The Himalayas (Sanskrit: hima alaya, meaning "abode of snow"), known in Tibetan as the "home of snow." Located on the southern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is the world's highest mountain range, with over 110 peaks reaching or exceeding an elevation of 7,350 meters.
Its main peak is the world’s highest, Mount Everest (also called Sagarmatha, Tibetan name: Qomolangma), which means "Goddess Third" in Tibetan. It stands at an elevation of 8,844.43 meters. According to the latest measurements, Mount Everest grows by an average of one centimeter per year.

Legends
A long, long time ago, this area was an endless ocean. The waves rolled and crashed against the shores covered with pine, fir, and palm trees, making a rushing sound. Above the forest were overlapping green mountains shrouded in mist; within the forest grew all kinds of rare flowers and plants, while herds of spotted deer and antelopes ran freely, and groups of rhinoceroses, moving with heavy steps, leisurely drank water by the lake. Rhododendrons, thrushes, and larks hopped joyfully from treetop to treetop, singing beautiful melodies. Rabbits ran carefree across lush, green meadows. One day, a huge five-headed venomous dragon suddenly emerged from the sea, wreaking havoc on the forest and stirring up towering waves that destroyed the plants and trees. The birds and beasts living here sensed that disaster was imminent.
They fled eastward, but the forests there collapsed and the grasslands were submerged; they rushed westward, only to find wild waves and raging storms that left no one able to breathe easily. Just as the animals were at their wits’ end, suddenly, five colorful clouds drifted above the sea and transformed into five Dharma protectress deities. They arrived at the seashore, displayed their boundless divine powers, and subdued the five-headed venomous dragon. With the demons conquered and the sea calmed, the deer, antelope, monkeys, rabbits, and birds bowed in worship to the fairies, expressing their gratitude for saving their lives.
The celestial maidens wished to return to heaven, but the creatures pleaded earnestly, asking them to stay and bring benefits to all beings. Thus, out of compassion, the five fairies agreed to remain and share peaceful days with all life. They drained the seawater, transforming the east into dense forests, the west into vast fertile fields, the south into blooming gardens, and the north into boundless pastures. The five fairies became the five main peaks of the Himalayas: Goddess of Longevity and Beauty, Goddess of Green Countenance, Goddess of Chastity and Wisdom, Goddess of Crown Song, and Goddess of Benevolence. They stand guard along the southwestern edge, protecting this paradise. The foremost among them, the Goddess of Green Countenance, is Mount Everest — today’s highest peak in the world, affectionately called the “Goddess Peak” by locals.

In 1987, three scientists published a paper in a Chinese scientific journal regarding the moisture channel of the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon. The basic idea was to blast a 50-kilometer gap in the Himalayas to allow warm, moist air from the Indian Ocean to flow northward and humidify China’s arid northwest, fundamentally altering the climate and turning the region into a land of fish and rice.
This plan sounded truly magnificent. In the mid-1990s, the “Blast the Himalayas Plan” spread widely across the country and even garnered attention from government departments. As the momentum grew stronger and success seemed imminent, the main proponent of the plan was imprisoned for committing crimes, and more and more scholars in the scientific community openly voiced strong opposition. On the other hand, after the Three Gorges Project, the government had no intention of initiating another mega-scale geological project. As a result, this astonishing plan ultimately faded away.
The Himalayas were spared after all. In fact, without human interference, the Himalayas themselves have five naturally formed rift valleys, all of which are incredibly beautiful.

Five Valleys
From Yadong County, Dinggye County, Tingri County, Nyalam County, and Gyirong County
The Himalayas have been “cut” with five gaps
Five north-south longitudinal rift valleys
Five hidden paradises
Recognized as one of the world’s top ten most beautiful landscapes
Yadong Valley: Tibet’s largest granary

Yadong Valley is nestled between two mountains, surrounded on all sides by peaks, bordering India to the south and Bhutan to the east. At an altitude of 2,800 meters, the county features Kangbu Hot Springs, pristine forests, and wildlife such as various pheasants, rabbits, white monkeys, musk deer, and Yadong fish, many of which are protected species.

Influenced by the warm currents of the Indian Ocean, Yadong Valley remains lush and green all year round. The mountains are covered with shrubs, and as you descend along the valley, the woods grow denser and more abundant, with the air becoming more humid. The snow-capped peaks rise majestically into the sky; the glaciers in the valley shine like silver dragons dancing in the sunlight.
The clouds swirling halfway up the mountains add to the scenery, shifting and transforming gracefully, adorning the snow mountains with enchanting beauty. Below the snow peaks lies a long, high-altitude lake, crystal clear, reflecting layers of light blue, deep blue, light green, dark green, and even dark emerald under the sunshine, blue sky, and snow-capped peaks, creating a mysterious and breathtaking sight.

