If you're heading up to Namtso, continue on the main Tibet-Qinghai highway past the Yangbajing turning for another 80km to
DAMXHUNG (4360m), a bleak truck-stop town. The road is good, and the awesome Nyanchen Tanglha mountain range to the north is dramatically topped by the peak of Nyanchen Tanglha itself (7117m). The turning north to Namtso is about halfway through the town where a large concrete bridge crosses the river towards the mountains. Minibuses leave Lhasa from just east of the
Yak Hotel around 7am each morning (¥30; 3-4hr), and if you need
accommodation in Damxhung, there are several unmemorable places. The
Tang Shung Shey (up to ¥30), opposite the new petrol station at the far end of town, is noisy and basic. In front stands the cavernous, friendly and atmospheric Muslim restaurant,
Ching Jeng, although there are plenty of Chinese restaurants, too.