278km (172 miles) W of Lhasa, 91km (56 miles) NW of Gyantse. Altitude: 3,900m (12,792 ft.)
Set to the south of the confluence of the Brahmaputra River and the Nyang Chu, the second-largest town in Tibet is considerably smaller than Lhasa, its ancient rival for political power. For a period between the 16th and 17th centuries,Shigatsewas the capital of Tibet, and even after the capital shifted to Lhasa, it maintained influence both as the center of theTsang regionand as the home of thePanchen Lama,who traditionally resides inTashilhunpo Monastery.Unfortunately, Chinese-style development has taken over the town and the Tibetan quarter is rather small and touristy.