On June 2, 2021, four of us self-proclaimed young sixties, started a self-driving trip, Beijing-Tibet.
Preparations for entering Tibet: 1. Except for the team leader, each person should take Rhodiola rosea 20 days in advance.
2. Prepare headache powder, glucose powder, oxygen pillow and purchase oxygen cylinders in case of emergency.
3. Take astragalus, red dates and longan soaked in water throughout the whole process, and supplement with multivitamin tablets every day.
4. The leader brings a full set of photography and video equipment (Canon), and the other three have mobile phones and cameras.
5. You must bring the border passes of Tibet and Xinjiang. (It is best to do it at the departure point)
6. Bring thin down jackets, jackets and a full set of summer and autumn clothes.
7. Replenish instant noodles, food, fruit and purified water in the car at any time.
Route to Tibet: G214 Yushu to Qamdo via Leiwuqi.
Due to the long time and many places and pictures, this travel note is divided into four sections.
Itinerary (1) Transition from plain to plateau (published on July 16, 22)
Itinerary (2) Gradually entering the plateau, Gannan and Qinghai (published on July 24, 22)
Itinerary (3) Tibet Qamdo, Medog, Ngari South Line G219—Yecheng (published on October 14, 22)
Itinerary (4) Xinjiang Desert Highway, Duku Highway, S101 Provincial Highway and return to Beijing via Inner Mongolia G7
Itinerary (3) Tibet Qamdo, Medog, Ngari South Line G219—Yecheng
Bomi
Day 16, itinerary and destination: Qamdo - Bomi.
June 17th is the first day after entering Tibet, we are going to Bomi. Bomi County is located in the southeast of Tibet, at the junction of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains and the Himalayas. It is called "Bowo" in Tibetan, which means "ancestor". We made a transit at Bomi to prepare for Medog.
Along the way to Bomi
Along the way to Bomi
On the viewing platform of Yela Mountain, it seems to be standing on the top of the mountain. The sky is so big that it stretches as far as the eye can see. It really feels like reaching out to pick clouds and flowers.
There are rockfalls or landslides on the road, and the waiting time is usually about an hour or longer.
Passing through the Yela Pass, you will find the famous "Sky Road 72 Turn" along the 318 route.
Arriving in Bomi, I chose Jinhui Boutique Hotel after several comparisons. The hotel has breakfast and the accommodation environment is also very good. It is very convenient to have a restaurant downstairs.
Medog
Day 17-18, itinerary and destination: Bomi - Medog - Bomi. From June 18th to 19th, we will go to Medog, the "last secret place of Tibet", stay in Medog for one night, and return to Bomi Jinhui Boutique Hotel on the evening of the 19th.
Bomi is less than 120 kilometers away from Medog. We set off at 9:00 in the morning and arrived outside the Medog scenic spot at 10:00.
It still takes about 100 kilometers from the scenic spot to Medog County. There are landslides on the road and repairs, and the car stops and goes. It took more than 6 hours to enter the scenic spot and finally stay in the inn.
To reach Medog County, you need to go through four checkpoints, that is, you can enter the county after registering at the border inspection station. ID card, border guard card and driver's license need to be checked. The return trip is also checked four times.
After 4 o'clock in the afternoon, I finally came to the central scenic spot of Guoguotang. This is the most famous scenic spot in Medog. It is named because it looks like a lollipop. The Yarlung Zangbo River makes a big bend at Guoguotang, also known as a serpentine bend. In the Guoguotang in June, the plants are lush and lush, which complements the yellow waves of the rushing Brahmaputra River.
In Medog in the early morning, there are only the whispers of insects and birds and the sound of gurgling water. It blends with the fairyland-like nature and feels the profound charm of nature.
The next day, under the light rain, we came to the fruit pond again. In the drizzle, the whole fruit pond was shrouded in mist, appearing and disappearing from time to time, hazy and blurred. We have seen fruit ponds in both sunny and rainy weather, which made us very satisfied.
