Shannan Facts

Known as the Yarlong area since ancient times, the Shannan region is favored greatly by nature. This region attracts numerous Chinese and foreign tourists with its ancient cultural heritage, rich and strong national.

With an average altitude of 3,700m (12,139ft), it is endowed with a hospitably mild climate and a relatively rich amount of rainfall, which, in addition to the wide-spread river valleys, constitutes an ideal environment for such crops as highland barley and buckwheat, thus making the Shannan region the 'granary of Tibet'. More than 40 rivers and 80 lakes, of which Yamdrok Yumtso Lake is the most prestigious, contribute to the considerable water resource of the region, hence an abundance of minerals, plants and wild animals.

It bounds in qingke barley wheat, broad beans, peas, corn and buckwheat making it one of the major grain and oil producing regions in Tibet. The region is full of vegetables, fruits. The city is enriched with wild plant resources. There are several hundred medicinal plants. Its famous medicinal herbs include sinensis, fritillaries thun-bergli, and root of red salvia. Shannan has many mineral resources include chromium, gold, copper, iron Zinc, magnese,jade and marble. The reserve of the chromium has been verified at 5 million tones, accounting for 45% of the country's total. Average grade therefore it boasts the biggest chromium resources base in China.

Basic Information

Area Code: 0893

Zip Code: 856000

Area: With an area of 79,700 square kilometers, Shannan occupies one-fifteenth of the total area of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Geography: Shannan is located between 9014'E-9422'E and 2708''N-2497"N, at the lower reaches of the Yarkung Zangbo River south of the Kangdese Mountains - called the Nyainqentanglha Mountains on the Qinghai- Tibet plateau. It is bounded by the Lhasa (capital city if Tibet) to the north.

Shannan topography is typical of the southern Tibetan valley area, with a terrain gradually declining from west to east and at an average elevation of about 3,700 meters.

Population: The total population of Shannan Region is 318,000, about 98% among them are Tibetans.

Administrative Division: Shannan includes 12 counties, four of which are in boarder areas. They are Cona, Lhongzi, Nanggarze and Lhozha. There are 144 township-level towns, five neighborhood committees and 719 village committees.

Climate: Shannan enjoys a temperate and dry climate, with average annual rainfall of less than 450 meters. The rainy season is concentrated between June and September. Shannan has many kinds of flora and fauna.

Average annual temperature is between 6.0 and 8.8 degrees Celsius, with the record high at 31 degrees and a low at 37 degrees below zero. Average annual wind speed is about 3 meters/second, with the fastest speed at 17 meters/second. The windy season is concentrated between December and March.