Shigatse
—  County-level city  —
Xigazê
Tibetan transcription(s)
• Tibetan(abbreviated)	གཞིས་་རྩེ་
• Wylie transliteration	gzhis ka rtse
Chinese transcription(s)
• Traditional	日喀則
• Simplified	日喀则
• Pinyin	Rìkāzé
Downtown Shigatse, 1993
Shigatse Location in the Tibet Autonomous Region
Coordinates: 29°16′N 88°53′E / 29.267°N 88.883°E / 29.267; 88.883
Country	People's Republic of China
Region	Tibet
Prefecture	Shigatse
Township-level divisions	12
Seat	Chengbei Subdistrict
Area[1]
• Total	3,654.18 km2 (1,410.89 sq mi)
Elevation	3,836 m (12,585 ft)
Population (2008)[1]
• Total	92,000
• Density	25/km2 (65/sq mi)
Time zone	CST (UTC+8)
Postal code	857000
Area code(s)	0892

Shigatse (Tibetan: གཞིས་ཀ་རྩེ་, ZYPY: Xigazê; simplified Chinese: 日喀则; traditional Chinese: 日喀則; pinyin: Rìkāzé; other spellings: Shikatse, Zhigatsey) is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about 250 km (160 mi) southwest of Lhasa and 90 km (56 mi) northwest of Gyantse. It is the administrative centre of the modern Shigatse Prefecture, a region of the TAR.

The city is located at an altitude of 3,840 metres (12,600 ft) at the confluence of the Yarlung Tsangpo (aka Brahmaputra) river and the Nyang River (Nyang Chu or Nyanchue) in west Tibet and was the ancient capital of Ü-Tsang province. It is also the name of the surrounding county.

History[link]

Shigatse was previously known as Samdruptse.

Tashilhunpo

In the 19th century the "Tashi" or Panchen Lama had temporal power over Tashilhunpo Monastery and three small districts, though not over the town of Shigatse itself, which was administered by two Dzongpön (Prefects) appointed from Lhasa.^[2] Before military conflict between the PRC's People's Liberation Army and the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan territory was divided into 53 prefecture districts called Dzongs.^[3]

There were two Dzongpöns for every Dzong—a lama (Tse-dung) and a layman. They were entrusted with both civil and military powers and are equal in all respects, though subordinate to the generals and the Chinese Amban in military matters.^[4] However, there were only one or two Ambans representing the Chinese emperor residing in Lhasa, directing a little garrison, and their power installed since 1728, progressively declined to end-up as observer at the eve of their expulsion in 1912 by the 13th Dalai Lama.^[3] In 1952, shortly after the PRC sent forces to the region, Shigatse had a population of perhaps 12,000 people, making it the second largest city in Tibet.^[5]

Geography and climate[link]

Shigatse lies on flat terrain surrounded by high mountains, and the urban area is located just south of the Yarlung Zangbo River, located in the south central part of the Tibet Autonomous Region. The city itself lies at an elevation of around 3,840 metres (12,600 ft), and within its administrative area there are 5 peaks taller than 5,500 metres (18,000 ft).^[6] The city's administrative area ranges in latitude from 29° 07' to 29° 09' N and in longitude from 88° 03' to 89° 08' E.

Shigatse has a monsoon-influenced, alpine version of a humid continental climate (Köppen Dwb), with frosty, very dry winters and warm, wet summers. Temperatures are relatively moderate for the Tibetan Plateau, as the annual mean temperature is 6.3 °C (43.3 °F).^[1] Barely any precipitation falls from November to March, when differences between day and night can frequently exceed 20 °C (36 °F). Nearly two-thirds of the annual rainfall occurs in July and August alone. Sunshine is abundant year-round, totalling 3248 hours annually.^[6]

Administrative divisions[link]

Shigatse administers 2 subdistricts and 10 townships.^[1]

Tashilhunpo[link]

The Jong or Fort of Shigatse, a map of the town of Shigatse showing the Dzong or fort, from Journey to Lhasa and Central Tibet by Sarat Chandra Das, 1902.

Shigatse contains the huge Tashilhunpo Monastery, founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama.^[7] It is the traditional seat of the Panchen Lamas. Until the Chinese arrived in the 1950s, the "Tashi" or Panchen Lama had temporal power over three small districts, though not over the town of Shigatse itself, which was administered by a dzongpön (general) appointed from Lhasa.^[2] In the 2nd week of the 5th lunar month (around June/July), Tashilhunpo Monastery is the scene of a 3-day festival and a huge thangka is displayed.^[8]

Shigatse fortress. Samdrubtse Dzong. 1938.

The reconstructed castle (dzong) of Shigatse. 2007.

