3. Namtso lake [Photo/Tibet.cn]

Namtso, or Lake Nam, is one of three holy lakes in the Tibet autonomous region and should not be missed by any traveler to the region. In Tibetan, Namtso means "Heavenly Lake". It is famous for its high altitude and imposing scenery. The second largest salt lake in China, Namtso covers 1,920 square kilometers and is also the second-highest salt lake, in terms of altitude, in the world at an elevation of 4,718 meters above sea level.

Admission: 120 yuan (US$19.35) (May 1-Oct 31); 60 yuan (US$9.67) (Nov 1-Apr 30)