With a circumference of 2,163 square kilometers and a population of 35,000, Dranang County in the south of Tibet is situated in the middle reaches of the Jiang. “Zhanang” in Tibetan means “in the peach forest of the thorn tree valley”. The county is under the jurisdition of Shanan Prefecture and the seat of which lies at Dratang Town. In the Yarlung Tsangpo River valley, the north and south of the county are occupied by high mountains. The broad valleys on both sides of the big river have an average altitude of 3,680 meters above sea level. This area is subject to the highland semi-draught monsoon temperature. The special local products are sundry jade and pottery wares, Mindrolin Tibetan incense, Tibetan tables and arks, murals and sculptures and carpets as well.

Zhanang is rich in tourism resources, such as Samye the first monastery of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet, Minzhulin the representative monastery of Nyingma Sect as well as the Namselin Manor. The Namselin Manor was built during the period of the local Pagmodrupa Desi regime. The manor is epitome of the Tibetan feudal serf society and also a materialization of the Tibetan people’s ability and witness at manor-style construction. Chimpu Meditation Caves are also located in Dranang County.