Bathang belonged to the Chiefdom of Lijiang during the Ming dynasty period. Later, it was occupied by the Khoshut Khanate. In 1703, Lha-bzang Khan appointed two "desi" to govern the region. In 1719, a Chinese army under Yue Zhongqi marched to conquer Tibet, and the two "desi" surrendered to the Chinese. They were appointed chieftain and vice chieftain by the Chinese respectively.