Medog County
Medog was formerly called Bema, and was referred to as "Boyu Bema" in classical Tibetan Buddhist scripts, which means "hidden lotus flower." It is regarded as a holy land by Buddhists. Medog has a varied topography, with a landscape of high mountains and deep gorges covered with dense jungles.
Located on the southern slope of the Namjagbarwa Peak,it has a climate of "Xishuangbanna on the plateau," which is between subtropical and tropical, different from the rest of Tibet. From the top to the base of the mountain, the plants vary from alpine-frigid to tropical. Medog County has many mountains over 6,000 meters above sea level, which are capped with snow year-round, with exposed ridges dotted with alpine plants, such as lichen and snow lotus.
Below the snow line are coniferous trees, such as snow pine trees, dragon spruces and firs, among which monkeys and squirrels can be seen cavorting lively. Between 2,000 meters and 3,000 meters above sea level, where the climate is warm and humid, is a primeval forest composed of such broadleaf trees as azalea and nanmu, where tigers dwell. In the lower area, which is spring-like year-round, are residences and green orchards. The foot of the mountain, only 600 meters above sea level, is tropical, where cicadas sing and frogs croak, and where rice can be harvested twice a year. The rich botanical resources make Medog a large natural greenhouse of Tibet.
The main attractions are the Medog Nature Reserve and the Great Yarlungzangbo Canyon. In the inmost recesses of the canyon, there is the Medog which is the only county in China with out road constructed. It is an isolated and mysterious 'Xanadu' in Plateau outside the earthly world. Traveling Medog's country landscape by foot is the best of tour.
See Medog Map