Chamdo Travel Tips

Qamdo is the third largest city after Lhasa and Shigatse. Connecting Sichuan Province to the east, Deqin County to the southeast, Nyingchi area to the southwest and Nagqu to the northwest, Qamdo covers an area of 110,000 square kilometers, accounting for 8.9% of the total Tibet. In ancient time, Qamdo is the important stop of Tea Horse Route and famed as the 'Pearl of Tibet' due to its pivot position on Tibetan commerce and trade. You may find both brilliant historic sites and fabulous sights in Qamdo. 

Useful Numbers

  • Fire: 119
  • Police: 110
  • Ambulance: 120 
  • Area code: 0895
  • Weather Broadcast: 121 
  • Consumer Complaint: 12315
  • Local Phone Number Inquiries: 114
  • Tourist complaint Center: 0891-6833476
  • Long-distance Phone Number Inquiries: 113

Read More: Useful Numbers for Travelers in Tibet

How to Get to Qamdo

Changdu is located in eastern Tibet, traffic mainly to road and aviation. Most travelers have chosen to go to Qamdo from Lhasa because Lhasa is usually the starting destination of a Tibet tour. From Lhasa, travelers can take a flight to Qamdo which costs only about 1.5 hours or take long-distance bus which could spend a long time. Qamdo Transportaion

Best Time to Visit Qamdo

Due to special geographical and weather conditions, the best travel time for Qamdo is from April to June and September to October. In these months, the weather is not as cold as winter and spring, as well as not as wet as the rainy season.

Altitude Sickness

Due to the high altitude, many tourist may feel sick and dizzy when they first come to Tibet. It's recommended to take medicines to protect from the altitude reaction before starting your trip. Or you are suggested to stay in Lhasa for one or two days to acclimatize high altitude. And the local drugstores in Lhasa sell medicines against altitude sickness. And please delay your trip to Tibet if you have a cold.

Dressing Tips

Bring multiple layers of long-sleeved and warm clothes with you so you will be prepared no matter the temperature. The temperature at night is much lower than it is during the day even in summer time, so also be prepared with cold weather gear like a hat, gloves, a scarf and a thick winter coat. 

Necessary Permits

Tibet Travel Permit is a must to travel in Tibet, and you can't board your flight or trains to Tibet without it. It is issued by Tibet Tourism Bureau only and can be applied by travel agencies on behalf of you only. To get the permit, you need book a Tibet tour with us, and send us your passport and Chinese visa about 30 days in advance, and then we will apply for the permit (all Tibet permits can only be applied by travel agency). Do remember to bring your Tibet Travel Permit, Passport and Chinese Visa when travelling in Qamdo. You are not allowed to travel in Tibet independently.

No-no Behaviors

  • Please don't hang flags in republic place.
  • When entering monasteries, please don't show your arms and legs and wear hats and sunglasses.
  • Ask for permission before taking photos for Tibetan people.
  • Don't touch Tibetan's head and shoulder.
  • Don't watch celestial burial without permission.

Post Offices

Zip code in Lhasa is 854000. There are many post offices and expresses in Qamdo with the development of logistics industry.

1. Qamdo Post Offices昌都市邮政局
Address: East Changqing Street, Karuo District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区昌庆街东
Tel: 0895-4241224

2. Yuantong Express(YTO Express)圆通速递
Address: No.390, Qamdo West Road, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区昌都西路390号
Tel: 95554

3. Shunfeng Express(SF Express)顺丰速递
Address: Tea Horse Square, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区茶马广场
Tel: 95338

Banks

There are many banks you can see in Qamdo. Here are several of them.

1. Bank of China(Qamdo Branch)中国银行(昌都分行)
Address: No.174, Macaoba Road, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区马草坝路174号

2. China Construction Bank(CCB)
Address: No.19, Qamdo West Road, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区昌都西路19号

3. Agricultural Bank of China(ABC)
Address: No.3, Qamdo Middle Road, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区昌都中路3号
Tel: 0895-4823643

4. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China(ICBC)中国工商银行
Address: No.94, Qamdo West Road, Chengguan Town, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区城关镇昌都西路94号

Hospitals

1. People's Hospital of Qamdo昌都市人民医院
Address: No.168, South Road Gate, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区南路大门168号
Tel: 0895-4821745

2. Xiehe Hospital(协和医院)
Address: No.118, Shenzhen Road, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区深圳路118号

3. Tibetan Medical Hospital of Qamdo昌都市藏医院
Address: Hainan Street, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区海南街
Tel: 0895-4821053

4. Huaxie Hospital昌都华协医院
Address: No.168, Jusheng Road, Chengguan Town, Karub District, Qamdo昌都市卡若区城关镇聚盛路168号
Tel: 0895-4666888