Chamdo
Encyclopedia
Qamdo or Chamdo, officially organised as Chengguan of Qamdo County
, population in 1999 about 86,280, is a major town in the historical region of Kham
in the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region
of the People's Republic of China
. The capital of Qamdo County
and Qamdo Prefecture
, it is Tibet's third largest city after Lhasa
and Shigatse
. It is located about 480 km (as the crow flies) from Lhasa
. On the road the distance covers 1,120 km (southern route) or 1,030 km (northern route). It is at an altitude of 3,230 metres (10,600 ft) at the confluence of the rivers Za Qu and Ngom Qu which form the Lancang River, the Mekong.
At the turn of the 20th century it had a population of about 12,000, a quarter of whom were monks.
was constructed between 1436 and 1444 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa, Jansem Sherab Zangpo. It is also known as the Changbalin or Qiangbalin Si Monastery. At its height it contained five main temples and housed some 2,500 monks. It was destroyed in 1912 but the main hall (which was used as a prison) and two other buildings survived, and it was rebuilt in 1917 after the Tibetan army retook Qamdo. It now houses about 800 monks.
between the Central People's Government
in Beijing and the government of the Dalai Lama
in the following year. Qamdo's governor at the time of the occupation was Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme
, who later became an official in the government of the People's Republic of China. The previous governor of Qamdo was Lhalu Tsewang Dorje
.
Dwb and Cwb), with warm, wet summers and very dry, frosty winters. Monthly averages range from −2.3 °C in January to 16 °C (60.8 °F) in July, with an annual mean of 7.57 °C (45.6 °F). Due to the high elevation differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures are usually large, especially during the dry winter months. The annual average diurnal temperature variation
is 16 C-change.
Qamdo County
Qamdo County, also Chamdo County, Changdu County is a county in Tibet Autonomous Region, and the seat of government of Qamdo Prefecture. Qamdo county has an area of 10,700 km² and a population of 78,000, of which 90% are Tibetan. The average temperature is 7.6°C, with average temperatures of...
, population in 1999 about 86,280, is a major town in the historical region of Kham
Kham
Kham , is a historical region covering a land area largely divided between present-day Tibetan Autonomous Region and Sichuan province, with smaller portions located within Qinghai, Gansu and Yunnan provinces of China. During the Republic of China's rule over mainland China , most of the region was...
in the eastern Tibet Autonomous Region
Tibet Autonomous Region
The Tibet Autonomous Region , Tibet or Xizang for short, also called the Xizang Autonomous Region is a province-level autonomous region of the People's Republic of China , created in 1965....
of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. The capital of Qamdo County
Qamdo County
Qamdo County, also Chamdo County, Changdu County is a county in Tibet Autonomous Region, and the seat of government of Qamdo Prefecture. Qamdo county has an area of 10,700 km² and a population of 78,000, of which 90% are Tibetan. The average temperature is 7.6°C, with average temperatures of...
and Qamdo Prefecture
Qamdo Prefecture
Qamdo Prefecture is a subnational entity in the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, containing the town of Qamdo...
, it is Tibet's third largest city after Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
and Shigatse
Shigatse
Shigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse...
. It is located about 480 km (as the crow flies) from Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
. On the road the distance covers 1,120 km (southern route) or 1,030 km (northern route). It is at an altitude of 3,230 metres (10,600 ft) at the confluence of the rivers Za Qu and Ngom Qu which form the Lancang River, the Mekong.
At the turn of the 20th century it had a population of about 12,000, a quarter of whom were monks.