Driving along the road in Medog, there are green mountains and plains, and the original ecological environment is intoxicating. This place is called "the oxygen bar of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau".
Medog, which means "the hidden holy place of lotus", is located in the depths of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Linzhi City, Tibet. It is the place in Tibet with the lowest altitude, the most abundant rain, and the best preserved natural environment.
Nearly 80% of the area here is virgin forest. It is known as the "Natural Museum of Vegetation Types", and it is also called "Xishuangbanna of Tibet".
In the late Qing Dynasty, Liu Zanting, the leader of the Qing army who came here to settle the border, described Medog like this: "Forests spread for thousands of miles, flowers and trees are everywhere, vines are bridges, and it is truly a paradise outside the world."
The galloping Brahmaputra
Medog is the last county where the Brahmaputra River flows through China before entering the Brahmputra River in India.
Medog is the last county in China without roads. It is isolated from the outside world. Since the 1960s, it has planned to explore and build roads. Over the past few decades, after five extremely difficult constructions, it was finally opened to traffic on October 31, 2013.
The Galongla Tunnel leading to Medog, without this tunnel and road, Medog would still be isolated from the world. We would like to thank and pay tribute to several generations of Medog highway builders, who opened the door to the secrets of Medog with their youth and life.
Precautions for entering Medog:
1. Double entry and single exit, entry at 8:00 a.m. and no entry after 8:00 p.m.
2. Prepare the border inspection certificate.
3. Requirements for vehicles, off-road SUVs are allowed, cars are not, and cars are not allowed to enter the Medog Scenic Area.
Tickets for Medog Scenic Area: 210 yuan/person, half-price 105 yuan/person (over 60 years old)
210 yuan/person in peak season, 105 yuan/person in off-season (November 1st to April 30th next year is the off-season)
Leave Medog and return to Jinhui Boutique Hotel in Bomi on the afternoon of the 19th.
That night, tasting the delicious stone pot chicken is indispensable. The most famous stone pot in Tibet is produced in Medog. When leaving Medog, Brother Lin bought a stone pot for 1,000 yuan and prepared to cook it slowly at home.
Motuo Stone Pot is made of soapstone, a rare natural rock along the Yarlung Zangbo River. It is made of more than ten kinds of ingredients such as farm Tibetan chicken and Tibetan special ginseng fungus. Among them, matsutake is an indispensable and important ingredient. After a period of cooking, a small amount of trace elements in soapstone will also melt into the soup.
I remember that I first entered Tibet and ate stone pot chicken in Linzhi sixteen years ago. But such deliciousness is a thing of the past. It is difficult to find such pure ingredients and delicious taste now.
Lynch
Day 19, itinerary and destination: Bomi-Nyingchi, stay in Nyingchi on June 20.
The famous Tongmait Bridge
The Tongmai Bridge is the throat project on the famous Tongmai natural danger section of the 318 National Highway on the south line of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. In the same position, there are three river-crossing bridges in different historical periods. The main traffic is the Tongmai Bridge. Bridge, the original two have suspended the traffic of motor vehicles.
On the left is the newly built Tongmait Bridge.
1. The first Tongmai Bridge: Built in the 1950s, it was washed away by the Yigong Lake dam break in 2000 (the Yajiang Jiefang Bridge in Beibeng Township, Medog County was also washed away).
2. The second Tongmai Bridge: it failed continuously in 2013 and 2015.
3. The third Tongmai Bridge: The Tongmai Bridge was opened to traffic at the end of 2015. It is designed as a single-tower, single-span self-anchored space main cable suspension bridge, spanning Yigong Zangbo, a tributary of Palong Zangbo with a single tower, with a total length of 415.8 meters, the main span is 256 meters, and the height is 59.5 meters.
Lhasa
Day 20-22, itinerary and destination: Nyingchi-Yani Wetland Park-Lhasa, June 21-23, we plan to stay in Lhasa for 3 consecutive days, and do vehicle maintenance while the personnel rest and visit.
