Gangpa County is located in southern Tibet, southwestern China. It is adjoin the Mt. Everest and the northern mountain of middle part of Himalaya Mountain Range. Gangpa County is surrounded by lots of snow mountains and dense forests border to Sakya, Yatong County, and Bailang County, and the snow mountains of Sikkim in south. It is approximately 307 kilometers away from Shigatse, and 50 kilometers away from Lhasa city.
Gangpa County features Himalaya terrain and geography and situates over 4700 meters high. 70% of the natural vegetation is plateau and hill, and the rest are valleys and bottomlands. The highest land in Gangpa County is 6155 meters.
It is traditional but also very free in Tibetan marriage customs. In general, there are 5 steps showed in Tibetan marriage folk customs.
Whoever you want to get married with, firstly you have to ask the matchmaker, or your relative to visit the girl's family. The matchmaker, or your relative should present a scarf to the girl's parents to thank for the love to the girl. They will discuss with the girl's parents later and then decide the date of marriage.
The date of welcoming the bride will be decided related to the relative's birth of year, and the weather on that day in general.
The people of the group pf welcoming the bride are the envoy, bride, bridesmaid, and the best friend.
During the wedding, the bride and the bridegroom are sitting on the cushion which drawn by the highland barley.
On the second day, or after few days of the wedding, the bride will come back home to see her parents with her husband.
Gangpa County belongs to plateau temperate semi-arid monsoon climate zone. It is strong windy and snowy in spring. In summer, there is full of rich sunlight. In autumn, the climate is comfortable with little rain or wind. In winter, it is very dry and cold.
The mean annual temperature is 1.5?. The hottest month is July with the average temperature of 9.2?. The coldest month is January with the average temperature of -8?. The frost-free duration are about 60 days.
With the convenient transportation, Gangpa County is about 150 kilometer away from Shigatse via Qumei Highway. The highway could lead to each villages of Gangpa County. The road condition is almost asphalt road.
Gangpa mutton is well known in the whole Tibet. The meet is delicate and fresh without any fishy smell. It is the tribute of Panchen Lama's. You can taste some when you visit Tibetan families in Gangpa County. Also, it can easily bought in the gathering market in Gangpa County.