Begin your day with a scenic drive from Lhasa to the Yamdrok Lake. Yamdrok Lake is one of the most stunning high-altitude lakes in the world. Situated at over 4,400 meters above sea level, the lake is known for its vivid turquoise waters, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and rolling hills. It's a sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism, with pilgrims often visiting to offer prayers and make ritual circumambulations. Shaped roughly like a Chinese character, this beautiful lake is the perfect place to visit for those that admire the stunning beauty of Tibet's natural landscape.
Continue to the No. 1/No. 3 Observation Deck. No. 1 Observation Deck-The most visited classic observation deck, it is the highest point overlooking Yamdrok Lake, where you can see the winding lakeshore and the snow-capped mountains in the distance. No. 3 Observation Deck-Overlooking the snow-capped mountains from afar, you can get close to Yamdrok Lake, which is where most of the aquatic birds in Tibet live. This is where these water birds gather and you can interact with them.
Next, ascend to Xiazhulin Temple, located on a hill in Gangdui Town, Gongga County, 22 kilometers away from Gongga County. It belongs to the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Compared with other popular ancient temples, it is smaller and quieter. With an altitude of 3200m, Xiazhulin Temple is the best spot to view the Yarlung Zangbo River (the Brahmaputra River), which is one of the longest rivers in Asia, spanning about 2,900 km. Tibetans consider the Yarlung Zangbo River to be a holy river. Xiazhulin Temple is also famous for the body of the auspicious goddess that it enshrines. This Buddha statue is a 12-year-old girl who passed away. After her death, her body naturally shrank to only one cubit high, showing the sitting posture of Tara. As time passed, she still sat quietly on the top of the Xie Zhulin Temple, guarding this sacred land.
(Note:
This section includes hiking, guests who are worried about plateau
reaction can choose to rest in the car, while those who want to
challenge themselves can continue to go forward)
Good to Know
April to November is the best time to visit Yamdrok Lake. August is the rainy season in Tibet.
Tibetans don't fish, bathe or swim in the holy lake. Remember to respect the local customs when you visit the lake.
Please note that the temperature difference between the morning and
evening in Tibet. The daytime ultraviolet ray is strong meanwhile the
scenic area temperature is low. Please be sure to bring sunscreen,
sunglasses, hats and warm clothing.