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The Norlha project is in Amdo, Northwestern Tibet, now Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province, China. It is in deep nomad country, around the village of Ritoma, in Zorge.

Ritoma is located at 3,200m of altitude. It has 1,500 inhabitants spread out over a wide area of pasture, the grazing area for 6,000 yaks and 20,000 sheep.

It is spread around six villages, with a main village which has a monastery, a school and the Norlha workshop.

Ritoma is rich in local traditions.

Nearby is the celebrated Labrang Tashikyil Monastery, founded in the 17th century by the scholar Jamyang Shepa.

Today, it houses over 1000 monks and is a centre for Tibetan scholarship and culture.