Zige Tangco Lake

Zige Tangco lies in the high lake country of Tibet's Changtang plateau. Cold, altitude and limited vegetation create a demanding environment. Across the wider Changtang, pastoralists move herds according to pasture, weather and access to shelter, while lakes provide landmarks in a landscape of dispersed resources.

Across the northern Tibetan plateau, pastoral communities maintained ties with markets and religious institutions beyond their grazing grounds. Livestock, wool, salt and transport animals contributed to exchange with cultivated valleys, while Buddhist institutions and local authorities shaped social relationships.