Nepal House

　　Nepal House is located to the north of Burang County and is a world apart from the tall, man-made concrete buildings we usually see.

　　Walking from the old county town across Chefeng Bridge to the north bank of the Peacock River, you’ll find a 50-meter-high hillside by the roadside covered with natural caves, some of which were once the sites of old temples. Nowadays, many Indians and Nepalese cross the border to do business in Burang and, to save on expenses, simply reside in these caves temporarily. As a result, locals have dubbed this hillside “Nepal House.”

　　The ruins of the Holy Berlin Monastery are right next to Nepal House, also situated on the Nataraka Mountain where Nepal House is located. Its Tibetan name is Gugongkangla. The monastery was built in the early 17th century during the time of the Fifth Dalai Lama, governed by Drepung Monastery, and belonged to the Gelug sect. It was the largest monastery in the Ngari region at the time. It also served as the winter seat of the former Burang government. Originally, it had over 300 monks and more than 250 rooms, with the largest room featuring 315 pillars. During the Cultural Revolution, this 400-year-old grand monastery was completely destroyed, leaving only a stretch of earthen ruins today. From the county town, you can see the monastery ruins on the mountain in the distance. If you wish to hike there, you can take a small path between Nepal House and the International Trade Market and walk for about 15 minutes to reach it.

　　Continuing westward from Nepal House for 10 minutes and crossing a hill brings you to Burang’s “International Trade Market” (also called the Thangka Market). This is absolutely the most rudimentary “International Trade Market” most people will ever see: made up of six or seven rows of low buildings forming a rectangular market. The vendors are mainly Nepalese, selling spices, fabrics, jewelry, coffee, and other goods from Nepal and India, along with some teahouses and pool tables. Around Dongfeng Bridge, there are also Tibetan and Han merchants from India, Nepal, and other parts of Tibet doing business.

　　Burang has been an important trade route to the western plateau since ancient times and is now a national Class II port. About 20 kilometers down the Peacock River, Xie’erwa Village faces Nepal across the river. Every summer, Nepalese merchants bring imported goods such as Indian incense, French perfume, and watches into China through here and trade at Burang’s International Market; before winter arrives, they take back the wool and sheep they’ve purchased to Nepal.