This section of the itinerary imprinted in my mind is the colorfulness: the ocher-red Aiken Spring, the green Tsoka Lake, the vast Eye of Genie, the pure white Baishuitai, all the colors are accompanied by the golden light of autumn, just like Kaleidoscope-like magic.
Day 40 Ruoqiang to Mangya
Take National Highway 315, cross the Altun Mountains and go out of Xinjiang, to Mangya, Qinghai, with a journey of 412 kilometers.
When taking National Highway 315 in 2019, you will turn to Dunhuang at the water Yadan in Wusute. This time you can make up for this shortcoming.
Walking in the Gobi, the altitude climbs all the way
Aiken Spring: From National Highway 315, there are dirt roads not far away, and the whole is relatively straight. It takes more than an hour to reach Aiken Spring. Aiken Spring has a diameter of more than 10 meters. Looking at the signboard, it is still a ringing spring. The louder the voice, the bigger the spring water. The springs are like boiling water, constantly tumbling upwards, and the sulfur minerals around the springs have been precipitated for a long time, and the colors are colorful. Looking down from the air, the spring, the spouting spring water and the crimson band-shaped sediments of the surrounding land form a peculiar pupil shape, like a pair of glasses embedded in the earth, so everyone calls it "Eye of the Earth". ", "The Devil's Eye".
Day 41 Mangya to Golmud
Take the S303 provincial road and cross the Qaidam Basin to Golmud City, a journey of 468 kilometers
Mangya Emerald Lake is larger than Dachaidan Emerald Lake. Driving around counterclockwise, various greens come into view. The salt pools are of different depths and shapes. They are pure and clear, like emerald jade embedded in the Gobi. of Emerald Lake.
The salt lake is still being mined
salt bridge
crystallized salt like lace
green marshmallow
The famous T-shaped walkway
Enter the city of Golmud, serve mutton
Day 42 Golmud
Stroll downtown
city sign
Lamb tripe soup
Day 43 Golmud to Maqin
Go back to the plateau, book a winter trip to Cuona Lake, with a journey of 598 kilometers
After turning from Xiangriman to Dema Expressway, there is a large lake in front of you, and you can also see the iconic red grass beach, which is Donggetsona Lake. There are almost no tourists around the lake, and the lake is quiet. The red water grass by the lake is a short and inconspicuous grass, so bright red, it seems that there is an embroidered carpet on the ground.
Donggecuona Lake is very close to Huashi Gorge. The stones on the top of the mountain are completely different from those at the foot of the mountain. They look like petals, and they match the place names very well.
drive yaks
scenery along the road
Day 44 Maqin to Seda
Leaving Qinghai Province, take National Highway 548 and enter Sichuan Province, with a journey of 482 kilometers.
Maqin's protector
Since Jiuzhi's Nianbaoyu was closed, it was planned to go out of Qinghai via Dari to Banma
All the way over several passes with an altitude of more than 4,000, the mountains are covered with snow, and the trees under the mountains are green
It was almost 6 pm when we arrived in Sichuan Seda, the pagoda under the sunset
dinner
Day 45 Seda to Xinlong
No track was recorded today. Seda took County Highway 6983 (passing Nailong Mountain Snow Mountain), National Highway 317 and National Highway 227 (Yalong River Grand Canyon section) to Xinlong County, about 240 kilometers.
In the square of Seda, there stands a huge prayer wheel
Seda is not only a Buddhist academy, but also Dongga Temple. Dongga Temple was built in the early 16th century and has a history of more than 500 years. It is a branch temple of the Yellow Sect Tashilhunpo Monastery and is located on the Golden Horse Grassland.
All the way over the mountains and ridges, at the highest point of the road on the top of the mountain, there is a sign of Nailong Mountain Pass, with an elevation of 4580 meters. After this point, the mountain road begins to descend.
The row of snow-capped mountains ahead should be the Shaluli Mountains.
When approaching the foot of the mountain, there seemed to be caves and buildings on the hill ahead. Looking closer with the lens, it is indeed so. This kind of mysterious building in Tibetan areas is very common. This small temple at the foot of the mountain is surrounded by mountains and rivers, and the scenery is beautiful.
