| Holy lakes, holy
mountains and mysterious no-man lands in western Nagqu combine to attract
an endless flow of visitors and worshippers. In the high mountains in eastern
Nagqu, there are many naturally formed lava caves that await development.
Tourist
services in Nagqu are active along "one tour route composed of five
scenic spots," which extends from Nagqu to Pangkog. Xaiza, Nyima
and Shuanghu. Foreign tourist hotels with good service boast 230 beds.
In recent years, there is an increasing number of visitors to the region.
The 7,111-meter Nyainqentanglha is the highest peak in Nagqu, boasting
31 peaks that each exceed 6,000 meters and 11 peaks that surpass 5,000
meters. The North Tibet Plateau has an average elevation of over 4,000
meters, hence its nickname, "Roof of the World." For the local
herders, everything in the world has its own soul and story. Holy lakes
and mountains there, complemented by the mysterious stories about them,
make the plateau irresistibly attractive.
Of the many skyscraping peaks on the North Tibet Plateau, Sangdainkangsang
is very famous. As one of the five highest peaks in all of Tibet, the
peak is believed to be one of 25 places resided in by immortals. Attached
to the peak is the Gangbosangbo, believed to be the powerful protector
of Buddhist doctrines. It is held that she created the peaks and lakes
surrounding her. When viewed from the south, Sangdainkangsang resembles
a king on his throne; when viewed from the west, the peak looks like a
jumping silver lion; from the east, it is a crystal dagoba; and when viewed
from the north, the peak impresses viewers as a silver curtain. The peak
also changes its dress along with the seasons: it is the color of milk
in the summer, silver in the winter, and bright in spring and autumn.
The peak is skirted by the Qinghai-Tibet Highway. The Barung Monastery
in the Barung Valley at the foot of the peak is the chief monastery of
the Barung Gagyu, one of the four Gagyu sects of Tibetan buddhism. Every
year, there are numerous followers who come for pilgrimage.
Nyainaentanglha
is believed by many religious followers to be a Buddhist guardian. It
is also the major deity in the grasslands to the north. Followers of the
Bon religion and Buddhism hold it to be the place where various Buddhist
masters practiced Buddhism. At the foot of Nyainaentanglha is the Nam
Co Lake, which, with an elevation of 4,718 meters, covers 1,920 square
km. In the shape of a reclining Diamond Tara, the lake has 18 ridges to
the south (including the Tortoise Ridge and the Peacock Ridge), 19 islets
to the north (including the Duck Islet and the Roc Islet), and four monasteries
surrounding it (including the Zhaxi Dorboche Moanstery to the east, the
Gorqoinbaima Monastery to the south, the Dorgyai Monastery to the west
and the Chatog Monastery to the north, resembling unhappiness, anger,
power and authority). On the wall of these monasteries are naturally formed
statues of Buddha. Legend has it that Namco is the daughter of the heavenly
king and mother of Nyainqentanglha. For Buddhist followers this is a must-see.
Buddhist followers usually worship the Nam Co Lake in the Tibetan Year
of the Sheep, the Kangdese Mountain in the Tibetan Year of the Horse,
and the Zari Mountain in the Tibetan year of the Monkey.
Teh Dagor Mountain in Nyima County is, according to legend, where various
deities gather, and is also the most important of the 360 mountain peaks
in Zhangzhong. At its foot is the Tangra Yumco Lake. Both the peak and
the lake are considered holy by Buddhist worshippers. Connected to the
holy lake is Comoin Legyi Wangmoche Lake, named after the deity who is
in charge of 180 rivers and 180 lakes. Resembling a Diamond Club in shape,
the lake is surrounded by mountains from which a stream empties into the
lake. Around the lake are four fountains, where pilgrims take a dip when
they come to worship the holy lake. They believe that the fountain water
will help them cleanse themselves of their sins and cure their illnesses.
Tangra Qoinzong to the east is, according to the legend, where the palace
of King Limo of the Zhangzhong State was in ancient times. This is also
the place where Master Tarmitaige practiced buddhism. On the cliffs there
are many Tibetan letters and palm signs, all naturally formed. Both Dagor
and Tangra are Zhangzhong words. In the mountain caves in Dagor and in
the caves around the Tangra Yumco Lake are stone gongs, also all naturally
formed. The locals refer to the "Kangdese and Mampang Yumco Lake
in the upper part, the Dagor Snow Mountain and the Tangra Yumco Lake in
the middle part, and the Nyainqentanglha Peak and the Nam Co Lake in the
lower part" as the three famous mountains and lakes in Tibet. Each
year, there are numerous pilgrims who come to take ritual walks around
them.
In northern Tibet, there are 370 lakes of various sizes. If the very small
ones were counted, they would number in the several thousands. However,
only 11 lakes cover areas of over 100 square km, and 121 cover areas of
over five square km. Lakes in the area have a combined area of 30,000 square
km, making up 81 percent of the total in the entire Tibet Autonomous Region.
The lakes supply fish and mineral resources, including salt, alkali and
boron. Lush grass growing around the watery places forms pastures that are
home to the wildlife. In north Tibet there are also more than 200 sites
promising geothermal water with a high content of mineral elements that
produce a highly medicinal effect; this water is good for arthritis, skin
diseases, ulcers and bone fractures. Efforts are being made to utilize the
mineral water resources for local economic development.
In the peaks in east Nagqu there are many strangely shaped lava caves.
One of these is the Meimo Lava Cave, referred to as "the Mysterious
Chamber for the Fairies." Housing many stone ladders, the cave has
two man-sized stone pillars standing on both sides of the entrance. Inside
the cave are numerous sub-caves filled with ice pillars from which water
drops fall onto the ground, sending sing-song sounds throughout the quiet
environment. Ice blocks resemble whatever you think them to be. There
is one block resembling three sitting people, referred to as the underworld
king and two of his assistants-the black and the white. There are also
many naturally formed statues of deities. Further inside are two red and
blue lava caves which are comparatively large in size. Strong torches
do not work here, so that when in the caves one has to move ahead inch
by inch. Local people say there is a cave that extends about 100 km long
and another cave that extends over 200 km long.
North Tibet, with an area of over 400,000 square km, teems with scenic
and mysterious spots. The over 300,000 people living in this part of the
world have created a long-standing culture. They are good at singing,
dancing and telling stories, including the long epic about King Gesar. |