Yani National Wetland Park
Yani National Wetland Park
I booked the "Yueshe" Xiaozhu Inn in Lhasa online. The owners of the inn are two young couples. This is a warm and romantic inn that has been traveling for nearly 20 days. Living here is relaxing and feels like home. In addition, the inn is behind the Potala Palace, about 15 minutes on foot.
The Potala Palace is a magnificent building with a history of more than 1,300 years. It is said that Songtsen Gampo built it to marry Princess Wencheng. When I came to Lhasa for the first time in 2005, I visited the Potala Palace. The mysterious, quiet and magnificent interior is still fresh in my memory.
It is a great pity not to enter the Potala Palace when you come to Tibet. However, tickets to the Potala Palace are often hard to come by, and Brother Lin tried every means to finally get his wish. Tourists need to log in to the "Potala Palace Ticket Reservation System" WeChat applet one day in advance to grab tickets online. After successfully booking tickets, arrive at the security checkpoint 2 hours in advance the next day.
Scenic spot tickets: full price 200 yuan/person, half price 100 yuan/person (half price for over 60 years old)
Lhasa is the political, economic and cultural center of Tibet as well as the Holy Land of Tibetan Buddhism. It was designated as a national historical and cultural city in 1982 and is the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Altitude: 3650 meters. This beautiful "Sunshine City" has a long history, because of the famous Potala Palace, it has attracted many tourists to Tibet.
This is the main entrance of the Jokhang Temple on Barkhor Street and the center of the three prayer passages in Lhasa.
Jokhang Temple tickets: 80 yuan / person, no half price and free tickets.
Many Tibetans who come to Barkhor Street do not go shopping but turn around. The meridians on Barkhor Street can only be turned in a clockwise direction, and can only be turned in a single circle. So it seems that there is a stream of people.
Compared with the bustling Barkhor Main Street, the three-storey Tibetan-style building on the northeast side of the Jokhang Temple is extraordinarily quiet. On the plaque, "The Yamen of the Minister of the Qing Government in Tibet" is written in both Tibetan and Chinese. Two stone lions stand on the left and right sides of the gate. Word. It is marked: National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit. Went in out of curiosity.
It turns out that this is a place where the local chief executive and ministers stationed in Tibet were sent by the central government of the Qing Dynasty to work and live. It has a history of more than 300 years.
Because it is close to Barkhor Street, the busiest market in Lhasa through the ages, you can see the bustling market of Barkhor Street from the upstairs windows. Therefore, people habitually call it "Chongsaikang", which means "a house that can see the market". Finally, I understand the relationship between "Chong Saikang" and "Yamen, the Minister of the Qing Government in Tibet".
There is no ticket for visiting "Chongsaikang" (the Yamen of the Qing government minister in Tibet).
Every turn of the prayer wheel held by the Tibetans is equivalent to chanting the scriptures once. The prayer beads are counting, chanting once and dialing. Most of them are praying for peace and accumulating merit.
Thangka, which spreads Tibetan culture in the form of images, has a strong religious color and unique artistic style.
At the time of Zhaga, a thangka photographed. It is a religious scroll painting that is framed with colorful satin and hung for worship.
Quiet amidst the hustle and bustle on Barkhor Street.
The "Sutra Debate" at Sera Monastery begins on time at 3:00 pm every day. "Debate" is an important course and method for Tibetan Buddhist disciples to study the "Five Great Treatises". Most tourists know little about it, and they actually come to Sera Monastery to see the scene of monks debating scriptures.
When debating scriptures, monks often sit on the ground while the other stands opposite, swinging their arms to debate the scriptures. Generally speaking, the monks who sit and answer questions have higher education than the monks who stand and ask questions, but sometimes they also switch. The scene looked very lively, and the answers and defenses were all cadenced and eloquent.
Tickets for Sera Temple: 50 yuan/person, no half price and free admission.
Sera Monastery Stupa
There are pagodas and prayer wheels built all over Tibet, and they even carry the prayer wheels with them at all times, and turn the prayer wheels whenever they have leisure or hope. From birth to old age, they have been integrated into the blood of this nation and are the most important part of life.