To Xinlong Litang direction
A red hiding place at the foot of the mountain
long mani wall
This is the Xinlong Po Ri Bridge, which was first built in the Qing Dynasty. The piers of the bridge look like two solid blockhouses from a distance. In the middle of the two piers, 4-6 logs are used to support the arch, and the length of the logs increases gradually from bottom to top to form two cantilever arms. , forming the bridge body. The "umbrella"-shaped structure stacked with stone sheets on the pier is the bridge pavilion. The most amazing thing is that the entire bridge does not use a nail or a piece of iron, and each joint is connected with a wooden wedge, which is primitive and practical.
Day 46 Xinlong to Litang
A plateau Tibetan-style scenery along the way, plus the niche punching place of Cuoka Lake, and then to Litang, the city of the sky, with a journey of 181 kilometers
The Xinlong residence is obviously different from the Tibetan residences seen before. The ground floor is a traditional rammed earth wall. The whole building is large and small, majestic and rough. What is distinctive is that they erect 1-3 "collapse" rooms on the second and third floors. "Ke" (in Tibetan, "Beng" means wooden framed, "Ke" means house, "Bengke" is a house built with wood.), auspicious patterns are carefully carved on the lintels and window frames, Color with different colors.
Ten kilometers of steep mountain roads
Tsoka Lake: Circling along the mountain col, there is a green lake in front of you, surrounded by temples with golden roofs and red walls, that is Tsoka Lake. The lake is not very big, the jasper-like lake is crystal clear, a pure natural mirror of the sky.
The Cuoka Monastery by the lake has exquisite architecture
There are no boats on the lake, it is very quiet and clean, and the blue sky, white clouds, green trees, green mountains, and red temples are collected like a kaleidoscope.
The altitude from Xinlong to Litang has increased all the way, and the vegetation has changed significantly
It was already 5:00 p.m. when we arrived in Litang due to road construction. This is the third time we have been here in Sky City. The facilities in the county are getting better every time. Holiday Inn Express has opened this time.
After settling down, looking at the blue sky, go to Litang Changchun Keer Temple to have a look. In the magnificent temple, the gorgeous murals around it glow with golden brilliance under the setting sun.
The local Tibetans happily communicated with us, took pictures with their shoulders hooked, happiness came smoothly
Day 47 Litang
Litang Genie South Line: Genie Holy Mountain, Genie Eye, 188 kilometers away
Going to the Eye of Genie, the navigation cannot be displayed. On the way, there are many forks with no road signs. There are no passers-by to ask. Stop to ask for directions.
gravel all over the hills
I passed by Baita Park first, and the gate was closed. When I returned in the afternoon, I passed by again and saw a note on the door saying "open the door and pull the wire". It turns out that you can enter, but you have to close the door casually. In Baita Park, there are 119 small towers surrounding the main tower, forming a unique tower forest. These 119 small towers represent 119 villages in the county. The main tower is 33 meters high, the small tower is 2.5 meters high, and there is a large prayer wheel, which is majestic against the blue sky.
Genie in autumn is a large-scale scenic spot with pure sky, golden grass, turquoise water and colorful forests all over the slopes.
Yaks are also unique
Temple at the foot of the mountain and the White Pagoda
The Eye of Genie has to use a drone to take a panoramic view, looking down from the sky like an eye
The effect of the small pond next to it is no less than that of the Eye of Genie
After shooting the Eye of Genie, go down the dirt road to the village, and the river comes from the snow-capped mountains in the distance
return journey
Hot springs, Tibetans are soaking their feet
Litang Ximen
Day 48 Litang to Xiangcheng
To Xiangcheng, bypassing the popular Daocheng Yading, the scenery along the way, the journey is 285 kilometers
Rila Temple, with red, blue and white exterior walls, belongs to the Sakya sect. The lama of the monastery led us to visit. He has been studying here for 3 years. He is tall, thin and handsome.
The road to Daocheng Yading is very well repaired, there are signs along the way to remind you, you will not miss any attractions
immeasurable river
Rabbit Mountain, the mountain is peculiar, and the long ears of the rabbit stand on the mountain peak that is barren of grass
Shihe Park is an ancient ice feature, with thousands of ice boulders, large and small, which is very spectacular.
The red grass in Daocheng Sangdui is small in size, only about one or two basketball courts. The red water plants and the yellow leaves in the distance set off each other, forming a unique landscape
Daocheng White Tower
via mount pova
After climbing a few mountains, I was very surprised to see these short stone houses. Later, I found out that the Tibetans who dug the caterpillar fungus built them temporarily to live here. After digging the caterpillar fungus, they left and came back the next year.
