In 2007, satellite imagery revealed one of the most astonishing natural discoveries on the Tibetan Plateau—the largest concentration of glaciers in Bomi County, located in Nyingchi, eastern Tibet. This vast glacier system includes 42 glaciers of different sizes, reshaping scientific understanding of regional water systems and highlighting Bomi as one of Tibet’s most important glacial landscapes.
These glaciers are not only visually spectacular but also play a crucial role in feeding major rivers across Tibet, China, and much of Asia. With maritime glaciers, ice waterfalls, glacier-dammed lakes, and ancient moraine hills, Bomi County has earned its reputation as a true “glacier museum of the Tibetan Plateau.”
Bomi County: Home to the Largest Glacier Group on the Tibetan Plateau
Bomi’s glaciers are unique due to their low altitude, large scale, and strong interaction with forests and ecosystems. Unlike many high-altitude continental glaciers, Bomi’s glaciers descend deep into valleys filled with dense coniferous forests, creating rare landscapes where ice and greenery coexist.
The region’s maritime climate brings abundant snowfall, supporting some of the most active and visually dynamic glaciers in China.
Karchen Glacier: China’s Largest Maritime Glacier
Located in the Yigong Bayu Valley, northwest of Bomi County’s main residential area, Karchen Glacier—also known as Qiaqing Glacier—is the largest maritime glacier in China.
- Length: 35 kilometers
- Area: Approximately 172 square kilometers
- Terminus elevation: 2,530 meters
What makes Karchen Glacier exceptional is its massive firn basin, spanning nearly 100 square kilometers, and its dramatic ice waterfall, which cascades between steep cliffs like an ancient frozen fortress. The glacier’s tongue extends directly into dense forest, creating a striking contrast between ice and vegetation rarely seen elsewhere on the Tibetan Plateau.
Azha Glacier: The Lowest Glacier in Tibet
Situated at the eastern end of Bomi’s southern mountain range, Azha Glacier holds the title of Tibet’s lowest glacier.
- Length: 20 kilometers
- Terminus elevation: 2,400 meters
Its relatively warm ice surface supports unusual life forms, including ice worms and springtails, making it an important site for glacial ecology research. The glacier ends within a mixed conifer and broadleaf forest, offering visitors a rare opportunity to observe glaciers at close range in a forested environment.
Lagu Glacier: Tibet’s Widest Glacier
Located north of Azha Glacier, Lagu Glacier stretches impressively across the landscape.
- Length: 20 kilometers
- Terminus elevation: 3,900 meters
- Maximum width: 3 kilometers
As the widest glacier in Tibet, Lagu Glacier dams the main valley to form Lagu Lake, a serene glacier-fed lake that reflects surrounding snow peaks. The glacier’s immense width and scale make it one of the most visually powerful ice formations in Bomi County.
Zepu Glacier: A Masterpiece of Ice Arcs
Southwest of Yuren Township, Zepu Glacier is celebrated for its extraordinary glacier arc structures.
- Length: 19 kilometers
- Terminus elevation: 3,420 meters
The glacier’s surface features well-developed curved ice bands, considered among the most beautiful in China. Walking near Zepu Glacier creates a surreal experience—a sense of movement frozen in time, where ice appears both dynamic and still.
Midui Glacier: One of China’s Most Beautiful Glaciers
Also known as Ruoguo Glacier, Midui Glacier lies in Yupo Township and is one of Bomi’s most accessible and photographed glaciers.
- Length: 14 kilometers
- Main peak: 6,800 meters
- Snowline: 4,600 meters
- Terminus elevation: 2,400 meters
Fed by two world-class ice waterfalls, Midui Glacier flows into a turquoise glacier lake surrounded by forests and snow peaks. Its pristine condition and striking arc structures earned it recognition as one of “China’s Most Beautiful Glaciers” by National Geographic experts.
Garongla Glacier: Twin Glaciers Shaping a Sacred Valley
Traveling south from Zhamu Town along the Bomê Road, visitors encounter a dramatic U-shaped valley formed by the convergence of Garong East and West Glaciers.
Originating near Garong Monastery Basin, these glaciers have sculpted snow-covered forests and classic glacial landforms, offering a powerful example of how ice has shaped Bomi’s sacred and natural landscapes over thousands of years.
Zhuxi Glacier: A Grand Glacier Group with Colorful Lakes
Located in Qiongdu Township in northwestern Bomi County, Zhuxi Glacier is part of an extensive glacier system connected to the ancient Gu Township Glacier.
At its base lie vivid glacier lakes, shimmering in shades of blue and green. These lakes mirror the surrounding ice fields and peaks, enhancing the glacier’s majestic presence and making it a highlight for photographers and nature lovers.
Xumu Moraine Hills: Rare Relics of the Last Ice Age
Also known as Boduimayu Pond Hills, the Xumu Moraine Hills are found along the Bodui Zangbu River in the Yuren and Xumu areas.
These formations are exceptionally well-preserved moraine hills from the last glacial period, representing some of the most complete and visually striking glacial relics in China. Their rolling shapes and layered sediments provide valuable insight into ancient climate changes on the Tibetan Plateau.
Visiting Bomi’s Glaciers: Ice, Forests, and Living Landscapes
Exploring the glaciers of Bomi County offers far more than dramatic scenery. Visitors encounter a rare blend of low-altitude glaciers, alpine forests, glacier lakes, and unique ecosystems, all within a relatively compact region.
From standing beside Tibet’s lowest glacier to witnessing towering ice waterfalls and ancient moraine hills, Bomi presents an immersive journey into the dynamic heart of the Tibetan Plateau’s glacial world.