--Climbing up the top of the Roof of the World

    Further west from Shigatse and beyond the Yarlung Tsangbo River near Gyangtse, the land contour is elevated gradually. Turning toward north at No.22 Road Maintenance Station and driving past the Dagyatso Lake, the traveler will be on his road into the Ngari highland.

    The Tibetan Plateau has often been described as the Roof of the World which rises majestically toward the west in the region of Ngari, known as the top of the Roof of the World. In a vast region of about 300,000 square kilometers are the towering northern Tibet highland, majestic mountain ranges of Gangdise Kunlun and Himalayas, and a great number of treacherous canyons, picturesque valleys, rivers and lakes. Expansive stretches of highland pasture, precipitous mountains, placid lakes and swift rivers against a backdrop of azure skies and floating clouds are absolutely exhilarating.

    Driving along the central tour route via Tsochen from Lhatse to the town of Shiquanhe, the regional center of Ngari, one will have wonderful views of the golden cone shaped peak of the Shanmubati Mountain, the vast Tsari Namtso Lake and its island of bird haven, the Dawatso Lake with lush green banks and the snow-capped peaks of the Balinggangri Mountain. The road to Shiquanhe begins at Lhasa and passes through Nakchu in the vast pasture area. Traveling in the highland region, one will see changing sights of spectacular scenery and rich wild life including beavers, rabbits and foxes not far from roadside, wild ducks, black-necked cranes and a variety of birds by the lake-side and antelopes, wild donkeys on more distant hills. North of Gertse is the uninhabited zone of Lugu which is the domain of wild yaks and bears.

    Ngari is easily accessible by road. The road from Yecheng of Xinjiang to Burang passes through Ngari. Lhatse-Burang road forms the southern route. The former has been known as the road with the highest elevation in the world and winds through the Kunlun Mountains at 5,406 meters above sea level. The Bangongtso Lake in northern Ngari has a surface elevation of 4,241 meters and a depth of 41.3 meters. This oblong lake extends 150 kilometers and is 50 meters at its narrowest. The lake water becomes salty in the western end. The lake is ringed by fertile pastures and has a few small islands that are haven for migratory birds including spotted wild geese, which often number in tens of thousands in the summer time. The monastery and cliff drawings found near Rutong and the uninhabited land in northern Tibet hold special appeal to explorers. The town of Shiquanhe (Sengge Grong) with an elevation of 4,300 meters is a newly risen center on the bank of the river Shiquanhe (Sengge Tsangbo). The Ngari Prefecture not only has spectacular scenery and an exotic local tradition but also occupies an important place in Tibetan history and the history of Buddhism. The secluded Guge ruins and the holy mountains and lakes in the region are sources of unending enchantment to tourists.