The old Tibetan quarter of Shigatse lies between the Tashilhunpo Monastery and the base of the dzong hill — a compact area of traditional mud-brick houses, narrow lanes, and stone walls that stands in clear contrast to the wide Chinese-built boulevards of the modern city. The streets are loosely centred on the monastery pilgrimage route and are busiest in the mornings when pilgrims spin the prayer wheels embedded in the monastery's outer walls.
The architecture is typical of central Tibetan townhouses: two or three storeys, whitewashed lower walls with dark-painted upper windows, flat roofs hung with prayer flags and stacked with firewood. Many houses have small internal courtyards. The neighbourhood has lost some original fabric over the decades, but remains significantly intact compared to Lhasa's old town.
This is a good area for unhurried walking, particularly in the early morning before tour groups arrive at the monastery. Small teashops in the lanes serve butter tea and tsampa. The local market operates in the morning and early afternoon.