Namco, once dubbed as the highest salt lake in the world, occupies an area of 1,940 square kilometers at an altitude of 4,718 meters in Damxung County, some 240 kilometers north of Lhasa, capital of Tibet. It is also a sacred mountain considered by Tibetan Buddhists.

The pilgrimage marked the anniversary of the birth and the achievement of nirvana of the Buddha Sakyamuni in the fourth month of the Tibetan calendar.

According to the Tibetan calendar, this year is the year of the water goat, which also represents the nature of Namco.

Traditionally, to commemorate the anniversary, renowned Buddhist monks come to the lake from different parts of the region to deliver sermons.

In order to prepare for the event, the Damxung county government spent 5.5 million yuan (US$660,000) on facility upgrade. It also arranged for groups of volunteers to clean up litter at scenic sites to protect the environment.

The whole event will last about 20 days.

(Xinhua News Agency June 14, 2003)