View source for Nagqu

{{About|the city|districts and towns|Nagqu (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See Template:Infobox Settlement for additional fields that may be available-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name                            = Nagqu
| official_name                   = 
| other_name                      = Nagchu
| native_name                     = {{lang|zh|那曲市<br />{{lang|bo|ནག་ཆུ་གྲོང་ཁྱེར།}}}}
| nickname                        = 
| settlement_type                 = [[Prefecture-level city]]
| total_type                      = <!-- to set a non-standard label for total area and population rows -->
| motto                           = <!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline                   = 中国西藏 China Tibet China Xinjiang Urumqi Welcome you to tour the - panoramio (1).jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = Rural Nagqu
| image_seal                      = 
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| image_map                       = Location of Nagchu Prefecture within Xizang (China).png
| mapsize                         = 
| map_caption                     = Location of Nagchu Prefecture within China
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| pushpin_mapsize                 = <!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = China
| subdivision_type1               = [[Autonomous regions of China|Autonomous region]]
| subdivision_name1               = [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#County level|County-level divisions]]
| subdivision_name2               = a district and 10 counties
| subdivision_type3               = 
| subdivision_name3               = 
| subdivision_type4               = 
| subdivision_name4               = 
| seat_type                       = City seat
| seat                            = [[Seni District]]
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<!-- Politics ----------------->| government_footnotes            = 
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| founder                         = 
| named_for                       = <!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_magnitude                  = <!-- use only to set a special wikilink -->
| unit_pref                       = <!--Enter: Imperial, to display imperial before metric-->
| area_footnotes                  = 
| area_total_km2                  = 450537<!-- ALL fields with measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| area_land_km2                   = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on unit conversion-->
| area_water_km2                  = 
| area_water_percent              = 
| area_urban_km2                  = 
| area_metro_km2                  = 
| area_blank1_title               = 
| area_blank1_km2                 = <!-- Elevation -------------------------->
| elevation_footnotes             = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m                     = 
| coor_pinpoint = Nagqu municipal government
| coordinates                     = {{coord|31.476|N|92.051|E|type:adm2nd_region:CN-54_source:frwiki|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_max_m                 = 
| elevation_min_m                 = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of                = 2010
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="History"/>
| population_note                 = 
| population_total                = 462,381
| population_density_km2          = auto<!--For automatic calculation, any density field may contain: auto -->
| population_metro                = 
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| population_blank1_title         = 
| population_blank1               = 
| population_density_blank1_km2   = 
| demographics_type2   = GDP
| demographics2_title1 = Total
| demographics2_info1 = [[CN¥]] 9.5 billion<br />[[US$]] 1.5 billion 
| demographics2_title2 = Per capita
| demographics2_info2 = CN¥ 19,508<br />US$ 3,132
<!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone                        = [[China Standard Time|China Standard]]
| utc_offset                      = +8
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| postal_code_type                = [[Postal code of China|Postal code]]
| postal_code                     = 
| area_code                       = 
| iso_code                        = [[ISO 3166-2:CN|CN-XZ-06]]
| blank_name                      = <!-- [[GDP]] -->
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| website                         = {{URL|www.xznq.gov.cn/}}
| footnotes                       = 
}}
{{Infobox Chinese
  |c={{linktext|lang=zh|那曲}}
  |p=Nàqū
  |c2={{linktext|lang=zh|黑河}}
  |p2=Hēihé
  |tib={{bo-textonly|ནག་ཆུ།}}
    |wylie=nag chu
    |zwpy=Nagqu
  |showflag=p
  |order=st
}}
'''Nagqu''' (also '''Naqu''', '''Nakchu''',  or '''Nagchu'''; {{bo|t=ནག་ཆུ།|w=Nag-chu|z=Nagqu}}; {{zh|c=那曲|l=black river}}) is a [[prefecture-level city]] in the north of the [[Autonomous regions of China|Chinese autonomous region]] of [[Tibet Autonomous Region|Tibet]]. On May 7, 2018, the former Nagqu Prefecture was officially declared the sixth prefecture-level city in Tibet after [[Lhasa (prefecture-level city)|Lhasa]], [[Shigatse]], [[Chamdo]], [[Nyingchi]] and [[Shannan, Tibet|Shannan]]. The regional area, covering an area of {{convert|450,537|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}},  is bordered by [[Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture|Bayingolin]] and [[Hotan Prefecture]]s of [[Xinjiang]] to the north, [[Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Haixi]], [[Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Yushu Prefecture]]s of [[Qinghai]] and [[Chamdo]] to the east, [[Nyingchi]], [[Lhasa (prefecture-level city)|Lhasa]] and [[Shigatse]] to the south, [[Ngari Prefecture]] to the west. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 462,381.<ref name="History"/> Since its official establishment in 2018, it is the largest prefecture-level city by area in the world,<ref>{{Cite web |title=那曲地区撤地设市--时政--人民网 |url=http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2018/0426/c1001-29950812.html |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=politics.people.com.cn}}</ref> being slightly larger than [[Sweden]].

