Cuotong Lake | A 4,650-Meter-High Uninhabited Land

There is a secret place on the 317 National Highway. Although many people have seen it online, few have actually visited it. The road is difficult to travel, and the altitude is high. However, the three lakes under the sun, with three different colors, are truly breathtaking. Behind the lakes are snow-capped mountains, making the scene even more beautiful. So, I decided to go. 📍Address: Cuotong Village, Cuoa Town, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Navigation: Cuotong Lake) 🚉Transportation: Self-driving 🚗 (It takes 3 hours to go up and down the mountain) ⏳Duration: Half a day 💰Cost: Free 🆓 for now, but the road is under construction 🚧 and may charge fees later 📝Tips: The road is in poor condition, so an SUV is recommended, but sedans can also make it. The road is very difficult to drive, so an experienced driver is needed. (Check if the mountain is closed in winter and pay attention to the opening time) When I was about to reach the foot of the mountain, it started to rain. The mountain road was very muddy, with hairpin turns and cliffs on the left. I was so scared that I felt my soul was about to leave my body. Under such unfavorable conditions, it started to snow as the altitude increased. The snow got heavier, and the road was almost invisible. I met some cars coming down the mountain, probably because they didn't wait for the sunny day. After discussing with my friends, we decided to go up the mountain. We thought we might as well try our luck since we were already there. Considering the snow time, we should be able to go down before the road freezes. When the navigation showed that there were 400 meters left, a miracle happened. The blue sky slowly appeared. When I parked, one side was the blue sky, and the other was the snow under the clouds. I was so shocked that I almost forgot the discomfort of the 4,600-meter altitude. Everyone was eager to go to the lake. I told myself to stay calm and slowly got out of the car, put on my clothes, and wore my hat (Make sure to protect your head from the wind at high altitudes, even in the sun). When I reached the viewing platform, the sun had already illuminated two lakes. The blue, light blue, and green lakes were lined up, sparkling in the sunlight. It was obvious that there were very few tourists here, and it felt like a secret place. It was so quiet that I could only hear my breathing. Since it was a critical time to adapt to the altitude, I didn't go to the lakeside (It takes about 30 minutes to walk back and forth. Although the road is easy to walk, the altitude difference is still one or two hundred meters. Later, I proved that I was wise). I was already very happy to see the lakes from the viewing platform. About half an hour later, I felt a little dizzy, so I went back to the car to take some oxygen and replenish my energy. When I got out of the car again, the place was completely bathed in sunlight. I felt so lucky.