[5] The geothermal field is in the central part of a semi-graben fault-depression basin caused by the foremontane fault zone of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains.

[6] A drill hole in the northern part of the field with a final depth of 2,006 metres (6,581 ft) found thermal fluid with a maximum temperature of 329 °C (624 °F).

[11] A 1996 paper proposed that the magmatic heat source lies to the southeast of the field at a depth of 10 to 12 kilometres (6.2 to 7.5 mi).

[12] Carbon dioxide in the hot spring gases is probably largely organic, from the sedimentary rocks of the field.

[14] The shallow reservoir covers 148 square kilometres (57 sq mi) and is mostly hosted in porous Quaternary alluvium.

The deep reservoir was thought to have an area of 3.8 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi) below 750 metres (2,460 ft), contained in fractured bedrock.

[5] The isotopic composition of the thermal waters indicates local meteoric origin (rain and snow), including run-off from the Nyainquentanglha Range.

[16] A resort developed by government agencies in 1998 has hot spring baths that are reputed to have curative powers.

[17] A 7,300 square metres (79,000 sq ft) hot water lake lies to the east of the geothermal ground, from which steam rises high in the air on a clear day.

[1] 4,000 kW of electricity from Yangbajain began to be delivered to Lhasa in 1981 along a transmission line that runs southeast along the Duilong River.

[4] As of 2000 the Yangbajing power plants were using 1,200 tons per day of water from the shallow reservoir, but pressure was falling fast and the turbines could not operate at full capacity.

A 2015 study reported that during the non-monsoon season the levels of arsenic in the river, at 205.6 μg/L were higher than the WHO guideline of 10 μg/L for drinking water.