Shigatse Culture

Shigatse boasts abundant tourist resources in Tibet, including splendid Tibetan monasteries, magnificent snow mountains, stunning lakes, unique ethnic culture and the like. Tingri County in Shigatse has the world's highest peak-Mount Everest. There is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet, Yamdrok Lake. Samzhubze Palace and Gyantse Fortress were once the center of church and state. There are also a number of famous monasteries such as Tashilhunpo temple, Pelkor Chode Monastery, Sayka Temple and so on.

Ethnic Groups

Shigatse covers an area of nearly 182,000 square kilometers with a population of about 845,300 in 2017. There are more than 10 ethnic groups in Shigatse, including Tibetan, Han, Hui, Mongol, Tu, Man, Miao, Zhuang and the like, of which Tibetan is the main ethnic group, accounting for more than 90% of the total population.

Traditional Ethnic Village

Renqingding Village(仁青顶村) in Ngamring County, Shigatse

Monasteries in Shigatse

Temples are the main manifestation of Tibetan Buddhist culture, there are many monasteries in Shigatse, here below are part of them. 

Counties and Districts Monasteries
Samzhubze District Tashilhunpo Monastery, Baqin Hao Monastery, Ngor Monastery, Engong Monastery, Pasuo Monastery, Shalu Monastery 
Tingri County Rongbuk Monastery, Gedan Zhuopeilin Monastery, Labuqi Monastery, Xegar Qude Monastery
Gyangze County Pelkor Chode Monastery, Zangzha Monastery
Xaitongmoin County Rijia Monastery, Zhaxijipei Monastery, Chazang Monastery, Wujianguru Monastery, Tudanlangjia Monastery, Seguochamu Monastery, Chagazhuode Monastery
Gyirong County Paba Monastery, Qiangdui Monastery
Ngamring County Lvlong Monastery, Zhasang Monastery, Weishalin Monastery, Tonglin Monastery, Samzhu Gandan Monastery, Bangyu Monastery, Riwuqi Monastery
Namling County Zidong Qude Monastery, Sendu Monastery, Dana Monastery, Bajin Monastery, Gandan Quguolin Monastery, Gedeng Qukuolin Temple, Sewu Monastery, Yungdrung Ling Monastery
Dinggye County Langpu Monastery, Qunguo Monastery, Zhaxi Qunpei Monastery, Gongbaqiang Monastery
Saga County Dajiling Monastery, Kuyu Monastery, Buzha Monastery, Tuqing Monastery, Nugong Monastery,  Saijuba Monastery
Rinbung County Qiangqin Temple, Shalu Monastery
Zhongba County Seqing Monastery, Sangdan Qiangjiu Monastery, Zhachang Gongba Monastery, Dare Monastery
Gamba County Naijiaqiemu Cave Temple, Qudiannima Temple, 
Sa'gya County Gangqin Monastery, Sakya Monastery, Natang Monastery
Nyalam County Panjielin Temple, 
Lhatse County Zeng Monastery, Qulong Qiangzi Monastery, Pingcuolin Monastery, Juenang Monastery, Qude Monastery, Phuntsoling Monastery
Bainang County Changmeijian Monastery, Sere Zhude Monastery, Dangqin Monastery, Cangzhuolin Monastery
Kangmar County Nanni Qudesi Monastery, 
Yadong County Donggasi Monastery, Geju Monastery, Zhensang Monastery

Ethnic Festivals

Various Tibetan festivals are celebrated in different ways in Shigatse. It is suggested to visit Shigatse during the festivals and enjoy the lively scenes with the local Tibetan people if time is sufficient. Festival is the best way to experience the diverse culture and tradition of the local and their ethnic affinity. There are festivals in Shigatse including Tibetan New Year, Lingka Festival, Tashilhunpo Festival and Gyantse Damar Festival, etc.