Ali Prefecture (阿里地区)

1. Introduction

Ngari Prefecture (Tibetan: མངའ་རིས་ས་ཁུལ།, Wylie transliteration: mnga' ris sa khul, Tibetan pinyin: Ngari Sakü) is a prefecture under the jurisdiction of the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Located in the core area of the Changtang Plateau in the northern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is one of the regions with the lowest population density in the world, featuring unique highland natural landscapes. Its land area is 337,174.95 square kilometers. The administrative office of the prefecture is located at No. 6 Wenhua Road, Shiquanhe Town, Gar County. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was called Nali, and in the Ming Dynasty, it was known as Elisi. Ngari is where mountain ranges such as the Himalayas and the Gangdise Mountains converge, earning it the title "Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains." Simultaneously, it is also the source of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, Indus River, and Ganges River, hence it is also called the "Source of a Hundred Rivers." There are territorial disputes with India in the southern part of Aksai Chin and Barahoti.

2. Origin of the Name

The etymology of "Ali Prefecture" is related to the Tibetan language. Located in the western part of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, its name originates from the Tibetan word "མངའ་རིས" (mNgah-ris), meaning "territory" or "domain." Historically, Ali was the core area of the ancient Zhangzhung civilization and the Guge Kingdom, holding significant cultural and historical importance.

In Tibetan, the term "Ali" is sometimes written as "སྤྱི་ཁྱབ་མངའ་རིས" (spyi khyab mNgah-ris), meaning "vast territory." This name reflects the important historical status of the Ali region in Tibet and its extensive geographical expanse.

3. History

3.1 Before 1950

The term "Ali" is a transliteration from the Tibetan language, meaning "dependency," "territory," "domain," etc. Until the early 9th century, this area was still referred to as "Zhangzhung" (Yangtong, Yangtong). In Chinese historical records, it was called by different names in various dynasties.

In ancient times, Ali was one of the early "Thirteen Minor States" in the Tibetan region, known as "Yangtong" in Han Chinese historical texts. Yangtong gradually developed and established the Zhangzhung Kingdom around the 4th-5th century AD. At its peak, the territory was divided into Upper (Inner) Zhangzhung, Middle Zhangzhung, and Lower (Outer) Zhangzhung. Upper (Inner) Zhangzhung corresponds to the area under the jurisdiction of present-day Ali.

In Tibetan ancient texts, after the descendants of the Tibetan Empire's Tsenpo arrived in this political region, originally part of the eighteen tribes of Zhangzhung, the Tibetan Empire destroyed the Zhangzhung Dynasty and renamed it "Nari" (Ali).

The Guge Kingdom, along with other Tibetan tribes, submitted to the Yuan Dynasty (1260-1368) in the 13th century. It was placed under the "U-Tsang, Nari, and Gugu Military and Civilian Pacification Commission" established by the Yuan Dynasty within the Sakya regime. During the Yuan Dynasty, it was called "Nari Gugu," and the actual affairs of the Ali region were handled by the Sakya regime.

During the Yuan Dynasty, it was called Nari Gugu. In the early Ming Dynasty, a loosely controlled "Oli Si Military and Civilian Marshal Office" was established. After the fall of the Guge Kingdom, the region was once occupied by the Ladakh Kingdom. In the 17th century, after the Fifth Dalai Lama established the Ganden Phodrang government and following the Ladakh War, the Ali region gradually came under the administration of the Tibetan Kashag government. With the support of the Qing court, "Zongs" (equivalent to counties) were established, along with a chief administrator for the Ali region—the "Ali Chikyab." What was called "Oli Si" during the Ming Dynasty came to be known as "Ali" during the Qing Dynasty. It was divided into six Zongs, with hereditary Zongpons as the officials.