Galden Jampaling Monastery
Qamdo was visited by Tsongkhapa in 1373 who suggested a monastery be built there. Galden Jampaling MonasteryGalden Jampaling Monastery
-History:Chamdo was visited by Tsongkhapa in 1373 who suggested that a monastery be built there. Galden Jampaling Monastery was constructed between 1436 and 1444 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa, Jansem Sherab Zangpo. It is also known as the Changbalin or Qiangbalin Si Monastery. At its height it...
was constructed between 1436 and 1444 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa, Jansem Sherab Zangpo. It is also known as the Changbalin or Qiangbalin Si Monastery. At its height it contained five main temples and housed some 2,500 monks. It was destroyed in 1912 but the main hall (which was used as a prison) and two other buildings survived, and it was rebuilt in 1917 after the Tibetan army retook Qamdo. It now houses about 800 monks.
Invasion of Qamdo in 1950
The invasion of Qamdo by the 40,000-man army of the People's Republic of China on October 19, 1950, served as an important precursor to the eventual signing of the Seventeen Point AgreementSeventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet
The Agreement of the Central People's Government and the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet, or the Seventeen Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet for short, is the document by which the delegates of the 14th Dalai Lama allegedly reached an...
between the Central People's Government
Central People's Government
The Central People's Government is the central government of the People's Republic of China in Beijing. According to the 1982 Constitution, "Central People's Government" is synonymous with the State Council.-History:...
in Beijing and the government of the Dalai Lama
Central Tibetan Administration
The Central Tibetan Administration , is an organisation based in India with the stated goals of "rehabilitating Tibetan refugees and restoring freedom and happiness in Tibet". It was established by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1959 shortly after his exile from Tibet...
in the following year. Qamdo's governor at the time of the occupation was Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme
Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme
Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme was a Tibetan senior official who assumed various military and political responsibilities both before and after 1951. He is often known simply as Ngabo in English sources.-Early life:...
, who later became an official in the government of the People's Republic of China. The previous governor of Qamdo was Lhalu Tsewang Dorje
Lhalu Tsewang Dorje
Lhalu Tsewang Dorje , commonly known as Lhalu, Lhalu Se, or Lhalu Shape, is a Tibetan aristocrat and politician who has held a variety of positions in various Tibetan governments before and after 1951.-Early years:...
.
Climate
Qamdo experiences a climate that is a transition between a humid continental and subtropical highland climate (KöppenKöppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dwb and Cwb), with warm, wet summers and very dry, frosty winters. Monthly averages range from −2.3 °C in January to 16 °C (60.8 °F) in July, with an annual mean of 7.57 °C (45.6 °F). Due to the high elevation differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures are usually large, especially during the dry winter months. The annual average diurnal temperature variation
Diurnal temperature variation
Diurnal temperature variation is a meteorological term that relates to the variation in temperature that occurs from the highs of the day to the cool of nights.-Temperature lag:Temperature lag is an important factor in diurnal temperature variation...
is 16 C-change.
Transportation
- China National Highway 214China National Highway 214China National Highway 214 runs from Xining, Qinghai to Jinghong, Yunnan. It is 3,256 kilometres in length and runs south from Xining towards Tibet, and ends in Yunnan Province.-Route and distance:-External links:*...
- China National Highway 317China National Highway 317China National Highway 317 runs broadly west to east from Chengdu, Sichuan to Naqu, Tibet. It is 2,028 kilometres in length.- Route and distance:...
- Qamdo Bangda AirportQamdo Bangda AirportQamdo Bamda Airport , also known as Bangda Airport, located in Bangda, Qamdo, Tibet, is the highest airport in the world, at an elevation of . Runway 14/32 is the longest publicly used runway in the world, at ....
Further reading
- Buckley, Michael and Straus, Robert (1986): Tibet: a travel survival kit, Lonely Planet Publications. South Yarra, Victoria, Australia. ISBN 0-908086-88-1.
- Gruschke, Andreas (2004): Chamdo town in: The Cultural Monuments of Tibet’s Outer Provinces: Kham - vol. 1. The TAR part of Kham, White Lotus Press, Bangkok 2004, pp. 36–45. ISBN 974-4800-49-6
- Mayhew, Bradley and Kohn, Michael. (2005). Tibet. 6th Edition. Lonely Planet. ISBN 1-74059-523-8