Nagqu contains 89 townships, 25 towns, and 1,283 villages. The [[Nagqu Town|main city of Nagqu]] is along the [[China National Highway 109]], {{convert|330|km}} northeast of [[Lhasa]]. [[Amdo Town|Amdo]], [[Nyainrong]] and [[Xainza]] are other towns of note. Extremely rich in water resources, with 81% of Tibet's lakes, covering a total area of over {{convert| 30,000|km2}}, it contains lakes such as [[Namtso]], [[Siling Lake]] and rivers such as [[Dangqu]].

Every August (the sixth month in the [[Tibetan calendar]]), Nagqu hosts the Kyagqen Horse Race, a major event locally attracting tens of thousands of herdsmen to participate in horseracing and archery contests.

==Etymology==
Nagqu was once known as "Heihe" ({{zh|c={{linktext|黑河}}}}) which comes from that the Tibetan word means ''black river''. It was named after Nagqu River which is the upper master stream of the [[Salween River|Nu River]] running through the territory. In the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing dynasty|Qing Dynasties]], it was known as "Hala Wusu" (transliteration of the "Black River" in Mongolian). In modern times, Nagqu (the area around [[Nagqu Town]]) is called "Wu'erguxiong" ({{zh|labels=no|s=吾尔古雄}}) or "Seruxiangba" ({{zh|labels=no|c=色如襄巴}}).<ref name="History">{{cite web |trans-title=History of Nagqu Prefecture |script-title=zh:那曲地区历史沿革 |url=http://www.xzqh.org/html/show/xz/20228.html |publisher=XZQH.org |access-date=24 February 2016|language=zh}}</ref>

==History==
Nagqu appeared clearly in the earliest historical materials, it was part of the ancient [[Zhangzhung]] and it was called ''Yangtong'' ({{zh|labels=no|c=羊同}}) in Chinese historical records. In Tibetan historical records, the place was called "Zhuodai" ({{zh|labels=no|c=卓岱}}), meaning "nomadic tribe", and the inhabitants here were called "Zhuoba" ({{zh|labels=no|c=卓巴}}), meaning "nomads"; or "Qiangba" ({{zh|labels=no|c=羌巴}}), meaning "northerner"; or "Changri", it means the northern tribe. In the era of the ascendancy of Zhangzhung, as its inhabitants divided their territory into the inner, outer and middle three parts. The modern Nagqu roughly is the territories of middle Zhangzhung and outer Zhangzhung.  The dzong architecture of Dangnuoqiong was the center of middle Zhangzhung, it was located round the lake of [[Tangra Yumco]] in the southwest of Nagqu. As the Zhangzhung Regime was weakened, its territory shrank to the west.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

The earliest mosque was built in the 14th century.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wang |first=Vivian |date=2023-06-08 |title=Behind a Rare Clash, a Fight Over Faith in China |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/08/world/asia/china-mosques-dome-crackdown.html |access-date=2023-06-10 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> During the [[Song dynasty]], Nagqu was called one of the ''Four Northern Tribes'' ({{zh|labels=no|c=北方四部落}}). In 1269, the Mongolian soldiers began to garrison in the northern Tibet, and later the "39 Tribes of Hor" ({{langx|bo|ཧོར|hor}}, {{zh|s=霍尔}}) formed Mongolian forces in northern Tibet. In 1731, the [[Qing dynasty|Qing Government]] placed the territory of 39 Tribes under the direct jurisdiction of the [[Amban]].

In 1751, Kanxiang Dzong ({{zh|labels=no|c=坎襄宗}}) in Nagqu was formed to the direct rule of the [[Kashag|Kashag Government]], and part of the area was under the jurisdiction of [[Panchen Lama|Panchen]]. Around the [[Xinhai Revolution]], the government of the Kashag Government relegated the region of 39 Tribes to its rule and forcibly took over the Panchen Lama. In 1916, the "Hor Director" ({{zh|labels=no|s=霍尔总管}}) was established. In 1942, the prefecture of Changchub Chikyab ({{langx|bo|བྱང་ཆུབ་སྤྱི་ཁྱབ་|byang chub spyi khyab}}, {{zh|links=no|s=绛曲基巧}}) was formed.