3.2 The People's Liberation Army Enters Ali

On August 1, 1950, Li Disan, the Security Section Chief of the 1st Regiment of the Independent Cavalry Division of the People's Liberation Army's Southern Xinjiang Military Region, led an advance company of 138 men from the regiment's 1st Company. They set out from Pulu, Hetian County, crossed the Kunlun Mountains, and advanced into the Ali region of Tibet. On August 29, the entire advance company reached their predetermined destination: Zhamamangbao in Gaize County, Ali region, where they began preparations for wintering. Li Disan compelled representatives of the Ali government's Garpön to sign the "Five-Point Agreement." In October 1950, the advance company's rear supply line was cut off. Li Disan encouraged his subordinates to rely on themselves, gathering firewood and hunting. Due to severe oxygen deprivation, officers and soldiers of the advance company generally suffered from altitude sickness, while rear supplies failed to reach them. On May 6, 1951, An Zhiming, Deputy Regiment Commander of the 2nd Regiment of the Independent Cavalry Division, led a follow-up force of two companies and support personnel, totaling over 280 men, advancing into the Ali region of Tibet. They set out from Pulu, Yutian County, following in the footsteps of Li Disan's advance company, trekking over a thousand kilometers, and arrived at Zhamamangbao on May 28, 1951, joining forces with the advance company. Li Disan passed away from illness on the day of the rendezvous. Li Disan and 62 others from the advance company who sacrificed their lives due to altitude sickness and other reasons were buried in Zhamamangbao, Ali. An Zhiming led his troops from Zhamamangbao on June 5, crossed the Dongjun La Pass on June 19, and entered and stationed in Ali's capital, Gar Dargyé (south of present-day Kunsha Township, Gar County) on August 3, 1951, completing the mission of entering Ali from Xinjiang. After the PLA entered Tibet in 1951, the Düri Garpön was stationed in Gar Dargyé (i.e., Gar Yarsha). It administered Budaba, Rutog, and Gar Dargyé.

While An Zhiming led his troops into Tibet, He Jingfu, Battalion Commander of the 2nd Regiment of the Independent Cavalry Division, led a cavalry company in pursuit of the Usman forces who had fled into the Ali region from Altay, Xinjiang, and the Qaidam Basin, Qinghai. In July 1951, they passed through Zhamamangbao and stationed in Rutog Zong.

In February 1952, based on Li Disan's advance company, the two companies led by An Zhiming, and the one company led by He Jingfu for bandit suppression—totaling four companies—the "Ali Cavalry Detachment" of the People's Liberation Army's Southern Xinjiang Military Region was formed. The detachment commander and political commissar was An Zhiming, with He Jingfu as chief of staff and Gao Feng as director of the political department. In October 1952, the "Communist Party of China Ali Prefectural Working Committee" was established, with its secretary concurrently held by leaders of the Ali Detachment. The first secretary of the Working Committee was An Zhiming.

In 1954, the Ali Chief Administrator was established, governing Zongs and Chis such as Zhongba Lochang, Burang Zong, Zhaburang Zong, Daba Zong, Rutog Zong, and Gar Dargyé.

3.3 Establishment of the People's Government

In 1960, Ali Prefecture was established, with the prefectural seat in Gar Kunsha (present-day Gar New Village, Kunsha Township). The original seat, Gar Yarsha Town, became the seat of Gar County. Gar Zong was changed to Gar County (seat at Yarsha); Rutog Zong was changed to Rutog County; Gegye was changed to Gegye County (seat at Napo, present-day Napo Community, Gegye Town); Gertse was changed to Gertse County (seat at Lungring, also known as Luma Rinpoche, present-day Luren Community, Gertse Town); Zhongba Lochang Chi was changed to Zhongba County (seat at Zhatong, also known as Old Zhongba, present-day Mayong Village, Larang Township); Burang Zong was changed to Burang County; Zhaburang and Daba Zongs were merged to form Zanda County (seat at Toling, present-day Toling Community, Toling Town). It administered seven counties.

In 1962, Zhongba County was transferred to Shigatse Prefecture. It administered six counties.

During the 1962 Sino-Indian War, the Ali Detachment was the main force on the western front south of Pangong Tso. On June 6, 1966, the General Staff Department notified the Xinjiang Military Region to establish a certain division of the field army, and the Ali Detachment was incorporated as a certain regiment of that division.

