Basomtso Lake Scenic Area in Gongbo'gyamda county, Nyingchi prefecture in Tibet autonomous region, Oct 22. The scenic area covers 8,000,000 square meters, and has received a total investment of 4.38 billion yuan ($716 million) for future construction by 2020. It aims to be ranked a 5A level scenic area, the highest grade for tourism scenic spots in China, by 2016.

Before 2002, the lake was cut off from mainstream tourists due to bad road conditions. In 2002, only 4,621 visitors arrived at the lake. Most of them were Buddhists walking around the sacred mountains as pilgrims. Villagers in the county earned 30,000 yuan ($4,903) by providing tourist services including lodging and food service, and the whole county made 68,600 yuan from tourism in 2002.

So far this year, villagers in Gongbo'gyamda county have made 2.18 million yuan from tourism by providing tourist services including lodging and food service, and the county raked in 44.37 million from tourism.