Kunggar (also transliterated as Konggar or Gonggar) is a town in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China. It serves as the administrative seat of Gonggar County, which is under the jurisdiction of Lhasa prefecture‑level city. The town is situated approximately 70 km southwest of Lhasa, the regional capital, at an elevation of roughly 3,500 m (11,500 ft) above sea level.
Geography
Kunggar lies in the valley of the Lhasa River (also known as the Kyi River) and is surrounded by the Nyainqêntanglha mountain range. The climate is classified as alpine semi‑arid, featuring cold, dry winters and mild, relatively wet summers.
Administrative status
- Country: People’s Republic of China
- Autonomous region: Tibet Autonomous Region
- Prefecture‑level city: Lhasa
- County: Gonggar (also spelled Kunggar) County
- Settlement type: Town (county seat)
Transportation
The town is notable for hosting Lhasa Gonggar Airport (IATA: LXA, ICAO: ZLKL), the primary international and domestic gateway to the Tibet Autonomous Region. The airport is located on the outskirts of Kunggar and is connected to Lhasa by the G219 national highway as well as by regular bus services.
Economy and infrastructure
Kunggar’s economy is primarily based on agriculture, animal husbandry, and services related to the airport and transportation. The presence of the airport has spurred development of hotels, restaurants, and ancillary commercial facilities in the town.
Demographics
Detailed, up‑to‑date population figures for Kunggar are not publicly released in English‑language sources. According to the most recent Chinese census data available at the county level, Gonggar County had a population of approximately 30,000 residents; however, the specific share residing in the town of Kunggar is not separately enumerated in accessible sources.
Etymology
The name “Kunggar” derives from the Tibetan transliteration of the Chinese characters 贡嘎 (Gònggā), which historically refer to the local area. Alternative spellings arise from different Romanisation systems for Tibetan and Chinese place names.
References
- National Bureau of Statistics of China, administrative division codes (2020).
- Lhasa Gonggar Airport official website.
- “Gonggar County” entries in the China Statistical Yearbook (latest edition).
Note: Information on certain aspects of Kunggar, such as precise population figures and detailed historical development, is limited in publicly available English‑language encyclopedic sources.