In 1966, the Ali Prefectural seat moved to Shiquanhe, and Gar County moved from Gar Yarsha to Gar Kunsha (Gar New Village) (because during the Democratic Reform, the Gar New Township government was established in Kunsha, hence Kunsha is also called Gar New Village).

In 1970, Ali Prefecture was changed to Ali Region, with the regional seat in Shiquanhe, Gar County. Tsochen County was established from the four southern districts of Gertse County (seat at Mendong, present-day Mendong Community, Tsochen Town). Ali Region administered seven counties: Gar (seat at Kunsha), Gegye (seat at Napo), Zanda (seat at Toling), Tsochen (seat at Mendong), Rutog, Gertse (seat at Luma Rinpoche), and Burang.

On March 7, 1979, it was returned to the leadership of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

On February 5, 1979, the Ali Regional Administrative Office was formally established. In 1987, Gar County moved its seat from Gar Kunsha to Shiquanhe (actually moved in September 1988).

In 1997, the Regional Administrative Office was located in Shiquanhe Town. It administered seven counties: Gar, Burang, Tsochen, Gegye, Gertse, Zanda, and Rutog.

In 2017, with the launch of the quantum science experiment satellite program, a quantum teleportation experiment station for the quantum science experiment satellite was established in Ali.

4. Geography

It shares a border of 1,170 kilometers with Nepal and India (including Ladakh in the Kashmir region). The average elevation is 4,500 meters. Known as the "roof of the world's roof," it is where the famous Himalayan Mountains, Gangdise Mountains, Karakoram Mountains, and Kunlun Mountains converge. Internationally renowned rivers such as the Indus and Ganges, as well as the domestic Yarlung Tsangpo River, originate here. The water area covers 12,418 square kilometers, with a total river length of 9,089 kilometers, resulting in abundant per capita water resources.

4.1 Location

The Ngari Prefecture is located in the southwestern frontier of China, in the western part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and on the southwestern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It extends eastward from the Zamei Mountain west of the Tanggula Mountains, connecting with Nagqu City; southeast, it borders Zhongba, Saga, and Angren counties of Shigatse City in the middle section of the Gangdise Mountains; north, it leans against the southern foothills of the Kunlun Mountains, adjacent to Kashgar and Hotan prefectures in Xinjiang; southwest, it connects with the western section of the Himalayas, bordering India (including the southern part of Kashmir under its administration) and Nepal. The total area under its jurisdiction is 345,000 square kilometers. It is about 680 kilometers wide from north to south and over 700 kilometers long from east to west. Its geographical coordinates are approximately 78°23′40″E to 86°11′51″E and 29°40′40″N to 35°42′55″N. The average altitude is above 4,500 meters.

4.2 Topography

The topography of Ngari Prefecture includes types such as high mountains, valleys, earth forests, glacial erosion, alluvial fans, moraines, and volcanoes. Historically, these features have been summarized as "Purang" surrounded by ice and snow, "Guge" surrounded by rocks, and "Mayu" surrounded by lakes, collectively known as the "Three Surroundings of Ngari."

The main mountain ranges are the Himalayas, Gangdise Mountains, and Karakoram Mountains. The southern and southwestern parts feature deeply incised valleys, gorges, and scattered alluvial fan zones; the eastern and northwestern parts have relatively gentle terrain, forming broad valleys and vast grasslands and戈壁 (gobi deserts). The general topographic characteristic is a stepwise elevation of the plateau surface from south to north, while the main ridges of the major mountain ranges gradually lower. The highest point is Mount Namcha Barwa in Purang County, with an elevation of 7,694 meters. The lowest point is in the Langqen Zangbo River valley near Shiquanhe in Zanda County, with an elevation of 2,800 meters, resulting in a maximum relative height difference of 4,894 meters.

