TRAVEL NOTE 06 · XIZANG / 2025

October together,a few days across Xizang.

Five days in October 2025—from Lhasa through Yamdrok, Gyatso La and the north side of Everest to Namtso, then back to Lhasa.

Recorded 2025.10.03—10.07Travel note · Xizang5 min read

Northbound in Xizang · 2025.10.06 · Images by the author and traveling companions · Cropped and lightly graded

During China's National Day holiday in 2025, several old friends came to Xizang. I joined them for five days, traveling from Lhasa through Yamdrok, Gyatso La and the north side of Everest, then via Namtso back to Lhasa.

This is not an itinerary or a reconstructed conversation. It follows the order of the photographs and keeps only what the images can support.

Lhasa, day one

The journey began in Lhasa on 3 October. After my friends arrived, we stayed in the city. Potala Palace filled the afternoon view: a familiar landmark, and the clearest starting point for our time together.

Potala Palace and the buildings below it under a clear sky — 3 October, Lhasa. The journey starts in front of Potala Palace.

West along Yamdrok

We left Lhasa the next morning. Yamdrok first appeared below the pass, then returned at different heights as the road followed the lake west. The view shifted from a high overlook to lower ground beside the lake before the route entered snow-covered high ground.

Yamdrok winding through the mountains below a high pass — 4 October, Yamdrok. The lake extends through the valleys.

A lower view across deep blue Yamdrok with layered mountains beyond — From the pass to a lower lakeside view, blue occupied most of the day.

The same road was recorded from different positions and cameras.

By afternoon we had reached Karola Glacier. The ice sat close above the road while cloud muted the light. Beyond the glacier, the next section of the route continued west.

Karola Glacier lying close to the ridge beneath cloud — Karola Glacier. The crop keeps the relationship between ice and pass.

Beyond Gyatso La

We crossed Gyatso La on 5 October. Snow covered the roadside and cloud cut through the mountains ahead. Beyond the pass, the road continued toward Tingri and the northern side of Everest.

A snow-covered high-altitude road beneath low cloud — 5 October, the snowbound road beyond a high pass.

The following morning, several telephoto frames recorded Everest's north face. One is included here.

Snow peaks on the northern side of Everest above the high plateau — 6 October, north of Everest. The peaks are clear in the morning light.

After we left, the landscape returned to pasture, valleys and road. Evening light thinned while ridges and streams travelled in the same direction beyond the windows.

Highland pasture, mountain ridges and cloud in evening light — Pasture at the foot of the mountains on the road north.

A highland stream and snow-covered ridge at dusk — Water, ridge and low light along the same stretch of road.

A high-altitude road running toward snowy mountains at dusk — Evening, 6 October. The road gathers the remaining light.

Five days, beginning and ending in Lhasa.

Namtso, before the return

Namtso was the final stop on 7 October. Small waves broke along the shore, and birds stayed in the shallows. After days of roads and passes, the view opened again.

Birds in the shallows of Namtso with mountains beyond — 7 October, Namtso. Birds pause in the water near the shore.

We returned to Lhasa that evening. The five-day route closed where it began, and the photographic record ends here.

Blue water, stones and distant mountains on the shore of Namtso — The last frame from the shore before the return.