Gyirong Town
| Gyirong Town Zongga | |
|---|---|
  Location in Tibet | |
| Coordinates: 28°23′40″N 85°19′40″E / 28.39444°N 85.32778°ECoordinates: 28°23′40″N 85°19′40″E / 28.39444°N 85.32778°E | |
| Country |
 |
| Autonomous regions | Tibet |
| Prefectures | Shigatse |
| County | Gyirong County |
| Elevation | 2,700 m (8,900 ft) |
Gyirong Town (Chinese: 吉隆镇)(Nepali:केरुङ), also referred to as Kyirong, is situated in the southern part of Gyirong County in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It is located 70 kilometres (43 mi) south of the county seat Zongga on the bank of Gyirong Zangbo river, a tributary of the Trishuli River. The town has an elevation about 2,700 metres (8,900 ft), with a subtropical mountain monsoon climate, meaning reasonable precipitation and warm weather. In 1961, Gyirong was established as a port of entry from Rasuwa Fort in Nepal by the Chinese government.[1]
Gyirong Town is an important town in the cross border trade between China and Nepal. Historically it was a major thoroughfare. In December 2014, the port of entry between China and Nepal was opened.[2] This route between China and Nepal was considered to be more reliable than one through Zhangmu and (on the Nepalese side) Kodari.[3]
In Gyirong Town, there is a village of ethnic Nepali referred to as Daman people. They are descendants of Nepalese Gurkha army centuries ago. Previously stateless, they were granted Chinese citizenship in 2003.[4]
References
- ↑ 李月 (2009-11-04). "西藏吉隆：加速发展的边境小镇" [Gyirong, Tibet: Accelerated Development of the Border Town] (in Chinese). Xinhua News. Archived from the original on 2011-08-18. Retrieved 2011-11-16.
- ↑ Murton, Galen (March 2016). "A Himalayan Border Trilogy: The Political Economies of Transport Infrastructure and Disaster Relief between China and Nepal". Cross-Currents E-Journal. ISSN 2158-9674. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
On December 1, 2014, the Sino-Nepal border at Rasuwaghadi was officially opened for commercial business.
- ↑ "Rasuwa-Kerung road spells new heights in trade". Timure. February 17, 2010. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
Technically, the Syafrubesi-Rasuwagadhi road is more reliable than the Kodari Highway, said Sitaula.
- ↑ Woebom, Tenzin (2014-12-23). ""Eastern Gypsies": Damans in Tibet". Vtibet. Retrieved 2017-02-13.