In 1951, the seat of Changchub Chikyab Prefecture was Nagqu (Heihe) Town, the prefecture administered the pasture land to the northern [[Lhasa (prefecture-level city)|Lhasa]] and 6 [[dzong]]s in Heihe area, the ''Conference Hall of Panchen Chamber'' ({{zh|labels=no|s=班禅堪布会议厅}}) administered Damusajia Dzong ({{zh|labels=no|s=达木萨迦宗}}). The prefecture of Changchub Chikyab had jurisdiction over 14 dzongs in 1954.

The Preparatory Committee of [[Tibet Autonomous Region]] set up ''Chikyab Office'' ({{zh|labels=no|s=基巧办事处}}) in Nagqu in October 1956, The prefecture of Changchub Chikyab was renamed to Heihe in 1959, the prefecture of Heihe was renamed to Nagqu in January 1960, its seat was Heihe County (modern [[Seni District]]).<ref name="History"/>

The former Nagqu Prefecture was approved for prefecture-level city status on October 2, 2017, by the [[State Council of the People's Republic of China|State Council]],<ref name="Nagqu2017">{{cite web |script-title=zh:国务院关于同意西藏自治区撤销那曲地区设立地级那曲市的批复|url=http://www.sohu.com/a/196062963_739953 |publisher=[[Sohu]] |date=2 October 2017|access-date=17 August 2019|language=zh}}</ref> and it was officially established on May 7, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dzwww.com/xinwen/xinwenzhuanti/2008/ggkf30zn/201805/t20180508_11283989.htm |script-title=zh:撤地设市 那曲成为西藏第六个地级市|publisher=zwww.com|date=18 May 2018|access-date=17 August 2019|language=zh}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
[[File:Tibet landscape.jpg|thumb|Rural Nagqu]]
[[File:中国西藏那曲 China Tibet Naqu China Xinjiang Urumqi Welcome yo - panoramio (2).jpg|thumb|right|[[Nagqu Town]]]]

Nagqu is located in the northeast of Tibet. [[Nagqu Town]] is {{convert|330|km}} by the [[China National Highway 109]] northeast of [[Lhasa]].<ref name="GM">[https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Chengguan,+Lhasa,+Tibet,+China/Nagqu,+Tibet,+China/@30.0786398,90.7136012,171346m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x376133ca20bbf821:0x5851567ed41b17a4!2m2!1d91.140552!2d29.654838!1m5!1m1!1s0x376530c9d373a977:0x83b13173a523ec44!2m2!1d92.051239!2d31.476202?hl=en Google Maps], Google, accessed 17 August 2019.</ref> Nagqu is bordered by [[Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture|Bayingolin]] and [[Hotan Prefecture]]s of [[Xinjiang]] to the north, [[Haixi Mongol and Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Haixi]], [[Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture|Yushu Prefecture]]s of [[Qinghai]] and [[Chamdo]] to the east, [[Nyingchi]], [[Lhasa (prefecture-level city)|Lhasa]] and [[Shigatse]] to the south, and [[Ngari Prefecture]] to the west. It covers an area of {{convert|450,537|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="History"/>) It lies on the southern slope of [[Tanggula Mountains]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M-fwAAAAMAAJ&q=Nagqu+Tanggula|title=Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research, Volume 39|publisher=Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado at Boulder|year=2007|page=694}}</ref> on the north side of [[Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains]], and on the eastern end of the [[Changtang|Changtang Plateau]]. The average altitude is more than {{convert|4,500|meters}} above sea level.<ref name="xzqh">{{cite web|url= http://www.xzqh.org/html/show/xz/37751.html |script-title=zh:那曲地区概况|publisher=xzqh.org|access-date=17 August 2019|language=zh}}</ref> Principal towns in the region include Nagqu Town, [[Amdo Town|Amdo]], [[Nyainrong]] and [[Xainza]].<ref name="GM"/>

