Dazong Lake

　　Introduction       Dazong Lake sits at an altitude of about 3,100 meters. It stretches approximately 350 meters from north to south and around 100 meters from east to west, forming a long, narrow shape with a total area of over 50 acres. The lakeshore is surrounded by oddly shaped rocks, while the outer plains offer open terrain with flat grasslands that extend into densely forested mountains.

　　      Dazong Lake has long been revered as a sacred lake by local Tibetan herders. As a result, the area around the lake is dotted with prayer flags fluttering and arrow shafts standing densely, giving it a unique atmosphere compared to other famous lakes. Every June, pilgrims flock here to worship and insert arrows. During this time, the surrounding mountains and the lake surface are shrouded in incense smoke, with the sound of conch shells echoing. Devotees, both men and women, spin prayer wheels and chant scriptures as they walk clockwise around the lake three times before casting treasure vases into the water to worship the sacred lake, praying for blessings such as bountiful harvests and prosperity for both people and livestock. It is said that the deities of Dazong Lake are highly efficacious, and all who pray here have their wishes granted.

　　 Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province