The overall terrain of Yadong is a large mountain valley. Due to the dramatic differences in altitude, with Pali Town as the boundary, two distinctly different climates are formed. Between Duona Township and Pali Town lies an alluvial plain covering approximately 1,000 square kilometers, where the elevation drops sharply by over 1,500 meters over just 40 kilometers.

Among the five valleys in the middle section of the Himalayas, the warm, moist air from the Indian Ocean travels the farthest here. The warm airflow moves northward through Yadong Valley, creating Tibet’s largest granary.

Yadong Valley’s Xiasima Town is arguably the coolest and quietest small town in China. It takes less than an hour to stroll around the relatively bustling area. Weathered old tin-roofed houses stand silently along the Yadong River, witnessing centuries of history.

Friendly Reminder
Transportation Routes:
Descending from Pali Town at an altitude of over 4,700 meters, drive approximately 47 kilometers via Shangyadong Township, Xiasima Town, and Xiayadong Town to reach Yadong Valley.
Ticket Information:
Not available currently.
Chentang Valley: The pristine forests of the Sherpa people

Two slender rivers—the Pengqu and the Gama Tsangpo—converge in Chenthang Town, Dinggye County. It has been vividly said that the scenery here resembles the “Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo” in a Chenthang version. Compared to the majestic Yarlung Tsangpo, this area is less imposing but more serene. Chenthang Valley borders Nepal to the south. The character “Chen” means transport, and “Tang” means road; together they imply a transport route. The name Chenthang originates from the construction of Sakya Monastery, when large amounts of timber were transported here.

The magical landscape where “one mountain has four seasons, and ten miles have different weathers” unfolds before you—snow-capped peaks tower in the distance, while nearby dense primeval forests teem with diverse vegetation. The natural scenery shaped by landslides and mudflows is wonderfully unique, truly deserving the title of a “natural museum.”

With an elevation of only about 2,040 meters, Chenthang Valley enjoys a subtropical monsoon climate. Warm, moist air currents from the Indian Ocean sweep through the river valley, crossing towering mountains to nourish every inch of land here. Entering the valley, the turbulent Pengqu River flows swiftly downstream. The road is rough, full of potholes, rising and falling, jolting along as you climb over one mountain after another. Gradually spiraling down to the valley floor, you pass narrow, steep mountain paths before finally reaching Zenga Village, where you can rest and find food and lodging.
Additionally, Chenthang is a settlement area for the Sherpa people. Here, you can meet Sherpas and taste the chhaang (a traditional alcoholic drink) they brew.

One branch of the Sherpa people made their home and livelihood in the pristine dense forests of Chenthang Valley, and these are the Sherpas living here today, making up over 80% of the total population of Chenthang Town.

The Sherpas of Chenthang Valley can be further divided into five clans: Jiabian Gama, Duojiyuti, Zhuba, Manipuba, and Tiga. In traditional marriage customs, they practice inter-clan marriages, while marriages within the same clan are strictly prohibited.

Moreover, there are very few marriages between the Sherpas of Chenthang Valley and indigenous Tibetans, nor do they intermarry with other ethnic groups. As a result, the Sherpas here have preserved their ancient customs most intact.

Travel Tips
Transportation Routes:
Chenthang Valley is located in the southwestern part of Dinggye County. Starting from Dinggye County, drive south for about 83 kilometers, passing successively through Sa Township and Riwu Town to reach Chenthang Town.
Ticket Information:
Entry requires a ticket of 180 yuan if entering via the Gama Valley (open from May to October).
Gama Valley: The Most Beautiful Valley in the World

Gama Valley is situated along the important tributary of the Pengqu River in Dingri County and Dinggye County—the Gama Tsangpo. It is a valley formed by glacial and river erosion, extending north to the watershed between the Kada Tsangpo and Gama Tsangpo, south to Nepal’s Bardia National Park, east to Chenthang, and west to Mount Everest.

The entire valley is rarely visited by humans and boasts the best-preserved and largest expanse of primeval forest in the Everest region. Within the forested valley, it is tranquil and brimming with vitality. Towering ancient trees, weathered by highland winds and snows, stand even more robust and upright. Though the horizontal distance of the valley is only a few dozen kilometers, the natural scenery changes rapidly: towering snow-capped mountains and glaciers loom above, while the air is filled with intoxicating fragrances below, making you feel as though you’re in a fairy-tale world.

