The Great Canyon of the Yarlung Zangbo features dangerously steep cliffs and deep gorges, showcasing nine altitudinal natural belts form the alpine snow belt to the tropical rainforest. It has the most complete range of mountain altitudinal belts in the world. As the world’s biggest and most spectacular gorge, it also boasts the richest gene pool of animal and plant species in the world.
The Great Canyon embraces the high mountains in the snow-covered Mt. Namjagbartwa area. The Yarlung Zangbo rushes down torrentially like a sharp sword, cutting through the barries of t he mountains and sending forth a steady flow of mist down to the plateau; thus this area receives ample rainfall and is green everywhere. Located in the southeastern part of the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau, it features high mountains, thick forests, deep gorges, and roaring rapids and is practially inaccessible. So far humans have not succeeded in passing through it. It is nicknamed the “last secret place of humankind” for its difficult terrain.
The basic features of the Great Canyon can be summed up in nine words: high, spectacular, deep, dangerous, extraordinary, humid, lengthy, low and picturesque.
Tips: The Great Canyon of the Yarlung Zangbo was officially open to tourists on Nov. 1, 2007. It is open from November 1 to May 1. The area open to tourists is from Pelung Village at the entrance to the Great Canyon in Nyingchi County to Trachu at the Great Bend of the Yarlung Zangbo. The entire length of this trek is 45 km. Hikers will have to walk along the plank built on the face of the cliffs in the canyon.