Shannan

　　Shannan Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region is located between 90 14'E-94 22'E and 27 08'N-29 47'N, at the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River south of the Kangdese Mountains -- called the Nyainqentanglha Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is bounded by the capital city Lhasa to the north, Xigaze to the west, Nyingchi to the east and India and Bhutan to the south. With an area of 73,500 square kilometers, Shannan occupies one-fifteenth of the total area of the Tibet Autonomous Region. With a boundary line of more than 600 kilometers, it has great strategic importance and serves as China's southwestern border area.

Enchanting scenery along the banks of the Yarlung Zangbo River

　　Shannan's topography is typical of the southern Tibetan valley area, with a terrain gradually declining from west to east and at an average elevation of about 3,700 meters. The Yarlung Zangbo River, the mother river of the Tibetan people, runs 424 kilometers from west to east through the seven counties of Nanggarze, Gonggar, Chanang, Nedong, Sangri, Qusum, Gyacha. In addition, Shannan has 41 rivers that run down high mountains and deep valleys all year round, with the river area of 38,000 square kilometers. There are 88 lakes in the prefecture, including Yamzhog Yumco, Namco, Chigu and Purmo Yumco, which are well known and, like green gemstones, are inlaid in the mountains of Shannan.
　　Shannan enjoys a temperate and dry climate, with average annual rainfall of less than 450 millimeters. The rainy season is concentrated between June and September. Annual sunshine is between 2,600 and 3,300 hours. Average annual temperature is between 6.0 and 8.8 degrees Celsius, with the record high at 31 degrees and a low at 37 degrees below zero. Average annual wind speed is about 3 meters/second, with the fastest speed at 17 meters/second. The windy season is concentrated between December and March.
　　Shannan has many kinds of fauna and flora. It abounds in qingke barley, wheat, broad beans, peas, corn, buckwheat, and rape, making it one of the major grain and oil producing regions in Tibet. Vegetables include carrots, potatoes, cabbage, peppers, beans, tomatoes and pumpkins. Fruits include apples, pears, chestnuts, peaches and grapes. Shannan also teems with wild plant resources. There are several hundred medicinal plants. Its famous medicinal herbs include sinensis, fritillaria thun-bergli, root of red salvia, Chinese angelica, root of hairy asiabell, matrimony vine, rehum officinale and saussurea involucrata. The principal timber stocks are poplar, willow, dahurian larch, hemlock, abies fabri, cypress and white birch.
　　Livestock include goats, sheep, yellow cattle, yaks, horses, donkeys, mules, pigs, chickens and ducks. There are also second-grade wild animals under State protection. They are the wild yak and the Tibetan antelope. In addition, there are also river deer, other deer, Mongolian gazelles, wild bulls, bears, leopards, monkeys, lynx, otters, snow pigs, snow cocks, eared pheasants, wild ducks, geese, geckoes and fish.
　　Proven mineral resources include chromium, gold, copper, iron, antimony, lead, zinc, manganese, muscovite, crystal, jade and marble. The reserves of the chromium have been verified at 5 million tones, accounting for 35 to 45 percent of the country's total. Average grade reaches 45 percent or more. Therefore, it boasts the biggest chromium resource base in China.
　　Shannan has many rivers and lakes and so it is rich in water resources. Its reserves of lake water stand at 17 billion cubic meters,and the volume of glaciers is about 1 billion cubic meters. The volume of underground water is about 23 billion cubic meters, with the annual runoff of more than 55 billion cubic meters. Theoretically the reserves of water energy resources in the region are 35.1 million kilowatts, and 18,300 kilowatts have been tapped. The hydroelectric power station at Yamzhog Yumco Lake has been completed and put into operation. The first-grade power station in Oiga has also been erected. These power stations have helped released the tension on power supplies in Lhasa and the surrounding areas. In addition, Shannan also has abundant solar and wind energy resources.
　　Shannan attracts numerous Chinese and foreign tourists with its ancient cultural heritage, rich and strong national flavor, enchanting natural scenery, unique historical sites and other tourism resources.
　　In 1988, the State Council announced Shannan's Yarlung River Valley had been selected as the first State level Yarlung scenic spot in Tibet.
　　Shannan is a multi-ethnic area with a Tibetan ethnic majority. It has sizable populations of 14 ethnic groups including Tibet, Han, Manba and Luoba. Ethnic Tibetans account for 97.7 percent, while Manba account for 0.22 percent (inhabiting in Cona County), Luoba account for 0.03 percent (living in Douyu Township of Lhongzi County) and Han account for 2.04 percent (concentrated in urban areas).
　　Shannan includes 12 counties, four of which are in boarder areas. They are Cona, Lhongzi, Nanggarze and Lhozha. There are 144 townships, two township-level towns, five neighborhood committees and 719 village committees. Of the 144 townships, there are 71 agricultural townships, 18 involved in animal husbandry, and 57 that combine these two sectors