![Gyantse Dzong - the fortress - makes a great first impression of Gyantse arriving on the Friendship Highway from the east](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756821.YJKrgZfQ.TibetOct081987.jpg) Gyantse Dzong - the fortress - makes a great first impression of Gyantse arriving on the Friendship Highway from the east |
![The hilltop fortress at Gyantse dominates the flag valley around it](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756822.frr0d5og.TibetOct081989.jpg) The hilltop fortress at Gyantse dominates the flag valley around it |
![Dzong is Tibetan (and Bhutanese) for fortress](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756823.7xRPniJM.TibetOct081994.jpg) Dzong is Tibetan (and Bhutanese) for fortress |
![Gyantse Dzong (14th C.)](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756824.cZ6RcTG5.TibetOct081995.jpg) Gyantse Dzong (14th C.) |
![Gyantse Dzong was built in the 14th Century](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756825.7yzaMN6D.TibetOct082009.jpg) Gyantse Dzong was built in the 14th Century |
![The British invading from India seized Gyantse Dzong in 1904 and held it for a month](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756828.cxQflinT.TibetOct082014.jpg) The British invading from India seized Gyantse Dzong in 1904 and held it for a month |
![Monument to the People's Heroes, Gyantse](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756826.8Oqey2Oh.TibetOct082010.jpg) Monument to the People's Heroes, Gyantse |
![Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756830.HGX8ElVF.TibetOct082016.jpg) Gyantse Dzong |
![The 1903-1904 British invasion of Tibet was part of the Great Game holding back the expasion of the Russian Empire](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756831.SGVIQg7K.TibetOct082017.jpg) The 1903-1904 British invasion of Tibet was part of the "Great Game" holding back the expasion of the Russian Empire |
![Had the British stayed, Tibet could possibly have had a very different 20th Century history](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756832.COxfIwAg.TibetOct082018.jpg) Had the British stayed, Tibet could possibly have had a very different 20th Century history |
![500 Tibetan defenders held off the vastly superior British forces for several days earning Gyantse the title Hero City](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756835.TeflImB3.TibetOct082020.jpg) 500 Tibetan defenders held off the vastly superior British forces for several days earning Gyantse the title "Hero City" |
![Gyantse Dzong fell to the British on July 6, 1904](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756837.7D4zYumt.TibetOct082021.jpg) Gyantse Dzong fell to the British on July 6, 1904 |
![Gyantse Dzong suffered again during the Chinese Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in 1954](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756838.zzqzNctg.TibetOct082022.jpg) Gyantse Dzong suffered again during the Chinese Peaceful Liberation of Tibet in 1954 |
![...and what was left in tact after 1954 fell victim to the Cultural Revolution](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756839.o55zxCIK.TibetOct082023.jpg) ...and what was left in tact after 1954 fell victim to the Cultural Revolution |
![The exterior of Gyantse Dzong has been nicely restored, but the interior is lacking](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756842.zGR6PLHl.TibetOct082026.jpg) The exterior of Gyantse Dzong has been nicely restored, but the interior is lacking |
![Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756840.SY7SEHFO.TibetOct082025.jpg) Gyantse Dzong |
![Gyantse Dzong, high above the old town](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756843.E8XskojH.TibetOct082027.jpg) Gyantse Dzong, high above the old town |
![Gyantse Dzong from the west](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756844.N7qj2qhq.TibetOct082031.jpg) Gyantse Dzong from the west |
![Distant view of Gyantse Dzong from the north](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756848.SJZPZH6u.TibetOct082166.jpg) Distant view of Gyantse Dzong from the north |
![North face of Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756851.doaZcRFS.TibetOct082183.jpg) North face of Gyantse Dzong |
![Gyantse Dzong from the ridge to the north](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756852.JCtAnP7W.TibetOct082192.jpg) Gyantse Dzong from the ridge to the north |
![North face of Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756854.lnUh7Mma.TibetOct082195.jpg) North face of Gyantse Dzong |
![North face of Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756855.TXTsSQMa.TibetOct082196.jpg) North face of Gyantse Dzong |
![Gyantse Dzong in the evening from the Monument to the People's Heroes](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756857.Eh3bzNLG.TibetOct082213.jpg) Gyantse Dzong in the evening from the Monument to the People's Heroes |
![Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105756858.d4AeHh71.TibetOct082214.jpg) Gyantse Dzong |
![The road up to Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105803134.bQdqviwe.TibetOct082203.jpg) The road up to Gyantse Dzong |
![Driving up to Gyantse Dzong from the northeast](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758131.JDKz1uG2.TibetOct082495.jpg) Driving up to Gyantse Dzong from the northeast |
![I'm not sure if the Monument to the People's Heroes refers to 1904 or 1954](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758133.2dgxSVIg.TibetOct082496.jpg) I'm not sure if the Monument to the People's Heroes refers to 1904 or 1954 |
![Tourist vehicles can drive up to the entrance of Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758135.dZihHdGq.TibetOct082497.jpg) Tourist vehicles can drive up to the entrance of Gyantse Dzong |
![Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758137.WYZNDPjm.TibetOct082498.jpg) Gyantse Dzong |
![Gyantse Dzong from the parking area](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758139.2xU1VrWx.TibetOct082499.jpg) Gyantse Dzong from the parking area |
![There's still more climbing to do to reach the upper levels of the fortress](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758141.zjZuExtU.TibetOct082500.jpg) There's still more climbing to do to reach the upper levels of the fortress |
![Chinglish - This place danger, Take a devious route](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758146.Cg8erkk1.TibetOct082503.jpg) Chinglish - "This place danger, Take a devious route" |
![Diorama of life in the fortress, Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758148.Zc7lp6NO.TibetOct082505.jpg) Diorama of life in the fortress, Gyantse Dzong |
![Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758151.9A2Q9PYs.TibetOct082509.jpg) Gyantse Dzong |
![Partially restored interior, Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758153.T1FUr4UU.TibetOct082510.jpg) Partially restored interior, Gyantse Dzong |
![Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758156.XlpizFhC.TibetOct082511.jpg) Gyantse Dzong |
![The red layer helps cushion the stone structure against earthquakes](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758159.wGYh9Awr.TibetOct082512.jpg) The red layer helps cushion the stone structure against earthquakes |
![Few southeast from Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758144.KQrPg7rm.TibetOct082502.jpg) Few southeast from Gyantse Dzong |
![View south from Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758162.6oKoU1QI.TibetOct082513.jpg) View south from Gyantse Dzong |
![Harvest time in the fields west of Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758165.T9LLWS6i.TibetOct082514.jpg) Harvest time in the fields west of Gyantse Dzong |
![Rather than face capture, some of the 1904 defenders jumped off the cliff](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758172.PJaX3zLl.TibetOct082516.jpg) Rather than face capture, some of the 1904 defenders jumped off the cliff |
![View north from Gyantse Dzong to the Tibetan old town and Pelkor Chöde Monatery](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758176.YWTdh3u2.TibetOct082517.jpg) View north from Gyantse Dzong to the Tibetan old town and Pelkor Chöde Monatery |
![Pelkor Chöde Monastery seen from Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758180.I3cEyQUU.TibetOct082518.jpg) Pelkor Chöde Monastery seen from Gyantse Dzong |
![Gyantse's Tibetan old town, western half](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758184.dIKbJ4tz.TibetOct082519.jpg) Gyantse's Tibetan old town, western half |
![Temple near the top of Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758196.QUQ3WhSf.TibetOct082523.jpg) Temple near the top of Gyantse Dzong |
![The upper levels of Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758205.F6IFr7sz.TibetOct082525.jpg) The upper levels of Gyantse Dzong |
![The steep staircase down from the top](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758210.9pIQYW9D.TibetOct082526.jpg) The steep staircase down from the top |
![Gyantse Dzong](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758216.Szktq1qS.TibetOct082527.jpg) Gyantse Dzong |
![I chose to walk down the stairs leading to Heroes Park](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758225.dF3kRO4y.TibetOct082531.jpg) I chose to walk down the stairs leading to Heroes Park |
![Path to Heroes Park](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758230.5AOiqoKk.TibetOct082532.jpg) Path to Heroes Park |
![Gyantse Dzong from the base of the hill](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758238.JNMNnt00.TibetOct082535.jpg) Gyantse Dzong from the base of the hill |
![Gyantse Dzong from the base of the trail](https://a4.pbase.com/o2/93/329493/1/105758241.CGm9noBL.TibetOct082536.jpg) Gyantse Dzong from the base of the trail |