Zezhol Monastery (孜珠寺, Zi Zhu Si in Chinese) is Mount Zezhol, Dingqing County of Qamdo, Tibet. It is about 37 kilometers away from the county’s city center. The earliest history of the monastery may trace back to 2,000 or 3,000 years before present. A prominent master in Bon Religion (苯教) had rebuilt the Zezhol Monastery in mid-fourteenth century AD. “Zezhol” in Tibetan means “Six Summits”. It aptly describes the majestic but dangerous scenery combining of towering peaks, odd rocks and mystic grottoes. Due to some complicated historical reasons, Bon, a religion that had once dominated Tibetan Plateau, gave way to Buddhism and it escaped to remote areas. This was in order to preserve the religion and its spiritual power. Therefore, Dingqing County in Qamdo area has traditionally been the stronghold of Bon and the Zezhol is the one of the biggest Bon monasteries in Qamdo’s Kang region with most followers and most fundamental religious rituals. The abbey inside the Zezhol Monastery, the preachers can systematically tell the Bon scriptures and yoga practices from ancient times. Additionally, it still holds the exotic, divine nude dance rituals. This kind of nude ritual can only be seen here in whole Tibet today.

Transportation: It takes about 7 hours and 3 hours coach ride from Qamdo and Dingqing County as far as the Zezhol Monastery respectively.

Transportation: From Lhasa, you can take a vehicle to the Lake Manasarova for about 400 Yuan per capita. It will be much easier to find vehicles during busy tourism season. If you are traveling from the Holy Mount Kailash, you only to take vehicle at Baxin or Bage Check Point as far as the Lake Manasarova.

Accommodation: There are two un-named Tibetan-run hostels for 30 Yuan per bed in the village located at the foot of the hill where the Jiwu Monastery built, but they are without any eatery. You can visit a guesthouse in the south to have a 10-Yuan-meal of rice with vegetables, good for vegetarians.

You may also to lodge at the Border Garrison, it has better hygiene and cleaner water, 20 Yuan for each bed. Have a meal in the cafeteria, one bowl of noodles for about 10 Yuan.

The Lake Manasarova’s perimeter is about 90 kilometers so that it may take 4 days to have a complete, clockwise round tour. About two-third of travel is along the lake’s coast (from Seralung Monastery walk clockwise to Chiu Gonpa). To north is the Hor Village (霍尔乡), the road there can be passed by vehicles. The lake and mountain scenery is mixed with shoals, rocks and marshlands. In the southeast, you may find a few rivers that flow into the holy lake. You have to bring adequate food with you during the trip and you have to cross these small rivers barefoot. A few monasteries that you can lodge, but facilities are no good. It will be a difficult way to go down southward since there will be many soft sandy paths ahead. 

However, most travelers will stay at Chiu Gonpa, where located in the northwest of Manasarova, have a bath in hot springs, enjoy the natural scenery by the lakeside and ancient architecture.