Riwu Border Port in Tibet

Riwu Border Port (日屋口岸) is a second-class land border port located in Riwu Town (日屋镇), Dingjie County (定结县), Shigatse (日喀则), Tibet. It lies 7.6 kilometers from Dingjie County and 303 kilometers from Shigatse (日喀则), with a border line extending 170 kilometers. The port is strategically located to serve as a border trade point between Tibet and Nepal, connecting with the Hatiya Market (哈提亚市场) in Nepal.

History

Historically, Riwu Border Port (日屋口岸) has been an important market for cross-border trade between Tibet and Nepal. It was approved as a second-class land border port by the State Council in 1972. However, due to the lack of road infrastructure between Riwu and the border (Chentang), large-scale trade did not occur until later.

The port was officially opened in 1986, following approval from the State Council. In 2002, the government invested in building a road from Riwu to Chentang to facilitate trade. Though it has a rich history of border trade, Riwu Border Port (日屋口岸) has not yet fully exploited its potential due to limited transportation and infrastructure.

The region around Riwu is known for its abundant medicinal herbs, such as Fritillaria (贝母), Coptis (胡黄连), Snow Lotus (雪莲花), and Corydalis (马兰草), with an annual production of around 5000 pounds of Fritillaria. However, its potential remains underdeveloped due to logistical challenges.

Natural Geography

Riwu Border Port (日屋口岸) is located in Dingjie County (定结县), which lies in the southwestern part of Tibet. The county is situated at the northern foot of the Himalayas (喜马拉雅山脉) and shares borders with Nepal (尼泊尔) and Sikkim (锡金). The region has a border line of 170 kilometers and 21 border passages.

With a latitude of 28.3°N and longitude of approximately 87.7°E, Dingjie County (定结县) has a history dating back to the Middle Paleolithic period, where Tibetan ancestors thrived in the area. The administrative division of the area changed throughout history, and it became a part of Shigatse (日喀则) in 1951.

Border Trade Market

The Riwu Border Trade Market (日屋边贸市场) opened in 1987 and became a vital part of the local economy, allowing for the exchange of goods between Tibet and Nepal. Local agricultural and pastoral products, as well as ethnic handicrafts, are commonly traded at the market.

In 2010, the first Riwu Border Trade Fair (日屋口岸边贸物交会) was held in Dingjie County (定结县), attracting nearly 200 local and Nepali merchants. The fair showcased local specialties, ethnic handicrafts, and daily consumer goods from Nepal. This fair has since become an annual event, bringing together traders and visitors from both sides of the border.

Future Developments

In 2018, the Tibet Autonomous Region’s Development Plan for Riwu-Chentang Border Port was approved, aiming to build a one-stop integrated service center. This plan envisions a "one port, two corridors" model to enhance cross-border trade and service infrastructure.

By 2024, a major customs supervision facility project will begin at the port, with an estimated investment of 5.735 million RMB to build monitoring systems and other facilities to modernize the port. As part of its 2025 development plan, Tibet aims to further modernize Riwu Border Port (日屋口岸) and expand its role in regional trade.