Significance of travel: to see the world with my mother.
Main attractions: Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor Street, Yamdrok Yongcuo, Namtso, Basongcuo, Nyingchi Taohuagou, (Yalung Zangbo Grand Canyon), Lulang Forest, Lulang Town, Tongmai Natural Danger, Bomi Taohuagou, Midui Glacier, (Ranwu Lake).
Main highways: Linla Highway (high speed), G318 National Highway, G109 National Highway, S306 Provincial Highway, S307 Provincial Highway.
Driving mileage: 2600KM.
Necessary luggage: ID card, driver's license, camera, power bank, sunscreen, thin and thick clothes, and money. Other items depend on personal preference.
Precautions:
1. Altitude sickness: After the human body enters a low-pressure and hypoxic environment, it will produce symptoms of incompatibility (limb weakness, headache, insomnia, loss of appetite, difficulty breathing, etc.), so there is only one way to relieve altitude sickness, and that is oxygen inhalation. Not all people will have altitude sickness, and the symptoms vary from person to person. Generally, star-rated hotels will provide oxygen service, some of which require additional charges. Shops on the street also sell small oxygen tanks. The general price ranges from 40 to 100 yuan. The quality is about the same, try to choose the cheapest one. Many people say that they start taking rhodiola about half a month before departure. I think this may be useful. Anyway, I don’t drink it and I’m fine. I have a persistent heart, maintain a happy mood, and don’t scare myself. It’s more important than anything else. . When you first arrive in Tibet, especially when the plane arrives, try to avoid loud talking and strenuous exercise, and try not to take a bath in areas above 3,000 meters above sea level. If you want to take Rhodiola in advance, I suggest you start drinking oral liquid about 15 days in advance, or make soup with Rhodiola medicinal materials. I heard that the effect of capsules is average. Be especially careful not to catch a cold! The temperature difference between day and night in various areas of Tibet is relatively large. If you have a fever and cough, you can return to see a doctor in advance~
2. Road conditions: The Linla Highway (including the airport expressway in Lhasa and Nyingchi) is all high-speed except for the 30-way Fanshan Road at the Mila Pass. , the G318 mountain road at Mira Pass is fine as long as it doesn’t snow. The slope is relatively large, and the curves are not too many. Be prepared, and you have to know how to install it. G318 is notoriously dangerous, the speed ranges from 40-60KM/H, there are many curves, dangerous roads near mountains, the road surface is not bad, pay attention to falling rocks and snow. Generally speaking, G109 is far more dangerous than G318. The section speed is 70KM/H, there are many large vehicles, many curves, and the speed is fast. Also, pay attention to weather changes. The road condition of S306 is good, it is a country road, please pay attention to pedestrians and livestock passing by. The speed measurement in the S307 section is 30KM/H, which are basically slopes and curves. If you run fast, stop and take pictures. The urban areas of Lhasa and Nyingchi basically have a speed limit of 40KM/H. In short, drive carefully and pay attention to people and animals, honk the horn at corners, pay attention to speed measurement, step on the brakes at intervals when going downhill, overtake steadily and relentlessly, and prepare snow chains and glass water.
3. Local customs: There are generally Tibetans stationed at the scenic spots by the lake. If you take pictures, you need to pay extra money. You have to agree with them in advance to take pictures. Otherwise, you will be charged 5 yuan for a sheep, and for a group of sheep... In addition Tibetans don’t eat fish, and some places like Bomi County may have boiled fish, so it’s better not to eat it. Also, Tibet is a clockwise world. If you make a mistake while shopping, there may be kind reminders from local people, please don’t mind.
4. Car rental matters: Tibet severely cracks down on illegal operations, so whether you rent a car by yourself or a small group charter a car, try to choose to rent a certain company’s operating vehicles, but the operating vehicles are all affiliated to the name of the travel company, and travel agencies in peak tourist seasons are generally I will not rent you a self-driving car, because it is more profitable to charter a car with a driver. Several large car rental companies were also forced to withdraw from Tibet due to the problem of non-operating vehicles. There are many checkpoints on Tibet’s highways. A fine of 5,000-30,000 yuan. Therefore, if you rent a car by yourself, you should choose a vehicle with an individual name on the driving license and a non-operating vehicle in nature. Even if it is found, it can be said to be borrowing a friend's car. If it is a chartered vehicle, be sure to look for the word “Operation” on the driving license. All the license plates of regular operating vehicles in Lhasa start with Tibetan A.L.
