Ranwu Lake, reputed as “Jiuzhai on the Plateau, Yaochi of Western Heaven”

Site location: Ranwu Township, Basu County, Qamdo Prefecture, Tibet

Ranwu Lake is the largest lake in eastern Tibet, with a total area of 27 square kilometers. The lake is 25 kilometers long and 1-2 kilometers wide. It consists of three connected lakes, namely Yangcuo Lake, Bangcuo Lake and Lenganjiabu Lake.

"Ranwu" means "goat's milk lake" in Tibetan, and it is named because the lake water is milky white and resembles goat's milk. Legend has it that the King Gesar placed a horn bow here in order to capture the single-legged ghost. The shape of the mountain here is like a horn bow, so it was named Ranwu.

Ranwu Lake is known as the "Yaochi of Western Heaven" and "Jiuzhai on the Plateau." It is located at the junction of the Nianqing Tanggula and Hengduan Mountains. Ranwu Town is located at 3927 meters above sea level. It belongs to the plateau temperate semi-arid monsoon climate, with sufficient sunshine, distinct dry and rainy seasons. Due to the high mountains, deep valleys and the obvious vertical differences in climate, the surrounding natural environment with the increase in altitude and different geographical locations creates a strange scene of "a mountain with four seasons, ten miles with different weather."

Ranwu Lake

1. The Formation of Lake Ranwu

Ranwu Lake is the source of Palong Zangbo River, a tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River, and the origin of the Palong Grand Canyon. Gangri Gabu Mountain on the south side of Ranwu Lake is 6626 meters above sea level. The snow on the top of the mountain does not melt all the year round. It has developed a huge modern glacier, forming a magnificent Laigu glacier scenic spot, and at the same time provides a rich water source for Ranwu Lake.

The Ranwu Lake area is a huge glacial valley formed by glaciers in different periods. More than 200 years ago, a large collapse occurred in the lower reaches of Ranwu Lake. The huge rock piles blocked the Palong Zangbo river and then a a huge plateau dammed lake was formed. It is Ranwu Lake.

The Island of Ranwu Lake

2. The Sacrifice at Ranwu Lake

There are lush trees on Lenganjiabu Island and there are many kinds of plants. Local people said that all kinds of vegetation in Basu County can be found on the island. There is a small temple in the shade of greenery on the island, which is said to be the relics of the island's lord Lengan Jiabu's bedroom.

In the past, the villagers rowed small boats to the small temple on the island to burn incense and sacrifice. Pray for rain when it's drought, and pray for sunshine when it's heavy. Under the blessing of the island owner Lengan Jiabu, the local grains are abundant, the weather is good, and the residents live and work in peace and contentment. Every year on June 5th in the Tibetan calendar, local residents must wash their bodies, chant sutras and worship, set fire to simmer mulberries, and go to the island to perform sacrifices. Women cannot go to the island.

Local residents also hold many large-scale lake sacrifice activities. Generally, each village appoints 13 people for horse racing activities. Villagers gather in the picturesque lakeside grassland to sing and dance to worship the lake.

Ranwu Lake in Winter

3. How to get to Ranwu Lake?

1) From Chengdu, Lhasa, Qamdo, Nyingchi and other places, you can take all the shuttle buses which runs on the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway and gets off at Ranwu Town.
2) The best way is to take the Sichuan-Tibet tour group to arrive at Lake Ranwu.