Shannan

How was this colorful civilization constructed by Tibetans on a plateau over 4,000 meters above sea level? The answer can be found only after researching around Shannan.

It is here where the elevation of the highest river of the world Yarlung Zangbo, passes by. This is the cradle of the Tibetan civilization.

A fable has been told around the plateau for thousands of years, the fable is that the macaque is the ancestor of human beings. This idea about the origins of human life was spread from Zedang(the capital of Shannan), over the plateau.

Zedang means “the playground of the macaques” in Tibetan. In Shannan there’re many architectural ruins from ancient times. Yongbu Lakhang is the oldest palace in Tibet, it’s constructed on a hill, which looks like a female deer. Hence the name Yongbu Lakhang, which means “the palace on the leg of a doe”.

This structure and location of the palace influenced the later ones. All buildings, such as temples and palaces were constructed on a hill and have a similar style. Samye Monastery, Changzhu Temple, Tombs of Tibetan Kings, Yamdrok Yamtso Lake, Sunding Monastery(it’s the seat of the only female Living Buddha Dodge Pamu of Tibet), Changkhor Gou Cultural Heritage etc are also quite famous.