Let’s go to Linzhi! See the spring flowing out of the world’s deepest canyon

The time is now

Under the sharpest and coldest snow peak

The most beautiful and charming peach blossom

At an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 meters

Blooming in patches

This is Linzhi City, Tibet Autonomous Region

A real paradise

(At the entrance of Bomi Peach Blossom Valley, photographer @张静)

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However, Linzhi has been hidden for a long time.

Too many people don’t know the real Linzhi

Its charm is more than just the snow-capped peach blossoms

The Yarlung Zangbo River, the largest river in Tibet

After turning 180 degrees here, it rushes southward.

The deepest and longest canyon in the world

Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon

Embedded in its mountains

(Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, photographer @山风)

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It is definitely not the desperate snowy area in the eyes of ordinary people.

It is the most unique part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Countless creatures thrive here.

Here, trees 20-30 stories high compete to grow upwards.

In the jungle, tigers, leopards, gorals and other large and medium-sized animals compete to kill each other

It is one of the most biodiverse areas in China.

(Tall Bhutanese pine forest in Green Village, Medog County, the tallest of which is 76.8 meters high, photographer @邹涛)

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but

It also has the most difficult project to build in China

Highway construction started in 1975

Continuous avalanches, landslides, and blockages

Repair and stop, repair and patch

Until recent years, it has been possible to pass normally

Finally arrived at Medog, the most difficult county to reach in China

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Medog County on the banks of the Yarlung Zangbo River covered in clouds and mist, photographer @刘璐)

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Why Nyingchi

So rich? So mysterious?

According to the Planetary Research Institute

This is due to the simultaneous appearance behind it.

The three most active forces on Earth

Thus shaping

Mountains surge, rivers flow, and everything grows

Shaping China's most active zone

01

Mountain Knot

Nyingchi is located in the southeast of Tibet.

As a prefecture-level city

It has an area of ​​115,000 km².

Equivalent to Jiangsu Province

Such a vast area

Its most notable geographical feature

We need to look down from the sky

There are five huge mountain ranges.

Gathered here in different directions

Twisted into a clockwise mountain knot

(Linzhi location and topography, map by @Chen Zhihao/Planetary Research Institute)

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first

The King of Mountains - Himalayas

From its southwestern end

(Please watch in horizontal screen, a series of peaks at the junction of the Himalayas and the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, with Mount Nanga Bawa in the distance, photographer @笨小航)

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As the highest peak in the eastern Himalayas

Mount Nanga Bawa

At an altitude of 7782 meters

Located in the heart of Nyingchi

And become the highest point of Linzhi

It has a sharp shape

Like a spear piercing the sky

(View of Mount Nanga Bawa from the perspective of Mount Sejila, photographer @倪鑫垚)

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It is also extremely mysterious

Often hidden in the clouds and mist

(Viewing Mount Namjagbarwa in the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, photographer @山风)

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Himalayas to the north

Guokala Riju, the remnant of the Gangdise Mountains

Also winding from the west

Mountains and peaks

(Guokala Riju Zelongqu River Valley, photographer @笨鸟)

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Further north

Nyainqentanglha Mountains

Stretches across the northern part of Nyingchi

Snow-capped peaks above 5,500 meters in altitude stretch endlessly

Like an impenetrable mountain wall

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the eastern section of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, from Bugongge Peak to Zepugangri, photographer @三晋与嘉蓉)

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in

7000m- high Mount Kalabala

Mount Nanga Parbat in the Himalayas

Standing side by side across the Yarlung Zangbo River

Like the two heroes of the snowy land

(Please watch the picture below in horizontal mode. The foreground is Mount Kalapali and the back is Mount Nanga Parbat. The mountain range to which Mount Kalapali belongs is still controversial. Some people believe that it is part of the Himalayas in terms of geological structure. Photographer: @笨小航)

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The 6000-meter-high Jieqinlang Lagabu Peak

Dependence on Basong Co

Like a dream, ethereal

(Basong Co and the Jieqinlang Lagabu Peak behind it, photographer @李珩)

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5000-meter-high Armor Mountain

Standing grimly beside National Highway 318

Yet it blends strangely with the countryside

(Armor Mountain in Songzong Town, Bomi County, photographer @赵必然)

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Next

Nyainqentanglha Mountains to the south

Its remaining veins are Gangri Gabu and

Boshula Ridge and Nushan Mountains in the Hengduan Mountains

Located in the eastern part of Linzhi

The ocean that becomes a mountain

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Gangri Gabu Mountain, photographer @阿怪Zax)

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in

As the boundary mountain between Linzhi, Tibet and Diqing, Yunnan

Kawagebo Peak of Meili Snow Mountain

At an altitude of 6740 meters

It is also the highest peak in Yunnan.