During the three days in Lhasa, we traveled independently, including car maintenance, visiting the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Ramoche Temple, Sera Monastery, Lhasa Museum, Norbulingka, Barkhor Street and meeting friends. Among the four There are three people who have been to Lhasa, so they make arrangements according to different needs. But at the last dinner in Lhasa, everyone gathered and shared delicious food.
Yajiang River Valley, Yamdrok Yongcuo, Karola Glacier, Gyantse
On the 23rd day, itinerary and destination: Lhasa - Yajiang River Valley - Yamdrok Yongcuo - Karola Glacier - Gyantse. After three days of free travel and rest in Lhasa, a new itinerary will start on June 24, and we will arrive in Gyantse in the evening and check in.
In the morning, leave Lhasa for Yamdrok Yongcuo, passing through the Yajiang River Valley.
The Tibetan Mastiff is an extremely ferocious dog, but it has been domesticated by its owner. It sits on a stand and takes photos with tourists, at the mercy of others, with a helpless expression on its face.
The little goat can't escape the suffering of the props either. The petite figure is placed on the guardrail pier, waiting for tourists to take pictures meekly. Under the scorching sun, there are little goats waiting on the guardrail pier of the whole step, and each group photo is 10 yuan.
Yamdrok Yongcuo is located in Kazi County in the Shannan area of Tibet, 74 kilometers away from Lhasa, at an altitude of 4441 meters. Starting from Lhasa, we arrived about 1 hour later along the 318 Sichuan-Tibet Line. Yamdrok Yumcuo, also known as Yanghu Lake, is one of the three holy lakes in Tibet along with Namtso and Manasarovar.
The lake and the sky are the same color, and the dreamland of flying prayer flags.
Prayer by the Holy Lake
Yamdrok Yongcuo is a typical plateau barrier lake, which is said to have been formed as early as about 400 million years ago when the river channel was blocked by glacial debris flow. Its shape is very irregular, with many forks, and the lakeshore is winding. It is known as the crown of the beauty of lakes and mountains.
After leaving Yanghu Lake and crossing the 4330-meter Smila Pass, we came to the ice tongue of the Karola Glacier. The frontier of the ice tongue is 5,560 meters above sea level, and the place where you can watch the Carola Glacier is about 5,400 meters above sea level.
Sister Yu has more than 10 years of mountaineering experience. She has climbed all famous mountains in Beijing, and often climbs famous mountains in various places. Today, she braved the wind, snow and small hail to climb to the last step of tourists in the Carola Glacier, at an altitude of about 5,400 meters. I really want to give her a thumbs up!
Here is the altitude of the place where the glacier is photographed and punched: 5020 meters.
Give yourself a thumbs up! In front of a glacier at an altitude of more than 5,000 meters, she accidentally jumped across a ditch and was snapped by sister Yu. A little excited, not a little high reaction.
On the evening of June 24, we stayed at Gyantse Yutuo Hotel. The hotel is built in Tibetan style. This is the only Tibetan-style hotel we stayed in Tibet. When you walk in, you can see the green smoke floating, and the scent permeates the whole lobby, which is the unique taste of Tibetan incense. The Tibetan-style hotel is clean and tidy, and has a high cost performance.
fixed day
On the 24th day, itinerary and destination: Gyantse Ancient City - Tingri, from June 25th to Tingri, stay at Yunshang South China Hotel. It takes two days to go from Tingri to Mount Everest and back to Tingri.
The ancient city of Gyantse was once the place where the Tibetan people fought against the British invasion and fought to the death.
The towering hero monument on the square and the quiet Zongshan Castle behind it tell the tragic story of the people of Gyantse bravely resisting the invading British army in 1904.
