Shigatse

The town of Shigatse (Xigaze) sits at the confluence of Nyangchu and Yarlung Tsangbo Rivers about 250 kilometers to the west of Lhasa and is the second largest town in Tibet at an elevation of 3,900 meters.

It is the traditional capital of the Tsang province and has a long history as a political, business, cultural and religious center. The town was formerly known as Samdruptse. Now the modern city is divided into a tiny old Tibetan town huddled at the foot of the fort, and a rapidly expanding modern Chinese Town that has seen a huge influx of Chinese settlers in recent years. Since the period of the Gelugpa order Shigatse has been the seat of the Panchen Lama, traditionally based in Tashilhumpo Monastery.