Nagqu is extremely rich in water resources, with a total surface water resources of about {{convert|54|km3|cumi|0}}, groundwater resources of about {{convert|25.1|km3|cumi|sigfig=2}} and a further {{convert|8.8|km3|cumi|sigfig=2}} in glacial ice storage. The region contains 81% of Tibet's lakes, covering a total area of over {{convert| 30,000|km2}}. There are 11 lakes with an area of over {{convert|100|km2}} and 121 lakes with an area of more than {{convert|5|km2}}. Notable lakes include [[Namtso]], spanning Nagqu's [[Baingoin County]] and neighboring [[Lhasa (prefecture-level city)|Lhasa prefecture-level city]]'s [[Damxung County]] with a surface area of {{convert|1,920|km2|abbr=on}}, and [[Siling Lake]] (Qilin) spanning Baingoin and [[Xainza County|Xainza]] counties, which at {{convert|1865|km2}} is the second largest saltwater lake in the northern Tibetan Plateau. [[Dorsoidong Co]] and [[Chibzhang Co]], over {{convert|300|km}} northwest of Nagqu Town<ref name="GM"/> covered a lake area of {{convert|1012| km2}} as of 2018.<ref name="reading">{{cite web|url=http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/76949/1/Mao%20et%20al.%202018_Tibetan%20lakes.pdf|title=Impacts of climate change on Tibetan lakes: patterns and processes |publisher=University of Reading|year=2018|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref> The principal rivers of Nagqu are the [[Dangqu]], [[Zhajia Zangbo]], [[Jiagang Zangbu]], [[Suoqu]], [[Xiaqu]], [[Benqu]], [[Ba Qingqu]], and [[Yiqu (river)|Yiqu]] with hundreds more throughout the region.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} [[Purugangri Glacier]] is located about {{convert|560|km}} from Nagqu town within Qiangtang Nature Reserve, at 6,000 to 6,800 metres above sea level. Covering an area of {{convert|423|km2}}, it has been confirmed to be the world's third largest.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-09/23/content_377082.htm|title=Glacier study reveals chilling prediction|newspaper=China Daily|year=2004|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref>

Nagqu is a natural disaster-prone region, being affected by [[Monsoon|monsoon climate]], [[Plate tectonics|plate geology movements]], plus complex terrain and other disaster-causing factors.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} The annual average temperature is {{convert|-2.1|C}}, while the coldest temperatures can reach {{convert|-40|C}}. Overall it classifies as a dry-winter [[subalpine climate]] (''Dwc'') bordering on a [[cool semi-arid climate]] (''BSk''), with comfortable, humid summers and long, frigid, dry, windy winters. The differences between day and night are severe. It is not uncommon to have nights with temperatures below freezing after days with temperatures of {{convert|25|C}} or days with temperatures above freezing in winter after night temperatures of {{convert|-25|C}}. Annual sunshine totals more than 2,886 hours. Nagqu town had an average annual rainfall of {{convert|477.1|mm|abbr=on}} between 1956 and 2010.<ref name="xzqh"/> The southeastern part of the prefecture is wetter, with annual precipitation exceeding {{convert|580|mm|abbr=on}}. while the northwestern part is driest with an average annual precipitation below {{convert|440|mm|abbr=on}}.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} The effects of global warming increasingly pose a problem in the region, with record highs in 2019.<ref name="reading"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/11/c_138218284.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817134222/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-07/11/c_138218284.htm|archive-date=August 17, 2019|title=Weather anomalies in Tibet pose challenge to agriculture: experts |publisher=Xinhua|date=11 July 2019|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref>

