Sapu Snow Mountain
Deep within the eastern section of the Nyainqêntanglha Mountains, in Yangxiu Township, Biru County, Nagqu City, Tibet, lies a once little-known snow-covered paradise—Sapu Snow Mountain. Reaching an altitude of 6,956 meters, it is about 150 kilometers from Biru County. With its distinctive pyramid-shaped main peak, complete snow-capped mountain range, and accompanying sacred lake, it is hailed as "the most beautiful snow mountain in northern Tibet" and has become a pristine sanctuary sought after by adventurers and photographers in recent years.
The core charm of Sapu Snow Mountain lies in its unique mountain form and complete snow-capped mountain range. The main peak, Sapu Peak, has a perfect pyramid shape, steep and majestic, its summit perpetually covered in snow, gleaming with a sacred silver light under the sun, like a guardian deity of the Tibetan Plateau. Surrounding the main peak are several snow-capped peaks over 6,000 meters in altitude, resembling Sapu's wife and children, forming the "Sapu Family" snow mountain range. Each peak has a different shape, some rugged, some gentle, arranged in a harmonious and magnificent snow-capped landscape. Vast glaciers dot the mountains, their tongues reaching the lakeshore, crisscrossed by crevasses, showcasing the pristine and awe-inspiring nature of this icy world.
The harmonious coexistence of lake and mountain is a true wonder of the snowy plateau. Sapu Sacred Lake, nestled at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, is formed by glacial meltwater and consists of an inner and outer lake. In summer, the lake's crystal-clear blue waters reflect the entire snow-capped mountain range, creating a breathtakingly pure scene where blue sky, white clouds, snow-capped peaks, and lake water merge into one. In winter, the lake freezes over, the ice crystal clear, the snow-capped mountains and frozen lake reflecting each other, resembling a fairytale ice kingdom. The lakeshore is covered with glacial moraine, a thin layer of moss, forming a richly layered, pristine landscape with the snow-capped mountains and lake water—every snapshot a masterpiece.
Religious legends add a profound sense of sacredness to Sapu Sacred Mountain. In the hearts of the local Tibetan people, Mount Sapu is a sacred mountain of the Bon religion, carrying ancient myths and legends. It is said that Mount Sapu is one of the "hundred great sacred mountains of Bon," capable of bestowing blessings and warding off disasters upon believers. Every year on the 15th day of the fifth month of the Tibetan calendar, believers from the surrounding areas, dressed in their finest attire, come to circumambulate the mountain and the sacred lake, walking clockwise around the snow-capped mountain and the holy lake, chanting prayers and offering hada scarves and mani stones along the way, creating a solemn and dignified scene. The mani stones scattered along the lakeshore and the colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind add to the profound weight of faith in this secluded place.
Although Mount Sapu is gradually becoming known to the public, it still retains its pristine and pure appearance, untouched by excessive commercial development. Visitors can stroll along the lakeside trails, admiring the magnificent snow-capped mountain and the sacred lake up close; or wait for the sunrise in the early morning to witness the breathtaking sight of the sunlight gilding the snow-capped mountain. Here, there are no bustling crowds, only the tranquility of snow-capped mountains, the clarity of lakes, and the devotion of faith, allowing every visitor to forget the hustle and bustle of the world and immerse themselves in the unique charm of the Tibetan Plateau.