5. Attraction description: Namtso’s ice-covered period is from November to April of the following year; to visit the Potala Palace, you need to line up and make an appointment one day in advance; Jokhang Temple is generally closed on Sundays, and sometimes you need to make an appointment one day in advance; -The scenery is best in April; the peach blossom period in Nyingchi is from mid-March to mid-April; Nyingchi Milin Airport has only about 100 days of airworthiness throughout the year; tickets for all A-level scenic spots in Tibet are free before April 30 this year; The price of star-rated hotels shall not exceed 50% over the same period last year.
There are a lot of introductions before, let's start to get to the point:
DAY 1. Taiyuan City - Chengdu City - Lhasa City (3.24)
LOC. Wusu Airport - Shuangliu Airport - Gongga Airport - Jokhang Temple - Baiyi Supermarket - Hotel
DIS.2400KM (flight), 60KM (driving), 5KM (walking)
Take the earliest flight at 7:00 a.m. and arrive at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport around 9:00 a.m. After going through the formalities at the transfer counter, you will go directly to the waiting hall. However, the boarding gate is on the first floor, and you will need to take a shuttle bus to board the plane later. Seeing light rain outside through the glass, I was quite worried, because the weather forecast in Lhasa was also light rain and sleet, and I was worried that the roads in Tibet would be snowed and icy.
Playing with the mobile phone boredly, I also contacted the travel company in Lhasa during the period, and negotiated the matter of picking up the plane later, and the time finally arrived at 11 o'clock to start boarding. Since I studied the flight route of the plane and the angle of the sun before departure, I decided to choose a position on the left and back in advance, which is conducive to aerial photography during the flight. The result is quite satisfying, except that the engine was unavoidably captured in a few horizontal shots, and the majestic appearance of Mount Namjagbarwa was also seen for the first time. The LEICA camera of the HUAWEI P10 took very good details.
After arriving at Lhasa Gonggar Airport, there was no sign of rain in the sky. The altitude of Lhasa is 3600M, my mother was worried about the high reaction, so she walked very slowly, while I rushed out with my luggage, but was stopped by the security police. In Tibet, as in Xinjiang, identity cards may be checked at any time. In contrast, Tibet is a little more relaxed and the atmosphere is less tense.
The staff of the travel company I contacted before came to pick us up by car. The car was rented on Taobao Fliggy. The store is a local travel company in Lhasa. It is relatively reliable, and the vehicle performance and service attitude are good. (I originally rented a Volkswagen Tiguan, but later the other party said that the Tiguan was too old and replaced it with a 17-year-old Kia Smart Run. The price remains the same at 550 yuan per day.) I saw many people recommending to rent Prado, Highlander, Land cruiser, I don’t think it is necessary if you only go to Nyingchi Yanghu Lake. It is expensive, fuel-intensive, and has poor handling. road. As for why not choose some car rental companies, the above precautions have been made very clear. The opportunity cost of 100 yuan/day cheaper for the same model may be exchanged for a fine of 5,000 yuan.
It is about 50KM from the airport to the hotel (Lhasa Xuelong Manor Hotel). The reason why I chose this hotel is that it is relatively close to the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple and the travel company that rents and returns the car, and the price is relatively cheap , the room decoration is no less than that of a five-star hotel, but the price is half of that of a five-star hotel. Of course, this is also due to the recent preferential policies in Tibet, the price of star hotels does not exceed 50% of the previous period. When checking in, the front desk of the hotel also presented a pot of hot water made from Rhodiola rosea. The hotel also provides free shuttle bus to Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace. The fly in the ointment is that the road is being repaired at the entrance of the hotel, and the car needs to be parked in the parking lot in the backyard.
