Located in the southwest of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, with an average altitude of over 4000 meters, Tibet is known as "the Roof of the World." Tibet borders Xinjiang to the north, Sichuan to the east, Qinghai to the northeast, and Yunnan to the southeast. For neighboring countries and regions, it borders Myanmar, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Kashmir, and others, with a land boundary of more than 4,000 kilometers. It is an important gateway to China's southwest border. Who are Tibet neighbors?
In Tibet, Ngari and Shigatse prefectures border Nepal. In Shigatse, Zhangmu Port was the only land road to Kathmandu, which is only 90 kilometers away from Kathmandu. However, due to the earthquake in Nepal in 2015, the Zhangmu port was closed, and now the gateway was replaced by Gyirong port. For tourists who prefer to have an overland tour between Tibet and Nepal, they can get through Gyirong Port. Situated in Gyirong town, Shigatse region, Gyirong Port is the main channel for political, economic, and cultural exchanges, as well as the traditional trade market between Tibet and Nepal.
Located in South Asia, India is the largest country in the South Asian subcontinent and the second-most populous country in the world, with its capital in New Delhi. Most of the border areas between China and India are in Tibet, and a small portion is in Xinjiang. China and India are two big Asian countries neighboring with each other, and the border trade between Tibet in southwestern China and Sikkim(India) can go back to ancient times. As early as the Tubo Kingdom in the Tang Dynasty, there're trade contacts with India, which promoted the political, religious, and cultural communications. Currently, there are three major gateways linking Tibet and India: Shipki La pass, Lipulekh pass, and Nathu La pass. Shipki La pass is a mountain pass and border post on the India-Tibet border. It is located in Kinnaur district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India, and Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China. Sutlej River enters India (from Tibet) through this pass. By the way, it was a branch of the ancient Silk Road. Lipulekh pass is 5,340 meters above sea level and it connects Tibet with the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand in the Pithoragarh district in India. Nathu La pass is a mountain pass connecting Tibet and India in the Himalayas, with an elevation of 4,310 meters. It is one of three open trading border posts between India and China. However, the three passes mentioned above are not open to tourists. For Indian tourists who want to go to Tibet, they also need to get to Kathmandu, Nepal first, then get through the border from Gyirong Port or inland cities in China. |
