You may think about whether to go here for a long time: the distance is long, the weather is changeable, the altitude brings high reaction, and the accommodation is not as exquisite as in the daily city... In the end, there may be only one thing that makes you go forward without fear of hardships and dangers—— The magnificent mountains, rivers, lakes and seas have the power of faith.
Sichuan has countless scenic spots, but the most mysterious is Seda.
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Take in the stunning panorama of Sethar
The road to Sertar, whether it is climbing a snow-capped mountain, driving into a valley, or entering an unknown temple, has mysterious power without exception.
This mysterious power makes Seda a place where the soul wakes up, the last piece of pure land in the world, and a world without the cumbersome world.
During Guyu in 2020, I drove a 2018 Supreme Highlander—walking from Chengdu to the G318 National Highway, the most beautiful landscape corridor in China, all the way to Seda, which is more than 4,000 meters above sea level, to welcome this sunny spring with a trip.
What is an interesting life? It is to take advantage of the good time and use dreams as horses to meet the wildest wind, walk through the most beautiful scenery, explore the mountains and seas, and meet the unknown self.
An interesting life is half of mountains, rivers, lakes and seas.
First entry to Tibet "May life be bright, and may footprints be like the wind"
As the owner of the Highlander, Huya has experienced many high-profile moments of self-driving travel: the 6,000-kilometer round-trip Xi’an-Sanya island trip, the 7,000-kilometer Pamir Plateau ice and snow appointment, and the 3,000-kilometer Yangtze River Three Gorges Land Road Exploration. Highlander has always been a long-distance trek A solid and reliable partner.
But this time the road to Sertar is even more fascinating, closer to the soul, and more self-testing.
The fascination with Seda originated from the "China National Geographic" magazine. The photos full of visual impact are accompanied by a summary: Seda is the pure land of the soul, so I can't forget the name.
However, the road to the pure land of the soul requires a long physical and mental baptism. For devout believers, it is a long kowtow. Every time you kowtow, you will be inspired by the gods. .
Zheduo Mountain is the first test to enter the Tibetan area, and it brings real and perceivable "power" to those who are new to Tibet.
But there are many mountains, so I don't know how difficult the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is. "Zhe Duo" means many bends. Starting from the urban area of Kangding, you have to go uphill while passing the bend. When driving, you have to follow the "Z"-shaped route to ease the steepness of the mountain until you cross the 4298-meter-high pass.
No matter from the perspective of geography, history, culture, religion or nationality, Mount Zheduo is an important geographical dividing line. To the east of Mount Zheduo is a mountainous area, connecting Ya'an and Chengdu Plain. To the west of Mount Zheduo is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. East Rim, the real Tibetan area.
The roads on the plateau in western Sichuan are dangerous and bendy, so both people and vehicles must pay attention to driving safety. For friends who drive into Tibet by themselves, it is necessary to fully consider the impact of plateaus and mountain roads, slow down the speed of the vehicle, make good predictions, and go their own way when turning.
As for the vehicle, the Highlander equipped with the TSS Zhixing safety package also gave me a sense of stability. Starting from Chengya Expressway and Yakang Expressway, the DCRR dynamic radar cruise control system can realize automatic follow-up assistance, relieve long-distance driving fatigue, and focus more on road conditions.
Entering the newly built Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the altitude gradually rises. Experienced friends will find a place to stop and rest to adapt to the natural environment. But for friends who are entering Tibet for the first time, they have to pay more attention to their own high-altitude reaction situation when going from the plain to the plateau, and the mountain road. The most worrying thing about driving on the plateau is that the response is not timely. Turn on the Highlander's LDA lane departure warning system. Once the driving line is crossed, the system will automatically emit a "beep beep" warning sound to remind you not to break into the oncoming lane. This function is very helpful.
In addition, Highlander's PCS collision warning system will also automatically detect the following distance, issue an alarm or even implement emergency braking when necessary. There is a possibility that this function can reduce accidents. I just hope that I will never use it and drive carefully and safely all the way.
Tagong Grassland "I see that everyone in the world is grass and trees, but you see me like a cloud and wilderness"
Temples on the plateau in western Sichuan may appear in any corner, even in the deserted grasslands, there will be a large temple. They have resplendent roofs, magnificent and symmetrical design shapes, red walls with rows of white towers, full of mysterious power.
Tagong Grassland, under the snow-capped mountains, every time you walk is a painting, and people swimming in the middle of the painting become the scenery in the eyes of others. For those who live here, this kind of scenery has long been used to it.
