Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake｜Free waterside photo spots + full guide to mountain top views

🌄Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake｜📸Unlock free photo locations

🚗 Route: Lhasa city → Zhangda Township (waterside view) → Rurila Viewing Platform (overlook view)

⏰ Duration: 3.5 hours one way (pure driving time)

📌 Distance: 170+ kilometers

🌟 Lazy time slot: Leaving at noon is still enough to enjoy! (Tested effective)

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📸 Spot 1: Hidden photo spot in Zhangda Township (location marked in photo 5)

📍 Navigation tip: From Lhasa to Rurila Viewing Platform, make sure to add [Zhangda Township] as a waypoint to get the recommended route (navigation screenshot in photo 2)

✨ Highlights:

✔️ Lake surface within reach: Closer to the water than the viewing platform, you might catch water birds swimming in a row (can’t tell if they’re ducks or birds but super cute!)

✔️ Exclusive experience: Off the beaten path, not a popular spot; when we arrived there was only one car, allowing for exclusive lake view shots (photo 6 as proof)

✔️ Long lakeshore: Easily capture a cinematic "one person, one lake, one mountain" vibe

⚠️ Warning: Don’t drive recklessly close to the lakeshore (danger zone shown in photo 5)

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📸 Spot 2: Rurila Viewing Platform (direct navigation)

📍 Route: Continue uphill from Zhangda Township to reach

✨ Cloud-level perspective:

✔️ God’s view: Highest altitude point, Yamdrok Lake spreads like blue silk among the mountains (real shot in photo 8)

✔️ Full free facilities: Viewing platform includes restrooms + parking lot + indoor heated room

✔️ Energy station: Juicy delicious grilled sausages for 10 yuan! Freshly fried fries and chicken cutlets to fill you up

⚠️ Caution tips (road condition photos in photo 7):

1) Bomb crater section → detour with S-shaped path

2) Gravel road section → drive very slowly

3) Hairpin mountain road → honk and proceed carefully

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💡 Practical tips

✅ Non-drivers can choose a one-day Lhasa charter tour (pick a reputable driver!)

✅ High altitude sufferers bring oxygen bottles + energy bars (viewing platform altitude near 5000 meters)

✅ Warm clothing: down jacket / windbreaker (strong winds on the mountain top, can take off clothes by the lake for photos)

✅ Pet friendly: cats and dogs don’t get altitude sickness (keep them warm in the car after photos)

✅ Outfit formula: white/bright clothes + blue lake and sky = easy stunning shots 🔹