Shannan city also known as Lhoka is the southern region of the Tibet Autonomous Region. This vast region revered as the cradle of Tibetan civilization is currently divided into 16 counties. Tsedang is the capital of Shannan city or prefecture. The distance from Lhasa to Tsedang is about 183km.
Once Tsedang was one of the largest cities in Tibet and currently, it is the capital of the Lhoka district of Tibet Autonomous Region, exercising direct control over the affairs of 13 major counties. It is considered to be the cradle of Tibetan civilization, also known as Yarlung Valley, in that the Zodang Gongpori caves above the town are said to be the place where the Tibetan race originated.
The Yarlung valley consists of the three sacred places (Ne-sum) Yumbhu Lhakang, Sheldrak Caves and Tradruk monastery, the three sacred receptacles (Tan-sum); Takchen Bumpa, Gongtang Bumpa, and Tsechu Bumpa are particularly important.