The imposing castle, Samdrubtse Dzong or "Shigatse Dzong", was probably built in the 15th century. It looked something like a smaller version of the Potala, and had turret-like fortifications at the ends and a central Red Palace. It used to be the seat of the kings of Ü-Tsang and the capital of the province of Ü-Tsang or Tsang.^[9]

The castle was totally dismantled, rock by rock, by hundreds of Tibetans at the instigation of the Chinese in 1961.^[10][11] Between 2005 and 2007, the building was reconstructed, financed by donations from Shanghai. The basis of the reconstruction were old photos, yet reconstruction was executed in cement/concrete.^[12] Afterwards, the outside was to be wainscotted with natural stones. The dzong which, in the 17th century, clearly was taken as example when the Potala palace was constructed in Lhasa, is set to become a museum for Tibetan culture.^{[citation needed]}

Nearby attractions include:

• Shalu Monastery
• Narthang, the first printing establishment in central Tibet
• Mount Everest

Infrastructure & Transport[link]

• The city of Shigatse is the hub of the road network between Lhasa, Nepal and western Tibet.
• Construction started in 2010 on an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet railway to Shigatse slated for completion in 2014. A further extension to the Nepalese border is planned.^[13]
• The nearest railhead in India is the station of New Jalpaiguri, a suburb of Siliguri, West Bengal
• Shigatse Peace Airport began operations on 30 October 2010 after an Airbus A319 landed safely, This makes it Tibet's fifth commercial airport. It is located 43 kilometres from central Shigatse at Jiangdang Village at an altitude of 3,782 metres. The airport is designed to handle up to 230,000 passengers by 2020.^[14]

China National Highway 318

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

• Das, Sarat Chandra. 1902. Lhasa and Central Tibet. Reprint: Mehra Offset Press, Delhi. 1988. ISBN 81-86230-17-3
• Dorje, Gyurme. 1999. Footprint Tibet Handbook. 2nd Edition. Bath, England. ISBN 1-900949-33-4. Also published in Chicago, U.S.A. ISBN 0-8442-2190-2.
• Dowman, Keith. 1988. The Power-Places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide, p. 59. Routledge & Kegan Paul. London. ISBN 0-7102-1370-0 (ppk).
• Richardson, Hugh E (1984). Tibet and its History. Second Edition, Revised and Updated. Shambhala Publications, Boston. ISBN 0-87773-376-7.

External links[link]

Media related to Shigatse at Wikimedia Commons

• Fort of Shigatse in 1902, Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
• MSN Map

v t e Tibet Autonomous Region Lhasa (Capital) Topics Art Economy History Human rights Language Music Politics Religion Admin. divisions Tibet in China Lhasa: Chengguan District Lhünzhub County Damxung County Nyêmo County Qüxü County Doilungdêqên County Dagzê County Maizhokunggar County Nagqu: Nagchu County Lhari County Biru County Nyainrong County Amdo County Xainza County Sog County Baingoin County Baqên County Nyima County Shuanghu Special District Qamdo: Qamdo County Jomda County Gonjo County Riwoqê County Dêngqên County Zhag'yab County Baxoi County Zogang County Markam County Lhorong County Banbar County Nyingchi: Nyingchi County Gongbo'gyamda County Mainling County** Mêdog County** Bomê County Zayü County** Nang County** Shannan: Nêdong County Zhanang County Gonggar County Sangri County Qonggyai County Qusum County Comai County Lhozhag County Gyaca County Lhünzê County** Cuona County** Nagarzê County Shigatse: Shigatse City Namling County Gyantse County Tingri County Sa'gya County Lhatse County Ngamring County Xaitongmoin County Bainang County Rinbung County Kangmar County Dinggyê County Zhongba County Yadong County Gyirong County Nyalam County Saga County Gamba County Ngari: Gar County Burang County Zanda County Rutog County Gê'gyai County Gêrzê County Coqên County ■ = Prefecture-level city ■ = Prefecture * Not an official division   ** Part of the South Tibet area, which is administered by India and claimed by the PRC.

v t e Shigatse Prefecture, Tibet County-level divisions Bainang Dinggyê Gamba Gyantse Gyirong Kangmar Lhatse Namling Ngamring Nyalam Rinbung Sa'gya Saga Tingri Xaitongmoin Shigatse City Yadong Zhongba Settlements Bangxing Cazê Chagna Congdü Dêlêg Dhingri Gyantse Lhatse Lingma Nailung Nyalam Mêmo Pazhug Pagri (Phari) Ramba Rongpu Si Rongxar Shigatse Surco Shelkar Zhangmu Landmarks Changmoche Monastery Chokorgyel Monastery Daklha Gampo Donggar Monastery Dorje Pakmo Drongtse Monastery Garju Monastery Manmogang Monastery Menri Monastery Milarepa's Cave Narthang Monastery Ngor Palcho Monastery Ralung Monastery Sakya Monastery Ṣalu Monastery Tashilhunpo Tsi Nesar Geography Ang Laren Lake Dajia Lake Jiesa Lake Renqingxiubu Lake Taruo Lake

Queen Jetsun Pema Queen consort of Bhutan Proclamation 13 October 2011 Spouse Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Full name Jetsun Pema Wangchuck House House of Wangchuck Father YAB Dhendup Gyaltshen Mother YUM Sonam Choki Born (1990-06-04) 4 June 1990 (age 22) Thimphu, Bhutan Religion Vajrayana Buddhism