4.3 Climate

Ngari belongs to the second-class wind zone, with an annual average wind speed of over 3.2 meters per second. The frequency of strong winds reaching force 8 or above is high, with about 149 days of strong winds per year. The annual average temperature is 0°C, and the daily temperature variation is extremely large, truly embodying "wear a cotton-padded jacket in the evening and gauze at noon." Shiquanhe Town experiences perennial low temperatures and severe cold in winter, with an annual average temperature below zero degrees. The extreme minimum temperature in Shiquanhe Town in winter is -41°C, and the extreme maximum temperature in summer is 21°C. The diurnal temperature variation is quite large, while the annual temperature range is small. In places above 5,000 meters in elevation, daytime temperatures in August are above 10°C, while nighttime temperatures drop below 0°C.

Annual precipitation in Ngari is quite low and highly seasonal. From October to April of the following year, precipitation accounts for only 10% to 20% of the annual total, while from May to September, rainfall is highly concentrated, generally accounting for over 80% of the annual precipitation. Due to its high altitude, Ngari Prefecture has a cold and dry climate with very low annual rainfall and large diurnal temperature variations. Winters in Ngari are long and severely cold.

Meteorological Data for Shiquanhe Town, Gar County (1981–2010)

| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year | |------|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|-----|------|------|------|------| | Record high °C (°F) | 6.4 (43.5) | 9.5 (49.1) | 13.4 (56.1) | 15.7 (60.3) | 20.5 (68.9) | 25.2 (77.4) | 32.1 (89.8) | 26.4 (79.5) | 23.7 (74.7) | 16.7 (62.1) | 12.7 (54.9) | 7.1 (44.8) | 32.1 (89.8) | | Average high °C (°F) | -4.1 (24.6) | -2.0 (28.4) | 2.3 (36.1) | 7.4 (45.3) | 12.6 (54.7) | 18.1 (64.6) | 21.5 (70.7) | 20.5 (68.9) | 16.3 (61.3) | 8.2 (46.8) | 2.9 (37.2) | -1.6 (29.1) | 8.5 (47.3) | | Daily mean °C (°F) | -12.0 (10.4) | -9.2 (15.4) | -4.8 (23.4) | 0.1 (32.2) | 5.1 (41.2) | 10.7 (51.3) | 14.4 (57.9) | 13.8 (56.8) | 9.3 (48.7) | 0.5 (32.9) | -5.7 (21.7) | -10.1 (13.8) | 1.0 (33.8) | | Average low °C (°F) | -19.7 (-3.5) | -16.9 (1.6) | -12.6 (9.3) | -7.9 (17.8) | -2.7 (27.1) | 3.1 (37.6) | 7.7 (45.9) | 7.5 (45.5) | 2.0 (35.6) | -8.0 (17.6) | -14.8 (5.4) | -18.2 (-0.8) | -6.7 (19.9) | | Record low °C (°F) | -36.6 (-33.9) | -30.2 (-22.4) | -25.3 (-13.5) | -17.9 (-0.2) | -11.2 (11.8) | -6.6 (20.1) | -0.6 (30.9) | -0.4 (31.3) | -10.0 (14.0) | -17.0 (1.4) | -23.5 (-10.3) | -32.9 (-27.2) | -36.6 (-33.9) | | Average precipitation mm (inches) | 1.6 (0.06) | 1.2 (0.05) | 1.4 (0.06) | 1.3 (0.05) | 2.9 (0.11) | 3.7 (0.15) | 21.4 (0.84) | 23.8 (0.94) | 5.7 (0.22) | 2.0 (0.08) | 0.3 (0.01) | 1.1 (0.04) | 66.4 (2.61) | | Average relative humidity (%) | 36 | 33 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 39 | 43 | 36 | 27 | 24 | 31 | 33 |

Data source: China Meteorological Data Network

5. Administrative Divisions

Ngari Prefecture administers 7 counties: Burang County, Zanda County, Gar County, Rutog County, Gê'gyai County, Gêrzê County, and Coqên County.