In the early morning, men, women and children come to the Tagong Temple and use their right hands to vigorously push the scriptures one by one—for the ZANG compatriots, turning the prayer wheel once is equivalent to chanting the scriptures once, in order to achieve salvation as soon as possible, complete merits and virtues, and seek success in this life and the afterlife Wishing for happiness, no matter men, women, young or old, no matter it is windy or rainy, they will turn the prayer wheel rain or shine.
It is not surprising that there are large and small temples in the city. The temples in the vast grasslands are even more fascinating. These temples have a natural and broad background, as if they should be located here. , everything is just right.
There is a saying among the people who come to turn the scriptures: "The person who turns the scriptures with you will not harbor ill feelings towards you." For the elderly, it is a habit developed in childhood, but for children, it is more like happily completing a task with their parents.
Suddenly, dark clouds came from the sky, and the weather changed as it said. Snowflakes were flying in the strong wind. "In the plateau, the weather forecast can only be used as a reference," an old Tibetan man murmured as he walked by.
It was still sunny just now, the weather changes as soon as it is said, and the snow comes as soon as it is said. I saw that the distant mountains were covered by dark clouds, and it was snowing heavily in some places.
Going deep into the ground and entering the plateau, the road conditions and weather are more rough, and the natural environment is more complicated. Human beings are insignificant in front of nature, so they pray for the protection of the gods. There are different legends in religious stories. These legends are either beautiful or cruel. People use this carrier to give expectations for the never-reaching shore.
Religion cannot be maintained only by words and thoughts, but also needs to be heard and practiced every day.
Probably everything in the world cannot escape the law of energy conservation. You have put a lot of effort into yourself. If that person does not respond to you, then this response will definitely become another form of giving to others.
Looking at this scene, the geographical isolation has created a different natural and cultural scene. Today's developed transportation allows us not only the opportunity to understand the life in the distance, but also a powerful SUV like the Highlander to accompany us to face the nature. The test, passing through the unpredictable weather, walking through the potholes and gravel roads, to touch the ultimate scenery of western Sichuan.
Moshi Park "When the wind blows, look at the sky, reminisce about the past, and stagnate the fleeting years"
"At an altitude of 3,500 meters, every step is a gasp."
The altitude of 3,500 meters, strong winds, and sudden snowstorms made the itinerary of Moshi Park full of uncertainty. When I passed a few bends and arrived at the viewing platform built on the edge of the cliff, all the discomfort was not important—the scenery So peculiar.
Unlike Tagong Grassland, Moshi Park is alien-like. The gray-toned stone forest and the surrounding warm-toned environment have a different feeling, just like the changing scenery in a science fiction movie.
The eyes are in heaven, the body is in hell. The wind is coming, the rain is coming, and the snow is coming... The patience and courage of nature have added incomparably magnificent colors to this naturally beautiful stone forest.
The rapid uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the extrusion and shearing of rocks in the fault zone formed the appearance of stone forests and ravines; the rocks are relatively weak and calcareous, and weathered and eroded, sculpting it into its current appearance.
Among the thick clouds, snowflakes are falling in all directions, ready to swallow the earth. I go north along the road, and my destination tonight is Luhuo County.
In the heavy snow, the sun shines through from time to time, hitting different scenery like a spotlight. The scenery on the roadside is like watching a movie. In the movie, there are houses, villages, and sections of the past. It is equivalent to watching the silhouettes of these magnificent scenery from afar, an ever-changing mirage.
Fortunately, the night after the heavy snow is more transparent, the air in the western Sichuan Plateau is thin, and you can see the stars at night when you look up. If it's summer, you can also pack all the camping equipment such as tent seats into the spacious trunk of the Highlander, and enjoy the snow-capped mountains under the stars on the grass, which will be more pleasant.
Darseda "I am not alone, I reached this planet"
The road to Sertar is another challenge. When driving to the Nailong Mountain Pass at an altitude of 4,580 meters, the thin air hurts the brain. The people in the car are a little confused and urgently need to open the door to breathe fresh air.
But the car window was only opened a little, and the snow powder blown by the strong wind fell on the face. I was awake for a while, but I was disturbed by the cold air. I took a big breath of air and looked at the continuous snow mountain. good.
In 1775, Captain James Cook discovered the South Sandwich Islands while searching for the fabled southern continent. Faced with "fog, snow, cold and everything that can make navigation dangerous", he wrote in his records: " The cold, bleakness and desolation that nature has given to this region are far beyond imagination."
But he shoulders a mission: to find the magical southern continent and move forward bravely.
With Captain Cook’s mood when he discovered the New World, we drove the Highlander to Seda. The altitude gradually decreased, the snow line disappeared, the temperature warmed up, and the excitement of traveling returned to me.
A winding road between the mountains, undulating in the snow. The snow had fallen the day before, and only one lane had been cleared. When the wrong car had to be pressed on the 20cm high snow, the Highlander's timely four-wheel drive system made walking on the snow like walking on flat ground.
