Ngoring Lake (Chinese: Eling Hu) is the larger of the two sacred source lakes of the Yellow River, sitting at 4,272 metres on the open plateau of Golog Prefecture about 50 kilometres north of Maduo. At roughly 610 square kilometres, it is one of the highest large lakes in the world. The waters are a deep blue-green, remarkably clear, and surrounded by a landscape of absolute emptiness: no trees, scattered nomad tents, and the occasional yak herd moving through the shore grasses.
The lake is sacred in Tibetan tradition and in Chinese nationalist geography, and a small temple on the shore is a pilgrimage point. Wildlife is abundant: bar-headed geese nest along the margins, black-necked cranes are sometimes visible, and large herds of Tibetan gazelle and kiang (wild ass) move across the plateau behind the lake. Getting here from Maduo requires hiring a private vehicle — a return trip of around 900 to 1,000 yuan, negotiated with drivers at Maduo's guesthouses. Most visitors combine both lakes in a single day trip.