Autumn colors the Basongcuo Lake, with snow-capped mountains and clear waters like a painting.

Basongcuo, also known as Cuogao Lake, means "green water" in Tibetan and is one of the largest glacial freshwater barrier lakes in eastern Tibet.

The lake surface of Basongcuo is at an altitude of 3,490 meters. Thanks to the vast vegetation in the Nyingchi area, there is almost no altitude sickness here, making it an ideal destination for those new to Tibet.

The most common way to tour Basongcuo is to stop at various viewing platforms, the most famous being the Dachela Platform (photo 20) and the two viewing platforms on the lake island.

🌟👍📸 For a different approach, this time we parked at the Jieba Village Platform (photo 19) and walked along the lakeside boardwalk all the way to near the lake island (normally you can return to the road from the lake island platform), but due to maintenance, we returned the same way. The round trip is about 3 kilometers, and because of the dense vegetation, there was no altitude sickness.

👍👏🔥 The biggest advantages of this boardwalk are:
1️⃣ The boardwalk winds and twists, with a new view at every step. Besides panoramic photos like those from the Dachela Platform, photos taken from this boardwalk are more unique. Especially in autumn, the autumn leaves by the lake provide a distinctive touch.
2️⃣ There are almost no other tourists, making the entire boardwalk feel like private territory.

📍Detailed address: Basongcuo Scenic Area, Nyingchi, Tibet.

🚉 Transportation tips: It takes 4 hours to drive from Lhasa and 2 hours from Nyingchi City. The road conditions are very good, so even beginners can drive here.

🎫 Ticket information: Peak season (May 1 - October 31) 120 RMB, off-season (November 1 - April 30) 60 RMB. If you stay overnight in the scenic area, you can drive for free.

🕙 Opening hours:
Peak season 08:30-20:30, off-season 09:30-19:30.

👍 Most recommended viewing spots: Jieba Village Viewing Platform (overlooking the entire Jieba Village), Dachela Viewing Platform (an excellent spot overlooking the whole Basongcuo), Lake Island (Tsezong Monastery, a monastery of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism), and the Forgotten Pier (a 20-minute walk, featuring a sky mirror and photo spots).

Post by fightingbreak | Oct 26, 2025