The trade activities in Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) mainly take place at the Tanggar International Market, the humblest "international trade fair", located in Purang County, south of the prefecture.
Covering 15,600 square kilometers, Purang adjoins India and Nepal. By virtue of its special position, it is the south gate to Ngari as well as the main port of TAR.
The city has an old district and a new one, with the distance of 2 kilometers between them.
The Peacock River, one of the four rivers of Ngari Prefecture, flows alongside Purang.
There are two hanging bridges to the Tanggar International Market. So a "bridge market" came into being naturally at the end of the bridge near the old district. Most businessmen at the "bridge market" are those from the inland areas of China, and only a few are from Nepal.
The "bridge market" and the international one are about 3 kilometers away, with the former one on the east side of the Peacock River and the other one on the west.
The Tanggar International Market lies at the hillside of the Tagrakar Mountain, northwest of the Peacock River. At the foot of the mountain there are many caves. It is said that business people from India and Nepal lived there years ago.
On the south side of the Peacock River, about 70 unique adobe houses scatter around the area covering about 2 acres. Some of the houses only have walls without roofs. A few of them are covered with white canvas, which are brought by renters themselves.
Indian, Nepali and Tibetan businessmen come here to trade in cosmetics, ornaments and other daily necessities as well as some large items such as cashmere.
