Exploring South Genyen

September 2017, Alex Tang

In 2017 September I got another chance to explore the southern parts of Genyen including the villages of Lamaya, Naigando, Zhamna and Rarikawa; Zongna Valley, Xiaozha Lake, etc

Getting Gears Loaded

Yak Market in Litang

Mt. Kaimailong South from Ranrikawa

It was an all-female expedition trip to climb Mt. Kaimailong and logistics is pretty simple. Mt. Kaimailong is a 5873-m mountain located by the southeast part of Genyen Massif. It has been climbed one or two times before this one. Trip started in September and ended in October and a successful summit was made after two weeks. As translator and liaison officer of this trip, after sending off the climbers to the trail to Kaimailong, I got the chance and time to explore around South Genyen on my own.

When Mountains Turning Yellow

Lamaya is the first village of South Genyen when driving in from Litang. It is located around 75km Southwest to the town of Litang and by driving it takes around 2 hours on very good road. Lamaya is the first and must pass village while going to the South of Genyen. It has around 50 families live here and phone reception/internet available. It has a small dumpling restaurant that serves very delicious dumplings with spicy source.

Lamaya has a police office where all foreign travelers are required to report to while entering Genyen.

There is a road split by Lamaya. The main road continues southwards to Zhamna Village and then continue further to Naigando, Lengda, Chasongsi and then to Retti Valley before over the pass to Batang. Another smaller road goes from Lamaya to West and over a pass to Rarikawa Village(Zetong Village) for around 20 minutes. From this road pass one can have a close panoramic view of southern Genyen Massif including Mt. Genyen(6205m), Mt Xiaozha (5807m), Mt Hutsa (5912m), Mt. Kaimailong (5873m) and its northern towers, Mt Kari Ganzong (5673m). Down the pass is a boutique hostel named Longjin Gezen that has around 10 rooms available, a good place to see mountains.

Mt. Kaimailong

Mt. Kaimailong

Road to Ranrikawa

Ranrikawa Village

Further down the pass is Rarikawa Village. Rarikawa is also called Lower Zetong Village that has around 20 families. There is a small shrine of stupas in the center of the village. Rarikawa is a village with more open views than Lamaya. Based from one of the families here the climbers set to climb Mt.Kaimailong. From Rarikawa it is around half day's walk to the east base of Mt. Kaimailong at around 4200m. The elevation of Rarikawa is at around 3800m. To get into the valleys of southeast Genyen including Zongga, Zongna, Kai, Haga Rezha and Xiaozha one normally bases in Rarikawa. You can hire horses or motorbikes from Rarikawa using the gradual trail on rolling grassland til the steep part starts.

People from Rarikawa and Lamaya are seasonal nomads that spend half of the year herding yaks in the deep valleys in South and east Genyen. You can find Tibetan families and ask to stay for overnight. There is also a small shop where you can buy ramen and some basic snacks but the shop sometimes is closed. There should be some hostel available in the near future due to the development conducted by local government.

Local people Riding Motorbikes

Ranrikawa Village

Xiaozhao Lake

Xiaozha Lake is located in Xiaozha Valley east to Mt Genie. The valley, the lake and the highest peak in the valley are called Xiaozha. To get to Xiaozha one needs to go from its south by walking for a full day. Mt Xiaozha is one of the 7 prominent peaks by the South of Genyen at an elevation of 5807 meters. Mt. Xiaozha is called Xiaozha Gana, one of the 7 gods believed and worshipped by local Tibetan people. There is no record of climbing to Mt Xiaozha.

The lake of Xiaozha is at the elevation of 4750m. It took me one full day's time walking from Rarikawa to the lake. The trail from the village is all good and one can even run a motorbike but trails before arriving the lake is tricky: steep and slippery. After around 9hours of walking I arrive at the South of the lake and the view is totally worth the trek. It's a very secluded place with rocky towers, a big lake and mirrors the mountains around. It's a place where cars can't get to so it's completely wild. In recent years from 2021 the trail has been made better by local authority to try to attract more people to visit.

Mt. Xiaozha (right)

Mt. Xiaozha (Xiaozha Gana)

Xiaozha Lake

Xiaozha Lake and Mountains

Xiaozha in the Morning

Mountains in Xiaozha

Xiaozha Valley

Zongna Valley

Zongna Valley is the second valley South of Genyen from east to west. It is one of the longest valleys in Genyen and my exploration only touched its first 5km. I think there are absolutely more interesting peaks and views in Zongna Valley. Into Zongna Valley one gets to the east face of Mt Kaimailong and the many peaks North to Mt Kaimailong.

Hot Spring Snake

Mt. Kaimailong East from Zongna Valley

Zongna Valley from base of Kaimailong

Zongna Valley Nomads People

Mountains in South Genyen

From the village of Rarikawa where lots of mountains in the southern range of Genyen are visible, I tried to find out the names of each mountain from local people. From west to east it is Mt Genie (Genyen 6104m), Mt Xiaozha Gana (5807m), Mt Hutsa (5912m), Mt Zanong Gajin (5598m), Mt Kaimailong (5873m), Mt Xiaci (5350m), Mt Kari Ganzong(5673m). The local people don't always have a name for a specific peak but a name was given to rather the valley, or the ranch in the valley they use to herd yaks (where they can get to). Therefore if one peak doesn't have a specific name then it will follow the name of the ranch below it or the valley from which the peak is visible that local people go to herd yaks or to collect herbs. Mountains are worshipped as gods in Tibetan culture so stories of where the names came from may not even be the same, given that the local monks and Tibetan people not always follow the same sect of Tibetan Buddhism over time, therefore the story and legend may be different regarding one specific mountain.

The southeast and east of Genyen will expect more exploration.