"Tibetan Kings and Officals" and "A Feast of wise Men"

　　Shannan, one of the birth places of Tibetan culture, has produced a large number of cutstanding scholars and artists. The 5th Dalai Lama Lobsang Gyamco, born in Qoingyai County, wrote a book entitled "Tibetan Kings and Officials" at the age of 27. The epic vividly describes the history of Tibet from the early period to the 10th century when Gushis Khan was in power. In addition, he also wrote 30 or so works such as New Interpretation of Being, Lectures on the Course of the Order of Bodhi and The Course of Introduction to Compassion.

　　The 6th Dalai Lama Canyang Gyamco, born in Cona Moinyu, was also a literary talent. His love poems have been praised and widely spread over all parts of Tibet. In addition, in the 11th century, the eminent monk Mila Riba at the Sanggar Godor Monastery, Lhozha County, translated Buddhist scriptures into Thousand Songs with a simple and common language that allowed more access to ordinary Tibetans. This played a great role in the disseminatiion of Buddhist doctrines.
　　The eminent monk Bawo Chola Chengwa of the Lhalung Monastery in Lhozha County conscientiously studied history and wrote a book entitled A Feast of Wise Men that was handed down to later generations. It is valuable historical material for the study of Tibetan religious history. In the early part of the 18th century, Yedorgar Cering Wanggyai wrote the novel Xunnu Meida, which has occupied an important position in the history of Tibetan literature.

　　Sport: Sport activities among the Yarlung ethnic group have a long history. As early as 1,000 years ago, there were sports meets involving mountain climbing, stone throwing, yak and horse racing, and shooting. However, under the historical conditions at that time, these activities were only held during major religious festivals.

　　After 1959, with the effects of economic development and improvements in living standards, sports have been unprecedentedly developed. In particular, since the establishment of the Shannan sports Committee in August of 1974, organized sports in the area have emerged in a formal way. Basketball, mountain climbing, tug of war competitions, horseracing and track and field activities have been organized frequently and are well received.

　　The Shannan Sports Committee has a qualified contingent of coaches, judges, and trainers, including ten State-level or above judges, three coaches and 40 full-time sports professionals. In addition, the Chess and Cards Association, the Farmers and Herders Sports Association, the Senior Citizens Sports Association and other mass organizations have been set up.

　　In 1976, Shannan founded a spare-time sports school. The students undertake both cultural lessons and sports training. In the same year, the sports team representing Shannan Prefecture took part in the autonomous region's teenager track and field sports meet and won a third place in the total team score. Now the school has track and field, ping pong and soccer classes, nurturing a great number of outstanding players for the sports undertakings of Tibet.

　　In September of 1975, Shannan Prefecture organized a team to participate in the second games of the Tibet Autonomous Region. More than 10 players broke records in 25 events in the games. In August of 1985, the prefecture organized another team and took part in the region's throwing competitions. The prefecture took a team second. One shot-putter broke the region's teenager record. In August of 1987, the Shannan team claimed first place in the teenagers track and field competitions held by the prefecture. In August of 1988, the prefecture's team took part in the first teenagers games held by the autonomous region. Five players set regional record. In October of 1998, the prefecture sent a team to the National Farmers Games held in Beijing. Dawa Cezhen broke the Tibetan record in the 1500-meter and 3000-meter track events and was awarded a citation for moral character.

　　According to different conditions in the various schools, the Shannan Sports Committee conducts physical education classes based on track and field in primary and middle schools. Since 1979, track and field and soccer competitions have been held in primary and middle schools. The 7th set of children's exercises set to music and the 5th set of juvenile exercises set to music have been actively promoted, laying a good foundation for the training of personnel in the overall development of moral, intellectual and physical education.

　　In 1974, the prefecture's sports committee set up a 3.3-hectare sports facility including a shooting range, two basketball courts, a soccer pitch, and a six-lane, 400-meter track. Bleachers as well as an open-air basketball court for 3,000 spectators were also built.