Photo: The Kula Kangri Scenic Area in Lhozhag County.(by Kelsang)

When it comes to tourismin Xizang, what comes to your mind? The Potala Palace, Mount Qomolangma, Mount Kailash? Perhaps the peach blossoms inLinzhiand the Qiangtang Grassland. What about ShannanCity? Many people will pause for a moment — "Oh, the area around Yamdrok Lake."

Cars slow down from the Gangbala Pass to the lakeside. The viewing platform is crowded with tourists, and small queues form in front of the booths for cultural and creative products, food, Tibetan incense giveaways and blessing messages board. According to the summary of Shannan's cultural and tourism authorities, during the Double Holiday (National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival), the Yamdrok Tso Scenic Area received 75,490 visitors with a revenueof 1.4241 million yuan. In Shannan, most tourists still only remember "Yamdrok Lake".

Shannan is the hometown of the Tubo Kingdom and the birthplace of Tibetan culture. It boasts rich cultural heritage, profound history and stunning natural landscapes. In terms of cultural tourism resources, Shannan is incredibly abundant; but its visibility in the cultural tourism market does not match such advantages.

If you enter Xizangby plane, you have already arrived in Shannan the moment you land. "Lhasa Gonggar Airport" is located right in Shannan.

Starting from Qonggyai County in the Yarlung heartland, the towering Tombs of Tibetan Kings quietly tell the glory of the Tubo Kingdom. The first Tubo king, the first palace, the first Buddhist hall, the first farmland, the first monastery, the first Tibetan opera... numerous "firsts" in Tibetan history interpret the weight of the title "Origin of Xizang".

To the southeast, Gyaca County hides a thousand-year-old walnut forest, where 3,657 ancient trees over 1,000 years old grow in clusters, witnessing the changes of time. In the Cuijiu Valley lies LhamoLa Tso at an altitude of over 5,300 meters, made mysterious and beautiful by Tibetan legends.

To the south is LhunzeCounty. Tso Ga Lake, which faces the ZhariSnow Mountain from afar, is a paradise for professional hikers. The well-known saying "Yumai is my home, China is our motherland" has spread across the country, and the border town Yumai has become a famous red cultural landmark. Further south, you can experience the Lhoba ethnic customs, and the Monument of General Zhang Guirong stands quietly on the winding mountain road.

To the west is NagarzeCounty. PumoYum Tso, a high-altitude lake at an altitude of 5,010 meters, has mirror-like blue ice in winter and a gentle, maiden-like charm in summer. The main peak of Kula Kangri is 7,538 meters high, with three alpine lakes at its foot, which is praised by hiking enthusiasts as a top route "comparable to the Nepal EBC".

In Comai County in the southwest, deep in the Qialatuogang Snow Mountain lies the "Heart-shaped Lake" Guru La Tso, whose water is an incredibly vivid blue. The Zegu Grassland has a complete alpine wetland ecosystem, where you can watch black-necked cranes dance beside Zegu Tso and make eye contact with Tibetan wild asses, the "eyes of the plateau".

Starting from Lhakang Town in Lhozhag County, passing through Bianba Township and crossing the Jimumgonglie Mountain at an altitude of over 5,400 meters, you can see ancient watchtowers scattered and standing tall all along the way.

In Cona City, the altitude drops sharply from over 4,000 meters to more than 2,000 meters. The Lebu Valley is covered with subtropical forests and cascading waterfalls, and the Palace of Tsangyang Gyatso still stands today. On the border, the unnamed highland is shrouded in clouds and mist, reminding people of the events more than 60 years ago. In Mama Township, the former site of General Zhang Guohua's frontline command post is still well-preserved.

The ethnic customs here are also rich and diverse. Take hand-woven crafts for example: the Bangdian (Tibetan apron) in Jiedexiu Town, Gonggar County has a history of more than 500 years. The "Lice Carving" in Zhanang County is a unique skill — over 300 years ago, artisans could carve a single highland barley grain into a lifelike "lice". The "Zetieer" in Nedong is one of the most complex and finest representative categories in the entire Pulu (Tibetan woolen fabric) system...

With pure snow-capped mountains and lakes, virgin forests, border customs, Tibetan origin culture, red memories and intangible cultural heritage skills, Shannan has gathered all the essential elements of plateau tourism.

Reporters: Sun Kaiyuan, Liu Weitao, Zhang Yu, TenzinLangsai, Xue Ying, Wu Peitao, Song Haiyan

Translator: Peng Qing

First Review: Liu Fang

Second Review: Drakpa Wangchen 

Third Review:  Hu Rongguo