Nagqu, Nagchu in original Tibetan or Naqu (), also known as Nagchuka or Nagquka, is a town in northern Tibet, seat of the prefecture-level city of Nagqu, approximately by road north-east of the capital Lhasa, within the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Nagqu railway station to the town's west sits on the Qingzang railway at . "Nagchu (...) is an important stop on both the road and railway line between Qīnghǎi and Tibet. In fact, this is where Hwy 317 ends as it joins the Qīnghǎi–Tibet Hwy (Hwy 109) on its way to Lhasa."
At the time of the visit in 1950 of Thubten Jigme Norbu, the elder brother of Tenzin Gyatso the 14th Dalai Lama, Nagchukha was a small town with only a few clay huts but was also the headquarters of the District Officer, the Dzongpön. It was on the main caravan route coming from Amdo to Central Tibet.Tibet is My Country: Autobiography of Thubten Jigme Norbu, Brother of the Dalai Lama as told to Heinrich Harrer, p. 160. First published in German in 1960. English translation by Edward Fitzgerald, published 1960. Reprint, with updated new chapter, (1986): Wisdom Publications, London. .
In 2010 China announced plans to build the highest airport in the world at Nagqu, at an altitude of ,"Tibet to be location of highest airport in the world." 12 Jan. 2010 but construction of the airport has faced repeated delays.
With all months having a mean temperature below , due to the town's very high altitude, Nagqu has an alpine climate (Köppen: ET), with long, very cold and dry winters, and short, cool summers.
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