Live Your Best Lives
From Tao Yuanming's "Peach Blossom Spring", we can feel the yearning for a peaceful, harmonious, free and equal life hidden deep in the peach forest, a simple and natural world where everything is so simple and beautiful.
There is such a paradise in Tibet. Every March and April, when the peach blossoms are in full bloom, Tibetan houses are hidden deep in the peach forest. From a distance, the green barley fields and the pink peach forests are intertwined, the roofs are faintly visible through the peach trees, and the snow-capped mountains in the distance embellish this picture.
Clouds drape the mountainside, snow-capped mountains cast shadows across the river valley. Fields are lush green, farmhouses dot the landscape, cattle and horses stroll leisurely, and peach blossoms bloom everywhere. This isn't some fairyland described by literati, but rather an April in Nyingchi, Tibet. Bomi is a must-see for any trip to Tibet to see peach blossoms. Located along the breathtakingly beautiful Highway 318, Bomi boasts breathtaking scenery across its 200-kilometer stretch. Peach blossoms bloom all along the way, and at an altitude of only around 2,800 meters, it's the most relaxing stop on this stretch of Highway 318.
The Tongmai barrier between Nyingchi and Bomi is now obsolete, making the road unobstructed and free of obstacles. Bomi, known as China's largest peach blossom valley, is a must-see for viewing peach blossoms in Nyingchi, along with Suosong Village in the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon.
The time for viewing Bomi peach blossoms is relatively fixed every year. The flowering period is basically from March 10th to early April, lasting about 20 days.
About 10 kilometers out of Bomi County on National Highway 318 lies a place called Taohuagou. A sudden turn from 318 leads you deeper along a narrow road, from Runa Village to Qingduo Town and on to Yuxu Township. Peach trees line the road for dozens of kilometers. Looking down, the green barley fields are divided by peach trees, and the road stretches through the village into the distance. The further you go, the more ancient peach trees you see, some reaching a meter in diameter. These peach trees here are not planted but wild. For centuries, the Tibetan people have never destroyed or cut them down, a testament to their deep appreciation for all living things. Strolling amidst the beauty of peach blossoms, breathing in the natural aroma of the earth and the fragrance of the blossoms, you truly feel like you've stumbled into a paradise.
Tips:
1. The specific location of Taohuagou
10 kilometers out of Bomi County on National Highway G318, turn right after crossing the Yajiang Bridge and you'll see a sign. Continue along the ditch until you see the peach blossoms you've been longing for.
2. Lens selection
Use a telephoto lens to capture the beauty of peach blossoms in detail, and employ compositional play between reality and illusion, and near and far to showcase their charm, especially highlighting the environmental features of the snow-capped mountains and Tibetan dwellings. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the grand scene, encompassing rivers, mountains, snow-capped peaks, and the earth.
3. Prepare some change with you. There are some peach blossom forests on the roadside where locals will charge admission. If you need to go in and take pictures, it usually costs around 5-20 yuan.
4. If you want to go deeper into Taohuagou, it is recommended to drive by yourself. The road is relatively narrow, and it is difficult for large vehicles to enter during the peak season of peach blossoms.
Garang Lake is located southwest of Bomi, near the entrance to Taohuagou. Continuing westward along Taohuagou, after crossing the Bode Zangbu Bridge and heading north a short distance, you'll enter the Garang Lake Scenic Area. The beauty of the peach blossoms at Garang Lake is beyond words; being there truly captivates! It's a truly idyllic landscape: lush green grass beneath a blue sky, peach blossoms in full bloom amidst snow-capped mountains. Verdant wheat seedlings and brown-red soil create a tranquil and leisurely scene of farming. Garang Lake isn't large, with Garang Village nearby. However, its tranquil surface beautifully reflects the snow-capped mountains, the village, and the peach blossoms, making it a favorite spot for photographers.
Tips:
If you need to take photos of villagers or animals, ask first as some may charge a fee, so avoid unnecessary trouble.
