Tibet Entry Port – Gilong Port

Gilong Port is located in Gilong County in Shigatse Prefecture. It is situated at the river valley of the lower reaches of Gilong Zangbo River, Gilong Port borders on Zhangmu Port against a mountain.

Trade at Gilong Port

Gilong Port is one of the main foreign trade ports of Tibet in history. It covers an area of 12,000 square kilometers with a borderline of 162 kilometers. Gilong Port played important role in the economical and cultural exchange between China and Nepal in history. It is said that the Princess Bhrkuti of Nepal entered into Tibet via Gilong Port when she married Songtsen Gampo. There is also legend goes that the founder of Nyingma Sect of Tibetan Buddhism – Master Padmasambhava also entered into Tibet through Gilong Port.

Actually, Gilong Port is not as prosperous as before after the open of Zham Port. Recent years, the government attached great importance to the development of Gilong Port to relieve the custom clearance of Zhangmu Port and promote the foreign trade of Tibet Autonomous Region. The government also invested 1.2 billion RMB to the construction of the basic facilities on transportation, energy and communication. The highway heading toward Nepal border from Gilong Port has been put into operation. The storage and manufacturing district and the logistics district will be constructed to provide support for the trading activities at Gilong Port.

Tourism at Gilong Port

Gilong Port is widely known as an ideal trekking destination for its well preserved primitive forests. Tourists join the Tibet trekking tours here will have the chance to enjoy the picturesque natural landscapes. The beautiful ecological environment at Gilong Port would always make tourists be reluctant to leave. Gilong Port has settled "ecological business style leisure tourism" as the theme of its tourism for a large number of tourists involve in certain trade activities while acting as travelers.

The gradual prosperity of the foreign trade exchange at Gilong Port greatly promoted the construction of the local basic service facilities and brings a large tourist resource. The tourism development of Gilong Port not only focuses on the integration of shopping, recreation and entertainment but also put emphasis on the ecological protection for its special location. The trade and tourism at Gilong Port supplement each other according to the economists. The tourism development of Gilong Port also attached great importance in the exploration of the hot spring resources. Tourists making a Tibet tour through Gilong Port will have the chance to enjoy the comfortable spring in the holiday resort.

In addition, tourists planning to enter into Tibet through Gilong Port could also pay a visit to a series of historical relics in Gilong County, including the Paba Monastery with a typical Nepali architectural style which could be dated back to the reign of Songtsen Gampo and Drolma Lakhang with an elevation of 4160 meters which could be dated back to 1274. The ancient Samdanling Monastery provides tourists the chance to explore the mysterious Tibetan religion history. In addition, the unearthed historical relics also offer tourists the chance to explore the ancient Tibetan culture.