(The main peak of Meili Snow Mountain, Kawagebo Peak, seen from the perspective of Zayu County, photographer @三晋与嘉蓉)

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What kind of power is it?

So many large mountains

Gather here?

The answer lies deep in the land of Nyingchi

It is one of the most active and powerful forces on Earth.

65 million years ago

The Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate collide violently

Frontal impact

The Himalayas and other mountain ranges rose dramatically

(Galabailei Peak, with sloping rock formations visible on it, photographer @林森)

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At both ends of the collision

The direction of the mountain is changing rapidly

Thus forming two

A mountain knot that rotates around a peak of 7,000 to 8,000 meters

Linzhi is one of them.

The northeast corner of the Indian Plate

Like the horns of an antelope

Insert Eurasia

Helping Nanga Bawa become the highest peak in Nyingchi

(The eastern and western Himalayan mountain ranges indicate that in China, the "Yarlung Zangbo suture zone" at the junction of the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate almost overlaps with the Yarlung Zangbo River. Map by @Chen Zhihao/Planetary Research Institute)

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This rotating mountain knot

Huge north-south height difference

From the highest point, Mount Nanga Parbat

To the lowest point, Baxika, Medog County

The altitude difference is more than 7,000 meters

(A snow-capped peak in the remnant of Nanga Bawa and the Yarlung Zangbo River below. The altitude difference is only indicated here. Photographer @米藏达哇)

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Plus

The shape of the mountain knot is like

An embrace opening to the south

then

A magical scene appeared

Another extremely active force on Earth

Rushing into the embrace

And began to show strength

(Yarlung Zangbo River in Medog County, photographer @XSFAN STUDIO)

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02

Monsoon

Every April, when most areas of Tibet

While still in severe cold

The southwest monsoon brings abundant moisture from the Indian Ocean

I have already travelled north to Linzhi.

It follows the mountain knot of Linzhi

Crashing head-on into the embrace of the mountains

Change happens

(Sketch of the southwest monsoon path, drawn by @陈志浩&陈景逸/Planetary Research Institute)

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On the windward slope in the south of Nyingchi

Very heavy rainfall

Let Medog County under Linzhi become China's "Rain Nest"

It rains here for more than 200 days a year on average.

Average annual rainfall is more than 2000 mm

It is one of the regions with the highest rainfall in China.

(The misty Medog County, photographer @刘璐)

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Thousands of water flows

Flying down the towering mountains

(Waterfall in Medog County, photographer @XSFAN STUDIO)

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Short integration process

A river with a huge drop in height and abundant water

(Ximo River near Medog County, photographer @刘璐)

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And in the mountains

Cut out many canyons

(Gongrigabuqu, Zayu County, photographer @Lu Jiang)

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However, the real king of the canyon

It is definitely not something that these small rivers can accomplish.

But we need the most surging rivers in Tibet

The Yarlung Zangbo River originates from the heart of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

It gathers large and small streams

The huge height difference formed by the uplift of the mountains

Along the relatively fragile surface

Cut into the center of the towering mountain knot

Passing between Mount Nanga Parbat and Mount Kalapala

The upper and lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River are now connected

The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon was born.

The canyon is about 500 kilometers long.

Maximum depth exceeds 6000 meters

It is the well-deserved "largest canyon in the world"

(The location of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon and the river drop, drawn by @Chen Zhihao/Planetary Research Institute)

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Canyon or narrow and deep

(Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in the direction of Medog, photographer @Cheng Bin)

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or relatively open

Has flat land suitable for human settlement

(Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Milin County, photographer @颜纯期)

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that's all

The surging water vapor helps the surging river

The raging river cuts out the deepest canyon

The deepest canyon

This once again intensified the entry of water vapor

Like an endless cycle

Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon

Therefore, it became

Super channel for water vapor transport

(The Parlung Zangbo River in the Tongmai Bridge section of Bomi County is a major tributary of the Yarlung Zangbo River. Photographer: @赵力强)

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Water vapor turns into clouds and rain

And along the tributary valleys

Spread to the whole of Linzhi

Make Linzhi the wettest area in Tibet

(Xincuogou and Lengbugou, photographer @张静)

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The roar of the waves in the valleys

Parlung Tsangpo

In the flow

(Palong Zangbo, photographer @Zhang Jing)

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Yigong Zangbo

In the flow

(Yigon Zangbo, photographer @李珩)

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In high altitude areas

Water vapor turns into snow and forms glaciers

The oncoming impact of the southwest monsoon

This makes it one of the development centers of glaciers in China.

