Tsopu Park (Tsopu Lake)

Tsopu Park is also called Tsopugou (Tsopu Valley), or Zhopu Valley, Zhopu Lake. Before 2020 it was a wild valley with monasteries and beautiful lakes and mountains. From 2020 it has been built into a tourist park that an entrance fee is requried to visit and has a more organized visiting.

Tsopu Park Mountains

Tsopu Park

Tsopu Park

Tsopu Park

Tsopu Park is now a main tourist park in Kham of Garze in western Sichuan. It is located 120km west to Litang (around 2.5h drive) and 50km NE to Batang. It has become a main stop on a road trip from Chengdu to Lhasa via National Highway 318. But consider the distance and remote location of itself, Tsopu Park is still very far from anywhere. If someone wish to visit Tsopu, it is recommended to combine it with Daocheng Yading for total round 4-7 days by flight, or total 7-10 days by driving.

All visitors need to use park bus to get into the park of Tsopu. The entrance is by Cuola. First stop is Aso Monastery built in 1270, a former residence for Gesar. By 9-10am each day you shall see local monks walking around the temple as morning class. From the Aso Monastery you will pass a cluster of hot spring locations where you will see steam coming out from side of the river. The next stop is Zangde Grassland, an open land south to the Tsopu Lake and a pefect place to shoot great photos of Tsopu mountains.

The rocky towers of mountains by the north of the lake are called Jarjin Jabo and Jarjin Jamu. The mountain that is located by its west is called Garapumsun, a 5812-m mountain that is capped with snow on its top. The rocky towers are the guardians of the peacefull land of Tsopu. Many photo lovers have taken hundreds of great photos from Zangde Grassland. Continue on towards north you will see grazing yaks, marmots, birds, nomadid khampas before reach on to Tsopu Lake, one of the highlights of Tsopu Park. Tsopu Lake/Monastery is the end of the tourist bus ride, which takes around total 50min.

Tsopu Lake is a holy lake in Kham, one of the few that is related to its legend figure Gesar. So it has a great cultural significance. There is a 2.5km boardwalk around the lake that one can walk on to see its forest, lake water and several spots that are set for photo taken. North by the Tsopu Lake there are two small lakes: Chima Yumtso Lake and Khado Lhatso that look like a pearl due to its color. Behind the lakes is Tsopu Monastery, a 700-year-old Nymapa Monastery with well-preserved paintings and statues.

The sister lake before you arrive to Tsopu Lake is one of the famous shots on the driving way of National Highway 318.

Sister Lake

Ticket Information: 100 yuan / perspn for ticket and another 90 yuan/person for tourist bus inside the park.

Business Hour: From May to October: 07:30-15:30; From November to April: 08:30-14:00.

Recommended Time of visit:3-8 hours or more.

Hotels: There are some hotels available by the entrance of the park in Cuola, including Tsopu Linka Villa Hotel, Tsopu Hotel, the other hotels are located in Batang County.

Tsopu Park Map

Tsopu Lake Map

Planning Ideas

Please note Tsopu is on the way from Litang to Batang, 120km west to Litang, and 50km NE to Batang. Please note there is basically noting to see in Batang City. If you are doing a loop/circuit tour in western Sichuan, it's not necessary to choose hotel in Batang city. For visiting to Tsopu Park, overnight in Cuola or in Litang is much better choice so you don't waste time on driving for hours just for overnight stay. Below is a recommended tour plan for people who want to visit Tsopu and its sorrounding places.

• Day01 Daocheng Ariport Arrival - Drive to Cuola (Elevation at 3400m)
• Day02 Tsopu Park Visit - Litang (Elevation at 3900m)
• Day03 Litang - Genyen - Yading (Elevation at 3900m)
• Day04 Yading Visit
• Day05 Yading Visit - Daocheng
• Day06 To Airport and Departure