Entering Xiangcheng, the white Tibetan houses along the banks of the river are known as "white houses".
funny ladder
Living in a house
Day 49 Xiangcheng
A white Tibetan village surrounded by mountains and rivers. On a sunny day, the valley looks like terraced fields, scattered with white Tibetan houses, casual and natural.
On the east gate of Sangpiling Temple, the doorposts of the gate are two whole wood round carvings, which are engraved with the keepsake picture of "peace is good" believed by the Tibetan people, "harmony and four auspiciousness" - elephants, monkeys, rabbits and auspicious bird. There are tiger, lion, eagle and dragon carved on the beam of the gate.
In Sangpiling Temple, exquisite sculptures and paintings can be seen everywhere. Various Buddha statues, birds and beasts are in various shapes, and various auspicious patterns common in Tibetan Buddhism are depicted on stigmas, beam arches, and corridor tops.
Exquisite pagoda
debating monk
Zhongde Village, Qingde Township, Xiangcheng County, "Passing Through Your World" takes scenic spots in Xiangcheng, Jingfan Road, and radio stations one by one
Artistic B&B
Ranwu Township Hot Spring, after soaking in the hot spring, the whole body is smooth
Day 50 Xiangcheng to Shangri-La
Go southeast from Xiangcheng County, Sichuan, and walk about 100 kilometers to the unnamed Great Rift Valley (temporary roadside sign Z001) on the map, with a journey of 257 kilometers.
From Xiangcheng to Shangri-La in Diqing, Yunnan, take a newly built road, accompanied by green rivers along the road
Sechong Bridge, drive across the bridge, take a "Zhi"-shaped mountain road, the shape of the mountain is steep, and you will feel sore when you drive
Entering the Napa Sea, the snow-capped peaks are reflected in the lake, and the alpine pastures at the foot of the mountain, with herds of cattle and sheep, present a beautiful picture scroll of idyllic pastoral songs.
The time-honored local chicken soup, business is booming
Day 51 Shangri-La to Tiger Leaping Gorge
From Shangri-La County to Baishuitai, and at the end to Tiger Leaping Gorge Town. Due to the construction of the entire Xianghu Highway, there is no time to shoot the scenery of the entire line except Baishuitai. Most of them are avoiding pits and eating ashes. The journey is 198 kilometers.
Take the Shangri-La East Ring Road to Baishuitai Scenic Area. The scenic spot is surrounded by pure white Baishuitai from the upper left to the lower right.
The road from Baishuitai to Tiger Leaping Gorge is under construction. The road is muddy and uneven, with steep cliffs on one side, and cars have to be avoided. I am lucky to be able to reach the hotel safely. You must know that the road will be closed the next day
Day 52 Tiger Leaping Gorge to Jianchuan Shaxi Ancient Town
Bypass Lijiang from Tiger Leaping Gorge Town and arrive at Shaxi Ancient Town temporarily. Crossing Jianchuan County and entering the mountain for about 30 kilometers, it reaches the ancient town of Shaxi, with a journey of 115 kilometers.
Gongxili Hotel next to National Highway 214, with antique flavor and elegant environment
Lunch at Tiger Leaping Gorge
The view from the restaurant window
Stay in Shaxi Ancient Town
ancient town in the evening
Day 53 Jianchuan Shaxi Ancient Town
Ancient alleyways, ancient village gates, ancient temples, ancient theaters, and ancient bridges, in addition to these cultural landscapes, accompanied by the century-old trees next to the horse shop and the lazy sofas outside the inn, time seems to have stood still.
The dishes in the ancient town are also appetizing. It happens to be the season of mushrooms. I bought mushroom oil as a gift to take home.
goodbye
From Jianchuan, I was on my way to Guangdong. Looking back on the whole trip, the two of us took 57 days in one car and traveled 18,000 kilometers. Every time we travel, the most important thing is to feel with our heart. The most American road 317 and the most seductive 219, the excitement of the journey brought by it is still vivid in my memory. From time to time, I can see the familiar scenery on the TV screen, and I can proudly comment on it. Looking forward to the next departure, the scenery is always on the way.
