The Yarlung Valley is located in the southern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and is formed by the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) River. It is part of Nedong county of Shannan prefecture with the capital Tsedang, the fourth largest city in Tibet. Tsedang is about 180 km from Lhasa.
The valley is only 72 km wide and is formed by the Yarlung Tsangpo and Chongye rivers. The climate here is milder and the altitude lower than in most other regions of Tibet. That’s why the valley has good agricultural land. The Yarlung Valley became the centre of Tibetan culture and is undoubtedly the cradle of Tibetan civilisation.
Tsedang is a very important town in Tibetan history. According to legend, Tibetans were first born on Gangpo Ri Mountain near the town. Tsedang is located in the Yarlung Valley and is usually the first stop on the way to explore the valley.
The town has a small Tibetan quarter with a few hotels and teahouses. The main attractions are Tradruk Monastery and Yumbulakhang.