Gyirong

	WARNING: On 26 August 2026, heavy flooding and landslides have caused widespread damage in Gyirong County in Shigatse, Tibet, near the Nepal border. Buildings, roads, other transport and communications infrastructure have been severely damaged.
	(Information last updated 27 Aug 2026)

Gyirong (also Kyirong; Chinese: 吉隆 Jílóng) is a town and county in Xigaze prefecture, at the border of Tibet and Nepal.

Gyirong is one of China's main border crossings with Nepal. The border crossing itself is known as 28.27972285.3777781 Gyirong Port (吉隆口岸 Jílóng kǒu'àn) or Resuo (热索 Rèsuǒ) to differentiate it from the town of 28.3968785.326922 Gyirong , which lies some 25 km north of the border.

The Nepalese side is known as Rasuwa Gadhi (रसुवागढी), located in Rasuwa District across the Trishuli River from Gyirong Port. The nearest towns are 28.25374285.3664813 Timure (3 km south) and 28.16352285.3363254 Syaphru (also Syafru, Syabru, Syabrubesi etc; 15 km south).

Historically, Dram (Zhangmu)-Kodari was the main crossing between Nepal and China, but the Friendship Bridge there was destroyed by earthquakes in 2015, closing the border for four years. This made the Rasuwa Gadhi–Gyirong corridor the primary overland hub for travelers, trade, and pilgrims heading between Kathmandu and Lhasa or Mount Kailash. However, devastating floods and a massive landslide hit Gyirong in 2026, which will likely reverse these fates yet again.

Foreigners cannot use a standard Chinese tourist visa issued at an embassy to enter China here, you must hold a Chinese Group Visa (arranged through a Kathmandu travel agency) and a Tibet Travel Permit. See Tibet#Get in for details.

Going in the other direction, Nepal Visa-on-Arrival is available at the Rasuwa Gadhi immigration post for eligible nationalities. Bring passport photos and USD cash for the visa fee.

The border operates during daytime hours (typically 09:30–15:30 Nepal Time / 11:45–17:45 China Standard Time). You will need to walk across the bridge on foot.

Daily shared jeeps and public buses depart early in the morning from Machha Pokhari (Bus Park) in Kathmandu toward Syabrubesi or Timure. The drive takes 7 to 10 hours covering roughly 175 km, though road conditions can be rough and prone to delays during the monsoon.

Foreign passport holders crossing from Tibet into Nepal must travel in vehicles arranged by a licensed Chinese/Tibetan tour agency, as independent travel in Tibet is prohibited. Vehicles drop travelers at the Chinese immigration control at Gyirong Port. A massive landslide in 2026 buried the road and destroyed the border crossing facilities, so this crossing is closed until further notice.

The border area between the customs posts and the nearby staging towns is best traversed on foot or via local shuttles/taxis:

• Nepalese side: Taxis and shared jeeps connect the immigration post at Rasuwa Gadhi to Timure (3 km south) and Syabrubesi (15 km south).
• Chinese side: The town of Gyirong (Jilong Town) sits approximately 24 km north of the border post. Tour vehicles transport travelers directly between the border and Gyirong Town via National Route 216.

• 28.27777885.3777781 Rasuwa Fort (Rasuwa Gadhi) (3 km north of Timure). A ruined 19th-century historical stone fort constructed by the Rana dynasty along the river border. It sits immediately adjacent to the modern customs post.  (updated Aug 2026)

Accommodation on the Nepalese side is basic. Most travelers stay overnight in Syabrubesi or Timure before crossing the border early the next morning.

• Mount Kailash — Hindu, Buddhist, Bon and Jain sacred mountain
• Kathmandu — Nepal's capital, accessible by jeep or bus via the Pasang Lhamu Highway.
• Langtang National Park — A major trekking region accessed via nearby Syabrubesi.