Tibet in Spring： Too Good to Be True

Zhang Xiaoyan

One of the five autonomous regions of ethnic minorities in China， covering an area of 1.22 million square kilometers， a size of France， Spain and Greece combined， Tibet remains one of the holiest destinations and the must-see places in a lifetime for travellers from home and abroad， who want to explore the breathtaking landscape， unique cultures， enigmatic religion， primitive wildlife， and to experience the azure sky， the intense sunray， the inclement climate， as well as the oxygen deficit， all brought by the average 5，000-meter altitude of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Fleeting time of Tibet

Either an adventurous explorer on the vast mountainous territory or a leisure vacationer who wishes only to have “been there， done that”， you are always advised to visit Lhasa， the capital city of this autonomous region of Tibetans. Lhasa is a colorful national geographic land： You can visit the Potala Palace， which is the most revered place， the pride of Tibetans， a World Heritage Site， and the most important landmark of Tibet to the outside world； you can see prostrating pilgrims， people spinning prayer wheels on the street， a great variety of tribal dress， yaks， maroon-robed monks， unusual handicrafts and architecture， great mountains， and smiling， friendly natives most of whom dont mind having their photos taken when asked.

Apart from that， interesting things for a tourist to do in Tibet can cover： To appreciate the highest peak in the world， Mt. Everest （or Mt. Qomolangma） that stands at 8844. 43 meters above sea level； to stroll along the stunning alpine lakes and make a wish； to walk the Kora （pilgrimage） of the Holy Mt. Kailash； to venture into the haven of wildlife； to photograph the breathtaking Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon； to document the multiple forms of Tibetan arts； to enjoy the Tibet train， the worlds highest railway； to name just a few.

Either an adventurous explorer on the vast mountainous territory or a leisure vacationer who wishes only to have “been there， done that”， you are always advised to visit Lhasa.

Experiencing the spring in Tibet

If you want to find out what Tibet looks like other than the routine high mountains and Buddhist temples， springtime can be the option for exploring it.

In Tibet， spring seems a fictional existence， yet if you are now in the southeast Tibet， you must be surprised by the best scenes of spring ever in China before your eyes， which will definitely smash the image of vast and bleak highland of Tibet most people are used to. Yes， the spring of Tibet is special in that it has not only the red flowers and green leaves that are normal in the season but also the white mountains with melting snow and blue sky with golden sunshine that are the signature sight of Tibet.

Wild peach blossoms burst into bloom in abundance in the Himalaya Mountain as well as the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon. Under the snow mountain， by the roadside， near the river， in the rural village， the peach trees cannot wait to burst forth pink flowers. With pink flowers and white snow， blue sky and red sun， warm spring and cold winter side by side， it is hard for you to judge where you really are， the austere Tibet or the tender Southern Yangtze River valley.

The widespread sea of flowers will guide you to two long strips of territory， one of which is the area starting from Gongbogyamda County of Nyingchi Prefecture eastward through Bayi Town to reach Miling and ultimately the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon， and the other of which is the area running eastward to end in Bome County and Medog County. The overwhelming pink flowers present the best scene of spring with their beautiful shapes and poses from the mid-March to mid-April each year. It is said that the peach trees are more than one thousand years old or it is a sheer rumor， but either following the Sichuan-Tibet Highway， the highest and most dangerous road in the world， or along the banks of Yarlung Tsangpo River， the river with turbulent flow and

tremendous hydropower， either by the roadside or around mountain glaciers， the ubiquitous peach blossoms have helped dress up the most beautiful national highway and add color to the deepest canyon in the world.

In a highly religious region like Tibet， people are in awe of the mountains they see， where they believe the essence of Buddhism hides deep. But it is not everybody that can see the true color of Mt. Namjagbarwa. The holy mountain in March is covered with golden ray in sunset and the mist drifting over the top seems to prompt a date between humanity and deity.

Tibet is also a land of alpine lakes， the renowned of which are Lake Yamtso， Lake Namtso and Lake Rawok. When the early spring is still a season of alternative chillness and warmness， Lake Rawok has a snow， which is without the wintry coldness but full of the vernal passion.

Along the Rawok-Zayu Highway， a tremendous expanse comes into your eyes， which turns out to be a pasture with yellow grass extending to horizon. The colossal snow mountains lie endlessly at the other side of the grassland， with the lake emitting bluish light， and the crude wood cottages of Tibetan nomads scattering at the shore， which is the primitive spectacle of upper Lake Rawok， the best part of the lake. Far ahead， a flash of sunray rises from where the water meets the sky， light mist lingers in the valley， and vapor spreads over the lake surface， which is flat like a mirror that reflects the azure sky， the colorful clouds， the snow mountains and forests， a spectacle which is often depicted in classical Chinese poems， except that right here it is not sunset but sunrise.

Much as spring finds her way difficult into Tibet and Himalaya， where fields， villages and waters are still under the cover of snow， the world there in spring is fresh and clean.