Bhutanese Royal Family HM The King HM The Queen The Fourth King: HM King Jigme Singye Wangchuck HM Queen Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck HRH Princess Sonam Dechen HRH Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck HM Queen Tshering Pem Wangchuck HRH Princess Chimi Yangzom HRH Princess Kesang Choden HRH Prince Ugyen Jigme Wangchuck HM Queen Tshering Yangdön Wangchuck HRH Princess Dechen Yangzom HRH Prince Jigme Dorji Wangchuck HM Queen Sangay Choden Wangchuck HRH Prince Khamsum Singhye Wangchuck HRH Princess Euphelma Choden Wangchuck Issue of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, 　　　the Third King: HRH Princess Pem Pem Wangchuck Ashi Kesang Choden HRH Princess Kesang Wangmo Wangchuck Dasho Jigme Namgyel Dorji Ashi Tenzin Wangmo Dasho Singye Palden Dasho Ugyen Norbu HRH Princess Sonam Choden Wangchuck Dasho Mila Singye Ashi Maytho HRH Princess Dechen Wangmo Wangchuck Dasho Zilon Dorji Ashi Mendharawa Dorji See also House of Wangchuck Line of succession Dorji family

Bhutan portal Biography portal

Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck (Dzongkha: རྗེ་བཙུན་པདྨ་; Wylie: rje btsun padma; born 4 June 1990) is the Queen consort (Druk Gyal-tsuen, literally meaning "Dragon Queen") of Bhutan, as the wife of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

Early life[link]

Jetsun Pema was born in Thimphu on 4 June 1990 in the Thimphu Hospital. Her father is Dhondup Gyaltshen from Trashigang, the grandson of the Trashigang Dzongpon (Governor of Trashigang) Thinley Tobgye (aka Dopola 1893–1952). Dhondup graduated from Sherubtse College, Kanglung and has been a commercial pilot since 1989, initially with Druk Air and then Bahrain Air. Her mother, Sonam Choki, is from Bumthang Pangtey and is the goddaughter of His Royal Highness Prince Namgyel Wangchuck (half-brother of Third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck). Her father is the half-brother of the sister-queens of Second King Jigme Wangchuck— Ashi Phuntsho Choden and Ashi Pema Dechan.^[1]

Jetsun is the second eldest of five children. Her four siblings include two brothers—Thinlay Norbu and Jigme Namgyal—and two sisters – elder sister Yeatso Lhamo and younger sister Serchen Doma.^[1][2][3][4]

Jetsun Pema's early education took place in Thimphu at the Little Dragon School, the Sunshine School (1995–96), and finally the Changangkha Lower Secondary School (1997–98). She then received a convent education in St. Joseph's Convent in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, from 1999–2000. She pursued her secondary education at the Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School in Thimphu from 2001 to 2005 and moved to the Lawrence School, Sanawar, in Himachal Pradesh, India, in April 2006.^[5] She joined Lawrence as a Class-XI student and chose to study English, history, geography, economics, and painting. She completed her Higher Secondary education on 31 March 2008.^[6] She then began her tertiary education by enrolling at Regent's College, in London ^[2][7] where she read International Relations with Psychology and Art History as minor subjects.^[1]

Marriage[link]

On 20 May 2011, during the opening of the Parliament's seventh session, King Jigme Khesar announced that he would marry Jetsun Pema in October 2011. During the announcement, he said,

"While she is young, she is warm and kind in heart and character. These qualities together with the wisdom that will come with age and experience will make her a great servant to the nation."^[2]

Khesar has also commented, "Jetsun Pema is a kind-hearted girl who is very supportive and whom I can trust. I cannot say how she might appear to the people, but to me, she is the one."^[8]

King Jigme Khesar and Jetsun Pema married on 13 October 2011, at Punakha Dzong.^[2] The royal wedding ceremony was held first in Punakha followed by formal visits to different parts of the country. During the ceremony the King also received the Crown of the Druk Gyal-tsuen from the sacred Machhen and bestowed it on Jetsun Pema, thereby formally proclaiming her as the Queen of the Kingdom of Bhutan

The wedding was held in traditional style with the "blessings of the guardian deities." Although Bhutan allows polygamy, the king said that he would never marry another woman, and that Jetsun Pema will be his only wife in the future.^[2]

Royal duties[link]

Following her wedding to the King, Jetsun Pema joined him on several trips abroad to India, Singapore, Japan and the United Kingdom. She also joins him in trips throughout Bhutan.

Private life[link]

Jetsun Pema's interests include fine arts, painting, and basketball.^[9] She captained her school team in basketball games and maintains that interest even now.^[1] Her other diversions during her school days included participation in school bands and dance programmes. Besides Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan, she is fluent in English and Hindi.^[4]

Styles[link]

• 4 June 1990 – 13 October 2011: Ashi Jetsun Pema^[10]
• 13 October 2011–present:
  • International style: Her Majesty The Queen of Bhutan^[10][11] or Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck^[11]
  • Bhutanese style: Druk Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck^[10]

References[link]

Monarchical styles of Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck of Bhutan Reference style Her Majesty Spoken style Your Majesty Alternative style (Mewang Gyeltsun) Ashi