Sangri County (Tibetan: ཟངས་རི་རྫོང་།; Chinese: 桑日县) is a county under the jurisdiction of Shannan City (Lhoka) in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. The name "Sangri" means "Copper Mountain" in Tibetan.
Geography
Sangri County is located in the southeastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in the northern part of Shannan City. It lies on the southern foothills of the Gangdise Mountains, within the midstream valley section of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. The county borders Gyaca County to the east, Qusum County to the southeast, Nedong District to the west and south, Maizhokunggar County to the north, and Gongbo'gyamda County to the northeast. It spans from 91°50′ to 92°36′ east longitude and 29°00′ to 29°50′ north latitude, with a total area of 2,633.62 square kilometers.
The terrain is higher in the west and north, and lower in the east and south, forming a pattern of "two mountains flanking one river." The highest elevation within the county is 6,220 meters, the lowest is 3,143 meters, and the average elevation is approximately 4,065 meters. The county features three major landform types: alpine landforms, river valley landforms, and aeolian landforms.
Climate
Sangri County has a plateau temperate monsoon climate. The average annual temperature in the Yarlung Tsangpo River valley is 8.2°C, with an average July temperature of 15.4°C and an average January temperature of -0.9°C. The frost-free period lasts 150 to 180 days. Average annual precipitation is 429.1 mm, concentrated from June to September, with over 80% occurring as night rain.
Administrative Divisions
Sangri County administers 1 town and 3 townships:
- Sangri Town (桑日镇) — the county seat
- Zingqi Township (增期乡)
- Bötö Township (白堆乡)
- Rong Township (绒乡)
Demographics
As of the 2020 Seventh National Population Census, the permanent resident population of Sangri County was 18,041. By the end of 2024, the population was estimated at 18,064. The population is predominantly Tibetan, accounting for approximately 97% of the total, with Han Chinese and other ethnic minorities (including Hui, Tujia, Nu, Manchu, and Yao) making up the remainder.
History
Approximately 2,000 years ago, the area of present-day Sangri County was the domain of the "Six Yak Tribes" of the Tubo tribe. During the period of the Twelve Minor Principalities in Tibet, the territory was under the rule of Woka Bangga. During the Tubo period, Sangri belonged to Yoru.
In the mid-14th century, under the Phagmodrupa local regime, Woka Zong and Qiaga Xi were established in the area. From the late 14th to early 15th century, Kada Zong and Sangri Zong were established. In 1643, after the 5th Dalai Lama established the Ganden Phodrang regime, the three zongs (Woka, Sangri, and Qiaga) came under the administration of the Kashag.
In 1959, following the democratic reform, Sangri County was formally established as part of Shannan Prefecture. In February 2016, Shannan Prefecture was upgraded to a prefecture-level city, and Sangri County has since remained under the jurisdiction of Shannan City.
Economy
Agriculture and animal husbandry form the economic foundation of Sangri County. Major crops include highland barley, winter wheat, and rapeseed. Livestock raised includes cattle, sheep, horses, and yaks.
In 2024, Sangri County achieved a Gross Regional Product (GRP) of 2.838 billion yuan, representing a growth of 6.8%. Key industries include building materials (notably cement production by Huaxin Cement), photovoltaic power generation, and hydropower. The Dagu Hydropower Station is a significant clean energy project.
Transportation
The Lhasa–Nyingchi Railway (part of the Sichuan–Tibet Railway) traverses the county, with Sangri Railway Station located within. The S507 provincial road and other highway networks connect the county to surrounding areas.
Notable Sites
- Densatil Monastery (Dansati Monastery) — Built in 1158 CE by the Kagyu monk Dorje Gyalpo, it became the main monastery of the Phagdru Kagyu school. It covers an area of more than 300,000 square meters.
- Qulong Monastery (Olka Cholung Monastery) — Founded in 1393 as a hermitage for Tsongkhapa, it is one of the early monasteries of the Gelug school.
- Zengqi Monastery — Built in the 10th century, originally belonging to the Kadam sect, later converted to the Gelug school.
- Dagu Canyon — The second-largest canyon in Tibet, located at the junction of Sangri and Gyaca counties.
- Woka Scenic Area — Known for Wode Gongjie Snow Mountain (5,998 m), three sacred rivers, and seven hot springs.
- Sangri Tibetan Red Deer Nature Reserve — Covers approximately 180,000 hectares and protects the Tibetan red deer, which is only distributed in the Gongbula Mountain area.
