Nanyigou Valley

Basum Tso Lake

Basum Tso, also known as Cuogao Lake, means “Three Rocks, Three Lakes” in Tibetan. It is a famous sacred lake and pilgrimage site of the Nyingma school. The water is so clear that you can see straight to the bottom. Snow-capped mountains surround the lake and are reflected in its surface, while birds such as ruddy shelducks, gulls, and cranes drift quietly across the water. About 100 metres from the shore lies a small island called Tashi Island. Legend says it is a “hollow island,” meaning that it is not connected to the lakebed but floats on the surface. Prayer flags flutter on Tashi Island, and the exquisite Cuozong Gongba Monastery (meaning “castle in the lake”) belongs to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism, known as the Red Sect. It enshrines Padmasambhava and has a history of 1,500 years. According to local legend, on the 15th day of the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar (around 1 June each year), a long white band emerges from the centre of the lakebed beneath the deep blue water. Locals believe it is a giant white khata offered to King Gesar. On this day, local people also observe the custom of walking around the lake.

¥120 (May–October), ¥60 (November–April) · 2–5 hours

Niyang River Scenic Belt

The Niyang River is the largest tributary on the north bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo and is likened to ‘the tears of a goddess’; locals affectionately call it the ‘Mother River’. The river’s colour is exceptionally beautiful, its water as green as jade. When in motion, it surges and churns, sending up white spray; when still, it is clear and bright, like a piece of jade set into the landscape. A huge boulder stands in the middle of the rapids, sending up a spray of foam as the current rushes past.

Namcha Barwa

Namcha Barwa Peak stands at the meeting point of the Himalayas and the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. It is the highest peak at the eastern end of the Himalayas, with an elevation of 7,756 metres. The main summit rises high into the clouds, and there are numerous hot springs at the foot of the mountain. The vegetation here is exceptionally lush, making it an ideal destination for adventurous mountaineering and recuperation.

¥150 (entrance ticket plus sightseeing bus) · 2–4 hours

Zangbu Badong Waterfalls

The Badong Waterfalls of Zangbu are in fact two waterfall clusters. Two falls, 35 metres and 33 metres high, follow one another on the riverbed 600 metres apart. The cascades are powerful and spectacular, making them China's most primitive and mysterious waterfall group, known as “the hermit of the Grand Canyon” and “China's most beautiful waterfall.”

Free · 1–3 hours

Bonri Sacred Mountain

Bonri Sacred Mountain boasts beautiful scenery, as well as a variety of birds and trees. It is the source of many rivers, including the Yarlung Tsangpo and the Nyang River. Local people follow the Bon religion, and Ajiong Jiebo is revered as the hero who protects the sacred mountain. During the Saga Dawa Festival each year, Bon believers circumambulate the sacred mountain counterclockwise.

¥70 · 1 day

Lulang Forest Sea

Lulang Forest Sea is a classic long, narrow strip of highland mountain meadow. The ‘sea’ of trees consists of shrubs and dense spruce and pine on the flanks of the green mountains, dominated by evergreen oak, while the centre is a neatly uniform meadow crossed by winding streams. The area is also home to a great variety of birds. The Lulang Flower Sea Pasture, within the Lulang Forest Sea, is exceptionally beautiful. From May to June each year, a riot of colourful flowers blooms, making it hard to leave. Apart from admiring the meadows and forest scenery, horseback riding on the pasture is also a great option.

¥170; viewing platform ¥30 · 1–2 hours