Situated in southeastern Ngari Prefecture within the Tibet Autonomous Region, adjacent to what many in the region consider to be the sacred mountain of Kangrinboqe and the holy lake of Mapam Yumco, the trading town of Burang neighbors both India and Nepal. Since ancient times, the pilgrims, tourists, and frontier traders of other nations have visited and done business in Burang. Officially designated as a state second-class gateway, due to weather restrictions, commercial trade here only takes place from May through November each year.

Burang is an area of major agricultural production within the Ngari Prefecture, and for 500 years the frontier town has also served as an important gateway for trade between China and South Asia. In the late 1950s, the state government authorized the establishment of the Burang International Bazaar. In 1995, the State Council designated Burang as a state second-class gateway.

Many caves are tucked into the base of a small mountain by the Peacock River. At one time these natural shelters were inhabited by merchants from India and Nepal. The majority of inhabitants were Nepalese, thus for hundreds of years the caves were collectively known as the "Nepalese Mansion."Today, except for a few inhabitants along the border area, most of the caves are empty.

On open ground not far from the caves are several rows of mud-brick houses. Each row accommodates seven or eight stores, and these are collectively known as the Burang International Bazaar. This is perhaps the smallest and humblest international market on Earth. Most of the storeowners are Indians and Nepalese, and they sell a wide variety of commodities at very reasonable prices. Their merchandise includes textile products, gold and silver ornaments, and exotic kitchenware. Compared with handicrafts of the same quality sold in Lhasa, the goods here are about 30 percent less expensive.


Most of the merchants who have for years done business here can speak fluently in the Tibetan language. Bidan, a formidably tall Nepalese gentleman, began doing business here in 1967 at the age of 18. He started off selling rice, flour, cloth, and sugar. Nearly 30 years have passed, and he has earned fame in the local area. His business has expanded to employ 10 people from Nepal, and he is currently engaged in wholesaling to the trading departments in Ngari Prefecture. In 2004, his merchandise turnover surpassed 700,000 yuan, realizing a net profit of nearly 200,000 yuan. In recent years, Burang has been visited by a growing number of merchants, including many from India and Nepal. Formerly a remote and deserted county, today Burang bustles with commerce and trade at China's southwest frontier.

In 1961, Burang's import and export volume stood at a mere 505,989 yuan, and the portion of trade with Nepal was only 8,897 yuan. In 1960, Indian and Nepalese-owned businesses numbered only 61. The following year, the figure increased to 157. In 1962, the local government put in place an infrastructure for the international market and implemented favorable policies for the merchants. This delivered to Burang an unprecedented expansion in commercial activity. Packed with countless commodities, the international market came to accommodate more than 100 tents, some 1,000 people, and nearly 20,000 head of livestock.

The development of frontier trade prompted an expansion of population, and Burang residents increased from 6,957 in 1987, to 7,500 in 1997. The opening of the pass also fueled the tourist industry, and about 3,000 foreigners visit the pass each year.

However, due to a lack of highway access to India and Nepal, the market primarily serves as a simple business venue for merchandising cloth, brown sugar, bedding, French perfume, hair-care products, cosmetics, and jewelry. Barter trade is also prevalent, mostly between Indian and Nepalese merchants and local Chinese inhabitants, for instance in the exchange of brown sugar for locally produced wool.
Many Nepalese along the border area do business in wooden bowls. This is an especially important household utensil for Tibetans, who traditionally use it as a container for traditional food and drink, such as roasted highland barley flour and butter tea. Nepalese households in Burang are plentiful with delicate wood bowls in various designs. Those bowls are said to be produced in Nepal, with timbers imported from India. The price for smaller bowls averages about 40 yuan each, while the larger are more expensive. A gilded bowl may cost several hundred or even more than 1,000 yuan.

Despite a modest infrastructure, undeveloped transportation networks, and limited commodity categories, the Burang International Bazaar has played a positive role in facilitating mutual exchange and trilateral trade between China, India, and Nepal.

China Pictorial
Rong Yi