Donating supplies to the Jiayao Hope Primary School
After passing through Amdo County, as the altitude decreased, everyone’s symptoms of altitude sickness gradually subsided. The 460-kilometer stretch from Amdo to Lhasa took us through Zharin Town, where we visited the Jiayao Hope Primary School and brought stationery and sports equipment for the children. Though the kids didn’t quite understand Mandarin, their eyes and smiles conveyed their gratitude for the care and love from beyond the mountains. After the donation, heading south brought us to Nagqu, nestled between the Tanggula and Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains. It’s the administrative, economic, and transportation hub of northern Tibet, attracting tourists with attractions such as the Qiangtang Grassland, the northern Tibet uninhabited area, and Namtso Lake. Speed limits are enforced throughout Tibet, and we finally arrived in Lhasa at 1 a.m.
Nearly 4,000 kilometers of road and the physical discomfort from the high altitude left everyone exhausted. Finally, seven days later, we reached Lhasa. Too many emotions were beyond words, and despite it being 1 a.m., we decided to toast with a glass of Lhasa Beer to celebrate — to ourselves and to our trusty companion, the EcoSport.
"The Beauty of Namtso Lake
On our second day in Lhasa, we planned to visit Namtso for photography. 'Namtso' means 'Heavenly Lake' in Tibetan, and its Mongolian name, 'Tengger Lake,' also translates to 'Heavenly Lake.' To get to Namtso, you have to backtrack to Damxung County to enter the scenic area. So if you’re traveling along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, you can go directly to Namtso after Damxung before heading to Lhasa, saving nearly eight hours of round-trip driving.
We arrived at Namtso in the evening. By the time we reached the lake and set up our cameras, the sun had already dipped behind the mountains, leaving only the memory of its breathtaking sunset in our minds. The next morning, after breakfast, we took photos by the lake. Standing at the shore of the world’s highest and most beautiful sacred lake was awe-inspiring. They say holy lakes are the tears of snow mountains — I believe these are tears of joy. Millions of years of upheaval and thousands of years of change finally brought the Tanggula Mountains and Namtso Lake together at the roof of the world. Perhaps the happiest love story in the world is wordless devotion — Tanggula watches over Namtso, and Namtso nestles against Tanggula. The depth of your love is reflected in the depth of the lake, and the purity of your heart is mirrored in its vivid blue.
In the evening, we returned to Lhasa. After a short rest, we headed to Barkhor Street near Jokhang Temple. Also known as the Eight-Angle Street, Barkhor is located in the old town of Lhasa and is a famous pilgrimage route and commercial center. When visiting Barkhor, there’s one must-see spot: the Makye Ame Tavern.
Makye Ame Tavern
Strolling from Barkhor Street to the massive prayer flags in the southeast corner, a small yellow building comes into view. This is the world-renowned 'Makye Ame,' locally known as the 'Yellow House.' Legend has it that this is where the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, met his lover.
"Yamdrok Lake, Short for Yam Lake
The final stop of our Tibetan journey was Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes, located on the southern bank of the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Langkazi County, Shannan. Short for Yam Lake, it is the largest inland lake on the northern slopes of the Himalayas. With numerous branches resembling coral branches, it’s also called the 'Upper Coral Lake' in Tibetan.
Yamdrok Lake is about 100 km south of Lhasa, with the lake surface at an elevation of 4,441 m. Departing from Lhasa, cross the Yarlung Tsangpo River Bridge in Qushui. The roughly two-hour drive involves ascending the 5,030 m Gangbala Pass. The lake’s water comes from melting snow of the surrounding Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, with no outflow. A unique dynamic balance is maintained between the inflow of snowmelt and natural evaporation, causing the lake’s color to shift magically with the light. At different times of day, Yamdrok displays layers of incredibly rich blues, almost dreamlike in beauty.
The sacred beauty of Tibet can only be truly felt by experiencing it firsthand — majestic landscapes, clear skies, endless snow-capped peaks, and warm-hearted people. Our 10-day self-drive journey through Tibet gradually came to an end after visiting the last attraction, Yamdrok Lake. The Ford EcoSport accompanied us from plains to plateaus, over hills and across snow mountains, witnessing the blooming and fading of flowers, and the drifting of clouds. On the long journey of life, there’s always someone or something to accompany you through all seasons and over countless miles. And I believe the EcoSport will be your most loyal companion along the way.