Administrative Divisions Map of Ngari Prefecture

| Division Code | Division Name | Tibetan Script | Hanyu Pinyin | Tibetan Pinyin | Wylie Transliteration | Area (km²) | Resident Population (2020 Census) | Seat of Government | Postal Code | Township-level Divisions | Border Management Area Scope | |-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|------------------|--------------------|---------------------------|----------------|--------------------------------------|------------------------|----------------|----------------------------|--------------------------------| | 542500 | Ngari Prefecture | མངའ་རིས་ས་ཁུལ། | Ālǐ Dìqū | Ngari Sakü | mnga' ris sa khul | 337,174.95 | 123,281 | Gar County | 859000 | 7 towns, 30 townships | Parts within the territory | | 542521 | Burang County | སྤུ་ཧྲེང་རྫོང་། | Pǔlán Xiàn | Burang Zong | spu hreng rdzong | 13,194.05 | 12,242 | Burang Town | 859500 | 1 town, 2 townships | Entire territory | | 542522 | Zanda County | རྩ་མདའ་རྫོང་། | Zhādá Xiàn | Zanda Zong | rtsa mda' rdzong | 24,601.60 | 8,454 | Toling Town | 859600 | 1 town, 6 townships | Entire territory | | 542523 | Gar County | སྒར་རྫོང་། | Gā'ěr Xiàn | Gar Zong | sgar rdzong | 17,669.72 | 31,052 | Shiquanhe Town | 859400 | 1 town, 4 townships | Entire territory | | 542524 | Rutog County | རུ་ཐོག་རྫོང་། | Rìtǔ Xiàn | Rutog Zong | ru thog rdzong | 77,095.83 | 11,167 | Rutog Town | 859700 | 1 town, 4 townships | Entire territory | | 542525 | Gê'gyai County | དགེ་རྒྱས་རྫོང་། | Géjí Xiàn | Gê'gyai Zong | dge rgyas rdzong | 46,104.28 | 18,012 | Gê'gyai Town | 859100 | 1 town, 4 townships | None | | 542526 | Gêrzê County | སྒེར་རྩེ་རྫོང་། | Gǎizé Xiàn | Gêrzê Zong | sger rtse rdzong | 135,615.97 | 25,327 | Gêrzê Town | 859200 | 1 town, 6 townships | None | | 542527 | Coqên County | མཚོ་ཆེན་རྫོང་། | Cuòqín Xiàn | Coqên Zong | mtsho chen rdzong | 22,893.50 | 17,027 | Coqên Town | 859300 | 1 town, 4 townships | None |

6. Economy

6.1 Overview of the Ngari Prefecture Economy

Ngari Prefecture is located in the western part of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, situated in the northwestern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. With an average altitude exceeding 4,500 meters, it is one of China's highest and least densely populated regions. Due to its unique geographical environment and climatic conditions, the economic development of Ngari Prefecture possesses distinct characteristics and faces specific challenges.

6.2 Economic Structure

The economy of Ngari Prefecture is primarily based on animal husbandry and tourism, supplemented by limited agriculture and mineral resource development.

• Animal Husbandry: Ngari Prefecture is one of Tibet's important pastoral areas, with animal husbandry serving as a pillar industry of the local economy. Main livestock species include yaks, sheep, and goats. Livestock products such as wool, cashmere, meat, and dairy products are significant sources of income for local residents.
• Tourism: Ngari Prefecture boasts abundant natural and cultural landscapes, such as Mount Kailash, Lake Manasarovar, and the Ruins of the Guge Kingdom, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists. Tourism has become a major driver of economic growth in the region.
• Agriculture: Limited by climatic conditions, the scale of agriculture is relatively small, mainly concentrated in river valley areas, cultivating cold-resistant crops like highland barley and wheat.
• Mineral Resources: Ngari Prefecture is rich in mineral resources, such as gold, copper, lithium, and boron. However, due to inconvenient transportation and a fragile ecological environment, the scale of mineral resource development remains limited.