The entire Gama Valley is sparsely populated and is home to the best-preserved and largest primeval forest in the Everest region. Walking into the valley, you’ll see snow-capped peaks above, and a wonderland of rare flowers and plants below, with cypress and sea buckthorn trees, and birds and animals appearing and disappearing between them...

Long isolated from the outside world, the only means of transport in Gama Valley is the yak. Here, you can take in the magnificent views of the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest, the fourth highest, Lhotse, and the fifth highest, Makalu.

The best time for trekking in Gama Valley is May and June, when the monsoon season hasn’t yet arrived, reducing trekking difficulties. This is also the most beautiful season in the valley, as orchids are in full bloom, turning Gama Valley into an orchid valley.

Travel Tips
Transportation Routes:
The only means of transport into Gama Valley are yaks and horses. A round trip usually takes about 10 days. Departing from Qudang Township in Dingri County, you pass through Sangqiongla Mountain, Shajitang, and other areas to reach the core zone. This journey demands good physical fitness; otherwise, entering the core zone will be very challenging.
Ticket Information:
180 yuan (open from May to October).
Zhangmu Valley: A Vital Passage on Cliffs

The Zhangmu Port is currently the largest open port in China connecting to the South Asian subcontinent. Colorful Nepalese TATA trucks are often seen on the streets. In addition to Tibetans and Han Chinese, there are many Indians and Nepalese, though the port often closes temporarily.

The entire town of Zhangmu is built along the mountainside, perched on cliffs, with diverse architectural styles. Some houses face the road with their backs to mountain streams, with windows overlooking mountain waterfalls; others are built on cliffs, with windows overlooking bottomless abysses.

You’ll see several buildings sharing a small staircase, with buildings just a step apart. Some streets connect two buildings or lead directly up the mountain.
This border town, adjacent to Nepal on its east, west, and south sides, has a history of a thousand years. Today, it is Tibet’s largest border trade port, handling over 90% of the Tibet Autonomous Region’s border trade and more than 90% of China’s trade with Nepal.

Unfortunately, during the 2015 Nepal earthquake, 80% of the buildings at Zhangmu Port were destroyed. In just a few hours, the once bustling Sino-Nepalese border town of Zhangmu became a ghost town.
Due to the strong impact of the Nepal earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, the geological structure of Zhangmu has changed significantly, with the constant risk of landslides, mudflows, and other major secondary disasters.
Friendly Reminder
Transportation Routes:
In winter, there is one bus from Zhangmu to Lhasa every Thursday, returning to Zhangmu Town the following Tuesday. There are daily buses from Shigatse to Zhangmu. If you're returning to China from Nepal, the fare from Friendship Bridge to Zhangmu Town is 10 yuan. There are no regular buses from Zhangmu to Lhasa or other regions—only hitchhiking or renting a car is possible.
Ticket Information:
Not available at the moment.
Gyirong Valley: The Back Garden of Mount Everest

Gyirong Valley is the westernmost of the Five Valleys. West of here, the warm and moist air currents from the Indian Ocean become increasingly scarce, unable to push further into the valleys. As a result, places as warm and humid as Gyirong Valley are rare to the west.

The greatest impression Gyirong Valley gives is the amazement at nature’s wonder—how it allows four seasons to coexist in such a narrow valley. The canyon is lush with green trees and blooming flowers. Visitors to Gyirong often praise it as a paradise or a fairyland. No wonder they say Gyirong is the back garden of Mount Everest.

Among the “torn” bodies of the Himalayas, Gyirong Valley is a deep and long gorge. This valley is mostly straight, as if a giant plow had suddenly slashed across from north to south, with the mountain slopes formed by the overturned magma and rocks, their edges still sharp like blades today.

Twisted strata, sharp fault lines, and rugged landforms all reveal the mountain’s “suffering expression.” The bottom of Gyirong Valley is where the Gyirong Tsangpo River flows, originating from Mount Malta and nearby peaks.

Friendly Reminder
Transportation Routes:
Gyirong County is located in the southwest of Shigatse City, and the county seat is 490 kilometers from downtown Shigatse. Starting from the Gyirong County seat and heading west along the Xifeng Fork Road for about 30 kilometers (during which you will cross Mount Malta), turn left upon reaching Zongga Town and drive for about 2 kilometers to reach Gyirong Valley.
Ticket Price:
170 yuan (peak season); 100 yuan (off-season).
The sacred Himalayas,
may leave people with nothing but endless awe.
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