LHASA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The total volume of trade at the border port of Gyirong in China's Tibet Autonomous Region hit 3.4 billion yuan (490 million U.S. dollars) in 2016, a 4.5-fold increase year on year, Lhasa customs said Tuesday.

A magnitude 8.1 earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, 2015, closing Zham and Gyirong ports. As a result, foreign trade of Tibet fell to about 5.7 billion yuan in 2015, down 59.2 percent year on year,

In October 2015, Gyirong port reopened and China-Nepal trade recovered.

Gyirong now undertakes the trade function of Zham, which used to clear about 90 percent of land-borne trade between China and Nepal before the earthquake.

"Gyirong port is expected to become a major route for trade between China and Nepal," said Yin Weifeng, deputy director of the Lhasa customs.