6.3 Infrastructure

The infrastructure in Ngari Prefecture is relatively underdeveloped but has seen improvements in recent years with national policy support:

• Transportation: The primary mode of transportation in Ngari is by road. The Xinjiang-Tibet Highway (National Highway G219) is a vital corridor connecting Ngari with Xinjiang and other parts of Tibet. The construction of the Ngari Gunsa Airport has improved air connectivity with the outside world.
• Energy: Ngari Prefecture is rich in solar energy resources, making photovoltaic power generation a significant local energy source.
• Communications: With the expansion of communication network coverage, communication conditions in Ngari have gradually improved, although some areas still experience weak signal issues.

6.4 Economic Development Challenges

• Harsh Natural Environment: The high altitude, low oxygen levels, and cold climate impose constraints on economic development.
• Inconvenient Transportation: The remote geographical location and weak transportation infrastructure increase logistics costs.
• Sparse Population: The low population density and limited labor resources restrict industrial development.
• Ecological Protection: The fragile ecological environment of Ngari necessitates that economic development must be balanced with ecological conservation.

6.5 Policy Support

The national government and the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region have provided substantial support for the economic development of Ngari Prefecture. Through policies such as paired assistance to Tibet, ecological compensation, and infrastructure construction, they aim to promote sustainable economic and social development in the region.

6.6 Future Development Directions

• Eco-tourism: Leveraging unique natural and cultural resources to develop high-end eco-tourism.
• Clean Energy: Utilizing abundant solar energy resources to develop clean energy industries like photovoltaic power generation.
• Specialized Animal Husbandry: Enhancing the added value of livestock products and developing branded, specialized animal husbandry.
• Border Trade: Capitalizing on the geographical advantage of bordering India and Nepal to develop border trade.

7. Transportation

7.1 Road Transport

There are 7 national highways and 5 provincial highways within the entire region, namely National Highways 216, 219, 317, 564, 565, 693, and 695, as well as Provincial Highways 301, 302, 303, 519, and 520. All of these roads have gravel surfaces.

7.2 Air Transport

Ngari Kunsha Airport, which commenced operations on July 1, 2010, is located southwest of Shiquanhe Town in Gar County. Currently, it operates two flight routes to Kashgar and Lhasa.

7.3 Rail Transport

The planned Xinjiang-Tibet Railway will pass through the Ngari Prefecture.

8. Education

8.1 Introduction to Education in Ngari Prefecture

Ngari Prefecture is located in the western part of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, situated in the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an average altitude exceeding 4,500 meters. It is one of China's highest-altitude and lowest-population-density regions. Due to its unique geographical environment, harsh climatic conditions, and sparse population distribution, the development of education in Ngari faces numerous challenges. However, with support from the national and local governments, significant progress has been made in educational endeavors.

8.2 Education System

The education system in Ngari Prefecture includes preschool education, compulsory education, high school education, and vocational education, essentially covering educational needs from early childhood to adulthood.

• Preschool Education: In recent years, Ngari Prefecture has vigorously promoted the universalization of preschool education, establishing multiple kindergartens, especially in county towns and township areas, gradually increasing the coverage rate of preschool education.
• Compulsory Education: Ngari Prefecture has fully implemented nine-year compulsory education, covering primary and junior high school stages. The government ensures students' access to education through the "Three Guarantees" policy (guaranteeing meals, accommodation, and learning expenses).
• High School Education: High school education is mainly concentrated in the prefecture's administrative seat (Shiquanhe Town, Gar County) and some county towns. Students can choose between general high schools or vocational high schools.
• Vocational Education: To meet the needs of regional economic development, Ngari Prefecture has established vocational schools and skill training centers, focusing on cultivating skilled talents in areas such as animal husbandry, tourism services, and handicrafts.

8.3 Educational Infrastructure

• School Construction: In recent years, the hardware facilities of schools in Ngari Prefecture have significantly improved, with a number of schools newly built, renovated, or expanded, equipped with modern teaching facilities.
• Distance Education: Due to the vast territory and sparse population, Ngari Prefecture actively promotes distance education, utilizing the internet and satellite technology to provide quality educational resources for students in remote areas.