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Nagqu ([[Seni District]]), elevation {{convert|4507|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1971–2010)
|single line = Y
|metric first = Y
|collapsed = Y
|Jan record high C =  7.7 |Jan record low C = −41.2
|Feb record high C = 10.3 |Feb record low C = −32.2
|Mar record high C = 16.1 |Mar record low C = −27.3
|Apr record high C = 16.6 |Apr record low C = −20.1
|May record high C = 21.3 |May record low C = −12.5
|Jun record high C = 24.2 |Jun record low C =  −8.8
|Jul record high C = 22.6 |Jul record low C =  −4.9
|Aug record high C = 21.7 |Aug record low C =  −6.1
|Sep record high C = 22.2 |Sep record low C =  −9.6
|Oct record high C = 18.0 |Oct record low C = −19.6
|Nov record high C = 12.8 |Nov record low C = −31.7
|Dec record high C = 11.8 |Dec record low C = −34.6
|Jan high C = -2.4
|Feb high C = -0.1
|Mar high C = 3.4
|Apr high C = 7.4
|May high C = 11.5
|Jun high C = 15.3
|Jul high C = 16.3
|Aug high C = 16.2
|Sep high C = 13.8
|Oct high C = 8.3
|Nov high C = 2.7
|Dec high C = -0.4
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = -11.3
|Feb mean C = -8.5
|Mar mean C = -4.5
|Apr mean C = -0.2
|May mean C = 4.2
|Jun mean C = 8.4
|Jul mean C = 10.0
|Aug mean C = 9.5
|Sep mean C = 6.7
|Oct mean C = 0.8
|Nov mean C = -6.0
|Dec mean C = -9.9
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = -19.1
|Feb low C = -16.3
|Mar low C = -11.9
|Apr low C = -7.1
|May low C = -2.0
|Jun low C = 2.9
|Jul low C = 5.0
|Aug low C = 4.6
|Sep low C = 1.7
|Oct low C = -4.9
|Nov low C = -12.7
|Dec low C = -17.8
|year low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 5.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 3.2
|Mar precipitation mm = 7.5
|Apr precipitation mm = 11.9
|May precipitation mm = 40.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 90.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 111.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 100.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 71.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 22.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 3.5
|Dec precipitation mm = 2.0
|year precipitation mm = 
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 4.2
|Feb precipitation days = 3.4
|Mar precipitation days = 4.8
|Apr precipitation days = 7.2
|May precipitation days = 14.9
|Jun precipitation days = 20.6
|Jul precipitation days = 20.9
|Aug precipitation days = 19.9
|Sep precipitation days = 18.8
|Oct precipitation days = 8.1
|Nov precipitation days = 3.1
|Dec precipitation days = 1.9
|year precipitation days = 
|Jan snow days = 5.9
|Feb snow days = 6.4
|Mar snow days = 8.6
|Apr snow days = 12.6
|May snow days = 18.8
|Jun snow days = 6.7
|Jul snow days = 0.3
|Aug snow days = 0.7
|Sep snow days = 6.1
|Oct snow days = 11.8
|Nov snow days = 5.1
|Dec snow days = 3.7
|year snow days = 
|Jan sun = 213.7
|Feb sun = 198.7
|Mar sun = 222.6
|Apr sun = 221.0
|May sun = 238.0
|Jun sun = 216.6
|Jul sun = 208.0
|Aug sun = 205.5
|Sep sun = 209.5
|Oct sun = 243.6
|Nov sun = 240.4
|Dec sun = 232.9
|year sun = 
| Jan percentsun = 66
| Feb percentsun = 63
| Mar percentsun = 59
| Apr percentsun = 57
| May percentsun = 56
| Jun percentsun = 51
| Jul percentsun = 48
| Aug percentsun = 51
| Sep percentsun = 57
| Oct percentsun = 70
| Nov percentsun = 77
| Dec percentsun = 75
| year percentsun =
| Jan humidity = 41
| Feb humidity = 36
| Mar humidity = 37
| Apr humidity = 45
| May humidity = 55
| Jun humidity = 63
| Jul humidity = 67
| Aug humidity = 67
| Sep humidity = 68
| Oct humidity = 56
| Nov humidity = 47
| Dec humidity = 40
| year humidity = 
|source 1 = {{CMA-Source}}
|source 2 = Weather China<ref name = "City Intro">1971-2000 Extremes {{cite web| url = http://www.weather.com.cn/cityintro/101140601.shtml?| script-title=zh:那曲城市介绍| publisher = Weather China| language = zh-hans| access-date = 2011-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420111801/http://www.weather.com.cn/cityintro/101140601.shtml?|archive-date=2023-04-20}}</ref>}}

==Administrative divisions==
The Naqu City People's Government administrative headquarters is located at No. 3, Zhejiang West Road in the main town. It has 89 townships, 25 towns, and 1283 villages under its jurisdiction.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

