In 1952, Gyantse had a population of perhaps 8,000 people,Richardson (1984), p. 7. about the same as in 2008."Tibet: Transformation and tradition." BBC News 5 March 2008. It is 3,977 meters (13,050 ft) above sea level, and is located 254 km southwest of Lhasa in the fertile plain of the Nyang river valley and on a side branch of the Friendship Highway, which connects Kathmandu, Nepal to Lhasa. Gyantse was the third largest city in Tibet before being overtaken by Qamdo.
