Nyingchi (林芝) Area lies at the lower reaches of Brahmaputra (aka: Yalong Tsangpo, 雅鲁藏布江) River between 1,000 meters and 3,000 meters above sea level, the lowest altitude of Tibetan Autonomous Region and world’s most fluctuated altitude area. The area is essential part of the Sichuan-Tibetan Highway with good scenery. The route from Lhasa to Nyingchi is the most relax and comfortable in Tibetan tour, road condition here is the best and you can drive here. However, avoid rainy season tour that landslides and collapsing slopes often block the road. 

From Lhasa there is once a day bus service to the Bayi (August 1) Town or to rent a jeep with friends. The best season to visit Nyingchi is between April and June. 

Cuogao Lake (措高湖) sometimes known as Ba’song’tso Lake (巴松措), also known as the Swiss Alps in Tibet. It is one of the famous scenic spots in Nyingchi and scenery of such beauty and originality not so many have been left in the world so far. 

Ticket 50 RMB, approximate 300km from Lhasa. Traffic: long distance bus services are available in Lhasa and Bayi Town to Basongtso Lake. The kiosk under the Bayi Bridge sells ticket. 

Basongtso Lake also named as Cuogao Lake, which in Tibetan means “triple stone and triple lake”. It is the famous holy lake and land of Ningma (宁马) sect. The water is so clear and mirroring the surrounding snow mountain on it. Birds are flying just above the surface. There is an island called Zaxi (扎西岛), it is said that it is an island with hollow core, i.e., the island is floating on the water. The island is filled with scripture cloths. Cuozonggongba Temple (措宗工巴寺) means “castle on the lake” in Tibetan, is the temple of Ningma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It has been oblated Master Lianhua’sheng for 1,500 years. 

It is said that in the 15^th day of the 4th month of Tibetan calendar (i.e. June 1) each year a long white band will be appeared from the bottom of the lake. The locals said it was a Hada (哈达, white silk) dedicated for Sa’er King (萨尔王). They had a custom of going round the lake once to celebrate the occasion. It takes two or three days to complete. 

Bayi Town 

The administrative bureau is in Bayi Town, known as “Southern Yangtze Region in Tibet”, but the scenery is quite mediocre. If starting at Lhasa in early morning you may reach Bayi at noon. You’ll have lunch in the town. The latter half you’ll go through the Sejila (色季拉) Pass, which is over 5,000m above sea level. 

Sejila (色季拉) Mountain 

Nyingchi’s forest industry is the most flourished in Tibet. Go up the mountain from a large field and orchard about 2,000m, then the vast natural forest, plateau steppe and herds of yaks and horses. You will see, if lucky enough, large black mastiffs with red bands on their necks and having chains harnessed. Climb up, the Life Forbidden Area is in front of your eyes, there is nothing but the scripture flags hanging. 

Lulang Town 

Lulang is a small village in Sejila Mountain, where wooden houses with a stream flowing behind them. A wood factory with many pieces of ancient tree branches inside and horses ramble in the forest. It’s always raining. Look at the tree trunks laid on the ground that make you feel that each of them have long history. 

The tranquil landscape of Lulang Town is just like an oil painting and fog always on the mountainside with mushrooms on the slope and green fields. The color of flowers like pure colors dyes for oil painting. Lamas sell their effective headache medicine here. 

In Lulang, one hostel barely likes a hotel. Due to the high humidity, you always feel like you’re standing in the rain. You are advised to bring your own sleeping bag, because there are so many moths there! 

The mushrooms are delicious especially in the hotel’s restaurant. Vegetables are hardly grown so the mushroom is important stuff in addition to meat. The most delicious dish is “braised meat with mushrooms”. Not knowing how long the meat has been stored so far and how much preservative is added, you won’t matter about because the dish tastes good! 

Bomi (波密) and Motuo (墨脱)

Motuo is the last county in China that expressway does not reach it. You can take bus to Bomi then to Motuo, over the mountain and pass the forest. When walking on the rope bridge, leech stings are inevitable, there is only one truck to carry you in to avoid of being stung. 

On foot to Motuo. Begins at the snowy Paixiangfanduo’xiongla (派乡翻多雄拉) Mountain, passing Hanmi (汗密), La’ge (拉格) and Beibeng (背甭). It takes 3 or 4 days to reach Motuo. This route is the main road to Motuo at present. For return, you can go up to Brahmaputra River at 108km point, then climb over the Galongla (嘎隆拉) Mountain to reach Bomi. It also takes 3 or 4 days. In case of leech stings, you can use cigarette lighter or lighted cigarette to burn it, do not stay in grassland and do not put you backpack on it. Try your best to walk in the middle of the road. 

The Grand Canyon of Brahmaputra River 

Near the peak of Nanjia’bawa (南迦巴瓦峰) in Nyingchi area, average altitude is over 3,000m above sea level with length about 496km. With a total depth of 5,380m, the canyon consists of nine natural climate zones such as permafrost plateau and tropical valley, so it contains the most complete climate zones in the world. It is known as the “Most Beautiful Canyon in China”.