Damxung Ancient Cave Mural Paintings

Occurred in Tashi Peninsula of Namsto in Damxung County, the boarder land between the south and north of Tibet, Damxung Ancient Cave Mural Painting is the first cave mural paintings found in Tibetan area. The paintings have so many colorful contents that provide an extremely precious physical material for further research of the Tibetan religious development, nomadic culture and ancient art style.

How many paintings?

According to the statistics, there are in total of more than 250 pieces of paintings. Among which partly appear on the inner cave walls and few appear in the cliff face.

The Contents

Damxung Ancient Cave Mural Paintings mainly includes the patterns of yak, deer, horse, sheep, camel, wolf, leopard, people, tree, birds, eagle and tower, etc., themed with grazing, hunting, shooting, riding, dancing and expedition, the mural paintings.

Drawing Method

The drawing method of the Damxung Ancient Cave Mural Paintings is divided into all painting and broad-brush outline, with the primary pigment of red minerals, mixed with a small mount of black.

Tashi Peninsula

Also known as Lucky Love Island, the Tashi Peninsula is the largest peninsula among the five peninsulas around Lake Namtso. Lying in the southeastern Lake Nam, Tashi Peninsula is composed of limestone with an area of about 10 square kilometers. Regarded as the most centralized place for religious activities in Lake Nam, it stands the Tashi Monastery which is remained a good attendance. Near the ritual walk path of the peninsula, there is a huge cave called Padmasambhava Cave which was said the Padmasambhava spirit generate naturally in the cave.

Lake Namtso

Located in the south of Damxung County, Lake Namtso is the largest lake in Tibet with an area of 1,920 square kilometers. Nestling at the foot of snowy Nyenchen Tanglha Mountains, Lake Namtso is a holy lake for each year thousands of Buddhists from Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan and Tibet gathered here to worship, which also attracts a large amount of tourists from home and abroad.

The best time to visit

It is relatively warm during May to September recognized as golden season for viewing prairie. At this period, the entire grassland is covered with green. Yaks and sheep are wandering in the grassland. Everything is blooming.

Medical Herb

Damxung has abundant natural resources with a vast meadow inside. Tourists are able to buy the authentic medical herbs such as cordyceps sinensis, fritillaria, snow lotus herb, Rhodiola rosea and Astragalus and so on.

Tips:
1. It is cold and dry in winter with big difference between day and night, so travelers should take warm clothing during winter.
2. The nearby attractions include Kang Ma Temple, Yangbajain Geothermal Power Station, Eight Tower of Northern Tibet, Lake Namtso.