{| class="wikitable"  style="font-size:90%;" align=center
!colspan="9" align="center" | Map
|-
|colspan="9" align="center" | <div style="position: relative" class="center">
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Nagqu.png|width={{{1|666}}}|link=}} 
{{Image label|x=1500|y=1390|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Seni District|'''Seni''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1710|y=1510|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Lhari County|'''Lhari<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1820|y=1340|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Biru County|'''Biru<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1640|y=1120|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Nyainrong County|'''Nyainrong<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1300|y=1050|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Amdo County|'''Amdo<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=760|y=1430|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Xainza County|'''Xainza<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=2020|y=1290|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Sog County|'''Sog<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1090|y=1390|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Baingoin County|'''Baingoin<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=1930|y=1130|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Baqên County|'''Baqên<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=250|y=1190|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Nyima County|'''Nyima<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label|x=670|y=710|scale={{{1|666}}}/2220|text=[[Shuanghu County|'''Shuanghu<br />County''']]}}
{{Image label end}}
</div>
|-
! Name
! Simplified Chinese
! Hanyu Pinyin
! Tibetan
! Wylie
! Population {{small|(2010 census)}}
! Area (km<sup>2</sup>)
! Density (/km<sup>2</sup>)
|-
|[[Seni District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|色尼区}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Sèní Qū}}
|{{Bo-textonly|གསེར་རྙེད་ཆུས།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|gser rnyed chus}}
|108,781
|16,195
|6.71
|-
|[[Lhari County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|嘉黎县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Jiālí Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|ལྷ་རི་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|lha ri rdzong}}
|32,356
|13,056
|2.47
|-
|[[Biru County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|比如县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Bǐrú Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|འབྲི་རུ་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|'bri ru rdzong}}
|60,179
|11,680
|5.15
|-
|[[Nyainrong County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|聂荣县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Nièróng Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|གཉན་རོང་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|gnyan rong rdzong}}
|32,376
|9,017
|3.59
|-
|[[Amdo County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|安多县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Ānduō Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|ཨ་མདོ་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|a mdo rdzong}}
|37,802
|43,411
|0.87
|-
|[[Xainza County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|申扎县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Shēnzhā Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|ཤན་རྩ་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|shan rtsa rdzong}}
|20,285
|25,546
|0.79
|-
|[[Sog County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|索县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Suǒ Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|སོག་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|sog rdzong}}
|43,621
|5,744
|7.59
|-
|[[Baingoin County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|班戈县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Bāngē Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|དཔལ་མགོན་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|dpal mgon rdzong}}
|36,842
|28,383
|1.29
|-
|[[Baqên County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|巴青县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Bāqīng Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|སྦྲ་ཆེན་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|sbra chen rdzong}}
|48,284
|10,326
|4.67
|-
|[[Nyima County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|尼玛县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Nímǎ Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|ཉི་མ་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|nyi ma rdzong}}
|29,856
|72,499
|0.41
|-
|[[Shuanghu County]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|双湖县}}
|{{transliteration|zh|Shuānghú Xiàn}}
|{{Bo-textonly|མཚོ་གཉིས་་རྫོང་།}}
|{{lang|bo-Latn|mtsho gnyis rdzong}}
|11,999
|116,637
|0.10
|}

==Economy==
By 2009, 55 different minerals had been discovered in the region, with the largest mineral reserves being [[iron]], [[chromium]], [[gold]], [[antimony]], [[lead]], [[zinc]], [[copper]], [[boron]], [[lithium]], [[rock salt]] and [[gypsum]]. There are significant reserves of [[oil]], [[natural gas]], [[oil shale]] and others, though Nagqu had long been severely backwards in energy production and usage to the point that at one stage only Nagqu Town had a 2 MW diesel power plant.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} Geothermal energy production began investigation in 1984.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eAUqDwAAQBAJ&q=nagqu&pg=PA285|title=Thermal Springs and Geothermal Energy in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau |publisher=Springer|page=285|year=2017|author=Zhijie Liao|isbn=978-981-10-3485-5 }}</ref> Nagqu geothermal field lies {{convert|2.5|km}} away from Nagqu Town, and covers an area of {{convert|4.5|km}}.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n36zAAAAIAAJ&q=nagqu|author=Guangyan Zhou|title=Zhongguo xi bu di qu kai fa zhi nan|year=1988|page=395|isbn=978-7-5046-0022-6}}</ref> [[Jiagang Hydropower Station]] in Xainza County was built in the 1990s and as of 2008 serves about 20,000 nomadic households across the county.<ref name="Service1994">{{cite book|author=United States. Foreign Broadcast Information Service|title=Daily report: People's Republic of China|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z98sAAAAMAAJ|year=1994|publisher=Distributed by National Technical Information Service|page=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.tibetmagazine.net/tjxs/200803/t20080312_51697.htm|title=Qinghai-Tibet Railway Enhances the Development of Tibet|publisher=Tibet Magazine|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref> In June 2019, [[Jinqiao Hydropower Station]], the first hydropower station to be built with a rock-fill concrete gravity dam in Tibet, was inaugurated in Lhari County, serving some 30,000 local farmers and herdsmen in an area previously without electricity. The station and dam reportedly cost 1.4 billion yuan (about 202.7 million U.S. dollars) and has an annual power generation capacity of 357 million kilowatt-hours.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/03/c_138113510.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607211533/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-06/03/c_138113510.htm|archive-date=June 7, 2019|title=Hydropower station put into use in Tibet's no-electricity area |publisher=Xinhua|date=3 June 2019|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref>

