Tibet: Nyingchi Part 1, Mar 2024

My trip to Tibet finally happened!  My trip started from Nyinchi in the east and I made my way west all the way to Lhasa.  Nyingchi or Linzhi (林芝) Prefecture in eastern Tibet translates to “Throne of the Sun” in Tibetan and is often referred to as the “Switzerland of Tibet”.  Located at an average elevation of 3,000 meters, it is often chosen as the starting point for travelers to acclimatize to the high altitude of the region.  Between mid March to mid April is the peach blossom season in Nyingchi and the main purpose of my trip.  I came here to photograph the vast landscapes, majestic snow capped mountains, and pristine glacial lakes, all highlighted by the layers of soft pink peach blossoms.  As there are no direct flights to Tibet from Hong Kong, I flew into Nyingchi from Shenzhen.  From Nyingchi town we hired a 4×4 and driver to take us to Suosong Village (索松村) at the entrance of Brahmaputra River where there is a concentration of wild peach blossoms.  The village is surrounded by mountains and shrouded in cloud and mist.  It feels like something out of a fairytale and locals call the area “ten miles of peach blossoms”.  Photographers, like myself, come here to capture the Brahmaputra River, the Bawa Peak, and the peach blossom forests.  Be sure to book your hotels well ahead of time.  By the time I started booking my hotels, many were already full and most did not receive non-mainland Chinese residents.  I ended up staying at the overpriced and very average Yunding Hotel inside the scenic area.  Apparently, non-mainland Chinese residents are no longer allowed to stay inside the scenic area, but the rules have not yet changed when I booked the hotel online so they had to honor my booking.  The rooms are very basic but the hotel did have a decent view of Mount Namjagbarwa (南迦巴瓦峰).

Yunding Hotel in Suosong Village

Beautiful peach blossoms along the road to Suosong Village.

Scenic landscape along the road to Suosong Village

Buddha Palm Sand Dunes, located on the northern bank of Yarlung Zangbo River.  The dunes are said to resemble Buddha’s palms, but I can’t seem to see them.  It doesn’t look it but the size of this dune is second only to the Wolong sand dunes and you can go sledding here.

Buddha Palm Sand Dunes

Yarlung Tsangpo Valley (雅魯藏布) is a large plain where the Yarlung Tsangpo River joins the Chongye River.

Yarlung Tsangpo Valley

Yarlung Tsangpo Valley

Yarlung Tsangpo Valley

Through this tree tunnel towards Suosong Village

The wild peach blossoms are blooming much later this year due to the cold winter.  Normally by late March/early April they are already in full bloom.

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon or Brahmaputra Grand Canyon (雅魯藏布大峽谷) is one of the longest and deepest canyons in the world.  The Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon contains nine vertical natural zones, ranging from alpine ice and snow to tropical rainforests, so it is the place with the most complete alpine vertical natural zones in the world.  The peach blossoms here are able to bloom at the foot of the snowy mountains and paint a dreamlike picture together with the steep canyon, crystal clear rivers, and barley green plains.

Wild peach blossoms of Lingzhi

Guru Temple in Tunbai Village

Guru Temple in Tunbai Village

Beautiful panoramic views of the area, including the elusive Mount Namjagbarwa, from Guru Temple.

Guru Temple

Mount Namjagbarwa (南迦巴瓦峰) in the distance shrouded in clouds.

Centuries-old peach blossom tree decorated with prayer flags stands alone in the field facing Mount Namjagbarwa.

Peach blossoms of Suosong Village

Peach blossoms by the river at Gong Zundemu Farm Hotel (公尊德姆农庄)