Pushwa Village is a small, obscure village located at the foot of the Himalayas, near Pumo Yongcuo, a unique blue ice sacred lake in China that attracts many tourists, especially those interested in Tibetan tourism.
The village is known for its reputation as the highest altitude village in the world, which draws the attention of many backpackers seeking adventure and the opportunity to get closer to the world's best.
The natural environment and climate conditions in Pushwa Village are not suitable for most ordinary people. The climate is extremely cold, with only two months of summer per year.
The vast majority of the time, the sky is cold, and the living conditions are hard and difficult.
Moreover, because it is located on a plateau, the altitude is too high, which means that the oxygen content is extremely low. In fact, the oxygen content in Pushwa Village is less than half that of the plain area.
Additionally, many crops cannot grow due to the high altitude, and the speed of production is too slow to produce large economic benefits. As a result, the villagers in Pushwa Village graze their sheep in a unique way.
They drive all their sheep to the island in the center of Pumo Yongcuo, which can sustain their survival until spring arrives, and then drive the sheep back to the village.
The ice on the lake is too slippery, so the villagers have developed a clever method of using livestock dung and grass ash to sprinkle on the ice, making it rougher and allowing the sheep to pass by more easily.
This method of grazing has been used in the village for thousands of years, becoming part of the village's unique landscape.
Despite the harsh environment, the villagers are particularly united, relying on each other for warmth and survival.
However, life is still very difficult for them. The government has repeatedly encouraged the villagers to move to a lower place where a better living environment can be obtained, but the villagers are unwilling to leave their homes and prefer to stick to their traditions.
However, there are debates about whether Pushwa Village is the highest-altitude village in the world. Some people believe that Songxi Village is the highest altitude village, also located in the Tibetan Ali region.
According to measurements, Songxi Village's average altitude is about 5200, which is also very high and causes serious plateau reactions in most people. However, the villagers of Songxi Village are used to living at such high altitudes.
It is worth noting that the debates about which village holds the title of the highest altitude village in the world are not definitive, as there is no authoritative statistic available. The title may only rely on hearsay and opinions of local residents.
Pushwa Village is a unique village with a rich history and culture, despite its harsh living conditions. The villagers' way of life, customs, and traditions have been preserved for thousands of years, and the village has become an important destination for backpackers seeking adventure and cultural experiences.
It is a testament to the resilience and perseverance of the human spirit to thrive and adapt in even the most challenging environments.