Gyantse is a town located in Gyangzê County, Shigatse Prefecture. At the time of the Chinese occupation in 1952, Gyantse had a population of perhaps 8,000 people, about the same as today. It is 3,977 metres (13,050 ft) above sea level, and is located 254 km southwest of Lhasa in the fertile plain of the Nyang Chu valley and on the Friendship Highway, which connects Kathmandu, Nepal to Lhasa, Tibet. The town was surrounded by a wall 3 km long. It is often referred to as the "Hero City" because during the British Younghusband expedition of 1904, the 500 soldiers of the Gyantse dzong held the fort for several days before they were overcome by the British forces.
![Images in Kunbum [1]](/img/s/v-10/p2992868023-11.jpg)
![Images in Kunbum [2]](/img/s/v-10/p2992867890-11.jpg)
