Self-drive tour of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (14) - Lesser-known attractions: "Three-color Lake" and Xianggela Glacier.

Self-drive tour of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (14) Lesser-known attractions: "Three-color Lake" and Xianggela Glacier Chamdo, Tibet - Naqu September 13, 2024 Weather: Overcast to cloudy, temperature: 7-22°C, highest altitude of the day: 5,072 m, National Highway 317 - National Highway 558. "Three-color Lake" and Xianggela Glacier are located in Puyu Village, Bianba Town, Bianba County, and are one of the stops on National Highway 349, the secret of eastern Tibet (Figure 1). The scenic area has a gate and a visitor center, but no one is on duty and no tickets are required. Self-driving cars can follow the main road (584 County Road) in the scenic area, a two-way cement road, and drive 24 kilometers to the deepest part of the Xianggela Glacier (Figure 2). When I arrived yesterday evening, I saw that the weather was good, so I hurried to "Three-color Lake" and Xianggela Glacier to take a look. I returned to my residence when the sun set. Early this morning, I went to the scenic spot to take pictures as soon as it was light. It is very convenient and efficient to live in the scenic area. "Three-color Lake" is divided into Black Lake (Figure 3), White Lake (Figure 4), and Yellow Lake (Figure 5), among which Black Lake is the largest. Under the sun, the colors are different, so it is called "Three-color Lake". In fact, Yellow Lake is worthy of its name, and the other two lakes have no special colors. The three-color lakes are arranged in an irregular "品" shape, and the lakes are separated by low mountain platforms. They are all formed by the accumulation of ice and snow in the low-lying areas of the valley for many years (Figure 6). On the hillside by the Black Lake, there is the "Dazong Site", which is the office of the old Tibetan government, and its buildings have obvious defensive structures (Figure 7). The Xianggela Glacier in the deepest part of the scenic area is rarely visited and amazing. After a summer, when the surrounding mountains are not covered with ice and snow, it is still crystal clear and shining. There are still floating ice scattered on the glacial lake in front of the glacier (Figure 8), which is really magical. This morning, I also took a photo of "Sunshine on the Golden Mountain" (Figure 9) when I entered the glacier for the second time, but the clouds were not ideal. The real beauty often appears after a long journey, hard work, and deep exploration. Yesterday's fatigue suddenly disappeared. I left the scenic area in the morning, took National Highway 558, and successively crossed the Ga's La Mountain Pass (altitude 4,998 meters) and Xiala Mountain Pass (altitude 5,072 meters), creating a new high. The next new high is expected to be the Nagenla Pass of the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains in three days. Compared with yesterday, today's National Highway 558 is much easier to walk. Although the altitude is above 4,000 meters, it is also a gravel road, but it is not as difficult as Provincial Highway 302. Stay in Biru County tonight (altitude 3,950 meters). Go to Naqu tomorrow after visiting two small attractions along the way.