Natural Landscapes in Nyingchi Prefecture

Nyingchi Prefecture is located at the lower reaches of Yarlung Zangbo River in southeastern Tibet. It is 3000 meters above the sea level. It is a place with beautiful natural landscape. The Namjabarwa Peak, the worldly famous Yarlung Zangbo Canyon, Lake Pagsum Co, Zayu and Bome attract tourists both at home and abroad with their unique natural sceneries.

Natural Landscapes in Nyingchi Prefecture - Lake Pagsum Co

Lake Pagsum Co is also known as the Lake Conggo. It is located at Xoka District in Gongbogyamda County with an elevation of more than 4000 meters. It is more than 300 kilometers away from Lhasa. In the middle of the lake, there is an ancient temple of the Rnyingma Sect built in the 17th century. During the Walking around the Lake Festival on 15th of the fourth month according to the Tibetan calendar, Buddhist believers from Nyingchi and other places would come to walk around the lake.

Natural Landscapes in Nyingchi Prefecture - Big Turn of Yarlung Zangbo River

Yarlung Zangbo River originates from the middle section of the northern slope of the Himalaya Mountain. It is more than 6000 meters above the sea level. It runs suddenly in Mainling County and cuts the Himalaya Mountain into two sections. Then the river runs through a narrow passage between the two 7000-meter-high peaks of Namjabarwa and Jialabailei.

The flow of Yarlung Zangbo River at the big turn averages 1000 cubic meter per second per second year round. In one section less than 1000 meters, the drop is more than 300 meters and its current velocity is more than 18 meters per second. Here is the Yarlung Zangbo Canyon which was praised as the first canyon in the world. Standing by it, you will feel the fascination of the nature, including the precipitous cliffs, hot springs waterfalls, primeval forests, rare plants and animals.

Natural Landscapes in Nyingchi Prefecture - Pungri Holy Mountain

Pungri Holy Mountain is to the southest of Nyingchi County seat on the northern bank of Yarlung Zangbo River. It is one of the mountains respected by the Bon believers. During a competition with the Bon, Buddhism gained the upper hand and put the Bon in the edge of termination. A legend says the Bon believer Aqiong Jibu destroyed the magic arts of the Buddhist master Padmasambhava in the power contests and thus saved the Bon.

It takes three days to walk around Pungri Mountain at least. It would take at least 7 days if the visitors would visit the monasteries around the mountain. In Nyingchi Prefecture, visitors could hire a horses and yaks for carrying the luggage. But the horse and yaks could not pass through the mountain pass and have to make a detour from the east slope. Food and lodging are available at the monasteries.

Natural Landscapes in Nyingchi Prefecture - Namjabarwa Peak

Yarlung Zangbo River has a big turn at the juncture of four counties of Nyingchi, Mainling, Medog and Bome. To the east of the turn stands the 7782-meter-high Namjabarwa Peak, the 15th highest peak in the world. It faces the Indian Ocean and reflects an obvious vertical landform. There is a tropical rain forest in its valley and it is a snow world above the snow line.

It is 404 kilometers from Lhasa to Bayi Town along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and 75 kilometers from Bayi Towan to Mainling. Then you can go eastward along the Yarlung Zangbo River for 91 kilometers and arrive in Pai, then go northward again to Gegar and walk to Anidanggar, the 3512 -meter-high camp for mountaineering the Namjagbawa Peak.