Gyantse (3950m)

Located by the Nyang-chu River, Gyantse is regarded as the fourth largest city in Tibet. It once was a major centre for trade with India. In 1904 the city became a battlefield when the British Army under Colonel Frances Younghusband attacked it.  It is often referred to as the "Hero City" because Tibetan forces battled the British for two months despite technological disparities in Younghusband's favour.

 

Gyantse Dzong

The Gyantse Dzong is a fort whose construction started in 1427 and was completed 10 years later. The fort has a few exhibitions detailing the history & use of the Dzong. It’s worth climbing to the top of the fort to see the views.

 

Gyantse Kumbum (Baiju Temple) is an eight storey aggregate of Buddhist chapels. This large gold-domed stupa is one of the eight buddhist stupas, known as tashe multi-door stupa and stands 42.4 metres high. Inside it contains thousands of holy images and is illustrated with over 10,000 murals and statues of with extremely detailed features!

 

From the temple there are amazing views of both Gyantse and the surrounding Nyang Chu Valley.