Ranwu (Rawu) Lake
然乌湖
The most famous high-altitude barrier lake on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, where snow mountains and glaciers are reflected in its blue-green water. The lakeside town is a stopover between Bomi and Bayi.
Ranwu Lake lies in Ranwu Township, Bayi County, Chamdo City, right beside the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway. It sits at an altitude of about 3,800 meters and stretches roughly 26 km, divided into upper, middle, and lower sections. It formed when a landslide dammed the Parlung Tsangpo, and the lake is the river’s source. Snow-capped mountains surround the lake. To the south, the Gangri Gabu snow mountain and the Laigu glacier group reach down to the shore. In autumn and winter, the lake turns blue-green and mirrors the peaks, making it one of the most classic views along the Sichuan-Tibet route. In the rainy summer, glacial meltwater flows in and the water turns slightly murky. Highlights include Upper Ranwu Lake (beside the highway, quiet and few people), the Ranwu Lake viewpoint (where you can simply park by the road), and Laigu Village and Laigu Glacier on the lake’s shore, about 30 km southwest of Ranwu Township. Admission is about 30 yuan, and you can get close to the glacier’s snout. How to visit: Most self-drivers come from Bomi, pass Midui Glacier, and arrive at Ranwu Lake. Spend the night in Ranwu Township and watch the sunrise, then head on to Bayi or turn back the next day. You can hike or ride horses around the lake. Admission is free. Note: Ranwu Township is at nearly 4,000 meters. Accommodations are basic, and nights are cold. Travelers sensitive to altitude sickness should consider staying in Bomi. Mist often covers the lake in the early morning, and the best views come after it clears around 8–9 a.m. Winds are strong in the lake area. Although it belongs to Chamdo City, it is usually visited as an extension of the Nyingchi–Bomi route.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Rawu Town
- Anmu Co
- Laigu Glacier
- Anjiula Pass
- Renlongba Glacier
- Midui Glacier
- Midui Village
- Nujiang 72 Bends (Mt. Yela)