In Tibetan, Namtso means 'Heavenly Lake.' It is considered as one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and is famous for its high altitude (about 3 miles), vast area ( about 757 square miles) and beautiful scenery.
Being the second largest saltwater lake in China only after Qinghai Lake, Namtso is the biggest lake throughout Tibet. Meanwhile, it is the highest altitude saltwater lake in the world. The water here is a storybook crystal-clear blue. Clear skies join its surface in the distance, creating an integrated, scenic vista. Soul of every visitor who has ever been here seems to be cleansed by the pure water.
Namtso Lake maintains its levels from rainfall and melted snow flowing from high mountains. Five islands stand in the water area, among which the largest one is Liangduo Island. In addition, another five bylands stretch into the water from different directions. Zhaxi byland is the largest one in area of these five. A great many bizarre stone peaks can be found on this byland. Some look like trunks, some look like human beings, and others resemble trees. Various kinds of vivid shapes can easily arouse your imagination. At the same time there are many quiet grottos which are masterpieces of nature. Some grottos are narrow and long like subways; some are full of stalactites; still, others are like louvers. Queer rocks, steep peaks, natural stone ladders and other landform wonders on Zhaxi byland present visitors a picture filled with mystery and enchantment.
Location: 220km north of Lhasa, 60km northwest of Damxung
Transportation: Rental Car: This is the best way and the most convenient way to get to Namtso Lake.
Ticket: From May 1 to October 31: CNY 120;
From November 1 to next April 30: CNY 80
Opening hours: All day long
Tickets are sold from 08:40 to 16:00
You can actually visit Namtso Lake all year round. The lake shows various sceneries in different seasons. In a year, summer and autumn are ideal seasons, especially from May to September. You need to notice that from January to April and November to December, travelers cannot get to Namtso Lake, because the pass is closed and the road is not accessible.