Yarlung Tsangpo River

　　From the Qiena Pass east of Woqa, circling around the

　　6,000-meter-high Mount Wodegongjie, you arrive at the alpine pastures at an altitude of 4,000 meters. Every summer when all things come back to life, the pastures resemble a vast piece of brocade, with numerous alpine lakes of varying sizes sparkling like brilliant pearls embedded in it. Due to the high altitude, the weather here is unpredictable—sometimes it's sunny with bright skies, other times it’s cloudy with rain and snow. At the southwestern edge of the pasture lies Nubu Corner. Arriving at Nubu Corner feels like reaching the edge of the earth, where the Yarlung Tsangpo River cuts deeply through the land from west to east. To go further, one must descend a steep slope of about 60 degrees down to the riverbank at an altitude of 3,500 meters. Only five or six herding households live at Nubu Corner, leading a carefree nomadic life, returning here only during the coldest season of winter. About 20 kilometers east of the riverbank from Nubu Corner is the Niek Waterfall, and about 5 kilometers west is the Zeng Waterfall.

　　The Niek Waterfall is located about

　　1 kilometer east of Dagucun. Starting from Nubu Corner to Dagucun, the mountain path runs parallel to the river at a height of 20 meters above the water level on the mountainside. This path is lined with wild peach trees, apricot trees, and various species of azaleas. Riding a horse for nearly three hours will bring you to Dagucun. The climate in Dagucun is moist, the air refreshing, and the locals mainly rely on fishing and hunting. They grow some highland barley and peas on the flatlands of the mountain slopes, living a true mountain life. Their houses are built from wood and stone, uniquely designed and practical. Like other mountain dwellers, they seem born with the skills to hunt in the mountains and fish in the river. They have a habit of eating dried fish and spend their days listening to the roaring sounds of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, which come from the Niek Hot Springs.

　　“Niek” means “fish mouth” in Tibetan. Every spring and early summer, fish from downstream gather here, waiting for the water level to rise so they can swim upstream, forming a natural fish reservoir. Nearly a thousand cubic meters of river water per second churns the fish, sending them tumbling up and down. The Niek Waterfall was formed by a geological fault, where a massive round rock obstructs the flow of the river, creating a steep drop. In winter, when the water level drops, the river flows over the sides of the round rock, forming

　　two large cascades about 6 meters high. In summer, as the water level rises, the river pours down from the top of the round rock, producing a deafening roar and forming a waterfall with a drop of 7 to 8 meters. It is one of the grand sights of the Yarlung Tsangpo River. When you see the Yarlung Tsangpo River near Zedang, which spans 6 to 7 kilometers in width, it’s hard to imagine that here the river is only about 40 meters wide.

　　From Dagucun, traveling upstream along the river to Nujiao and then walking another 5 kilometers brings you to the Zeng Waterfall. “Zeng” means “waterfall” in Tibetan. The path to the Zeng Waterfall involves walking half the way along cliffs and steep rock faces, and the other half jumping across boulders that have fallen from the cliffs. Along the way, you may spot groups of monkeys picking wild fruits from trees on the cliff edges. The cliffside path is nearly 100 meters above the river, with turbulent waters below and towering, sheer cliffs above. After traversing this section, you descend to the riverbank and begin hopping across jagged boulders. A slight misstep could send you tumbling into the labyrinth of riverbanks below. The Zeng Waterfall resembles a breached dam, splashing countless droplets and kicking up mist. In sunlight, the mist forms beautiful rainbows, presenting a spectacular and magnificent sight. This 5-meter-drop waterfall is also formed by a giant rock blocking the flow. The Yarlung Tsangpo River has a significant drop in this section, resulting in rapid currents that have carved out the famous Grand Canyon.

　　The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is a masterpiece of nature, and the waterfalls within it are the finest highlights of this masterpiece. Just like nature itself, the people here are simple, genuine, sincere, kind, and beautiful. When you are among them, you will never feel like a stranger. If you don’t believe it, you can pay a visit to Dagucun.

　　Location

　　Langkazi County, Shannan Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region