This section will introduce the second part of the "Magic Shigatse" in our self-driving trip through Tibet and through Ali, mainly including the situation and wonderful moments of the scenic spots such as the Anti-British Site of Zongshan in Gyantse.

1. Relevant scenic spots in Gyantse

1. Gyantse Zongshan Hero Monument

The Monument to Zongshan Heroes in Gyangze is erected on Zongshan Square in Gyangze County. Zongshan Square was built in July 1996, covering an area of ​​51,300 square meters. It was built with the assistance of relevant units in Shanghai and completed in May 1998. In 2004, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Gyantse's anti-British struggle, the Tibetan government remodeled the square and erected a Gyantse Zongshan Heroes Monument on the square to commemorate the anti-British heroes a century ago.

2. Gyantse Zongshan Anti-British Site (Zongshan Site)

The Zongshan site is located on the top of Zongshan Mountain, with an altitude of 4022-4140 meters. It is the palace built by Bei Kaozan, the grandson of Zanpu Dharma (Lang Dama), the last generation of the Tubo Dynasty, on the top of Gyantse. The "Gyantse" castle was built on the basis of the palace ("Gyantse" will be referred to as "Gyantse" after "Gyantse"), and it was used by the Gyantse Zongfu later, so it is called Zongshan. Gyantse Zongfu is built on the mountain, condescending, tall and magnificent. Surrounded by earth and stone rammed walls, the existing buildings in the walls include Zijielakang Hall, Zhelakang Hall, Shengningzong, Zhebugang Conference Hall, Zongben official residence, Zongfu dormitory, warehouses, stables, etc. There are 193 large and small houses with a total construction area of ​​7064 square meters.

A small exhibition was also opened in the Gyantse Zongfu site, exhibiting the history of Gyantse, Gyantse Zongfu and anti-British relics.

In the 30th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty (1904), when the British army invaded Tibet, the famous Gyantse Defense War took place here. The heroic Gyantse soldiers and people were not afraid of violence, and built forts and other defensive facilities on the front cliff of Zongshan Mountain. With primitive earth cannons, broadswords, spears and stones, they defended Gyantse Castle to the death, and fought desperately with the British army who used new firearms at that time. In the end, the mountain ran out of ammunition and food, and the defenders fought hand-to-hand with the attacking British army until they jumped off the cliff and died to defend the country with blood, composing a heroic and tragic patriotic hymn.

3. Gyantse Jiari Suburb Old Street

Gyantse is an important transportation hub between Lhasa, Shigatse and Yadong. Jiarijiao Old Street was one of the most important and active trade distribution centers in Tibet in the old days. "Jiarijiao" means "outside the wall" in Tibetan , that is, after the completion of Baiju Temple, the residential area gradually formed around Baiju Temple. It has a history of more than 600 years.

Gyantse Old Street actually has two parts, one is from Gyantse Zongshan Heroes Monument Square along Baiju Road to the front of Baiju Temple. This street is called "Jiarijiao Old Street". Row upon row of small Tibetan-style buildings on the top two floors, with white plastered walls, crimson or black outlines on the window lattices and canopy-like sunshade cloth on the windows, have a very prominent Tibetan style. These buildings are imitated from the old street in recent years. The new buildings built in the same shape are a bit similar in shape but not in spirit. The other part is from Gyantse Zongshan Hero Monument along Yingxiong North Road to Changning Road and turn left, and then walk about 500 meters, the left side of Yingxiong North Road and Changning Road to the foot of Zongshan and the large area of ​​Baiju Temple wall , here are all traditional Tibetan dwellings, with white walls and black roofs. What is interesting is that many houses have cow dung "tuotuo" on the top of the walls, which has strong Tibetan characteristics. The streets here have also been formed naturally for thousands of years. The twists and turns are natural, the streets are still very clean and tidy, there are basically no garbage and sundries, it is worth wandering in it.

4. Pala Manor

The full name of the Pala Manor is Pajue Lakang. It is the main manor of the Pala family of the Tibetan aristocrats. It is located about 4 kilometers southwest of Gyangze County. It is the only well-preserved noble manor in Tibet.

The Pala family is an ancient family with a history of more than 400 years. According to textual research, his ancestor was the lama who was drawn by King Zangdui (1618) from a monastery in Qiangwang on the upper reaches of the Nianchu River to Bhutan to manage the Prakang Monastery. The place of Zisaru is used as a salary. On this basis, the Pala family gradually developed and entered the ranks of the great nobles of Tibet. They served as Zibendaibendroniqin in the local government of Tibet and held the post of Galon.

2. Travel TIPS 

We originally planned to stay in Gyantse for only one night. We did not expect that there are so many tourist attractions in Gyantse, and there are many highlights, so we decisively decided to stay one more day, which proved to be very worthwhile. It should be said that the tourism industry in Gyantse has just started, and many scenic spots are still in the initial stage of development, especially Zongshan Castle, Gyantse Old Town and other places. There are not many tourists, but the scenery is very beautiful, and the tourist experience is very good.

———End of this section———