is a large temperature gap between daytime and night, it is highly recommended to take along some pieces of thermal clothing, hat, and gloves and so on.
- Please try your best to respect the religious belief and local customs.
