Rawok Lake & Midui Glacier
A glacial lake region on the Sichuan–Tibet Highway: Rawok Lake mirrors snow peaks, Midui and Lagu glaciers reach down to villages and forests, and the Nujiang 72 Bends lie to the east.
Rawok Lake & Midui Glacier lies on the G318 Sichuan–Tibet Highway in southeastern Tibet, spanning eastern Bomi County in Nyingchi and western Baxoi County in Chamdo. It is the area with the greatest concentration of maritime glaciers in the Gangrigabu Mountains and the eastern Nyainqêntanglha Range. Rawok Lake was formed when a landslide dammed the Parlung Tsangpo, and its surface sits at about 3,800 m. The Lagu glaciers southwest of the lake and Midui Glacier to the west both reach the edge of villages and forests, making them some of the easiest glaciers in China to see up close.
Key areas: ① Rawok Town and Rawok Lake – the hub for lodging, fuel and supplies; Upper Rawok Lake and Anmu Co can be visited along the way; ② Lagu Glacier – about 30 km southwest of Rawok Town, with its terminus reaching into the lake; in winter and spring you can walk up to the ice; ③ Midui Glacier and Midui Village – about 50 km west of Rawok Town, turning off beside G318 and hiking to a viewing platform; ④ to the northeast, cross Anjiula Pass and pass through Baxoi county town to Yela Mountain for a panorama of the Nujiang 72 Bends; ⑤ Renlongba Glacier on the road from Rawok toward Zayü, suited to self-drivers on the Bing–Cha–Cha route.
The best season is September–November, with rich autumn color and clear lake water; March–April offers ice, snow and an extension to peach blossoms; June–August is the rainy season, with frequent landslides and murky lake water. In winter the glaciers can be viewed up close, but the passes are prone to snow and ice.
Getting there: the nearest airports are Nyingchi Mainling Airport (about 400 km) and Chamdo Bangda Airport (about 250 km). It is usually a stop on a G318 self-drive or chartered-car itinerary; from Bomi to Rawok takes about 2.5 hours. Allow 1–2 days, staying one night in Rawok Town for sunrise. Elevations run 3,800–4,600 m, so watch for altitude sickness and dress warmly; road conditions and temporary closures are frequent, so check before setting out.
Top sights
- Ranwu (Rawu) Lake – The most famous high-altitude barrier lake on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, where snow mountains and glaciers are reflected in its blue-green…
- Midui Glacier – One of China’s most beautiful glaciers, its tongue reaches down to a forest and village at 2,400 meters. You can get close on a boardwalk t…
- Laigu Glacier – A group of glaciers at the source of Ranwu Lake. Six glaciers surround Laigu Village, and their ice tongues reach straight into the glacial…
- Rawu Town – A Sichuan–Tibet Highway town at the northern end of Lake Ranwu, serving as the base for stays and supplies for the Laigu and Midui glaciers.
- Anmu Co – A small upstream lake on the west side of Ranwu Lake, passed by the G318 highway, where snowy peaks, forest and emerald water make a calm s…
- Midui Village – A Tibetan village at the foot of Midui Glacier, where wooden houses, barley fields and glacier-capped peaks come together. Guesthouses are…
- Nujiang 72 Bends (Mt. Yela) – A mountain road section on the G318 at Mount Yela, where a viewpoint looks down on the continuous hairpin bends descending into the Nu Rive…
- Anjiula Pass – A G318 pass between Ranwu and Bayi at about 4,475 m, surrounded by high alpine meadows and snow peaks.
- Renlongba Glacier – A roadside glacier on the route from Ranwu toward Chayu, where the glacier tongue lies close to the road. It is a free glacier viewpoint on…
Where to eat
- Ranwu Shanghu Tibetan Restaurant – Tibetan restaurant opened by a returning college graduate in Ranwu town, now the largest Tibetan eatery in town, praise…
Itineraries
- Sichuan-Tibet Highway G318: Chengdu to Lhasa – Traverse Western Sichuan and Eastern Tibet along National Highway 318, crossing high mountain passes, glaciers, and lus…
- Yunnan-Tibet Highway Self-Drive: Lijiang to Lhasa – A classic road trip from Lijiang to Lhasa via Shangri-La, Meili, Yanjing, and Nyingchi.