Written by Ivy Dong |
Traveling to the hot tourist cities and attractions could usually strengthen ones stereotyped image to Tibet. After being to all the most visited places some people may want to experience something really Tibetan and special. Today we would like to recommend a trekking tour to Chentang VillageĀ for your Tibet travel.
Chentang Village in Dingjie County of Shigatse locates at the waist of the mountain, surrounding the town is layers of terrace field. To left of the town is Gama Trench, and on the other side of the trench is a Nepal village. Chentang is a village hidden in deep mountain and hang on mountain waist. There are about 200 families in the village. The Pengqu River flowing by the village on left like a gentle long sleeve at foot of the mountain. To right is the Gamazangbu River coming from Mt. Everest. The river is also the boundary river of China and Nepal. On the river there is a timber bridge through which peoples in two villages could reach each other. Though the two villages are in different country, peoples in two villages keep in close touch and have similar livig habit and language.
Recommended tour: 8 Days Adventure Tour of Lhasa-Gyantse-Shigatse-Mt. Everest
After the highway to Motuo County opened in a few years ago, Chentang Village becomes the only place that has no highway connecting with outer world. So the village is also called the last solitary island in mountainous region of the Himalayas.
Dingjie County is about 500km from Lhasa, and Chentang Village is about 150km from county township of Dinjie. If you start from Lhasa, on the first day you could stay overnight in Shigatse. The recommend itinerary on day 1: Lhasa ā Qushui ā Nimu ā Renbu ā Shigatse. It is the shortest way from Lhasa to Shigatse. One day 2 drive from Shigatse to Dingjie County Township and stay overnight there. On day three head to Chentang Village. Due to the tough road condition, the car has to stop when it is still 5km to Chentang Village. Get off the car there and then hike to the village.
Arriving in the village you will see an unbothered local Tibetan village. You will experience some most Tibetan things.
Recommended tour: 6 Days Lhasa-Yamdroktso -Tzedang TourĀ with Local Tibetan Family Visit
Food in ChentangĀ Village
2 meals each day. At about 11:00am you will have the first meal: local style noodles and fried dishes. Tibetan wine is also worthy of trying. At about 18:00pm you will have the 2nd meal: rice, fried dishes, local style soup. Villagers here grew a social crop ā Jizhaogu and flour of the Jizhaogu is the main food here . Jiazhaogu was brought from Nepal and now it is listed in the list of Chinese national non-material cultural heritage.
Hot Spring in Chentang Village
Chentang village has a very good natural hot spring spot. The hot spring covers hundreds of square meters. Local people regards it as holy spring. Local people come here to worship and bathe regularly. Local people believe the spring can bring them good luck and health.
Frontier Pass Required
Since Chentang Village locates at frontier of China, tourists has to apply for Frontier Pass in advance. Please ask help from professional Tibet tourĀ travel company like Tibet Discovery Tours to apply the pass.
Recommended tour: 5 Days Lhasa Essence Tour with Yamdrok Lake & Local Tibetan Family Visit
