Yangpachen


Situated about 90 kilometers northwest to Lhasa City, the Yangpachen geothermal area has many hot
water wells and hot springs, which covers an area of 40 square kilometers.

Lying about 4,300 meters above sea level, Yangpachen has a unique natural phenomenon: warm, green
grassland valley encircled by snow-caped mountains of over 5,500 meters in height.  Its grass is green all
year-round; even during bitter winter when the temperature is usually -20 ℃, its hot spring water is still 30
– 40℃.

It was said that long time ago, before the sky and the earth was separated, the whole world was in total
darkness. People living at the foot of Mt. Nyainqentanglha were suffering. One day, a golden phoenix flied
to the area, determined to create brightness by sacrificing itself. It threw one of its bright eyes onto the ground. A fairy caught the eye, and then a
bright lamp arose in the air. Snow capped peaks of Mt. Nyainqentanglha appeared; grassland like huge carpet emerged; happiness came into
Tibetan people. However, a greedy man near Yangpachen coveted the lamp. He took a witch man's idea to sharpen his hatred into an arrow to
shoot the lamp. The lamp was broken then, the pieces of the lamp dropped onto the ground, turning into hot springs and burned the man to his
end. People said that the hot springs were the fairy's tears.

The early morning in Yangpachen is very attactive, with the hydrothermal fields suffused with white haze and the lake surface covered with heavy
steam agglomerations. If you are lucky enough, you may have a chance to witness the fantastic and splendid scene: the boiling water is erupting
to the sky from the mouth of hot spring.

The town lies on a high and cold plateau. However, people approaching will see some hot springs blowing out steam rising up to sky. While the
surrounding area was barren and extremely cold, Yangpachen is green with grass and highland
barley growing abundantly. Steam emitting from the springs covers the small town.

By using its rich natural resources, Yangpachen has the largest geothermal energy power station in
China, whose yearly output supplies 45% of electricity required by Lhasa City. The hot spring resort is
in the open air, which attracts both residents of Lhasa and tourists alike