Full Name: Nakchu Prefecture

Chinese Name: 那曲地区 (nà qǔ dì qū)

Full Name: Nakchu Prefecture

Population: 362,000  

Area: 420,000 square kilometers (162,163 square miles) 

Nationalities: Tibetan  

Administrative Division: 10 counties (Nakchu, Lhari, Driru, Nyainrong, Amdo, Xainza, Sog, Palgon, Drachen, Nyima); 1 special district (Shuanghu Special District) 

Seat of the Regional Government: 24, Zhejiang Xi Lu, Nakchu Town, Nakchu County

Useful Telephone Numbers: Tourist Complaints: 0896-3820677
                                       Weather Forecast: 121
                                       Zip Code Inquiry: 184

China Post Nakchu Branch: 149, Seni Xi Lu, Nakchu Town, Nakchu County
 
Location: Nachu Prefecture stands in the vast land of northern Tibet Autonomous Region, neighboring Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province to the north. Within Tibet, it is bordered by Chamdo Prefecture to the east, Lhasa to the south and Ngari to the west.   

History: Nakchu area was known as 'Zhuodai' in the historical records of Tibet and means pasturing tribe, Nomads living there were called 'Zhuoba' of 'Qiangba'. Before the 7th Century, the Supi tribe governed this area. As the Tubo tribe became stronger and established its own regime in the 7th century, Nakchu was brought into the sphere of the new dynasty. After the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Nakchu was one of the four major tribes in northern Tibet.      
 
Physical Features: The region is embraced by the mountains of Tanggula, Kangdese and Nyainqentanglha, guarded by snow capped Dargo Mountain in the west and Burgyi Mountain in the east. The terrain of Nakchu slopes downward from the west to the east. The average altitude of the region is over 4,500 meters (14,764 feet). Its eastern part holds a river valley which is the only agricultural belt in northern Tibet.                

Climate: Belonging to the second frigid climatic zone, Nakchu is characterized by high altitude, coldness, lack of oxygen, dry and windy weather. Its annual average temperature falls around -3.3℃to -0.9 (26.1-30.4℉). November to March is the dry season.    
     
When to Go: The weather is warm during the period from May to September, and this is the golden season for the grassland of Nakchu.

Local Highlights: The Horse Racing Festival, held every August, is quite an occasion to admire the natural landscape and folkcustoms of the grassland of northern Tibet.

The unpopulated area in northern Tibet is mysterious for tourists. Wild yaks and Tibetan antelopes inhabit this land. Rock paintings discovered in the undeveloped virgin ground add more mystery and charms to the deserted landscape.

Special Local Products: dried meat of yak and sheep, ghee, cashmere, Tibetan decorations

 Attractions:
Mt. Nyainqentanglha: Driving 100 kilometers (62 miles) northward after leaving Lhasa and traversing the Yangpachen, visitors can see the mountain right in front of you. The snow-capped mountain with clouds wafting around the lofty peak is spoken of as a famous religious patron saint in Tibet, which is considered to be the chief sacred mountain in northern Tibet. Both Bonist and Buddhist disciples venerate it as the ashram of divinities.  Namtso Lake and Changtang (Qiangtang) Pasture are all famous spots of this area.

Other Scenic Spots: Dargo Snow Mountain, Tsangyang Gyatse Lake, Serling Lake

Travel Tips:
Nakchu Railway Station is seated in Emadige Village of Mendi Township, which is about two kilometers (1.2 miles) from Nakchu County. Trains from Lhasa to Lanzhou, Xining, Chongqing, Chengdu and Beijing all make short stops at the station.
 
Nakchu is a main stop on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. There are many regular buses to Lhasa and Qinghai Province. Visitors can find the bus station at 25, Zhejiang Dong Lu, Nakchu Town of Nakchu County. For individual tourists entering Nakchu from Qinghai, the regular or state-owned bus fleet is quite dependable.

 Recommended Tour including the visit to Nakchu:
Qinghai-Tibet Overland Journey: 18 Days of Beijing - Xian - Xining - Qinghai Lake - Golmud - Tuotuo River - Nakchu - Lhasa - Gyangtse - Shigatse – Lhasa

 Related Hiking Tour Itinerary Information:
Nakchu Tour: 3-day to Nakchu of Tibet