Samzhubzê District

Samzhubzê 桑珠孜区 • བསམ་འགྲུབ་རྩེ་ཆུས།
District
Samzhubzê in 2009
Samzhubzê Location in the Tibet Autonomous Region
Coordinates: 29°16′N 88°53′E / 29.267°N 88.883°E / 29.267; 88.883
Country	China
Region	Tibet
Prefecture-level city	Xigazê
Township-level divisions	12
Seat	Chengbei Subdistrict
Area
• Total	3,654.18 km2 (1,410.89 sq mi)
Elevation	3,836 m (12,585 ft)
Population (2013)
• Total	117,000
• Density	32/km2 (83/sq mi)
Time zone	CST (UTC+8)
Postal code	857000
Area code(s)	0892

Samzhubzê District (also spelled Sangzhuzi District, Samdruptse District) is a district in the Tibet Autonomous Region of the China, and the administrative center of the prefecture-level city of Shigatse (Tibetan Pinyin: Xigazê). Prior to 2014 it was known as the county-level city of Shigatse. It was the ancient capital of Ü-Tsang province and is the second largest city in Tibet with an estimated population of 117,000 in 2013. Samzhubzê is located at the confluence of the Yarlung Tsangpo River and the Nyang River (Nyang Chu or Nyanchue), about 250 km (160 mi) southwest of Lhasa and 90 km (56 mi) northwest of Gyantse, at an altitude of 3,840 metres (12,600 ft).

In the 19th century, the "Tashi" or Panchen Lama had temporal power over Tashilhunpo Monastery and three small districts, though not over the town of Shigatse itself, which was administered by two Dzongpön (Prefects) appointed from Lhasa. Before military conflict between the PRC's People's Liberation Army and the then Tibetan Govt., the Tibetan territory was divided into 53 prefecture districts called Dzongs.

There were two Dzongpöns for every Dzong—a lama (Tse-dung) and a layman. They were entrusted with both civil and military powers and are equal in all respects, though subordinate to the generals and the Chinese Amban in military matters. However, there were only one or two Ambans representing the Qing (Manchu) Chinese emperor residing in Lhasa, directing a little garrison, and their power installed since 1728, progressively declined to end-up as observer at the eve of their expulsion in 1912 by the 13th Dalai Lama. In 1952, shortly after the PRC sent forces to the region, Shigatse had a population of perhaps 12,000 people, making it the second largest town in Tibet.