Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon [Linzhi]

"One of Top Ten Most Beautiful Gorges (Canyons) in China"
Ranked by China National Geography Magazine

In 1994, Chinese scientists conducted an in-depth research project on world famous canyons. Results show that the 496.3-meter-long Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon has an average depth of 5,000 meters, but drops in places to 5,382 meters. Since these figures came to light, world geography textbooks have had to be rewritten, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is the world's deepest, longest, highest and most dangerous one. In the past, the 5,133-meter-deep Grand Canyon of the Colorado was considered to be the deepest, followed by 3,200-meter-deep Colia Grand Canyon in Peru.

On October 19, 1998, the 50 members of China's Exploration Team began travelling the canyon on foot for the first time. It took them 50 days to accomplish their ambitious expedition.

The Yarlung area is home to many living species. Preliminary statistics show that there are over 3,768 varieties of plants, 680 varieties of large fungi, 232 species of birds 31 species of amphibians, 2,000 kinds of insects and over 230 rust fungi.

The area has water resources that can be harnessed by hydroelectric power to produce 100 million kw of energy. In addition, incomplete statistics show that glaciers cover an area of more than 4,800 square kilometers, forming a large "natural reservoir" of ice and snow.

A varied and changeable climate makes the canyon a place of different landscapes. Areas lower than 1,100 meters above sea level and with annual mean temperature of 16¡æ to 18¡æ have tropical rainforests and a variety of crops, including thermophilous crops and tropical and subtropical trees. Between 1100 meters and 2,400 meters above sea level with an average mean temperature of 11¡æ to 16¡æ, there are evergreen and broad-leafed trees. Between 2,400 meters and 3,800 meters with annual mean temperature of 2¡æ to 11¡æ, there are conifer forests, winter crops and timber production. At 3,800 meters above sea level, the climate is cold and moist and there are large mountain meadows and good-quality highland pastures in the summer.

The Yarlung Zangbo River is one of the most important rivers in China, with water reserves that rank second in China. It originates from the middle section of the northern slope of the Himalaya Mountain with an elevation of more than 6,000 meters and make an unparalleled unique U-turn around the mountain of Namjfgbarwa, before finally reaching Baxike in Medong County, and creating the famous Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon. The actual length of the canyon is 504.6 kilometers and its deepest point (6,009 meters) is at Zongrong Village. Then the river runs through a narrow passage between the two 7,000 meter high peaks of Namjagbarwa and Jialabailei. Its flow averages 1,000 cubic meters per second year round. In one section less than 1,000 meters, the drop is more than 300 meters and their current velocities are more than 18 meters per second.

The Yarlung Zangbo Canyon is the first one in the world. One side of the canyon is as deep as 7,057 meters. The overall average depth of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is 2,268 meters and in the core section, the average depth is 2,673 meters. At the entrance to the canyon, the river is 660 meters across, gradually reducing to 35 meters at its narrowest point. The sharpest gradient of the river surface is 7.535 per cent. All the figures go to show beyond any doubt that the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is the world champion. As the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon cuts right through the Himalayas, it becomes the largest moisture passage for the Indian Ocean monsoon to enter the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Standing by it, you will feel the fascination of the nature, including the precipitous cliffs, hot springs, waterfalls, primeval forests, rare plants and animals. The section of the Yarlung Zangbo River from the Pailung Village to the Pai Village of Meiling County is about 120 kilometers. Along the river, the vast, plain valley, sky-scraping mountains and luxuriant primitive forest, the Dominating Namjagbarwa Mountain and the river islet covered with verdant trees form a lushly colored landscape painting. The orchards by the river emit an appealing fragrance of flowers and fruits. The wild landscapes flanking the river, the famous Great Turn of the Yarlung Zangbo River and the precipitant waterfall formed by thawed snow present charms of Nature.

The beauty of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is beyond compare. Its unique natural environment and species diversity make up the colorful and unmatched scenery of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon: primal, natural, simple, and magical…

The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is precipitous, misty and mysterious. The average flow of the river section of Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon is ten times that of the Colorado River’s 67 cubic meters per second. It has turbulent currents and many waterfalls.

Medog County
"Medog", means "flower" in Tibetan, is located in the southeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region and at the lower branch of Yarlung Zangbo River. Medog County has a population of 9,200, and covers an area of 30,553 square kilometres. The average altitude of the county is 1200 metres above sea level.

The Medog National Animal and Plant Reserve Area are in the county. It has more than 3,000 species of plants, 42 species of rare wild animals that under special State protection, and over a thousand of hexapod species.

Farming is the main industry in Medog County. It is abundant with paddy, soybean, cotton and gingeli, etc. Hairy deerhorn, gastrodia tuber, muskiness, and hedgehog hydnum, etc. are special products of the area. Most people live in the county are of Moinba ethnic minority and Lhoba ethnic group.

Best time to go
From August to October

Beijing (4064 km) Lhasa (633 km) Bayi town (75 km) Menling county (180 km) Yarlung Zangbo Canyon