Trekking Around Yubeng: A Journey of Reflection on Life and Nature

In Tibetan Buddhism, there are the "Eight Sacred Mountains," which stand as guardians of the four directions. For Tibetan Buddhist believers, these mountains are unshakable pillars of faith. Through the ritual of "circumambulating the mountain," devotees undertake pilgrimages on foot, seeking to cleanse their sins, purify their souls, and receive the blessings and protection of the sacred mountains.

Perhaps we are not believers, but as we follow in the footsteps of these pilgrims, observing every tree and stone along the way and feeling the breath of the towering mountains and distant paths, we can catch a glimpse of the solemnity embedded in this ancient and enduring faith.

At the foot of Kawagebo, the "foremost of the Eight Sacred Mountains," you can experience the atmosphere of such a pilgrimage.

【Yubeng Village】
If the sacred mountain is always watching over its devotees, then this is the place it observes most closely. Nestled in the closest village to Kawagebo, the Tibetan villagers here still lead traditional lives.

They live in harmony with nature, building their homes according to the contours of the mountains, forming the Upper and Lower Yubeng Villages—one perched on the mountainside, the other spread across the valley. They revere the snow-capped peaks, grow barley, ride horses, herd cattle and sheep, and have quietly lived here for generations.

【Feilai Temple】
Legend has it that this temple was built according to divine will. When Feilai Temple was first constructed, the original site was two kilometers away from its current location.

It is said that the building materials were prepared and placed at the initial site, but before construction began, the main beams and pillars mysteriously disappeared. When people tracked them down, they found the beams already erected, perfectly aligned and orderly. It was as if divine intervention had taken place, and thus the temple was named Feilai Temple, meaning "Flying Temple."

Coincidentally, the current location is ideal—it faces Meili Snow Mountain directly and is the best spot to witness the "Golden Sunrise." At dawn, Kawagebo is gradually bathed in golden sunlight, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

【Ice Lake】
At the foot of the sacred mountain lies a high-altitude lake at about 3,800 meters above sea level, its deep green waters resembling a gemstone. Local Tibetans regard it as the "tears" of Kawagebo, a part of the sacred mountain's essence and a traditional pilgrimage site for circumambulation.

Walking clockwise around the Ice Lake three times is believed to purify one with the lake's "divine power." On clear days, the lake reflects the pristine snow-capped peaks, contrasting with the surrounding rocks—a scene that blends sanctity, majesty, and tranquility into one.

【Sacred Waterfall】
The Sacred Waterfall marks the endpoint of the inner circumambulation route and serves as a reward from the sacred mountain.

With a height difference of about 643 meters, the waterfall cascades continuously, as if descending from the heavens. Tibetans say it is holy water brought down from the sky by the deity of Kawagebo. Bathing in this sacred water is believed to cleanse impurities, renew the spirit, and bestow blessings.

This ancient ritual reflects the Tibetan people's primal contemplation of life and nature—the "divine power" of nature is the very origin of life. Trekking through Yubeng with a sincere heart allows one to understand the gifts and nurturing of nature.