After completing the procedures for renting a car, we put down our luggage and drove to the Jokhang Temple. After several twists and turns, I stopped the car. The urban area of Lhasa is not considered prosperous, and the roads are relatively narrow. Walked to the Jokhang Temple, but was told that it would not be open to the public after two o'clock in the afternoon, and tomorrow is Sunday, and the temple needs to rest for a day. Walking along the Barkhor Street outside the Jokhang Temple, there are a wide variety of Tibetan specialties such as thangkas and prayer wheels. There are many people who come to the entrance of the Jokhang Temple to worship and kowtow, but they don’t know how many days and nights they have gone through, how many kilometers they have walked, how many mountains they have climbed, and how many kowtows they have made to come here. My heart unswervingly urged them to come here. Now that their wish has been fulfilled, everything is beautiful in their hearts at this moment, but I feel unhappy when I come by plane and car and cannot enter. Does it pale in comparison? When I returned to Taiyuan and wrote this travel note, I suddenly realized that maybe it was because my cultivation of mental state was not enough. Whether the door is open or not, the Jokhang Temple is there, and if you can’t go back, it’s not enough.
Walk from the Jokhang Temple to Baiyi Supermarket (the best supermarket in Lhasa) about 500M. I went in to purchase a lot of food and water for the next few days, and the prices of some commodities were relatively high. Due to inconvenient transportation and low air pressure, everything in plastic packaging feels like it is about to explode. The fruits and vegetables are not very fresh, but the small watermelon produced in Linzhi is still very good. There are Bread Talk and Kaifeng dishes at the entrance. I bought some bread for dry food and Kaifeng vegetables for dinner. I have to say that Kaifeng dishes are still very popular among Tibetan children.
When we got back to the hotel, it was still dark, and there was a time difference of about 2 hours in Lhasa. The first thing to do was to turn on the humidifier. The air in Lhasa was extremely dry, enough to make your nose bleed. The oxygen inhaler in this hotel is charged, 1 yuan/minute, the more you inhale, the more discounts, if you feel that you have a high reaction, don’t be stingy, the only way to alleviate the high reaction is to inhale oxygen. My mother and I were in good health without any obvious symptoms. At around 5 a.m., my mother said that she couldn't sleep and had a headache, so she took oxygen decisively for an hour, and the symptoms were relieved. In fact, drinking rhodiola, although we also took it before we came to Tibet, no one knows whether it really works, but you will feel that it works after drinking it.
DAY 2. Downtown Lhasa - Qushui County - Langkazi County - Urban Lhasa (3.25)
LOC. Hotel——Yamdrok Yongcuo——Hotel
DIS.300KM (driving)
Woke up around 7 o'clock with dry throat and nasal cavity. It is still dark outside, and the sunrise in Lhasa is around 8 o'clock in this season. I went to the parking lot in the backyard to put my luggage alone. It was very quiet and dark, and I was a little scared. After washing up, I went to the first floor of the hotel to have breakfast. It was relatively simple, and the fruit was quite rich. After drinking a bowl of butter tea, I felt hot all over. It was around 8 o'clock when we set off, and it was already dawn. The reception staff of the travel company sent a few cans of oxygen for backup, and they can be returned for free if they are not used.
It is 100KM to drive to Yanghu Lake. Walk along the airport expressway. After getting off the expressway, there is a section of provincial road, and then there is a winding mountain road with a speed measurement of 30KM/H. The slope is short, the slope is steep, and the altitude rises quickly. , it takes about 2 hours one way. There is a viewing platform on the Panshan Highway, where you can overlook the scenery of the southern part of the mountain on the mountainside. Those who go up or down the mountain quickly can choose to wait here.
I arrived at the first viewing platform of Yanghu Lake at around 10 o'clock, with an altitude of about 4800M. I was so excited that I quickly grabbed my mobile phone and stood on a high place with a SLR on my back to take pictures. Before coming to Tibet, I have been paying attention to the weather forecast in various regions of Tibet. I am very worried that I will encounter rainy weather when I come to Yanghu Lake, so I will not be able to take pictures of the blue lake. Until the moment I saw Yanghu Lake, all these worries were swept away.
Due to the early departure, many tourist buses with hidden AL license plates came here, but they seemed to only stay here for half an hour before returning. Fortunately, I made preparations before, and walking down Yanghu Lake is a road along the east side of the lake.
