Photo shows the Basum Co Lake, one of the three holy lakes in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Secluded in a holy lake, Tsozom Monastery appears to be a fairyland on earth.

It's dubbed "a castle in a lake", for it lies on the central island of the Basum Co Lake, one of Tibet's three holy lakes, including Basum Co Lake, Yamzhog Yumco Lake and Namtso Holy Lake.

The monastery, about 40 kilometers away from the Sichuan-Tibet highway in southeastern Tibet's Nyingchi Prefecture, is said to be founded over 600 years ago by Sangye Lingpa, a senior monk of the Nyingma Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Over time, the monastery has witnessed ups and downs and undergone renovations, said Dondrup, an elderly monk of the mastery, who has taken charge of the restoration of its two-floor temple and white pagoda.

Photo shows the renovated two-floor temple of the Tsozom Monastery. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

There spread some legends about the island.

Sangye Lingpa is said to have left his footprints on one stock on the left side of the monastery when he built the monastery.

Songtsan Gambo, a famous king of Tibet's ancient kingdom-Tubo Kingdom, also left his horse's footprints on the left side of the monastery when he conquered enemies.

In addition, a Cyclobalanopsis glauca grows in the south of the monastery and the patterns on the leaves take on the natural formation of intriguing Tibetan letters, adding to the mystery of the monastery.