Sacred Lake Mapam Yumco

One of the three sacred lakes in Tibet, Lake Mapam Yumco is a place respected by the Tibetan people. Lake Mapam Yumco is 4,587 meters above sea level. The lake covers an area of 412 square kilometers and is 77 meters deep. On the slope of the mountain by the lake stands the Jiniao Monastery, a best place to overlook the lake. Tourists can take any passing buses from Burang to Shiquanhe and get off halfway for visiting the Jiniao Monastery.

The travel is about 100 kilometers for 30 yuan or less. The road is poor. If you take the bus from Lhasa to Shiquanhe you have to get off at Bagag and change for another bus. It is 30 kilometers from Bagag to the Jiniao Monastery. It takes one day on foot. At the foot of the Jiniao Monastery Hill there are small hostels for 30 yuan per person.



Lake Manasarovar

About 30km to the south of Mt. Kailash, Lake Manasarovar (4560m), or Maphamyumtso (Victorious Lake) in Tibetan, is the most venerated of Tibet's many lakes, and one of the most beautiful. It was said that the waters of Manasarovar are "like pearls" and that to drink of them erases the "sins of a hundred lifetimes".


Lake Yamzho Yumco

In Nagarze County in Shannan Prefecture, the lake is 4,400 meters above sea level. It covers an area of 800 square kilometers and is 30- 40 meters deep. Yamzho means upper pasture and Yum means green jade in Tibetan. In a bird's eye view, the lake is like a big piece of sapphire inlaid in the mountains and is very beautiful.

The lake is rich in hydropower resources. Its surface is more than 800 meters higher than the Yarlung Zangbo River at the foot of the mountain. Also here stands the Yamzho Yumco Power station well known for its high elevation in the world. To its south stands the magnificent Samding Monastery where Doji Pamo, the only woman Living Buddha in Tibet, stayed and presided.

Tourists can take the regular bus from Lhasa to Xigaze or take a taxi. The Cereal Guesthouse in Nagarze County seat provides lodging service for 20- 30 yuan each.


Holy Lake

The Holy Lake, which stands 5100 meters high and covers an area of about 2 square kilometers, is an alpine lake encircled by high mountains. Forming a shape of a hoof, the lake is well known to be the most attractive lake in Tibet for its miraculous potentiality of prediction. The search of reincarnations of the successive Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas must be finally directed by the mirage reflected in the Holy Lake on Precise Buddhist rites conducted by high-ranking lamas. It is said, the pilgrims and see peculiar mirages depicting their future fortune as long as they piously stare at the lake and pray in silence by means of some Buddhist rites. So, every year the Holy Lake attracts numerous Buddhist believers who want to know where their fortune would lead.


Lake Basumco


Located about 90 kilometers west of Gongbo'gyamda County, the Basum Lake is an alpine lake at the middle and upper reaches of the Ba River, which is the largest tributary of the Nyang River. The lake surface is on average about 3,538 meters above sea level. The lake covers an area of 25.9 square kilometers. The deepest part is about 60 meters from the surface. The blue, limpid lake water and the verdant mountain around the lake combine into a charming scene that can be compared with those in Switzerland.

In summer and autumn, when flowers bloom and the air is filled with their fragrance, bees and butterflies are seen shuttling and fluttering among them. Bears, leopards, goats, musk deer, Tibetan snow roosters and other wild animals look for food and sport in the forest. An islet in the center of the lake is an enormous "sheep-back stone" left by glaciations eons ago. Following the direction of the glacier's movement, one can discern distinct traces. On the islet stands a monastery of the Yellow Sect, which was built in the 17th century.

Going upstream from the Basum Lake to the source of the mainstream and the tributaries, one can see large mountain glaciers. With abundant snow, the long tongues of the lakes often stretch into the lush and green forest, the white snow shining through green trees. The bank of the lake is dotted with small villas of unique shapes, making a beautiful and comfortable holiday village.

In 1997, the Basum Lake was listed by the World Tourist Organization as one of the world's best tourist spots.


Lake Nam Co


Nam Co is the highest lake in the world and is 4,718 meters above sea level. It is 72 kilomters long from east to west and 30 kilometers wide from south to north. It has an area of 1,940 square kilometers. Some 60 kilometers to the northwest of Damxung County seat, it is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and receives high respects among the local people. On the Tibetan year of sheep, pilgrims from faraway come here to walk around the lake. It takes more than 10 days to circle the lake once.

Legend has it that Nam Lake is the beautiful daughter of nearby Bam Lake. She was married to the Nyainqentanglha Mountains. As time went by, she could not stand the frigid weather and loneliness any longer and so, with a sad heart, threw all her jewels, ornaments, and necklaces into the lake. Thus it is said that there are boundless treasures at the bottom of Nam Lake.

Dzashi Monastery on Dzashi Peninsula in Nam Lake is a sacred place to Buddhists. Thousands of pilgrims travel a long way to worship here on the Tibetan New Year.

Five or seven tourists can hire a mini bus from Lhasa to go and back in three days for 1,700 -- 2,000 yuan. The journey takes eight hours. The Zhaxi Monastery by the lake provides lodging for 15 yuan each bed.

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