With Nagqu being one of China's five biggest pastures, and possibly the highest in the world at {{convert|4,500| metres}} above sea level,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7KrkAAAAIAAJ&q=nagqu|title=Chinafrica|year=1990|page=24}}</ref> most counties rely on animal husbandry, and few counties are semi-agricultural and semi-animal husbandry areas.<ref name="xzqh"/> As of 2017, the [[Gross domestic product|regional GDP]] in Nagqu was 11,982 million [[Renminbi|yuan]] (1,775 million [[United States dollar|US dollars]]), completed fixed assets investment 18,549 million yuan (2,747 million US dollars), urban and rural residents per capita disposable income reached 31,252 yuan (4,629 US dollars), 9,792 yuan (1,450 US dollars), total retail sales of social consumer goods 2,127 million yuan (315 million US dollars), tax revenue exceeded 1,000 million yuan (148 million US dollars).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_2096492|script-title=zh:西藏那曲撤地设市，成为中国平均海拔最高、最年轻城市|publisher=The Paper|date=25 April 2018|access-date=17 August 2019|language=zh}}</ref> Agriculture and animal husbandry accounted for 1.923 billion yuan. By 2015, the manufacturing industry was expected to be valued at 1.852 billion yuan, an increase of 23.4%. Production of medicines and Tibetan carpets have significantly increased in recent times. As of 2015 there were 5 scientific research institutions and 11 agricultural and animal husbandry science and technology-related institutions, employing 5,856 professional and technical personnel.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

==Culture==
Nagqu contains a number of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. [[Shodain Monastery]] (also known as "Shodain Yarba" or "Shadain"), with around 350 lamas, is one of the most significant, and is governed by [[Sera Monastery]] in Lhasa. The monastery was established in 1884 and originally belonged to the [[Nyingma]] sect before the Geru sect. The [[13th Dalai Lama]] lived at the monastery for over a month in 1908 during his return journey from Beijing. He inaugurated the Grand Summons Ceremony to be held annually on January 4 in the Tibetan calendar. The Changmo dance, also known as Je Changmo or Jusong Changmo Qin (Changmo means dance or hop,  is common practice at Shodain during August. The middle roof of the monastery contains a golden law wheel surrounded by two golden sheep, alikened to that of [[Jokhang Monastery]] in Lhasa. [[Tsanden Monastery]] (also Zanden or Sanden) in [[Sog County]] was built in 1668 under the orders of [[Drepung Monastery]]. It covers an area of 25,975 square meters and with its white palace and red palace resembles the [[Potala Palace]] from a distance. The monastery contains numerous statues of Buddhas, murals, scriptures and works of art.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mysterioustibet.com/tsanden-monastery-in-sog-county-nagqu.html|title=Tsanden Monastery in Sog County, Nagqu |publisher=Mysterioustibet.com|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref> Badan Bonner temple, founded by Shichong Garmahan is in the village of Sechang Village in Sog County, and contains an oratory and traditional Tibetan bleaching room.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mysterioustibet.com/destinations/tibet/nagqu/sog-county|title= Sog County overview |publisher=Mysterioustibet.com|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref> Zhajun Monastery in the southeast of Baingoin County contains a scripture hall, Buddha hall and Sengshe and is dedicated primarily to [[Gautama Buddha|Shakyamuni]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mysterioustibet.com/zhajun-monastery-in-baingoin-county-nagqu.html|title=Zhajun Monastery in Baingoin County, Nagqu  |publisher=Mysterioustibet.com|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref>

Every August (June in the Tibetan calendar), Nagqu hosts the Kyagqen Horse Race, a major event locally,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6mh4GfOKqT8C&q=Nagqu+horse+festival&pg=PA33|title=China's Tibet|author= Xiaoming Zhang|page=33|year=2004|isbn=978-7-5085-0608-1}}</ref> attracting tens of thousands of herdsmen who arrive in Nagqu on their horses and with goods. They set up camp in tents in the southern part of the main town and participate in horse racing, horsemanship and archery contests on August 10.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chinatourpackage.freechinalink.com/fl_khrf.htm|title=Kyagqen Horse Racing Festival in Qangtang|publisher=China Tour Package|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref> Hats, mostly made from lamb skins and artificial leather and an "antenna-like stripe of fabric at the top" are worn by women during the festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.womenofchina.cn/womenofchina/xhtml1/culture/lifestyle/1908/7296-1.htm|title=People Wearing Hats During Horse Racing Festival in China's Tibet|publisher=Women of China via Xinhua|date=13 August 2019|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref>

In Baingoin County, the Qiduo Cave Paintings are significant, with one cave containing over 200 images of animals, characters and symbols.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mysterioustibet.com/destination/baingoin-county/attractions|title=Baingoin County Attractions  |publisher=Mysterioustibet.com|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref>

