A renovated China-Nepal border port at Gyirong, South Tibet’s Shigatse city, was officially opened in December 1, 2014. Since 2006, Nepal has been Tibet's biggest trade partner for eight consecutive years. The Gyirong Port is expected to further facilitate bilateral economic development and boost tourism on both sides.
The Gyirong border port, which started operation in 1978, used to be the largest land trading port linking Tibet and Nepal. Now the port has been expanded and developed into the cross-border China-Nepal Gyirong Port Economic Cooperation Zone, and will also be built into a tourist destination.
“Trade at the Gyirong Port will be expanded and tourists will be allowed to travel through the port.” Dong Mingjun, vice chairman of the Tibet regional government Said.
Recent development of the port has also benefited a lot to the local residents with the construction of infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, hotels, business service center and a 24 km of asphalt from Gyirong to Nepal’s Rasuwa.
The Lhasa-Shigatze Railway opened earlier this year also makes the Gyirong Port a link between China and the South Asia. It will not only promote trade between China and South Asian countries, but also bring a great number of visitors to Shigatze, which is the base for spectacular landscapes and some grand monasteries: Mt. Everest, Tashihunpo Monastery, Sakya Monastery, Shalu Monastery, Rongbuk Monastery, etc.
