Lost My Phone in the Arms of the "Father of Glaciers," but Found the Awe of an Entire Summer

📅 My Trekking Diary at Mount Sapu

📍Location: Mount Sapu, Nagqu, Tibet (a sacred mountain in Tibetan Bon religion, the ultimate aesthetic of glaciers and lakes)

✨ Soul-stirring! When the glacial tongue of Mount Sapu licked the holy lake, I forgot to breathe

At 6 a.m., wrapped in a rented army coat, I rushed to the viewpoint. In the mist, the 6,956-meter Mount Sapu suddenly unveiled itself—the glacial tongue at its end plunged into the emerald holy lake, with clouds like ceremonial scarves wrapped around its waist. I fumbled for my phone to capture a time-lapse, only for a sudden mountain wind to sweep it into the lake. Yet, I laughed—finally free from the tyranny of notifications.

🏔️ Immersive Glacier Pilgrimage | Every ice crystal whispers Bon legends

1. **Sapu Glacier (The Heart of the Sacred Mountain)**

✅ Must-do:
- Arrive before 7:00! Capture "glacial tongue reflections + fluttering prayer flags" with a 0.5x wide-angle for epic depth.
- Walk clockwise around the lake three times, tossing "Lungta" prayer papers (¥10/pack).
🚗 Transport: Charter a car from Lhasa (¥1,500/day) → Baiga Township → 3km hike to the base.

2. **Sapu Holy Lake (Tears of the Sacred Mountain)**

✅ Hidden gems:
- Drone shots of "glacial fractures + blue ice," straight-out-of-camera alien landscapes.
- Touch the "hot spring vents" (40°C) and photograph steam framing the snowy peaks.

3. **Mount Yala Xiangbu (The Secret Within Secrets)**

✅ Legendary moves:
- Hike 6km around the lake for "snow mountain reflections + alpine rhododendrons."
- Stargazing camping (¥80/person)—see the Milky Way with naked eyes (bring a down jacket!).

4. **Sapu Monastery (Beacon of Faith)**

✅ Must-capture:
- "Ancient monastery + glacier backdrop," and use phone macro mode for "Mani stone scriptures."
- Encounter "circumambulating pilgrims" (bring a telephoto lens! Don’t disturb).

5. **Zhuocuo Baimalin Lake (Hidden Corner of Primeval Forest)**

✅ Extreme experiences:
- Hike 4km around the lake for "fir tree reflections + streams"—white outfits pop in photos.
- Stargazing camping (¥80/person)—see the Milky Way (down jacket mandatory!).

🍜 Tibetan Cuisine Shock | Lost 5kg in 3 days

- Must-eat list:
1. **Yak meat hotpot (¥120)**: Highland yak bone broth with radishes—unbelievably sweet!
2. **Tibetan steamed buns (¥25)**: Yak meat filling, dipped in chili powder—divine!
3. **Butter tea (¥10)**: Salty and rich, fights altitude sickness.

- Avoid: Overpriced "miracle herbs" in scenic areas—buy cheaper at town pharmacies!

🛏️ Stay Recommendations | Living at 4,800m in Faith

- **Holy Lake Camp**: Stargazing tents (¥500/night), facing Sapu Glacier, breakfast included.
- **Baiga Township**: Sapu Inn (¥680/night), heated floors with oxygen, free oxygen tanks.

💡 Pitfall Guide (Learned the Hard Way!)

1. **Transport**:
- Charter cars from Lhasa require a free border permit. 4WD SUV is a must!
- No signal in the sacred mountains—download offline maps.
2. **Essentials**:
- ID, border permit, sunglasses (snow blindness prevention), cash (only accepted).
- Oxygen cans! Altitude sickness hits hard above 4,800m.
3. **Hidden plays**:
- **Kuqiong Gangri Glacier**: Free "blue ice caves + crevasses"—drones amplify the drama!
- **Biru Skull Wall**: Trek to ancient villages, chance upon sky burial sites (telephoto lens!).

📸 Legendary Shots

- **Sapu glacial tongue reflections** (straight-out-of-camera! ISO100 + wide aperture for bokeh).
- **Zhuocuo Baimalin Lake stars**: Phone pro mode ISO800, 30s shutter.

💰 3-day cost: Transport ¥1,500 + Stay ¥1,180 + Food ¥300 = ¥2,980

✨ Ramblings
Mount Sapu is truly the "glacier closest to heaven"! Losing my phone was worth it—yak hotpot and stars healed everything. Next time, I’ll bring my parents for a week of circumambulation, sutras, and sunrises—living lazy and spoiled by the sacred mountain! (P.S.: Butter tea is *chef’s kiss*!)