May Day Tour – Namtso
May Day is approaching, and no trip to Lhasa is complete without visiting Namtso. At 4,718 meters above sea level, Namtso stretches 70 km from east to west, 30 km from north to south, with a maximum depth of over 100 meters and covers an area of 1,920 square kilometers. It is the world's highest saltwater lake, the second largest saltwater lake in China, and ranks first among Tibet's three holy lakes. It is also a sacred site in Tibetan Buddhism. Legend has it that this is the mandala of the esoteric deity Chakrasamvara.
Legend says Namtso is the lifelong lover of the vast Nyainqentanglha Mountains, bound by life and death. Around Namtso, temples are plentiful and incense burns vigorously. Many high monks have spread Buddhist teachings here, and to this day, monks of the Kagyü School still practice in seclusion by the lake or on islands within it. During the Tibetan calendar's Year of the Sheep, devout Buddhists come in droves to circumambulate the lake and pay homage. The lakeside temples—Qiacui, Zhaxiqie, Guqiong, Duojia, and others—serve as sacrificial holy grounds, grand and lively. As they walk around the lake, believers toss various offerings into the water to pray for favorable weather and good fortune. A full circuit of the lake usually takes about half a month, and along the 200-plus-kilometer shoreline, the footprints of pilgrims are everywhere.
Each year, from the fourth to fifth month of the Tibetan calendar, many followers journey to Namtso to circumambulate the lake and worship. At this time, the lake's surface ripples with blue waves, waterbirds frolic above, and fragrant smoke curls along the shores—a scene brimming with vitality.
Because the journey to Namtso is long and tiring, whether you're driving yourself or arriving in Lhasa by other means, we recommend joining a one-day tour group. The cost is around 180 yuan. The meeting point is at the White Stupa at Potala Palace, departing around 6:30 a.m. Along the way, you'll see the Lhasa River, the northern Tibetan grasslands, the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, cross Nagênla Mountain, and finally visit Namtso, the heavenly lake and one of Tibet's three holy lakes. Since the trip is far and starts early, dear travelers, it's best to prepare breakfast and some snacks in advance, and also carry a few portable oxygen bottles just in case of altitude sickness.
Lhasa accommodation recommendation: Jinjiang Inn Lhasa Potala Palace View Hotel
Address: No. 15, Deji South Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa (1.2 km on foot from Potala Palace)
Lhasa accommodation recommendation: Jinjiang Inn Style Lhasa Potala Palace Beijing West Road Hotel
Address: No. 5, Beijing West Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa (12-minute drive to Potala Palace)
