China has closed the Tatopani border point for imports and exports until further notice, citing the risk of landslides on the Nepali side of the border.

The closure, which took effect on Saturday, has further disrupted Nepal-China trade at a time when another major crossing, Rasuwagadhi in Rasuwa, remains out of operation after Wednesday’s devastating floods swept away the Timure border settlement and several government offices.

“Since the risk of landslides is posing a threat on the Nepali side of the border in Liping, the Chinese side has closed the Tatopani border for trading purposes from Saturday,” Laxmi Niraula, Nepal’s consul general in Lhasa, told the Post over the phone.

An official at the Tatopani Customs Office said the Chinese authorities had not initially provided a reason for the closure. The customs office received an email from the Chinese side on Monday informing it that imports and exports through Tatopani, known as Zhangmu on the Chinese side, would remain suspended until further notice.

The border point had only recently resumed limited operations after remaining shut for nearly three weeks in August as landslides repeatedly blocked the Araniko Highway. The resumption in the third week of August had allowed a limited movement of goods, but the reopening lasted only around 10 days before the Chinese side shut the crossing again following the floods in Rasuwa.

Niraula said the border would reopen once the landslide threat in Liping was brought under control. Although trade has been suspended, people will still be allowed to travel through the crossing, he said.

“We are planning to send some of the people stranded in Lhasa due to the recent floods along the Nepal-Tibet border through the Tatopani border point,” Niraula said.

The latest closure has left traders scrambling for alternatives as the peak festive shopping season approaches. Traders importing goods from China can now either use the longer sea route through Kolkata or bring goods through the Korala border crossing in Mustang.

“The only alternative we have is Korala now,” said an official familiar with the trade situation.

Niraula said authorities were also considering rerouting trucks and containers stranded in Kerung through Korala to Nepal.

The disruption comes as Nepal’s trade with China is already facing a major setback following the destruction of the Rasuwagadhi crossing. The Bhotekoshi floods on Wednesday swept away much of Timure, including customs, immigration and police offices, making it impossible for normal trade to resume there anytime soon.

“It will take months to establish new offices in Timure or elsewhere near the Nepal-Tibet border,” the official said.

With both Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi facing prolonged disruptions, traders have warned of shortages and higher costs, particularly as the festive season draws closer.

The prolonged closure of Tatopani, one of Nepal’s principal trade gateways with China and a major source of customs revenue, is also expected to hit government revenue. The loss of the Rasuwagadhi crossing will add to the pressure, as it had also been an important source of customs collections.

The twin disruptions have left Korala as the only functioning overland trade route between Nepal and China, putting additional pressure on the crossing as traders seek to reroute goods normally brought through Tatopani and Rasuwagadhi.