Continue to drive for about 50KM and you will arrive at Langkazi County. The scenery along the way is beautiful, like the feeling of the Great Ocean Road. During the period, there are also many viewing platforms for tourists to stop and stop. It is expected that Tibetans hiding behind the big rocks will suddenly appear and you will be charged 2-5 yuan per person for taking pictures. I was lucky enough to take a photo with the Tibetan mastiff at the price of 5 yuan, and it was fate when I met it.
If you continue to drive south along the road, you will arrive at Pumuyongcuo, which is said to be a lake with a great view. However, since it was already 12:30 at this time, we were afraid that we might not get used to it when we first arrived in Tibet, so we chose to turn around and return, and it was already past 3 pm when we arrived at the new InterContinental Hotel in Lhasa. The reason why I chose to change hotels is also because this hotel is closer to the entrance of the Linla Highway that I will take tomorrow, and the oxygen supply here is free for the whole night, but the room rate is slightly higher than that of Xuelong Manor.
DAY3. Lhasa urban area - Mozhugongka County - Gongbu Jiangda County - Linzhi City - Milin County (3.26)
LOC. Hotel—Linla Highway—Mila Mountain Pass—Basongcuo—Hotel
DIS.550KM (driving), 2KM (walking)
I woke up naturally after sleeping at 5 o’clock. I checked the weather forecast and it was raining in Mozhugongka County. Considering the high altitude of Mira Mountain Pass, it was likely to snow, so we decided to start at 7 o’clock, so that we can reach Mira at around 9 o’clock Lashankou, even if it snows, there will be no traffic control and time-limited clearance.
After leaving the hotel, I refueled at the gas station at the intersection of South Ring Road and G318. This was the first time I refueled in Tibet. According to the guide on the Internet, I need to bring my driving license, driver's license and ID card to register, and I can only refuel after issuing a small ticket. Due to my previous self-driving experience in Xinjiang, I am very familiar with the routines of passengers getting off and waiting outside the station, identity verification and other security checks (Xinjiang does not need to issue a ticket but needs to swipe an ID card), and the fuel tank was successfully filled.
The Linla Highway was opened to traffic on the National Day last year, and it is known as the highest-altitude expressway and the most beautiful expressway in China. Borrow photos taken from the Internet to show its beauty.
I just left Lhasa city and drove about 50KM, the sky was getting brighter, and the scenery on both sides of the road had already attracted my attention. In order to drive safely and not miss this beautiful scenery, I had to hold the steering wheel with one hand and take photos with my mobile phone in the other. Later, when I felt that the photos were not enough to show the scenery, I changed to recording videos.
Driving to the territory of Mozhugongka County, it may have been a heavy snowfall last night, which covered the villages and mountains on the roadside in silver, driving through them, as if in the world of fairy tales. If you don't choose to travel today, you won't be able to see this scene. Everything is due to fate.
"I saw mountains, mountains and rivers, and mountains and rivers connected one after another. Ya Lasuo, that's the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau..." Driving forward for a while, snowflakes floated outside the car window. As the altitude increased, the road also Icing and snow gradually appear. For the sake of safety, I had no choice but to put down the mobile phone that was filmed, hold the steering wheel with both hands and focus on driving. Later, I followed a tourist bus and drove along its trajectory, keeping a certain distance, which was relatively safe.
The Linla Highway has not yet been fully opened to traffic, and the tunnel at the Mira Pass has not been opened, so it is necessary to take the G318 National Highway of about 30KM to cross the pass. At the high-speed exit, we still encountered short-term traffic control. I found out that the Mira Mountain Pass was already covered with thick snow, the local traffic police were directing the passing vehicles, and there was also the sound of forklifts in the distance, which should be plowing snow. I parked the car by the guardrail, took out the anti-skid chains from the trunk, and laid them on the ground for installation. At this time, I heard the car in front started to start. I guess it should be passable, so I grabbed the anti-skid chains and threw them in the trunk. I jumped Get in the car and get ready to go. Perhaps because of the early departure, there are very few vehicles coming from the opposite side, and the road at Mira Pass will resume traffic soon after the forklift handles it.
There was still a lot of snow and ice on the road. I drove cautiously. I didn’t dare to step on the accelerator and brake too fast, and I didn’t dare to turn in a hurry. Overtaking was steady and ruthless. I finally climbed to the Mira Pass at an altitude of 5013M. This should be the first time I have reached a place above 5000M above sea level (except by plane), a sense of excitement arises spontaneously, but the traffic police at the top of the mountain directs me to keep going and not to stop, maybe because of the parking lot The snow is too thick.