8.4 Teaching Staff

• Teacher Team Building: Ngari Prefecture has gradually improved the overall quality of its teaching staff by introducing teachers from inland China and strengthening the training of local teachers.
• Targeted Assistance: Through educational aid projects for Tibet, the state and inland provinces and cities dispatch excellent teachers to Ngari for teaching support, helping to enhance the local education level.

8.5 Educational Policy Support

• "Three Guarantees" Policy: Ngari Prefecture fully implements the Tibet Autonomous Region's "Three Guarantees" policy, providing free meals, accommodation, and learning supplies for students in the compulsory education stage to alleviate family economic burdens.
• Educational Subsidies: The government provides living subsidies and scholarships for high school and university students, encouraging them to pursue further studies.
• Bilingual Education: Ngari Prefecture implements Tibetan-Chinese bilingual education, which both protects Tibetan culture and improves students' Chinese proficiency, creating more opportunities for their future development.

8.6 Challenges in Educational Development

• Geographical Constraints: The vast territory and sparse population of Ngari Prefecture result in dispersed school distribution, long distances for students to travel to school, and inconvenient transportation.
• Harsh Climatic Conditions: The high altitude, low oxygen levels, and cold climate pose certain impacts on students' physical health and learning conditions.
• Teacher Shortage: Due to the harsh conditions, attracting and retaining excellent teachers remains a challenge.
• Cultural Differences: In some remote areas, parents' insufficient emphasis on modern education affects students' enrollment rates and learning motivation.

8.7 Future Development Directions

• Improving Education Quality: Further enhance education quality by strengthening teacher training, optimizing curriculum design, and introducing high-quality educational resources.
• Developing Vocational Education: Focus on developing vocational education in fields such as animal husbandry, tourism, and handicrafts, aligned with regional economic development needs, to cultivate practical talents.
• Advancing Educational Informatization: Utilize internet and distance education technologies to address the shortage of educational resources in remote areas.
• Strengthening Cultural Heritage: While promoting modern education, emphasize the inheritance and protection of Tibetan culture, and promote the in-depth development of bilingual education.

In summary, the educational cause in Ngari Prefecture has made significant progress with the support of the national and local governments. However, it is still necessary to overcome the limitations of the natural environment and economic conditions, further promote educational equity and quality improvement, and provide talent support for the region's socio-economic development.

9. Population

As of the end of 2022, the resident population of the Ngari Prefecture was 123,000, comprising 34 ethnic groups including Tibetan, Han, Mongol, Hui, Uyghur, and others.

According to the Seventh National Population Census of 2020, the resident population of the prefecture was 123,281. Compared with the 95,465 people from the Sixth National Population Census, this represents an increase of 27,816 people over ten years, a growth rate of 29.14%, with an average annual growth rate of 2.59%. Among them, the male population was 65,604, accounting for 53.22% of the total population; the female population was 57,677, accounting for 46.78% of the total population. The sex ratio (with females as 100) was 113.74. The population aged 0–14 was 32,303, accounting for 26.2% of the total population; the population aged 15–59 was 82,646, accounting for 67.04% of the total population; the population aged 60 and above was 8,332, accounting for 6.76% of the total population, of which the population aged 65 and above was 5,593, accounting for 4.54% of the total population. The urban population was 53,839, accounting for 43.67% of the total population; the rural population was 69,442, accounting for 56.33% of the total population.

9.1. Ethnic Groups

Among the resident population of the prefecture, the Han population was 14,695, accounting for 11.92%; the Tibetan population was 107,199, accounting for 86.96%; and other ethnic minorities numbered 1,387, accounting for 1.13%. Compared with the Sixth National Population Census in 2010, the Han population increased by 7,328, a growth of 99.47%, and its proportion of the total population increased by 4.2 percentage points; the population of various ethnic minorities increased by 20,488, a growth of 23.26%, but their proportion of the total population decreased by 4.2 percentage points. Among them, the Tibetan population increased by 19,706, a growth of 22.52%, but its proportion of the total population decreased by 4.69 percentage points.

