Backgrounder: ancient town on China-Nepal border

15:21, November 06, 2009

Backgrounder: ancient town on China-Nepal border

Located at an average altitude of 2,700 m and in the subtropical mountainous monsoon climate zone, Gyirong Town, Xigaze Prefecture, southwestern Tibet, boasts abundant rainfall and warm and moist climate.

Gyirong means "agreeable" or "joyful" in the Tibetan language. As early as 789 AD, it served as a hub for commercial and cultural exchanges between Tibet and Nepal and other southern Asian countries.

Photo taken on Oct. 21, 2009 shows a valley in Gyirong Town, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Located in the southwest part of Xigaze Prefecture, Gyirong enjoys the reputation of "backyard garden of Mount Qomolangma" for its luxuriant forests and beautiful scenery. (Xinhua Photo)

Approved by the Central Government, the Gyirong Port of entry opened to the outside world in 1961. In 1987, it was designated as the national first-class land port of entry.

Due to the inconvenient traffic conditions, the port of entry did not play its role in boasting border trade.

In recent years, with the support of the Central Government and cooperation in trade, tourism, culture between China and Nepal, the ancient town has once again shown its great vitality.

To promote commerce and trade in Tibet, the Central Government stepped up its support to the port of entries in the southwest China's region. Gyirong was also designated as one of major ports for development.

In 2008, Gyirong's imports and exports hit 5.57 million yuan, with the exports accounting for 4.94 million yuan.

Photo taken on Oct. 20, 2009, shows a panorama of Tibet's border town of Gyirong, southwestern Xigaze Prefecture. (Xinhua Photo)

The booming trade inspired the locals to achieve prosperity, with quite a few engaging in tourism, hotel and catering business.

"The local government is speeding up the building of infrastcture in the Gyirong Port of entry. In the next few years our town will be visited by more people and more locals will shift to do business," said Migmar, whose family just built a three-story Tibetan-style house.

"When the decoration of my house is finished, my family will open a grocery store to serve the locals and business people from elsewhere and tourists."

Source: Xinhua