Get to know Gar County
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- Administrative area
- County · 县
- Part of
- Ngari Prefecture
- Chinese name
- 噶尔县
- Local areas
- County guide
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 17,669.72 km²
- Population · 2020
- 31,052
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Lakes and the upper Indus
The county has twelve lakes, including Langjiu Lake (朗久湖) and Xinga Lake (心噶湖). The Sengge River (狮泉河) passes through Shiquanhe Town (狮泉河镇) and meets the Gar Tsangpo (噶尔藏布) at Zhaxigang (扎西岗). Beyond the border, the river is known as the Indus (印度河). Its upper course crosses cold, arid country before reaching desert terrain downstream.
Mountain ranges and a dry climate
The Gangdise range runs northwest to southeast through the centre of Gar. Zemu Ri Mountain (则木日山), in the north, reaches 6,051 metres, while Lajia Mountain (拉加山) rises to 6,261 metres in the southwest. Gar has a dry, cold plateau climate with strong sunlight. Snow can fall in any season, and frost occurs in months other than July and August.
Sources for this guide
噶尔概况-阿里地区噶尔县人民政府网站 · Gar County People’s Government
地理环境-阿里地区噶尔县人民政府网站 · Gar County People’s Government
Original English written from the listed sources and checked sentence by sentence against quoted extracts by a separate reviewer. Updated 2026-09-27.
Entry & permits for Tibet (Xizang)
Foreign tourists need Tibet entry approval, commonly called a Tibet Travel Permit, and an organised visit arranged through a specialist travel agency in China. Confirm your approved route before booking transport. Requirements differ for Taiwan residents and for travellers using mainland or Hong Kong/Macao Chinese resident documents; check the document guide before you book.
Check the travel-document requirements →Policy scope verified: 2026-09-06. UK FCDO: China regional travel advice ↗ State Council Taiwan Affairs Office: Tibet entry approval ↗ Xizang Department of Culture and Tourism: Medog border permit notice ↗
Explore Gar County
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Gar County 噶尔县
Plan your visit
Getting there
Gar County covers the centre of Ngari Prefecture. Search for 噶尔县 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →More in Ngari Prefecture
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.