The original intention of coming to Gyantse was to board this castle—Zongshan Castle. It is said that there are still forts built to fight against the British army on the castle. When the British army launched an attack on Zongshan Ancient Castle, thousands of Tibetan soldiers on Zongshan fought back against the British army with earth cannons, guns, shuttle bows and arrows, and Erdo throwing stones. After three days and three nights of fierce fighting, the Tibetan army guarding Zongshan Castle ran out of ammunition and food, but they would rather die than surrender, and all jumped off the cliff to sacrifice their lives. Gyantse "Hero City" got its name from this.
Gyantse's regret, because the Zongshan Castle is not open due to the epidemic, we can only take pictures from a distance.
After leaving the ancient city of Gyantse, we went to Tingri along National Highway 318.
318 is the most spectacular landscape avenue in our country. You can have a panoramic view of the mountains, canyons, glaciers, lakes, and beautiful scenery along the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
The team leader lamented: The self-driving trips are hard and tiring, but they are enjoyable. Driving on the "roof of the world" is like a dialogue between the soul and heaven, which is beautiful!
Climb the Gyatso La Mountain at an altitude of 5248, and stay at Tingri Yunshang South China Hotel on the evening of June 25.
Mount Everest National Nature Reserve (North Slope)
On the 25th day, itinerary and destination: Tingri - Mount Everest National Nature Reserve, return to Tingri Yunshang South China Hotel on the 26th that night.
Depart at 5 am on the 26th, and enter the "Mount Everest National Park" 40 minutes later. When I got up in the dark, I first went to "Jiawula Pass" to watch the sunrise. This is the best place for countless photographers to make a blockbuster-Rizhao Jinshan. But whether it can be fulfilled is unpredictable, depending on the weather.
"Ghaula Pass" is located in the Mount Everest National Nature Reserve, and it is the only way to go to the base camp of Mount Everest. Over this pass, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Mount Everest and the surrounding mountains from the viewing platform. You can clearly see four 8,000-meter-level snow-capped mountains, namely: Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, and Cho Oyu.
At the viewing platform of the "Gawula Pass", at 7 o'clock in the morning, the glow was blocked by thick clouds.
In the entanglement of clouds and mist, only the faint golden summit of Mount Everest was captured. Unlucky, good weather is hard to come by.
The arrangement of famous mountains in the picture:
1. Makalu, the fifth highest in the world (8463 meters above sea level)
2. Lhotse Peak, the fourth highest in the world (8516 meters above sea level)
3. The world's first Mount Everest (8844.43 meters above sea level)
4. Cho Oyu Peak, the sixth highest in the world (8201 meters above sea level)
The famous "Mount Everest Highway 108 Turn" starts at the side of National Highway 318 and ends at the Mount Everest Base Camp. The Jiawula Pass is the pass that must be passed to reach the Mount Everest Base Camp. The vertical distance from the foot of the mountain to the pass exceeds 1,000 meters. Overlooking the 108th turn at the Gawula Pass, it is very spectacular. After crossing the 108th turn of Mount Everest, we can reach the boarding point of Mount Everest Base Camp.
To enter the transfer point of Mount Everest Base Camp, you need to buy a ticket first. After purchasing the ticket, you can transfer to the scenic bus here and go to the monument of Mount Everest Base Camp.
Scenic spot tickets: 160 yuan/person, free for seniors over 65 years old with ID card; half price for seniors aged 60-64 with ID card. Self-driving vehicle fee: 320 yuan.
The morning departure time of the transfer center in the scenic spot is 7:00; the evening departure time is 20:30.
I was very excited when I saw Mount Everest. The first time I got off the bus, at 10:45 on June 26, 2021, I took this photo at the closest distance to "Mount Everest", and it was also the clearest Mount Everest that day. Beautiful photo.
Punch in front of the Mount Everest Monument. The second year after we came, in 2022, the new height monument will be completed. The height of Mount Everest on the new monument is: 8848.86 meters.
As you can see from the right side of the photo, the Mount Everest behind the monument is covered by clouds and mist except for the peak. I am glad that I was the first to take photos of Mount Everest first, otherwise I will leave great regrets.