After going down the mountain, I stopped at a place with few cars and wide roads, and took many photos of the G318, because one of my dreams finally came true, and I finally completed the self-driving G318, which is also the dream of many, many people. (I will publish a travel note about several routes by self-driving later)
After passing through a security checkpoint, we returned to the expressway and passed through Gongbu Jiangda County to the Basongcuo Exit. It takes about 40KM to drive from the exit to Basongcuo. The country road is not wide but enough to meet cars. There is a reservoir at the beginning of the road, the water color is green like the water of Basongcuo, no wonder there is a sign beside the road saying "No parking here, 36KM away from Basongcuo".
We parked the car at the entrance of the scenic spot. There was a lot of fog in the mountains, and there were two drops of rain from time to time. After purchasing the ticket, we took the bus of the scenic spot to the lake center island scenic spot in Basongcuo. The clouds and mist in the mountains are misty, and the lake is not green. I feel a little lost. All of a sudden, the sun pushed through the clouds and mist, illuminating the whole lake with green light, but heavy snow fell in the sky. This is the first time in my life to see such a strange scene, and it must be only seen in Tibet.
It is already 2 o'clock in the afternoon, time is limited, we did not go to other scenic spots in Basongcuo, and it may not be open to the public in winter, we bought a set of postcards about Nyingchi at the waiting point, and hurriedly boarded the return bus . The normal play time of this scenic spot should be about 2H.
After leaving Basongcuo, we went straight to Nyingchi City along the Niyang River Valley. There was a heavy rain on the road, and the rain stopped when we arrived near Bayi Town, Nyingchi City. We chose to stay at the Hilton Linzhi Gongbu Manor Hotel, which is close to Nyingchi Milin Airport. After walking 50KM along the expressway from Bayi Town, we turned to S306 and drove along the peach blossoms on both sides of the river for a certain distance to arrive at the hotel.
The altitude of Nyingchi City is relatively low, only 2800M, and the oxygen content here is extremely high, so there is no altitude sickness at all. The external environment of the hotel is very good. Take a walk after dinner. There is a dense forest under the snow-capped mountains not far away, and the Yarlung Zangbo River flows slowly on the other side. It seems that you can also choose to come here for vacation in summer.
DAY4. Milin County - Bayi Town - Milin County (3.27)
LOC. Hotel - Daze Village - Gala Village - Bujiu Township - Hotel
DIS.150KM (driving), 1KM (walking)
When traveling to Tibet in March and April, peach blossoms should not be missed. This year's Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival will open on March 29. We arrived in Nyingchi early to avoid the peak of tourists. It was still raining lightly outside the window in the morning, but I had no choice but to wait in the room for the rain to stop. The hotel's breakfast is relatively rich in Tibet, and there are many dishes to choose from. The sky began to clear around 11:00 noon, and we drove along the S306 country road, admiring the peach blossoms blooming especially after the rain, and everything that was given color by nature.
The first thing we arrived at was Daze Village. The peach blossoms here are in full bloom on both sides of the road. They are not very concentrated, but you can take pictures of the rapeseed flowers in the field, look at the snow-capped mountains hidden in the dark clouds in the early clear sky, and the yaks beside the road. Foraging leisurely with Tibetan pigs.
Gala Village, known as Nyingchi Peach Blossom Village, is still the main venue of the Peach Blossom Festival this year. We arrived at the parking lot of the scenic spot around 1:00 noon. There were not many tourists, probably because of the meal time. Since it does not belong to the A-level scenic spot, we need to buy tickets for 30 yuan per person. The preparations for the Peach Blossom Festival are basically ready, and there will be Tibetan dance performances on the spot. Peach blossoms, snow-capped mountains and white clouds form a scene of their own.
I thought yesterday's heavy rain and snow would crush the peach blossoms, but I didn't see the colorful scene of fallen flowers when I came here. It may be because of the different varieties. The petals of the peach blossoms here are very firm.
Walking up the mountain path, not far away is the viewing platform. Climb to the viewing platform and have a bird's-eye view of the peach blossoms blooming in the entire Niyang River Valley. It is so beautiful that no amount of words can describe this scene.
