Ali, Tibet
Encyclopedia
Sênggêzangbo Town or Shiquanhe Town is a town
in Tibet
. It is the main town of Ngari Prefecture
, and of the Gar County
of that prefecture.
Historically the town was also known as Ger. This name, in the form Gar , is now used to refer to the entire county
; however, as the custom with Chinese county seats is, Gar is often used to refer to the county seat as well, and it may be labeled that way on maps.
Being the main town of Ngari Prefecture
(which is known in Chinese under the Sinicized form of its name, Ali Prefecture), the town is also commonly known in English as Ali Town; this is what many guidebooks use as the primary name for the town.
One should note, however, that in Tibetan Ngari is only the name for the prefecture, and not the town.
The name Shiquanhe is originally the name of the river; in Tibetan, it is Sengge Zangbo (in SASM/GNC/SRC transcriptions, sometimes simply Senge Zangbo), Senge Zangbu (Chinese: 森格藏布) or Sengghe Tsangpo (in a transcription used in Western books).
The source of that river, a hot spring, supposedly, looks like the lion's mouth; thus the name, interpreted as "river flowing from the lion's mouth".
When the Ngari Prefecture of the PRC was established in 1959, its capital was at the place named Kunsa, located elsewhere in Gar County. It was moved from there to Shiquanhe in 1965, due to the extremely difficult living conditions in Kunsa. At that time, Shiquanhe's population was merely 400.
The modern Chinese-style town is situated at the confluence of the Indus and Gar River. According to a government-affiliated source, the population of Shiquanhe had grown from just over 1,500 to over 20,000 in 30 years (1978-2008), and people there now "enjoy their life because the city has been equipped with culture and commerce facilities". Western guidebook writers have referred to the place as a "concrete monstrosity of a town".
The place has several primary schools and a secondary school.
Ali has two banks, but only the Agricultural Bank of China
, near the army post west of the roundabout, will change foreign currency. There is also a main post office near the roundabout.
Air China
's southwestern branch will operate flight services from Chengdu
to Lhasa
and on to Ngari – a total of 2,300 km – every Tuesday and Friday. "The flight leaves Chengdu at 5:50 AM and arrives at Lhasa two hours later," Bao Lida, a company press official was quoted as saying. "It leaves Lhasa at 8:40 AM and arrives at Ngari at 10:20 AM." the 1,098 km Lhasa-Ngari flight service would start from 2,590 yuan (About US $400). The report said Air China expects to transport 50-60 passengers in winter and 20-30 passengers in summer during each flight service.
Town (China)
When referring to political divisions of China, town is the standard English translation of the Chinese 鎮 . It is a fourth-level administrative unit, i.e...
in Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
. It is the main town of Ngari Prefecture
Ngari Prefecture
Ngari Prefecture is a prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Its capital is Gar County. Its regional headquarters is in the town of Purang. The biggest town is Ali. It includes part of the Aksai Chin area, a disputed region claimed by India but over which China exercises administrative...
, and of the Gar County
Gar County
Gar County is a county in the Ngari Prefecture of the western Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The main town is Shiquanhe, once known as the city of Gar and often known as Ali in English....
of that prefecture.
Historically the town was also known as Ger. This name, in the form Gar , is now used to refer to the entire county
Gar County
Gar County is a county in the Ngari Prefecture of the western Tibet Autonomous Region of China. The main town is Shiquanhe, once known as the city of Gar and often known as Ali in English....
; however, as the custom with Chinese county seats is, Gar is often used to refer to the county seat as well, and it may be labeled that way on maps.
Being the main town of Ngari Prefecture
Ngari Prefecture
Ngari Prefecture is a prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Its capital is Gar County. Its regional headquarters is in the town of Purang. The biggest town is Ali. It includes part of the Aksai Chin area, a disputed region claimed by India but over which China exercises administrative...
(which is known in Chinese under the Sinicized form of its name, Ali Prefecture), the town is also commonly known in English as Ali Town; this is what many guidebooks use as the primary name for the town.
One should note, however, that in Tibetan Ngari is only the name for the prefecture, and not the town.
The name Shiquanhe is originally the name of the river; in Tibetan, it is Sengge Zangbo (in SASM/GNC/SRC transcriptions, sometimes simply Senge Zangbo), Senge Zangbu (Chinese: 森格藏布) or Sengghe Tsangpo (in a transcription used in Western books).
The source of that river, a hot spring, supposedly, looks like the lion's mouth; thus the name, interpreted as "river flowing from the lion's mouth".
When the Ngari Prefecture of the PRC was established in 1959, its capital was at the place named Kunsa, located elsewhere in Gar County. It was moved from there to Shiquanhe in 1965, due to the extremely difficult living conditions in Kunsa. At that time, Shiquanhe's population was merely 400.
The modern Chinese-style town is situated at the confluence of the Indus and Gar River. According to a government-affiliated source, the population of Shiquanhe had grown from just over 1,500 to over 20,000 in 30 years (1978-2008), and people there now "enjoy their life because the city has been equipped with culture and commerce facilities". Western guidebook writers have referred to the place as a "concrete monstrosity of a town".
The place has several primary schools and a secondary school.
Ali has two banks, but only the Agricultural Bank of China
Agricultural Bank of China
Agricultural Bank of China Limited , also known as AgBank, is one of the "Big Four" banks in the People's Republic of China. It was founded in 1951, and has its headquarters in Beijing...
, near the army post west of the roundabout, will change foreign currency. There is also a main post office near the roundabout.
Transportation
Ngari Gunsa Airport, near the town of Shiquanhe, started operations on 1st July, 2010, becoming the fourth civil airport in Tibet.Air China
Air China
Air China is the flag carrier and one of the major airlines of the People's Republic of China. Based in Beijing Capital International Airport, Air China is the world's 10th largest airline by fleet size. The airline ranked behind its main competitors China Southern Airlines and China Eastern...
's southwestern branch will operate flight services from Chengdu
Chengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
to Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
and on to Ngari – a total of 2,300 km – every Tuesday and Friday. "The flight leaves Chengdu at 5:50 AM and arrives at Lhasa two hours later," Bao Lida, a company press official was quoted as saying. "It leaves Lhasa at 8:40 AM and arrives at Ngari at 10:20 AM." the 1,098 km Lhasa-Ngari flight service would start from 2,590 yuan (About US $400). The report said Air China expects to transport 50-60 passengers in winter and 20-30 passengers in summer during each flight service.