Shopping in Shigatse

Shigatse is a place where traditional crafts are well preserved. You can find many traditional and local handicrafts such as Tibetan knives and Tibetan carpets as well as gold, silver, and copper wares. You can find these unique souvenirs in markets, shops, and even street stalls.
The market located opposite to the Tenzin Hotel is a good place for you to start. Clothing, handicrafts, religious vessels, carpets, knives, and many other commodities are sold in this market. Besides, the price here is quite reasonable. The gold, silver and copper wares in Shigatse are very famous. Many monasteries located in and outside Tibet order religious vessels from Shigatse Gold, Silver and Copper Crafts Factory every year. Even the holy Tashilhunpo Monastery purchases religious vessels from the factory. What's more, the factory also makes rings, earrings, decorations, knives, chopsticks, pots, and bowls, etc.
A Tibetan knife is a necessity in Tibetan people's daily life. The knives made in Lhatse County are always admired by both Tibetans and visitors. The scabbards are made of silver or copper and, decorated with images of dragons, phoenixes, tigers, lions, flowers, and so on. The knives are elegant and beautiful. In addition, the blades are very sharp!
Carpet is another feature of Shigatse. The traditional Tsang Rug in Gyangtse County is of the highest repute. The carpets made in Gyangtse have over 600 years of history and they are as good as those made in Iran and Turkey. The colorful carpets and rugs are considered to be among the Three Famous Carpets in the world. Now, more and more visitors prefer to purchase these unique and traditional carpets as keepsakes.
The Gyangtse Carpet Factory was built in 1973 and has produced more than 100 different kinds of rugs used for different purposes. These carpets are thick and strong, heat-preserving and waterproof, yet they are also very soft. Many of the carpets use traditional Tibetan designs in the weaving and are very unique to the region.