After taking about 300 photos, we left Gala Village and returned along the road across the S306 River. On the way, we passed the place where the Niyang River merges into the Yarlung Zangbo River. We also climbed up the hillside to take pictures of the big curve of the airport expressway. I also went to the river to see the beach formed by the river. The advantage of self-driving travel is that on the premise of ensuring safety, you can avoid the high speed when you see the route you like, and you can stop at any time when you see the scenery you like.
Back at the hotel, the dinner buffet is the best meal I have eaten in the past few days. In Tibetan areas, you can’t ask too much for food, clothing, housing and transportation. You only need to keep your clothes warm, eat enough to satisfy your hunger, sleep well when you stay, and drive easily. But, everything is about fate.
DAY5. Milin County - Lulang Town - Bomi County (3.28)
LOC. Hotel—Sejila Pass—Lulang Town—Tongmai Natural Danger—Guxiang Lake—Galang Village—Runa Village—Midui Glacier—Hotel
DIS. 450KM (driving), 3KM on foot (walking)
Enjoying the peach blossoms in Nyingchi for a whole day seems to be a little aesthetically fatigued. Today we chose to give up the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon scenic spot and decided to go to Bomi. Bomi County is 2700M above sea level, and Galang Village is the branch venue of the Peach Blossom Festival. To drive from Milin to Bomi, you first need to return to Linzhi City, and then drive 220KM along G318 to get there. On the way, you need to cross the Sejila Mountain Pass at an altitude of 4720M .
Also considering the possible traffic control, we were ready to set off around 7 o'clock. Due to the snow last night, it took some time to clear the snow on the window glass. This section of G318 is also a winding mountain road with narrow roads and steep slopes, making driving difficult Comparable to the road to Yanghu Lake. It was 9:00 when we arrived at the Sejila Pass, the temperature was about -5°C, the sky was cloudless, the morning light was very dazzling, and we could clearly see the outline of Namjagbarwa Peak, but because of the backlight, we couldn’t take clear photos. It seems that it is only possible to see his face when you arrive here at noon or afternoon. It seems that the most beautiful mountain in China is not so easily included in the photo.
After a short stay, continue down the mountain, and the Lulang forest sea appears in front of you. The altitude here is low, and it is a hillside suitable for the growth of coniferous forests. The spruce branches are covered with last night's snow. The road down the mountain seems to be 50KM/H in the interval speed test. Because we drove too fast, we stopped at the end of the speed test for about 20 minutes. After a while, there was a long queue of cars waiting for the same time. The vegetation on both sides of the road has become lush and lush, after all, the altitude here is only about 2000M.
Drive forward for dozens of kilometers to reach the legendary Tongmai natural barrier (actually called Tongmai cemetery), the most dangerous and difficult section of the road on G318, the risk factor is much higher than that of Erlang Mountain, Zheduo Mountain and Jiujiu Dao Turning, landslides, mudslides, flying rocks, and road subsidence occur every day. Now that the tunnels and bridges have been repaired, the natural dangers of the past are no longer there, and they have become a thoroughfare. Even so, we didn't dare to stay longer. Traces of subsidence and rockfall can be seen everywhere on the road. The road is dangerous along the mountain. The rolling Palong Zangbo River and the dilapidated Tongmai Old Bridge make people shudder.
The last time I experienced such a thrilling road section was in Xinjiang, the famous Duku Highway. Every time I pass these road sections smoothly, I always have to silently thank God for the grace of God.
After successfully passing the Tongmai Bridge and reaching Tongmai Town, routine security checks are required. Along the way, I saw a lot of people who had heard of it but never seen it, people riding bicycles, and people who kowtowed their heads, so please pay attention to avoiding them when driving.
After passing through Guxiang Lake, we arrived at Galang Village, Bomi Peach Blossom Valley, the sub-venue of Nyingchi Peach Blossom Festival. The peach blossoms in Bomi are different from Nyingchi in that the peach trees grow in the fields, and the lush young seedlings set off the peach blossoms. Due to the climate, the snow line in Bomi County is very low, and glaciers can be seen everywhere. The fly in the ointment is that because it is a rural area, there are too many wires and poles here to describe. The picture is too beautiful, but it is too difficult to take pictures.
