Motuo County, also named Metok or Medog County, is under the jurisdiction of Nyingchi Prefecture in southeast Tibet. Motuo, called Baimagang in Tibetan sutras, refers to “a hidden lotus flower”, giving the place a mysterious tone. Geographically, it lies in the lower reaches of Yarlung Tsangpo River and southern slope of Himalaya – Kangri Karpo Mountains and adjoins India.

Motuo has a mild subtropical climate. As the lowest area in Tibet Plateau, it is an ideal place in Tibet with the mildest climate, the most abundant rainfalls and the best preserved ecological environment. Known as Tibet’s Xishuangbanna in Yunnan, it is abundant with immense forests, alpine lakes and raging waterfalls.

Visitors can find various kinds of primitive forests in this region, ranging from forests of alpine frigid Zone to tropical zone. More than 80 kinds of precious and rare plants like camphor tree, ebony, Chinese yew and alsophila spinulosa grow here. No wonder it is famed as ‘Museum of Natural Vegetation’.

Small alpine lakes are scattered near the mountain passes of Eastern Himalaya Range. Large lakes, such as Xigong Lake and Buqun Lake, lie in Beibeng Town. Tropical lakes spread in the southern part of Motuo.

To appreciate the waterfalls, visitors shouldn’t miss Hanmi Waterfall (Three-layer Spring), Tiger’s Mouth Waterfall and Beibeng Waterfall.

Medog was China’s last county without a permanent highway. The land was almost isolated from the world and people living there used to deliver supplies only by manpower. In the 1990s, Bome-Medog Highway was constructed but discarded merely three days after completion because of severe earthquake, landslide and mud-rock flow. On April 20 of 2009, the renovation project of this highway commenced at the pass of the Galongla Snow Mountain. Then on October 31 of 2013, the renovated highway was open to traffic officially. It marks the end of Medog’s history without a permanent highway. Before the highway was renovated, there were two ways to reach Motuo. People walked along the old damaged highway, or they climbed over Mt. Duoxiongla from Paizhen Town, arrived in Beibeng Town and then went up north to the town area of Medog. The tough road condition challenges many enthusiastic backpackers, making the place a popular trekking destination.

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