Ethnic Composition of Ngari Prefecture (November 2010)

| Ethnic Group | Tibetan | Han | Hui | Uyghur | Tujia | Bai | Miao | Yi | Salar | Mongol | Other Ethnic Groups | |------------|--------|-------|-------|----------|--------|-------|-------|-------|--------|--------|----------| | Population | 87,493 | 7,367 | 253 | 92 | 35 | 34 | 28 | 28 | 26 | 21 | 88 | | Percentage of Total Population (%) | 91.65 | 7.72 | 0.27 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.09 | | Percentage of Minority Population (%) | 99.31 | --- | 0.29 | 0.10 | 0.04 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.02 | 0.10 |

10. Religion

Ali is the birthplace of Bon, the indigenous religion of Tibet. In the 1st century AD, Bon began to spread along the Yarlung Zangbo River to Ü-Tsang and eventually throughout the entire Tibetan region. In the early 8th century, the Indian Buddhist master Buddhaguhya came to Mount Kailash on a pilgrimage and widely propagated Buddhist teachings, marking the beginning of the spread of Tibetan Buddhism in Ali. At the end of the 10th century, Rinchen Zangpo established the first monastery in Ali. In the mid-11th century, Atiśa arrived in Guge at the invitation of King Jangchub Ö and, together with Rinchen Zangpo, propagated Buddhist scriptures and teachings. This event marked the beginning of the "Later Diffusion" of Tibetan Buddhism from the upper route. More than 20 years later, a grand Dharma assembly was held at Tholing Monastery, historically known as the "Fire Dragon Year Grand Dharma Assembly." At the end of the 12th century, the Drukpa Kagyu school was introduced to Ali. In the mid-13th century, the Drigung Kagyu school spread to Ali. In the 15th century, Ngawang Drakpa, a native of Guge, traveled to Tsang to study under Tsongkhapa. After completing his studies, he returned to Guge and propagated the Gelug school, with Tholing Monastery serving as the center for the spread of this school. In the first half of the 17th century, Portuguese Jesuit missionaries traveled via Kashmir to Tsaparang in Guge to preach Christianity. After the fall of the Guge Kingdom, Western Christian missionaries were expelled from the region. The entire region currently has 75 open monasteries and chapels (including 57 monasteries and 18 chapels).

11. Culture

The culture and arts of the Ngari region are an important component of the Zhangzhung civilization, giving rise to many myths that interpret nature in the form of legends. In the 7th century, after Buddhism was introduced to the local area of Ngari, Buddhist legends and ballads emerged. Rich in content and diverse in form, they reflect the spiritual outlook and inner pursuits of the working people in different periods from various perspectives, showcasing the distinctive style and charm of western Tibet.

Arts

The traditional arts of Ngari mainly include music and dance, folk performing arts, drama, and crafts, with Tibetan music and dance as well as crafts being particularly dazzling. The Purang and Zanda areas are among the birthplaces of the "Guoxie" dance. The Bon religion's "Cham" dance is said to be a religious song and dance popular during the time of Shenrab Miwoche, which later integrated with Buddhism and became widely popular in monasteries and among the people along the Langqin Zangbo and Majia Zangbo rivers. The string dance, originating from Zanda, is one of the oldest dance forms in Ngari. It can still be faintly seen in the fragmented murals of the Red Temple at the Guge ruins and continues to be passed down among the people in the Purang and Zanda areas. The sculptures and rock paintings of Ngari hold an important place in the artistic gallery of Tibet as a whole. The Buddhist statue sculptures from the Guge period were lavish and majestic, sparing no expense. The murals of Guge uniquely blend the simplicity and minimalism of the plateau with the openness and exaggeration of South Asian and Persian styles, creating a distinctive artistic style that set a trend for an entire era.

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Gar County, Shiquanhe Town

Gar County Shiquanhe Town

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