Drive along the country road in Galang Village for about 10KM to reach Runa Village, where the peach blossoms are more dense.
Leaving Taohuagou, we arrived at Bomi County. After a short stay and booked a hotel for tonight, we continued to drive 100KM. On the way, we saw the famous Armor Mountain and arrived at Midui Glacier. It takes about 50 minutes to walk to the viewing platform, and about 15 minutes to ride a horse. Since there are fewer tourists in the afternoon, 100 yuan/person round trip.
Coming out of Midui Glacier, we are hesitating to go on for 30KM to Ranwu Lake or to return to Bomi to check in. After considering the remaining fuel (here it is important to explain that driving through large-scale counties and cities in Tibet area, or if you see a gas station with less than half of the fuel remaining, even if you queue up for half an hour, you have to refuel, or you will be waiting to sleep with wolves if you break down halfway. I heard travel agencies say that there are tourists who leave Lhasa with half a tank I ran out of gas when I drove to Mira Pass, so I had no choice but to send a car to chase it to Mira Pass and drag it down the mountain to Mozhugongka County to refuel. 10,000 yuan can solve it.) And after the sights are impressive, we decided to give up Ranwu Lake (the scenery is beautiful when the weather is good, and it is famous for the reflection of snow-capped mountains).
Staying at the GreenTree Inn Orange Express Hotel in Bomi County is actually a three-story building built next to the G318 highway, which is considered relatively good in the local area. It was about 9 o'clock in the evening and I wanted to go to refuel but there was still a long queue. I had to replenish two bottles of mineral water and went back to the hotel to sleep. It is worth mentioning that there is floor heating. I was worried that it would be cold in the middle of the night and I woke up.
DAY6. Bomi County - Nyingchi City - Lhasa City (3.29)
LOC. Hotel - Sejila Pass - Mira Pass - Hotel
DIS.650KM (driving)
A wild day. I woke up naturally after 7 o'clock. The jet lag here is not as obvious as Lhasa. I went to line up to fill up the gas first, and drove from Bomi County around 10 o'clock. The scenery along the way is already different from when we came.
I shot the reflection of the snow-capped mountains in Guxiang Lake to make up for the regret of not going to Ranwu Lake.
In Lulang Forest Sea, the snow on the treetops has melted.
In Tongmai Tianxian, I couldn't help but took a few more photos.
At the Sejila Pass, although there is no strong light, the shy Nanga Bawa Peak is hidden in the clouds. After waiting for half an hour, I had no choice but to go down the mountain and leave.
In Nyingchi, the peach blossoms in the Niyang River Valley are more colorful.
At the Mira Pass, there was heavy snow again, but this time there was no traffic control, so I could finally stop and look out.
In Mozhugongka County, the "snow mountains" on both sides of the road have melted, and there is heavy rain and fog again.
When we arrived in Lhasa, it was snowing heavily, and the mountains around Lhasa were covered with white coats.
Accompanied by the melodious singing, "My dreams are all in my luggage / All waiting is no longer waiting..." The itinerary for the past few days is like a dream, and it is my fate to meet you in this beautiful scenery.
DAY7. Downtown Lhasa - Yangbajing Town - Damxung County - Lhasa City (3.30)
LOC. Hotel——Nam Co——Potala Palace——Hotel
DIS.450KM (driving)
A day's trip has experienced a lot. The heavy snow last night dressed up the whole Lhasa, and rime can be seen everywhere. We decided to go to Namtso today. The ice period of Namtso is from November to next April, so the lake should still be frozen at this time. It may be just in time for the morning rush hour when we set off. Lhasa city is relatively congested. From Duilong Avenue to G109, there are fewer cars, but the weather has turned cloudy.
Not far away, it started to snow, but fortunately the road was not frozen yet. After driving dozens of kilometers in the rain and snow to reach Deqing Township, the sky cleared up again, and then it snowed again. G109 is the main artery connecting Qinghai and Tibet. Because the curves and slopes are slightly gentler than G318, the road is relatively wide, and the section speed is 70KM/H, so there are many large trucks.
