Lake Rawo-tso

The Rawo-tso, Ranwu Lake in Chinese is a perfect blending of the Swiss Alps snow peaks and glaciers and the streams in Jiuzaigou (a pretty town in central China). Just as depicted in the diary of Mr. Zhang Qingsong (a known professor from the School of Geography, Chinese Academy of Science who has set foot on all the three poles of the planet): 'in my first journey to Tibet in 1975, I took a bus down the Sichuan-Tibet Highway from Chendu to Lhasa. After passing the Henduan Moutain Range, the valleys of the Rivers of Jinsha, Lanchang and Lu, I stayed in the Ranwu Garrison overnight, the poetic scenery of the Ranwu Lake drove away all my fatigues. How amazing are those upright high peaks, white glacier, blue lake water, green grassland, floating white clouds, lush forest Ў­'

The Ranwu Lake, the largest in southeast of Tibet, is in the Village of Ran about 130 km from Pomi. The lake, 3,800 meters above the sea level, has a water area of 22 square kilometers. On the bus ride from the Pasho, Chamdo down the Sichuan-Tibet Highway 318, you will see a corner of the lake. This is the most dangerous highway in China.

The Ranwu Lake is surrounded by many scenic highlights. The Snow Mountain in the southwest, the Azhagongla Glacier in the south and the Bosula Peak in the northeast. The melted snow and ice supply the lake with sufficient water and are also the source of many rivers such as Yarlong Tsangpo. The green grassland around the lake, the sky-blue lake water and the white snow mountains constitute a very pretty watercolor. The Amucuo Lake shrinks westwards and finally became a river valley. Its water takes on different colors in different seasons of a year and the water surface is dotted with isles or reefs.

Many of the peaks surrounding the lake are over 5, 000 meters high and thus permanently locked with glaciers. The foot of these peaks, however, is green with pines and cypresses. The lake is especially womanish and tranquil in the arms of the peaks, whose beauty goes beyond words. The browsing herds of cattle and sheep, the barley paddy, bean and cabbage field form an oil painting that can be seen no elsewhere.

Some tourists camp at Rawu lake overnight. But the everning and early morning it will be very cold.