Qiangdui Monastery in Gyirong County, Shigatse

Chinese Name: 强堆寺
English Name: Qiangdui Monastery in Gyirong County, Shigatse 
Location: Located in Gyirong County, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region
Admission Fee: Free
Opening Hours: All Day

About Qiangdui Monastery（强堆寺）

Qiangdui Monastery（强堆寺） which has 1300 years of history is located in Bangxing Village（邦兴村）, Gyirong County（吉隆县）, Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. It is also known as Qiangzhun Zubu Lakang（强准祖布拉康）. Visitors can appreciate well-preserved mural on the walls of all the buildings. 

The Development and Evolution of Qiangdui Monastery

Qiangdui Monastery is a wooden structure building with the square tower which has 22-meter-wide base. At the bottom of the tower, the walls which are built of stones and rocks are covered with mud. The second, third and fourth floors are made of small brick masonry, and each layer of eaves is made of wood in the original wood, which is covered with slabstone.

Qiangdui Monastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. In 1986, it was approved by the people’s government of Gyirong County to restore it.

Attraction Transportation:

Up to 1960 one of the main trade routes between Nepal and Tibet passed through this region. Easily accessible from Nepal, it was used several times as an entrance gate for military actions from the site of Nepal against Tibet. In 2017, Chinese soldiers began building a new road on the Tibetan side of the border, and intend to continue construction into Nepal pending approval from Kathmandu.

Gyirong County shares convenient transportation, so you can take the aircraft or train, even driving to here. The Shigatse Peace Airport is 525.7 km from Gyirong County which takes you 14 hours to drive. The trains have been opened from Lhasa to Shigatse. The whole journey is 253 kilometers; about 3 hours’ drive and just cost 40 Yuan.  

Attraction Travel Tips:

  1. Traveling Hours: 1 day
  2. Traveling Seasons: Summer and Autumn
  3. High Altitude Sickness Avoiding: Bring enough water or drinks, fruits and snacks with high caloric content.
  4. Pay attention to prepare some cold weather gear like a hat, gloves, a scarf and a thick winter coat.