Rolling over the snow all the way and enjoying the visual impact brought by the magnificent scenery all the way, but this is far from satisfying. Once again, I ran into a Tibetan macaque in the snow and was nostalgic for the warm sun. The 24.5L super-large central armrest box can just fit a 5D Mark IV, a 70-200 telephoto lens and a 100-400 telephoto lens, and quickly took out the camera to capture the comfort of this moment.
Every move of this group of Tibetan macaques when basking in the sun makes people feel how warm and pleasant the spring sunshine in Seda is. No need to rush to the next journey, just lay down the rear seats, lie down, enjoy the warmth of the sun in the snow through the panoramic sunroof, and watch thousands of white clouds drifting by. dissipate.
It was already afternoon when we arrived at Seda, and the golden light shrouded the whole land. The Seda Larung Wuming Buddhist Academy built in the valley is the largest and most spectacular Buddhist academy in Zàng.
It represents the most beautiful era and glorious old dream of this place - the Wuming Buddhist Academy was founded in 1980. After 40 years of development, it has become the largest Buddhist academy in Zàng.
The huts lined up densely on both sides of the street are low and simple, using earth and wood structures. The flat roofs of the wooden huts are covered with mud to resist the severe cold; there are also elaborately carved roofs and the Lama Sutra Hall surrounded by prayer wheels. , all show gorgeous, pious, towering and extraordinary.
People who study and worship Buddha, for the faith in their hearts, abandon their homes and careers, travel hard, and come here to live a life like an ascetic monk, looking forward to the completion of meditation. Everyone's face is full of unwavering confidence and the kind of peace and purity because they are no longer seeking for the world. They all know that they are not alone.
In the narrow alley, I saw groups of children, they were carefree, showing the most simple smiles on the wall; people worshiping Buddha, walking around on the slightly spacious main road , I don't know where they are going, but everyone seems to have a purpose-except for a few of us, there is no one hanging around.
Those daily frustrations, busyness, and frustrations do not show the helplessness of life, but the greed of desire. I think of the teachings of the Buddha: "All constructions will collapse; people or things that are aggregated in our lives will eventually be separated; the world we see is the result of our own perception, and it does not really exist."
Epilogue "I'm selling sunlight, warmth comes to my side"
Where is our life going?
Among all the means of transportation for human beings so far, the car is increasingly becoming the most common one. Flying, cruise, horseback riding and even walking all seem to have more luxurious and personalized propositions.
As everyone knows, the most common and common self-driving car travel is the most free way of travel, which can be fast or slow, and it is the best speed to watch the world.
photography tips
This shoot uses Canon EOS R + RF 28-70\f2 professional mirrorless camera, Canon 5D Mark IV + 17-40\f4L, 70-200\2.8L, 100-400\5.6L and other bodies and lenses to take photos; Use Sony a6500 + Zhiyun stabilizer to shoot video; and two DJI Mavic Pro for aerial photography. Although there are a lot of equipment, the scenery in western Sichuan is really beautiful, and it is worth carrying so many equipment.
Of course, what Highlander is least worried about is space. Super large space = super comfortable ride for a team of 4 people + all equipment and items + three boarding boxes + three backpacks + two drones + Zhiyun suitcase, all luggage is placed trunk. But I still have room to sit in the back box to take pictures. The space can be said to be very large and the design is reasonable and practical. It is no problem to bring two more suitcases.
weather tips
The weather in the plateau area is changeable, and the temperature at night may be more than ten degrees lower than that in Chengdu. When the sun rises on the plateau, it is very hot, and when a dark cloud comes, it will rain and snow. You still need to bring windproof and cold-proof clothes. The Highlander has a lot of space, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to fit it.
Sometimes it’s too cold outside to sit in the car and enjoy the scenery. The Highlander has two USB charging ports in the front and rear, each of which is a 2.1A fast charge. The battery of the mobile phone is almost always full, so there is no need to carry a power bank This bit of cumbersomeness goes everywhere.
This trip is like playing a real-time strategy game. At the beginning, the map was pitch black, with only outlines. You walked around, filled in and received some content, and it suddenly became bright. After leaving, it gradually became blurred. .
In the journey to the destination, the process is often more important than the result.
Travel is the epitome of life. During the journey, mountains, rivers, lakes and seas are beautiful or colorful pictures, waiting for you to explore with wheels and footprints.
An interesting life is half of mountains, rivers, lakes and seas. What about the other half?
The other half is firewood, rice, oil and salt.
- [Highlander's Road to Seda] -
Special thanks to
A+, Du Yu, Daxiong, Susie, Liyuan, Luo Wusangzhu.
