Karola Glacier

　　Karola Glacier lies on the southern slope of Mount Noijinkangsang (7,191 m), one of Tibet’s four highest peaks. The upper part of the glacier is a gently sloping ice cap, consisting of two hanging glacier tongues. The eastern tongue is 3 km long and 750 m wide, with its terminus at an elevation of 5,233 m; the western tongue is 4.5 km long and 1.5 km wide, with its terminus at 5,145 m. The total area of the glacier is 9.4 square kilometers.

　　The front edge of the glacier is affected by the undulating bedrock hills, causing the slow-moving top layer of the glacier tongue to develop crevasses. As ice and snow melt along these fissures, they form a spectacular array of ice towers. The ice towers display various swirl-like folds in shades of snow and dust, resembling exquisitely carved patterns by skilled artisans. On the bedrock erosion platform at the front edge of the glacier tongue, there are several wedge-shaped scratches, each up to 10 meters long, 10–20 cm wide, and 8–10 cm deep, running parallel to each other. This is a rare phenomenon among other glaciers, resembling the guide rails of a "shaper" machine.

　　The massive glacier extends from the misty mountaintop all the way down to just a few hundred meters from the highway. Its crystal-clear, azure blue hue carries a refreshing chill. Although the glacier appears in black-and-white stratified tones due to years of dust from the road, the upper part glistens brilliantly under the sunlight, like a giant thangka hanging on the mountainside.

　　Due to its use as a filming location for movies such as *Red River Valley*, *The Battle of Gyantse*, and *Cloudy Mountain*, Karola Glacier has gained significant fame. As a result, many travelers visit to admire the glacier’s grandeur and marvel at the wonders of nature.

　　Address: Karola Pass, Gyantse County, Shigatse City

　　Type: Snow Mountain & Glacier

　　Recommended visiting time: 1–2 hours

　　Opening hours:

　　9:00–17:00

　　Admission fee:

　　40 RMB