Lhasa City possesses abundant geothermal resources, among which the Yangpachen Geothermal Field enjoys the most famous reputation. The Yangpachen Geothermal Field is situated in Damxung County, 90 kilometers northwest of Lhasa City with a radius of 7000 kilometers. Usually, the temperature of Yangpachen is maintained at about 47 degrees Celsius, being the first wet steam field exploited in mainland of China and also geothermal electric power station with the highest elevation of the whole world at the same time. Yangpachen is the township of the world-famous hot spring, the geothermal resources is very abundant, distributed large-scale fountains, geysers, hot springs, hot water, boiling springs and hot lake etc. The mineral content of hot spring is so high that soaking or bathing in it is conducive to the treat of a variety of diseases. The steaming hot Yangpachen Geothermal Field surrounded by snow-covered hills, this devastating fit formed fascinating natural wonders that bewitching countless tourists on the roof of the world. Therefore, Yangpachen has become a significant tourist destination.
According to a folkways expert and oil painter of Tibet, Yangpachen which is at an altitude of 4300 meters was still a vast expanse of pasture. In every summer, the grass here seemed like a blanket and herdsmen then set up a base camp on this land so that yaks and sheep enjoyed plenty of sunshine and grass gathering in crowds and groups. As it should be, this pasture is also a piece of magical hot field with the continual running of hot water bubbled out of the ground and transpiration of the hot steams during day and night. Afterwards, there welcomed some armed forces and geological team quartered in this land and the construction of wet steam geothermal power station as well as the Yangpachen spa resort of today.
It is really such a great pity to miss out Yangpachen hot springs if you came to Lhasa. The Yangpachen hot springs are not noted for numerous tricks but its natural decorations. Unlike the hot springs in mainland are decorated a good many of exquisite-designed waterside pavilion and attic loft together with some charming lights, the Yangpachen is a pure place for enjoying a hot spring, simply some large pools accompanied with several small pools functioned as keeping healthy or grew plants. However, you would be totally wrong if you think it doesn’t pay attention to the combination of nature and rustic charm. Certainly, it does concern this but its supporting facilities are all truly natural. The blue sky and white clouds that are rare seen in cities, continuous snow-capped mountains lying quietly for thousands of years and religious flags chanting in the wind day and night as well as the holiness and faith of the heavenly Tibet. Only with the above mentioned, Yangpachen has already won the innumerable of the world, let alone its mineral rich in content. It is said that at the end of 1970, the pipeline here often ruptured due to the high content of minerals. That’s why there always encountered power cut in Lhasa.
Leaving for Yangpachen from Lhasa City, 2 hours’ drive will make it. When you arrived at the Yangpachen Town of Damxung County, you will see flat terrain here, prairie extending outwards far away in a leisure way. Occasionally, you will pass by the temples and prayer flags and banners which give you a sense of warm. A series of light brown mountains that stretch uninterrupted and roll up and down on one side while white clouds in the big blue sky chase people’s way and put a shadow on the hills, presented a tranquil and beautiful sight. As your vision goes far at the grassland in the distance, suddenly you can see a huge white mist under the clear lofty sky rising from the ground, as if a fairyland emerged in the field of your vision. That is the Yangpachen Geothermal Field you are looking for. Probably, you have relaxed at a lot of hot springs, but you may have never bathed in such a smoky and wonderland-like hot spring, enjoying being in harmony with the nature. Shocked by this wonderful and strange scene in front and fly away towards the clouds, rushing into the mist, in a little while will your hair, face and clothes get wet and each pore of your body will softly open up. With any luck and happened to come across a hot well spurting, you can take a glimpse of an uncommonly magnificent and gorgeous scene that the boiling spring gone above the clouds from the mouth of the spring. Furthermore, owing to the high temperature of Yangpachen hot springs, local villagers love to put Tibetan eggs into the spring and they will soon be well done.
On the Tibetan Plateau, with thin oxygen and high temperature as well as large energy consumption, tourists will be easy to be out of breath with hunger strikes. Therefore, bathing in Yangpachen, meat like yak jerky and braised pork is needed and should frequently rest to the shore in case of altitude sickness.