Whether it is area or ice reserves

Both are quite outstanding

(Display of glacier distribution in western China, drawn by @陈志浩/Planetary Research Institute)

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in

Qiaqing Glacier has the largest area

Reaching 204.36 square kilometers

Equivalent to 800 Bird's Nest Stadiums

(Qiaqing Glacier, photographer @行影不离)

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There are also Yanong Glacier and Xiaqu Glacier

The area is more than 100 square kilometers.

(Yanong Glacier, belonging to the Laigu Glacier Group, is located at the junction of Nyingchi and Qamdo. Photographer: @王治)

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Glaciers in Nyingchi

There is another more prominent feature

That is extremely active

Because of its abundant snowfall

New glaciers are constantly forming

The temperature is relatively higher at lower altitudes.

Rapid melting of glaciers

The average speed can reach 100-400 meters per year

It is 2-3 times larger than the deep glaciers on the continent.

So the glaciers here became "visible to the naked eye"

Flowing glacier

(Zhibagangcai Glacier near Mount Jialabailei, photographer @笨小航)

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Many glaciers end

Can descend to more than 2000 meters

Living with the forests all over the mountains

(Demu Glacier in Bomi County, photographer @王治)

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Active glaciers also bring another picture

It moves in the valley

Like an excavator running at full speed

Strongly shaping the earth

Turn the peaks into

The real "mountain of swords"

(Please watch horizontally, the peaks of the eastern section of Nyainqentanglha Mountain near Basongcuo, photographer @7556 meters)

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Turning Mount Nanga Bawa into

A spear

(Mount Nanga Bawa, photographer @Qu Bo)

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Turning Mount Kagacho into

A sharp cone

(Kagacho Peak is located in Nyainqentanglha Mountains, with the Yigong Zangbo River below it, but it is in Jiali County, Nagqu. Photographer @7556 meters)

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Transformed countless valleys into

U-shaped wide valley

(Valley near Basongcuo, photographer @李文博)

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It also creates large and small glacial lakes.

(Glacier lake at the source of Linzhu Zangbo in Bomi County, photographer @破山)

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Or like Basongcuo

Filling the valley

(Basongcuo, photographer @Hu Shu)

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or Habacuo

Isolated from the world

(Habacuo, photographer @李珩)

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Or new error

Quiet and beautiful

(New mistake, photographer @颜纯期)

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It can be said

Active earth plus active water vapor

Two forces combined

Create a unique Linzhi

A very three-dimensional and rich Nyingchi

And such Linzhi

A third extremely active force has emerged

Created the conditions

03

Everything

The world's highest mountain valley

With the most active water vapor transport

Let life flourish here

According to statistics, Linzhi has a total of

28 species of national first-class protected animals

95 species of national second-class protected animals

39 species of national protected plants

There are also many critically endangered species

Therefore, almost the entire area of ​​Linzhi is

Global biodiversity hotspots

Has unparalleled ecological value

(Sketch of global biodiversity hotspots, drawn by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute; the number of national protected animal and plant species in Linzhi mentioned above is from literature statistics in 2003. As the national list is updated, the data may change)

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Especially on the south slope of Mount Nanga Bawa

Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon Area

The huge height difference makes it

It has a very complete vertical natural belt

From tropical monsoon forests to alpine snow belts

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the vertical natural zone of the southern slope of Mount Namjagbarwa is shown here. This is also the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon area in the direction of Medog, with the Yarlung Zangbo River running through the valley bottom. Map by @刘志鹏; map by @陈志浩/Planet Research Institute)

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Let's start from Medog

Traveling along the Grand Canyon

First, we will delve into

Valleys within 1,000 meters above sea level in Medog

The northernmost tropical rainforest in the world

Very hot and humid air

Banana forest

It gives people a sense of time and space when arriving in Hainan.

(Please watch in horizontal mode, the river valley forest in Beibeng Township, Medog County, photographer @程斌)

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When you push aside the leaves and explore the forest

The leech that accidentally bounced and fell

It will instantly pull you into the terrifying reality

(Jungle and leeches in Medog County, photographer @Cheng Bin)

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Some Monba villages

Hidden in this jungle

(Please watch in horizontal screen, the village of the Menba people in Medog County, photographer @赵必然)

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Everything around is similar to Tibet

This cold name doesn't fit in.

But this is Tibet

As we continue to search higher

Arrived in subtropical and temperate regions above 1,000 meters above sea level

That is a more sparsely populated forest area.

Dense and tall trees block out the sun

(Tall Bhutanese pine forest in Green Village, Medog County, photographer @邹涛)

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2022

A 76.8-meter-tall Bhutan pine

Found in Beibeng Township, Medog

It is certified as the tallest tree in mainland China.

(The 76.8-meter-tall Bhutanese pine in Beibeng Township is named "Xindabu", photographer @花损)

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But only a few months later

Then the Chayu County next to Medog discovered

A 83.4-meter-tall Yunnan fir tree

It surpassed the 76.8-meter-tall Bhutan pine and the 82-meter-tall Taiwan fir.