The team leader is at the stone house on the high slope next to the Rongbuk Monastery, waiting to take photos of the clouds scattered on Mount Everest.
The stone house in the red circle is where we meet with the team leader. It is about one kilometer from the Mount Everest Monument to here. When walking through the road, climbing to the stone house with one step and three breaths while holding on to the ruined walls or steep slopes, I feel flustered and short of breath and have difficulty walking.
From the time we took the bus to get off at Mount Everest at 10:45, and took the bus back to the transfer point at 3 pm, we stayed at the base camp of Mount Everest for more than 4 hours without lunch. But in the end, the clouds on Mount Everest did not clear up.
The average altitude here is more than 5,200 meters, which requires strong perseverance to support. Fortunately, none of the four 60-year-olds showed symptoms of hyperactivity.
The oxygen cylinders I brought on this trip were not used during the whole journey, and all of them were sent to friends who are about to enter Tibet when I return to Beijing.
The team leader said: Oxygen inhalation will be dependent, as long as there are no obvious symptoms, try not to use it.
Shishapangma Peak, Pekutso, Gyirong Town, Gyirong Valley
Day 26-27, itinerary and destination: Tingri - Shishapangma - Pekutso - Gyirong Town. On June 27, we set off on a fixed day and arrived in Jilong Town on the Sino-Indian border in the afternoon. Stay in Dayi Hotel, and stay in Jilong Town for two consecutive days on 27-28.
On the 27th, depart from Tingri along the new 219 National Highway to Jilong Town. On the way, we can see Xishapangma Peak from a distance, which is 8012 meters high and is the 14th peak in the world.
In front of Shishapangma Peak, the wild animals along the way - wild donkeys.
Pekutso
Pekutso, the largest lake in Shigatse, covers an area of more than 300 square kilometers and is known as the beauty of low-key atmosphere.
Kongtang Lamu Snow Mountain is located in Jilong County, Shigatse, Tibet Autonomous Region, with an altitude of 5236 meters. After crossing the Kongtang Lamu Snow Mountain, we arrived at today's destination - Jilong Town.
Arrived in Geelong Town at 3:00 pm. This is the hotel where the team leader stayed. The room was comfortable and clean, and the room rate was given a discount by the boss. There is a restaurant on the first floor of the hotel which is very convenient.
The border town between China and Nepal - Jilong Town, is like a garden bestowed by the heavens, like a fairyland.
Since ancient times, Gyirong Town has been an important trade route between Tibet, Nepal and South Asian countries. In 1961, the Kyilong Port was opened with the approval of the Chinese government, and in 1987 it was approved as a national first-class land port. The average altitude here is 2,700 meters, the climate is warm and humid, and the precipitation is abundant. It is located in the Mount Everest National Nature Reserve and has the reputation of the back garden of Mount Everest.
Overlooking Nomura, it looks like a paradise, beautiful.
Jeep Grand Canyon is located in the south of Jilong Town, about 2 kilometers away. The current in the valley is turbulent, and the mountains on both sides are steep. Zangwa volunteered to lead me up the wobbly silk-net bridge. The bridge was too long and the canyon was too deep.
What a powerful sister Yu, we are all ashamed of ourselves!
The Paba Temple in Geelong Town has a history of thousands of years, just opposite our hotel. According to legend, it was Princess Chizun of Nepal who was married to Songtsan Gampo. When she entered Tibet, she brought three statues of Sakyamuni with her.
In the Paba Temple, there are sutra barrels all around under the pagoda. A Tibetan friend told me: "Practice prayers can achieve good wishes. Generally, it takes 3-4 circles. Elderly people can do more circles according to their age. In short, more circles are also for praying for peace."
In the Paba Temple, far away from the hustle and bustle of the world, I was alone, calmed down, and walked around six times silently, praying for myself and my family, safe and healthy! all the best
Zhongba
Day 28, itinerary and destination: Jilong Town - Jilonggou - Zhongba. Stayed in Zhongba on June 29.
