Nyingchi
Eastern Switzerland and Jiannan of Tibet
Traveling in Nyingchi is a unique experience
Nyingchi is a prefecture lying in the southeastern area of Tibet. It borders with Lhasa to east, Shannan to southwest, Qamdo to south and Nagqu to north. Literally meaning the Throne of Sun, Nyingchi gets its name because of its special location. For other areas in Tibet, Nyingchi is the place where sun rises visually. With the lowest elevation of only 900m and the highest elevation of 7,782m (altitude of Namjagbarwa Peak), Nyingchi owns the biggest elevation gap in the world. The average altitude is about 3,100m, making it the lowest area of Tibet.
Top Nyingchi Attractions and Activities
Thanks to its characteristic geographic location and changeful climate, lots of great attractions are shaped in Nyingchi. The most alluring is its amazing natural landscape, especially in the spring when the peach flowers are in full blossom and the meadow takes on new green appearance under the foot of the snow-capped mountains. The top attractions include:
Basum-tso Lake
Basum Tso Lake (Basum Lake), also called Cuogao Lake in Tibetan, meaning the green water is the largest lake in eastern Tibet, located in Gongbo’gyamda County. Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and natural forest, Basum located far from city still be known from outsides by its primitive beauty and tranquility. Covering 26 square kilometers, the dark blue lake surface like a mirror clearly reflects the tall mountains and green plants in the lakeshore. Besides, it is also a holy lake of Tibetan Buddhism Nyingma sect, with a Nyingma temple sited in the center small island and the seeking-child hole nearby the south shore blessed by Padmasambhava (founder of Nyingma sect), which is quite effective for person eager for have a baby to be pregnant.
Midui Glacier
Midui Glacier is located in Midui Village, Yupu Township, Bome County, Nyingchi Prefecture of Tibet. It is one of three most important marine glaciers in China. In the year 2005, Midui Glacier, known for its diverse forms and magnificent shapes of glaciers, was voted as one of “Six Most Beautiful Glaciers in China”. It is also the lowest-altitude glacier in China with an altitude of only 2400 meters. Standing at the foot of the glacier, you can see clearly the body and face of the main peak (6800m) of Midui Glacier which is one of the highest snow mountains in Tibet. The altitude of the snow line is only about 4600m, which means the main peak is completely a snow mountain, subtracting the invisible subgrade of Qinghai Tibet Plateau.
Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon
Yarlungzangbo Canyon is considered as the most mysterious place in the “roof” above the Qinghai-Tiber Plateteau. “water flowing down from the highest peak” is an ancient Tibetan language for Yanglungzhangbo River. The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon originates from Mount Kailash and running east for about 1700 km drains a northern section of the Himalayas. It is in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and around the highest peak of east Himalayas-Namjiagbarwa peak (7,787 meters above sea level), forming a huge horseshoe-shaped turn. It’s an unusual canyon and the biggest moisture channel of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Tibet. It is the longest valley with it length of 496 kilo meters. The valley is home to varieties of species, due to its wide range of sea levels.
Lulang Forest
Lulang Forest is a typical plateau mountain meadow featuring stunning alpine scenery, located in Lulang Town, Nyingchi County. Nestled between the mountains and glaciers, it has an elevation of 3700 meters, consisting of vast expanse of plants, villages and variety of vegetation, stretching 15km long and 1km wide like a sea of forest from a distance. Decorated with distant clouds and snow-capped peaks, the endless pines feasted all your eyes depicted a wonderful landscape and idyllic scenery.
Namjagbarwa Peak
Namjagbarwa is the 15th highest peak in the world having an altitude of 7782 merters above the sea level. It stands the interior of the bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. In face of Indian Ocean, the peak reflects an obvious vertical landform. Tropical rain forest in its valley and above the snow line, it is a snow world. The sky-scraping Namjagbarwa Peak, with its majestic appearance, precipitous shape and unpredictable climate, has been an ambitious aim of mountain-climbing organizations from various countries.
Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival
Nyingchi is full of different kinds of plants – wild forests, different kinds of flowers, etc. If you are a fan of our Mother Nature, you really have to go to Nyingchi. What is the best nature landscape in Nyingchi? For the photographer or nature lovers, it must be the vast sea of peach blossoms in the spring. To attract more travelers to enjoy the beautiful of Nyingchi peach blossoms and discover the spectacular culture of Nyingchi Prefecture, the Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival is held in the Peach Blossom Village and other places with vast peach blossoms in the annual spring usually from March to April.