Successfully won the title of "China's tallest tree"

(A life-size photo of the 83.4-meter-tall Abies yunnanensis in Zayu County. The man measuring the tree looks extremely small on the giant tree. Photographer: @柯炫晖, post-production synthesis: @黄稚镔)

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Around it

There are also large areas of rare ancient species

(Please watch horizontally, the forest along the Zayu River where the Yunnan yellow fruit fir is located, surrounded by many national first-class protected plants "Tibetan yew", photographer @柯炫晖, post-production synthesis @王亚灵)

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Giant trees grow

Fighting for the sunshine at a higher altitude

And all kinds of epiphytic and parasitic plants on the giant trees

They are also trying hard to find their own foothold

(Epiphytic and parasitic plants, namely Usnea, Garlic Orchid, and Tree Radish, photographer @程斌&林森)

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There are also chirping sounds coming from time to time

Occasionally found feces in front of

Reminds you that you are in the kingdom of wild animals

Fox red goral

Jumping lightly between the mountains and rock walls

(Red goral, a national first-class protected animal, an endangered species, photographer @曾祥乐)

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Alert white-cheeked macaque

Move nimbly through the dense jungle

(In 2015, white-cheeked macaques were first discovered in Medog, photographer @刘璐)

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The rare Bengal tiger

Also appeared here

Go higher

We reached an altitude of more than 4,000 meters.

In the ice and snow

Various alpine flowers such as Meconopsis and Rhododendron

Coming into view

(Alpine flowers, namely Aster, Meconopsis unifolia, Meconopsis sempervirens, and Rhizoma Cibotii, photographer @林森)

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Outside the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon

In every valley

There are also thousands of living beings growing

Forest, meadow, flowers, snow

Appear on the same screen at any time

Let Linzhi become

One of the most three-dimensional landscape areas in China

(Bomi County from the perspective of Zhamo Highway, photographer @破山)

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Let Linzhi become

One of the most colorful regions in China

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Nyingchi Niyang River Wetland, photographer @赵永清)

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It also makes Linzhi

One of the most "paradise-like" areas in China

(Taohuagou, Bomi County, photographer @赵必然)

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04

end

Three of the most active forces on Earth

Gather here

Let Linzhi live actively

Becoming the most active zone in China

In order to make the most active Linzhi

Connecting with the wider hinterland of China

But it will give birth to China's most difficult modern engineering

(Please watch in horizontal mode. The bottom of the picture shows the Galung La Tunnel surrounded by two glaciers, while above the tunnel is the old road of the Medog Highway. Photographer: @邹涛)

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Steep mountains and abundant snowfall

and active geological structures

Avalanches and mudslides occur here from time to time.

National Highway 318, built since 1950

Yu Linzhi passed through

The Tongmai-Pailong section

It used to be a dangerous road that people were afraid of.

Many times, the bridge collapsed and the road was blocked due to mudslides.

The turbulent Parlung Tsangpo River

There are three bridges of different ages across the city.

(Tongmai Bridge, photographer @山风)

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2013

After decades of intermittent construction

The first Medog Highway is finally officially opened

This ended the history of no roads in Medog.

During this period, we still need to continue to repair and patch

(Exit of the Galungla Tunnel on the Medog Highway in the Medog direction, photographer @陆江)

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2021

Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway

Officially completed

The train started running at a speed of 160 km/h.

Running among the mountains of Nyingchi

A milestone leap

In the future, this railway will also be part of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway

(Please watch in horizontal mode, Fuxing EMU on Lhasa-Nyingchi Railway, photographer @李珩)

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But at the beginning of 2023

Another avalanche occurred on the second Medog Highway

28 people were killed

Still reminding people to pay attention to those

Shaping the dynamic force of Linzhi

(Please watch in horizontal screen, Pai-Mo Highway, the second completed Medog Highway, photographer @唐俊祺)

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In the future

Perhaps with the upgrade of transportation

More people will visit and understand Linzhi

I only hope that beyond visiting and understanding

More people can protect the vitality of Linzhi.

To protect its active mountains

To protect its active rivers

To protect its active creatures

Because Linzhi

Only activeness can make you more charming

(Mt. Nanga Bawa seen on the way to the South Peak Base Camp, photographer @张静)

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Original title: "Let's go to Linzhi!"

This article was created by

Written by : Wang Logic

Editor : Director

Image : Qin Nan Map : Chen Zhihao

Design : Liu Zhipeng

Proofreading : Li Chuyang & Yunwukongcheng & Mirror & Wu Xintian

Cover Photographer : Gao Yimeng & Poshan

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