Due to the refueling before departure and the traffic jam, we were delayed for a long time. We encountered traffic control near Yangbajing Town, where the hot springs are quite famous. At this time, there was already light snow floating outside the car, we parked the car on the side of the road according to the regulations, and waited for the release with the warm wind blowing.
After waiting for almost half an hour, I was finally allowed to pass. Later, I realized that many cars had skidded and hit the side of the road due to snowfall, or turned over to the side of the cliff. Seeing these accidents, I recalled that from Xining to Qinghai The road that flows from the lake to the river is also the G109 road, which is as dangerous as or even higher than the G318 that has been repaired many times today.
The altitude of the Nyainqentanglha Pass is about 4600M, and I saw the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which is known as the Heavenly Road. "That is a magical celestial road, sending the warmth of the world to the frontier..." This song has been playing in the car, looking at the scenery outside, with that ethereal feeling, I can't help but pull over, I have already integrated into the environment One.
Compared with Bomi County, Dangxiong County has many more restaurants, but less accommodation. It seems that this kind of county town that depends on the road is also different.
When we arrived at the gate of Namtso Scenic Area, we were told by the police that the mountain was closed due to heavy snow and we were not allowed to enter today. Starting from here, you need to drive another 50KM to reach Namtso by crossing the Nagenla Mountain Pass at an altitude of 5190M. It seems that walking is not feasible, so I had no choice but to take a rather "precious" photo at the entrance of the scenic spot. leave.
On the way back to Lhasa, there were not many cars, probably all the trucks stopped in Damxung County for rest. Driving to a place like the Gobi, the temperature suddenly dropped by 15°C, and a snowstorm began to fall outside the car. I have never seen such a large snowflake, which hit the glass and directly formed an ice wall. The front windshield suddenly couldn't see anything, it was blurred. I quickly sprayed water to scrape the ice, but due to the heavy snow, the glass that had just been scraped was frozen again, so I had to keep spraying water, but I didn't expect the water to be sprayed out in a while, what should I do!
Fortunately, I found an open space and stopped the car. I turned on the double flashing of the fog lights. I opened the hood, took out a large bucket of mineral water from the trunk and poured it in. I just went out for a short one minute, and then returned to the car. When I was in the car, I was all white and covered with snow, and I really blended into the environment after staying for a while. In the car, I found that the newly sprayed water froze directly. Fortunately, the car is now running, and the water in the water tank will not freeze and crack the pipes for the time being. It really became a scene from a movie!
Later, I thought of a way to turn on the air conditioner and turn it on to 30°C to blow the glass violently. All the snowflakes that fell on the glass directly turned into water due to the high temperature of the glass. I barely continued to drive for 30KM, and the snowstorm finally stopped.
It was four o'clock in the afternoon when we returned to Lhasa smoothly. Since it is the peak tourist season, we did not make an appointment to visit the Potala Palace the next day, which is a small regret. On the opposite side of the Yaowang Mountain Observation Deck and Potala Palace Square, it is very suitable for taking pictures. Since photography is prohibited in the Potala Palace, I didn't find too many photos of the interior of the palace on the Internet.
Maybe fate is not enough, I didn’t see the interior of Namtso and Potala Palace, so today’s itinerary is the best foreshadowing for the next trip to Tibet. If I could choose the time, I hope it will be June of a certain year, when the ice and snow have not yet melted, the lakeside of Namtso is full of Gesang flowers, and the starry sky in Ali is even more gorgeous.
DAY8. Lhasa - Chengdu - Taiyuan (3.31)
LOC. Hotel——Gongga Airport——Shuangliu Airport——Wusu Airport
DIS.2400KM (flight), 50KM (by car)
I have to go back. At 7 o'clock in the morning, the sky is not yet bright, and the moon is very round. We went through the formalities of returning the car last night, and the staff of the travel agency sent us to the airport this morning. There are two security checks at Lhasa Airport, one more before entering the station. The size of the airport is small, and we queued for a long time for check-in and security checks. We chose a seat near the window and back, bought some yak meat specialties, and left Lhasa reluctantly. I hope that when I come next time, I can drive to Lhasa on the G109 Qinghai-Tibet Line, or challenge the most difficult G219 Xinzang Line.
It was still raining when we arrived in Chengdu, and we stayed at the airport for a few hours before flying back to Taiyuan.