Jilonggou is located more than 70 kilometers south of the county seat of Jilong County. It is the largest forest scenic spot in the Mount Everest Nature Reserve, with an altitude of more than 2,000 meters. Legend has it that in the late 8th century AD, when Tupan King Chisong Dezan invited Master Padmasambhava to Tibet from India, the master passed by here. Seeing the beautiful mountains and green waters and beautiful scenery, he happily named this place "Jilong", which is a symbol of "comfort and joy". "The implication.
One step at a time in the ditch, the scenery is beautiful and intoxicating.
Jilong Valley is the highlight of the trip to Tibet. Driving in the valley with beautiful mountains and rivers, it is like a landscape gallery descended from heaven to earth. The car stops and starts, making people forget to return.
Exit Jilonggou along National Highway 216, arrive at Zhongba at 4:00 pm and check in.
Mapang Yongcuo, Laangcuo, Pulan
On the 29th day, itinerary and destination: Zhongba - Mapang Yongcuo - Laangcuo - Pulan. June 30 Check-in in Pulan
Bid farewell to the picturesque Jilong Valley, climb over Mayumula Mountain, and enter Pulan County.
Mapang Yongcuo, together with Yamdrok Yongcuo and Namtso, is one of the three holy lakes.
The peaceful Manasarovar, worshiped by Bon, Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, is "Shangri-La of the Gods" and "The Paradise of All Things".
Laangcuo, known as "Ghost Lake", is separated from the freshwater "holy lake" Mapang Yumcuo all the way. It is a brackish water lake, and its water is not drinkable for humans and animals.
Laangcuo, known as the "ghost lake", is blue, ethereal and quiet, and its beauty is intoxicating.
Arrive at Pulan at 5:30 pm on the 30th and check into the Pulan Hotel.
Gang Rinpoche, Guge Dynasty, Zanda Earth Forest
Day 30-31, itinerary and destination: Purang - Gang Rinpoche - Guge Dynasty - Zanda Earth Forest. From July 1st to 2nd, stay in Zanda.
Mount Kailash - Gang Rinpoche, tourists who cannot go to the mountain will stop here and take photos with the mountain.
Kailash Rinpoche, 6,714 meters above sea level, was selected as one of the ten most beautiful mountains in China by the "Chinese National Geographic" magazine. It is also recognized as the "center of the world" by Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Bon religion, the native religion of Tibet, and ancient Jainism. She is a place of fascination in the minds of pilgrims and explorers. It is said that countless people visit the mountain every year, but no one dares to climb this sacred mountain and offend this "center of the world".
After crossing the Longgala Mountain at an altitude of 5166 meters, we finally arrived at the mysterious ruins of the Guge Dynasty.
The whole picture of Guge Dynasty ruins
Guge Castle
Guge Castle is nearly 4,000 meters high. We boarded this historically glorious castle and saw its desolate ruins hundreds of years later. We were very moved!
After the collapse of the Tubo Dynasty in Tibet, the Guge Dynasty was born, and it played an important role between the 10th and 17th centuries AD. This is as many as 1416 places (seats) of various buildings such as cave dwellings, houses, watchtowers, and ancient pagodas remaining on the site. Most of the top and outer layers have weathered and collapsed over time.
The well-preserved ones are the Red Hall, the White Hall and the Dawei De King Kong Hall. We all visited the White Hall and the Red Hall (photographing is strictly prohibited). There are exquisite sculptures and colorful murals in the hall, including Buddhist allusions, secular celebrations, Buddha and Bodhisattva statues, etc. In 1961, it was listed as the first batch of national key protection units by the State Council.
The Hall of Great Virtue was not open that day.
The Guge Dynasty was destroyed by a war in 1630, and its glory and vicissitudes are still a mystery. While talking with local Tibetans, I wanted to know more about the mysterious past of Guge, but they were all just legends without any relevant historical basis, which added to the mystery of the Guge Dynasty’s disappearance overnight.
Tickets for visiting Guge Castle are 65 yuan/person, and discounted tickets for seniors over 60 years old are 35 yuan/person.
