Get to know Shuanghu County
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- Administrative area
- County · 县
- Part of
- Nagqu
- Chinese name
- 双湖县
- Local areas
- County guide
Area & population
- Area in the source
- 116,440.91 km²
- Population · 2020
- 10,881
Source: cited geographic source, as of the dates shown.
Ice, dunes and meltwater
Lakes around the icefield are replenished by glacial meltwater. Between the lakes and the ice lie broad desert tracts, including continuous crescent-shaped dunes close to the glacier. The surrounding region supports Tibetan antelope, wild yaks and Tibetan wild asses. The ice originates at around 6,000 metres in elevation.
The “Tree of the Sky”
The Tree of the Sky (天空之树) is a valley carved by flowing water whose branching shape resembles a tree from above. Nearby Dazecuo (达则错) is a saline plateau lake. Several concentric ancient shore ridges along its banks record a lake that was once substantially larger and deeper.
Sources for this guide
普若岗日冰川 | 双湖县人民政府 · Shuanghu County Government Office
天空之树 | 双湖县人民政府 · Shuanghu County Culture and Sports Bureau
Original English written from the listed sources and checked sentence by sentence against quoted extracts by a separate reviewer. Updated 2026-09-27.
Entry & permits for Tibet (Xizang)
Foreign tourists need Tibet entry approval, commonly called a Tibet Travel Permit, and an organised visit arranged through a specialist travel agency in China. Confirm your approved route before booking transport. Requirements differ for Taiwan residents and for travellers using mainland or Hong Kong/Macao Chinese resident documents; check the document guide before you book.
Check the travel-document requirements →Policy scope verified: 2026-09-06. UK FCDO: China regional travel advice ↗ State Council Taiwan Affairs Office: Tibet entry approval ↗ Xizang Department of Culture and Tourism: Medog border permit notice ↗
Explore Shuanghu County
Core places to explore, with English and Chinese names.
Shuanghu County 双湖县
Plan your visit
Getting there
Shuanghu County is about 355 km in a straight line from central Nagqu. Search for 双湖县 in a map app to find stations and your accommodation.
Where to stay →More in Nagqu
Sources & geographic information
Administrative names and parent areas: Official geographic directory · Reference date 2026-09-06.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Pins mark approximate centres, not entrances or boundaries.