Songzong Town is located 41 kilometers east of Bomi County, next to National Highway 318, and takes about an hour to get there from Bomi. It is also a classic place for viewing peach blossoms in Bomi. Tibetan villages and peach forests are intertwined, and the "Jiangnan" scenery of Tibet is perfectly reflected.
The Guxiang Lake Scenic Area is located next to National Highway 318, about 34 kilometers away from Bomi. It has the most beautiful Parlung Tsangpo River water in spring. Here, the holy snow-capped mountains are reflected in the bright and clear Parlung Tsangpo River, the peach blossoms on both sides of the river sway in the wind, and the breeze gently blows the prayer flags, forming a series of beautiful pictures.
1. Bus
Lhasa-Bomi: There is currently no direct bus from Lhasa to Bomi. You can transfer at Bayi Station in Nyingchi, or take a bus to Bangda or Chamdo and get off at Bomi.
Lhasa-Nyingchi: Take a bus from Lhasa East Suburb Bus Station. The fare is 180 yuan per person for a large bus and 150 yuan per person for a small bus. The journey takes about 7 hours.
Nyingchi-Bomi: There are buses from Bayi Station that go directly to Bomi, and the journey takes about 5 hours.
2. Self-driving (recommended)
If you are not traveling with a tour group, it is recommended to drive yourself, as you have a flexible itinerary and a car is convenient.
The journey from Lhasa to Bomi is about 630km and takes about 9 hours.
If you are driving by yourself, it is recommended that you take some small roads and go deeper into the village, where you may find unexpected surprises.
Car rental: There are car rental companies in Lhasa city, and reservations can be made online.
3. Charter a car
If you don’t want to drive yourself, you can get together with a few friends and charter a car. Most hotels and inns can help you contact the car, or you can contact a travel agency directly.
The climate in Nyingchi is warm and pleasant in spring. Judging from the current temperature chart, it has started to warm up in March, with the average daytime temperature around 10°C. Precipitation is low, with mostly sunny and cloudy days, and a small chance of rain or snow. Therefore, clothing should take into account both daytime sun protection and nighttime warmth. Also, be careful to protect against wind, sun, and dryness. The following clothing recommendations are provided:
Head: woolen hat or baseball cap + sunglasses + headscarf;
Upper body: warm coat + thin down jacket, or three-piece jacket + thin down jacket;
Lower body: warm pants or jeans + autumn trousers or linen pants;
Feet: Warm socks or wool socks + hiking shoes or other warm flat shoes;
It is also recommended to bring skin care products such as sunscreen, lipstick, moisturizer, etc.; drink more water, eat more fruits, and exercise moderately during the trip.
The spring in Bomi, embellished by peach blossoms, adds infinite artistic conception. The village houses hidden in the peach blossom forest are one of my favorite scenes. When I "accidentally" enter this paradise, I will think of Tang Yin's "Peach Blossom Poem".
"In the Peach Blossom Valley lies the Peach Blossom Temple, and in the Peach Blossom Temple lies the Peach Blossom Fairy;
The Peach Blossom Fairy planted peach trees and picked peach blossoms to exchange for money to buy wine.
When I am sober, I sit in front of the flowers; when I am drunk, I sleep under them.
Half awake and half drunk day after day, flowers bloom and fall year after year.
I would rather die among flowers and wine than bow before carriages and horses;
The rich enjoy the dust of horses and carriages, while the poor enjoy wine cups and flowers.
If you compare the rich and noble with the poor and humble, one is on the ground and the other is in the sky;
If poverty and humbleness are compared to carriages and horses, he gets to drive and I get to rest.
Others laugh at me for being too crazy, I laugh at them for not seeing through me;
I don’t see the tombs of the heroes of Wuling, and I have no flowers or wine, so I just hoe the fields.”
[Statement] We are committed to protecting the content of every original creator, but because some pictures and texts come from various channels such as the Internet, we cannot trace the author. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete it.
