Get to know Nyalam County
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- Administrative area
- County · 县
- Part of
- Xigazê
- Chinese name
- 聂拉木县
- Local areas
- County guide
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 7,863.92 km²
- Population · 2020
- 17,009
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
River, forest and waterfalls
A river runs along the valley floor while the road winds around the mountainside above. Waterfalls hang from cliffs and emerge from dense forest, some dropping more than a hundred metres. Moist Indian Ocean air brings heavy rain and cloud, particularly from June to September. Falling water strikes rocks and fallen timber, throwing spray through the narrow gorge.
A border valley’s trading past
Construction of the China–Nepal Highway (中尼公路) began in 1963, and it opened in May 1967. Early local trade exchanged wool and hides for Nepalese salt and handicrafts. Zhangmu later developed around border commerce, drawing Sherpa residents (夏尔巴人) from mountain communities and merchants from elsewhere.
Sources for this guide
聂拉木县人民政府·游在聂拉木 · Nyalam County Government, republishing Shigatse Tourism
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 Nyalam County
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Nyalam County 聂拉木县
Plan your visit
Getting there
Nyalam County is about 310 km in a straight line from central Xigazê. Search for 聂拉木县 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →More in Xigazê
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.