Metok――a Hidden Paradise in China.docVIP

Metok――a Hidden Paradise in China Metok （“Motuo”in Chinese） is Tibet’s purest and holiest region. It is located in the southeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region and at the lower branch of the Yarlung Zangbo River， covering an area of 30，553 square kilometres. The average altitude of the county is 1200 meters above sea level while the average altitude of the Tibet plateau is about 4000 meters， which makes it the bottom of a well. It is the only Chinese county with no highway connection to the outside world and inaccessible by modern vehicles. The only transportation way in Metok is to carry things by human beings. Stone pans and chopsticks are the merely commodities transported from the county. The way to the paradise-like place is like purgatory as the mountains are steep and the water in the river is gust. Many sections of the road are on the krantz and some cols are covered with snow for the whole year. The place is called “The absolute field in the world hidden among mist， jokuls and dense forests” and “the last mysterious land on earth.” To visit Metok， one must climb mountains and crags，and cross forests with hands and feet. In about 9 months of the year， Metok is separted from the outside world. There are mainly two routes to Metok. The 1st one is： climbing the Doxong La Col of the Himalayans and then reach Beibeng township of Metok county， and then go northward （opposite to the flowing direction of the Yarlung Zangbo River） to reach Metok county. This 115-kilometer route will take 4 days by walking and it is accessible from June to October. Another 141-kilometer route is to walk along the Zhamog- Metok road from Bome county. Because of Garwalung mountain’s block， this route is only accessible from August to October to 80 kilometers after ice and snow melt. And then visitors need to walk two days to reach Metok county. In other months visitors need to climb the Garlung La Col with an altitude of 4060 meters. It will take 5 days to walk in normal conditions. The