Bomê Town

The “Switzerland of Tibet” on the Parlung Tsangpo River and a key overnight stop on the Sichuan–Tibet Highway: peach blossom valleys in spring, the Gang spruce forest and Guxiang Lake in summer and autumn, and the road south over Galongla to Medog.

Bomê County lies in the east of Nyingchi, Tibet. The county seat, Zhamo, sits in the valley of the Parlung Tsangpo at about 2,700 m, with a mild, humid climate and dense forest cover; it is known as the “Switzerland of Tibet” and is one of the most comfortable overnight stops on National Highway 318, the Sichuan–Tibet Highway. There are three main routes: northwest along a tributary to the peach blossom valley of Qingduo Town and Xumu Township, where wild peach blossoms frame snow peaks and glaciers in spring; west along G318 to the Gang spruce forest, Guxiang Lake and the Galang Wetland, which can be combined in one day; and south on the Zhamo Highway through the Galongla Tunnel to Gawalong Tianchi lake, watching the scenery change from snow peaks to primeval forest. About 80 km east are Midui Glacier and Rawu Lake (listed separately as Rawu & Midui), and to the west are the treacherous Tongmai section and Yigong (listed separately). The best seasons are the peach blossom season from late March to mid-April and autumn colours in September–October; in the July–August rainy season, G318 and the Zhamo Highway are prone to landslides, and in winter snow on Galongla may close the road. You can drive or hire a car from Nyingchi (about 230 km) or from the Chamdo direction, or take a scheduled bus to Zhamo. Allow 1–2 days. Entering Medog requires a border permit, so check road restrictions before you go.

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