Picture of Cannons on the Gyantse fortress pointing to the Nyang-chu Valley (Gyantse, China)

Cannons defending the fortress

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Dominating the skyline of Gyantse, the fortress is run down but offers great views of the town, the famous Gyantse Kumbum and the surrouding valleys.
When the valley of Nyang-chu opened itself before our eyes on approach from the east, I was immediately struck by the building on top of a steep hill towering above the plains. It seemed to lie right on top of the rocks like a sleeping snake, on the obvious place to build a fortification. In fact, I was looking at the Gyantse Dzong, or fortress, built in the 14th century. At that time, Gyantse was a major node in the trade routes between Bhutan, Nepal, Sikkim and China. The famous Kumbum and the Pelkor Chöde monastery also date from that era.
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