Namtso Lake [Lasa]

"One of Top Five Most Beautiful Lakes in China"
Ranked by China National Geography Magazine

Namtso Lake in Dangxiong County and Bange County, between Lhasa City and Nakchu Area of Tibet

Autonomous Region: Where one whispers into the Ear of the God

Namtso Lake, lies in the north Tibetan plateau north of the main peak of the Nyainqentanglha Mountain, located 60 kilometers northwest of Dangxiong County.

It is 4718 meters above the sea level, 70 kilometers in length, 30 kilometers in width, 55 meters deep, and 1961.5square kilometers in size. It is both the highest and biggest salt-water lake in the world, and the highest of Tibet's three largest lakes and the second largest salt lake in China.

Some two million years ago, drastic movement of the earth's crust caused the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to rise by a huge degree. Because of the intense pressures exerted in this process, some strata were folded into high mountains whilst others fell, creating valleys or basins. The Namtso Lake was a result, first, of the movement of the earth's crust, exacerbated by glacier movement. In the lake's early days, it had a much wider surface area and a lower elevation than it has today. The climate then was much warmer and more humid too, and the rippling lake was just like a sea. As the earth's crust continued to rise, so too did the lake, Some10,000 years ago, the plateau turned cold and dry and the lake's water sources decreased, resulting in the lake shringking in size. There are three shorelines around the lake, the highest of which is 80 meters higher than today's lakeshore.

Summer is the most active time at the Namtso Lake, when wild animals, among them yaks, gazelles and hares, graze happily on the broad grasslands and many migrating birds arrive from the south, to lay their eggs, hatch and raise their broods on islets and lakeshore. Fish often leap out of the water, revealing their silvery scales. Leisurely herders tend their horses, sheep and cattle, filling the valleys with their lovely echoing songs. Those islets are famous for their topography, covered by weird but vivid stones. Producing abundant fish and lodging many birds and beasts, the lake is also a heaven for animals and plants. The natural pastureland around the lake offers ideal condition for animal husbandry. Wild animals, such as yaks and bharals, can often be found in this area.

Lake Namtso is also rich in its products with its gorgeous and enchanting sights. The lake is full of islands and islets in varied forms with birds sporting over the water surface. There is a peninsula in calcareous stone southeast of the lake, called "Zhaxiduo Island", on which stands a forest of strange-shaped stones, among which occur numerous fantastic caves. Lake Namtso also has abundant resources of fish. The annual volume of fishing goes up to 350,000 or more kilograms. The views around Lake Namtso every evening at dusk are even more varied, beautiful and fantastic.

Peninsulars jutting out into the lake are hone to many sites associated with prominent monks from different sects, with many sacred rocks and trees of spiritual significance. The mountains around the shore have ancient mystical drawings.

Buddhist pilgrims respect Meaning Heavenly Lake in Tibetan, Namtso as one of the four holiest lakes and the seat of Paramasukha Chakrasamvara. Buddhists believe Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Vajras will assemble to hold religious meeting at Namtso in the year of sheep on Tibetan calendar. Circumambulation around the lake at the right moment equals 100 thousand times of that in normal years. Hence, thousands of pilgrims from every corner In the 5th & 6th month of the Tibetan calendar each year, many Buddhists come to the lakeside on pilgrimage to pay homage and pray. Deep tracks are worn into the lakeshore due to this activity. In history, monasteries stood like trees in a forest around Lake Namtso attracting large numbers of pilgrims with eminent monks in Buddhist temples developing body and character and extending Buddhism. On the four sides of the lake stand four monasteries that have Buddhist meaning.

Five islets, planting themselves in the vast sapphire blue lake, is said to be the incarnation of the Buddha of Five Directions. Every pilgrim circumambulating the lake will piously worship them.

Best time to go
From May to September especially July, August and Setember
From May to September, the average temperature is 50F and from October to April next year the average temperature is 32F.

Ticket
RMB115/person

Around Landscape
Qiang Tang Grassland, Shengzha Nature Reserve, Norbulingka, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Yangpachen, Chakpori Hill (Yao Wang Shan), The Tibet Museum, Tsetang (Zetang) Qoigung Ruins, Pharla Lhufo Grotto Monastery, Ramoche Monastery, Zhayaba Caves, Razheng Monastery, Curpu Monastery, Monasteries of the Zhigung Gagyu Sect, Gandain Monastery, Zhaibung Monastery, Sera Monastery and the Surround Area, The Temple of Guan Yu on Top of Mopan Mountain, etc.

Local Snacks and Specialties
Thangka, Tibetan knife, Handicrafts, Ritual Items, Ornaments, Jewelry, Incense, Musical Instruments, Costume, Masks, Carpets, Singing bowls, Tibetan medicine, Books, etc. Yak, Tibetan Sheep, Ghee, Biltong, Chinese Caterpillar Fungus, Caladium, etc.

Travel Tips
You must take sufficient rest in Lhasa before going Namtso Lake.
When rain or snow, please do not go to Namtso Lake.
No accommodations stay near Namtso Lake.
The best way to take tent by yourself or rent local tent if you want to stay Namtso Lake.
Be sure to respect local ethical customs and traditions.
People who get hypertension, heart disease and tracheitis must stop to go.
Please take sunbonnet, sunglass, and suntan oil in summer.

Distance
Beijing (4064 km) Lhasa City (162 km) Dangxiong County (60 km) Namtso Lake