Nam Co is the highest lake in the world and is 4,718 meters above sea level. It is 72 kilometers long from east to west and 30 kilometers wide from south to north. It has an area of 1,940 square kilometers. Some 60 kilometers to the northwest of Damxung County seat, it is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet and receives high respects among the local people.

On the Tibetan year of sheep, pilgrims from faraway come here to walk around the lake. It takes more than 10 days to circle the lake once.

(Five or seven tourists can hire a minibus from Lhasa to go and back in three days for 1,700-2,000 yuan. The journey takes eight hours. The Zhaxi Monastery by the lake provides lodging fin- 15 yuan each bed.)