==Wildlife==
Nagqu contains a high biodiversity of wildlife. There are [[wild goat]]s, [[stone sheep]], [[scorpion]]s, [[donkey]]s, [[bear]]s, [[fox]]es, [[wolves]], and birds such as [[Tibetan finch]], [[brown-backed crow]], [[pheasant]], [[vulture]], wild [[ducks]], [[swan]]s, [[black-necked crane]]s, and [[red-crowned crane]]s. As of 2018 seven wildlife sanctuaries have been established in Nagqu.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} The 400,000 hectare Siling Co National Nature Reserve (also Selincuo Reserve or Xainza Nature Reserve) around Siling Lake was established in 1993 and contains significant populations of [[black-necked crane]]s and some 120 species of birds in total.<ref name="ZhengZhang2000">{{cite book|last1=Zheng|first1=Du|last2=Zhang|first2=Qingsong|last3=Wu|first3=Shaohong|title=Mountain geoecology and sustainable development of the Tibetan Plateau|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DuwwoxDxCYAC&pg=PA238|access-date=17 August 2019|year=2000|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-0-7923-6688-1|page=238}}</ref><ref name="安才旦2003">{{cite book|author=安才旦|title=Tibet China: Travel Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n_WNBLU660AC&pg=PA44|date=1 January 2003| publisher = [[:zh:五洲传播出版社|China Intercontinental Press]]|isbn=978-7-5085-0374-5|page=44}}</ref> The Yalong Scenic Area, covering an area of {{convert|1580|km2}} was established in 1988 and is located in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River in the vicinity of [[Zedang Town]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}

''[[Fritillaria]]''  grow on alpine bushes and alpine meadows at an altitude of 4000–5000 meters, and is valued in Chinese herbal medicine for its ability to loosen mucus on the lungs and cure pulmonary-related ailments. ''[[Cordyceps sinensis]]'' is also valued for its effect on the lungs and kidneys,{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} and is eaten as a delicacy in soups in restaurants in countries such as Singapore.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://weekender.com.sg/w/dining/restaurant-review-tiny-cordyceps-fungus-packs-a-nourishing-punch-at-tibetan-inspired-vegetarian-restaurant-ganglamedo/|title=Restaurant Review: Tiny Cordyceps Fungus Packs A Nourishing Punch At Ganglamedo|publisher=Weekender.com|date=10 August 2018|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref> [[Snow Lotus]] and [[Musk]], known for its central nervous system stimulating effect, are also grown.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} Due to the region being too cold for trees to grow, the Chinese government are considering using solar power to introduce new forested areas to Nagqu, though it is not believed to be economically sustainable.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

==Transport==
[[File:20060731091332 - T27 - Nagqu.jpg|thumb|The [[Qinghai–Tibet railway]] in Nagqu]]
In 2015, 129 transportation projects were constructed, with a projected investment of 6.29 billion yuan, though only 2.422 billion yuan was completed.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} [[Nagqu Dagring Airport]] will be the world's highest altitude airport once constructed at {{convert|4436|m|abbr=on}} above sea level.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/12/tibet-world-highest-airport?CMP=AFCYAH|title=Tibet to be location of highest airport in the world|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=12 January 2010 | first=Tania | last=Branigan | access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref>  Main lines of communication includes the [[Qinghai-Tibet Railway]], the [[China National Highway 109|G 109 National Highway]], the Nagqu&ndash;[[Chamdo]] ({{lang|zh|那曲-昌都公路}}), and the Nagqu&ndash;[[Shiquanhe]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|那曲-狮泉河公路}}) highways.<ref name="xzqh"/>

==Notable people==
*[[Jamyang Sherab]] ({{lang|zh-Hans|加央西热}}, 1957–2004), member of the [[Chinese Communist Party]], deputy secretary of the Nagqu Culture Bureau, and secretary general and executive vice chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region. A member of the Sixth National Committee of the [[Chinese Writers Association]], he published poetry and several novels, one of which won the 1994 Tibetan Literature newcomer's award.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}}
*[[Shabdrung Rinpoche]], (1997- in Lhari County), Buddhist monk, recognized as the reincarnation of the 22nd Shabdrung Living Buddha. In 2011 he opened the [[Tibet College of Buddhism]] in Lhasa.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sponsored/china-watch/society/11897866/young-living-buddha-tibet.html|title=Young Living Buddha walks path of enlightenment|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=29 September 2015|access-date=17 August 2019}}</ref>
*[[Tsewang Norbu]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [https://archive.org/details/bdrc-W1KG15003 Nagqu Prefecture Annals]

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.xznqnews.com/ Nagqu News Website]

{{Tibet Autonomous Region}}
{{Prefectural-level divisions of the People's Republic of China}}
{{Nagqu Prefecture}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Nagqu| ]]
[[Category:Prefecture-level divisions of Tibet]]