Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
highlights of Tsang. Any way you go you'll find good facilities along the way and relat-
ively easy drives because the Friendship Hwy is entirely paved. The exception is the
Everest region, which has dirt roads and basic accommodation.
Getting Around
Public transport runs along the northern Friendship Hwy to the Nepali border but foreign-
ers are not allowed to take it. The Qīnghǎi-Tibet railway extension from Lhasa to Shigatse
opened in 2014 and Shigatse now has its own airport with direct flights to Chéngdū.
The entries in this chapter follow a southwesterly route through Tsang from Lhasa to the
border with Nepal, taking in the main attractions of the area on the way.
Yamdrok-tso
elev 4441m
Dazzling
Yamdrok-tso
(Yángzhuō Yōngcuò; admission ¥40)
is normally first seen from the
summit of the Kamba-la (4700m). The lake lies several hundred metres below the road,
and in clear weather is a fabulous shade of deep turquoise. Far in the distance is the huge
massif of Mt Nojin Kangtsang (7191m).
Yamdrok-tso is shaped like a coiling scorpion. It doubles back on itself on the western
side, effectively creating a large island within its reaches. For Tibetans it is one of the four
holy lakes (the others are Lhamo La-tso, Nam-tso and Manasarovar) and home to wrathful
deities. Devout Tibetan pilgrims circumambulate the lake in around seven days.
Most Western travellers are content with views of the lake from the Kamba-la and drive
to Nangartse. For an easy pleasant walk offering superb lake views, take the trail that leads
downhill from the Kamba-la to the mobile phone tower and then meet your vehicle on the
main road.
Nangartse
0893 / Elev 4400m
Nangartse (Làngkǎzi) is the largest town on the lake and a popular lunch spot for groups
headed to Gyantse. It's not particularly attractive but there's a small monastery in the south