Zanda Earth Forest National Geological Park, we are free to visit here, no one sells tickets.
The Zanda soil forest is magnificent and magnificent, stretching for tens of kilometers along the river valley. According to reports, the formation of soil forest has a history of 200-20 million years.
xiayi ditch
Day 32, itinerary and destination: Zanda—Xiayi Valley—Shiquan River. Stayed at Shiquanhe on the night of July 3rd.
When the car drove into Xiayigou, I was instantly shocked by the colorful and strange rocks in various poses. Those pictographic mushrooms, giraffes, parade meetings, and stretches of soil and forests stood up like mushrooms after a spring rain, and the beautiful scenery was panoramic.
Xiayi Valley Soil Forest Landform
After arriving at Xiayigou, the sun came and went, and I waited for a long time for the light. This is the best picture captured by Sister Yu.
Zhada Tulin Xiayigou, a scenic spot in the Ngari area of Tibet, has been selected as one of the 100 "Most Scenic Shooting Spots" in Tibet by "Chinese National Geographic".
To visit Xiayigou, we went earlier and arrived at 8 o'clock, and there was no ticket sales in the scenic spot.
At the end of the last dinner of the Tibet trip, I gently shook the 388 yuan Supreme Snowflake Beef (Second Prize), haha, I was so lucky.
Celebrate! A complete trip to the snow-covered plateau.
Pangong Lake, Kangxiwa Martyrs Cemetery, Thirty Mile Barracks
On the 33rd day, itinerary and destination: Shiquan River-Pangong Lake-Kangxiwa Martyrs Cemetery-Sanli Barracks, live in the off-road e-ethnic reception station on July 4th.
Cross the last pass, Hongtu Daban, 5380 meters above sea level.
Bangong Lake is located about 12 kilometers northwest of Ritu County, Ngari Prefecture, with an average altitude of 4,400 meters.
Pangong Lake, surrounded by mountains, has a quiet beauty. Sister Yu concentrates on feeding seagulls.
July 4th was the most difficult day for us to bid farewell to Tibet. The weather was very cold. After crossing the red soil Daban at an altitude of 5,380 meters and visiting the quiet Pangong Lake, we were driving on the high-altitude National Highway 219 (more than 5,300 meters) ), there are no restaurants along the way. I am very grateful to the Tibetan friends of the Songxi Village Committee. Here we boiled water and instant noodles, successfully settled lunch and continued to move forward.
Leaving Songxi Village, the "Tibetan memory" on the stone tablet at the entrance of the village will remain in the memory of our Tibet trip forever. Because on this day, our itinerary was full. We set off from Shiquanhe in the morning and rushed to the Sanshili barracks in the evening. From Tibet to Xinjiang, we drove more than 700 kilometers all day. The team leader, Da Wang, worked extremely hard. He drove with him many times, often traveling long distances and arriving safely. The team leader, who is skilled in driving, is a driving god who loves cars, drives, and travels by car.
After 5 o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived at the Kangxiwa Martyrs Cemetery.
The martyr Chen Xiangrong who died in the Sino-Indian border defense war was under 19 years old. In our hearts, this age is still a child, but they used their prime years to sacrifice their lives for the country and defend the dignity of the motherland.
A toast to Chen Hongjun and other martyrs who died in the China-India Defense War in June 2020. And express my sincere respect to the heroes who have been buried underground!
Arrive at the Sanshili barracks at 8:00 p.m., and was introduced by a friend to stay at the cross-country e-family reception station.
The famous off-road e family has received visitors from all corners of the country. The hall is only 10 meters away. The walls are covered with team flags, LOGOs, route maps and countless messages of self-driving drivers passing by here. Even the small roof has autographs. Here, it has become a well-known station on the Xinjiang-Tibet Line.
The accommodation conditions in the Sanshili barracks are relatively simple. There are only beds, bedding and bedside cabinets in the house, and washing and toileting are all outside. But there is plenty of hot water and tasty meals. There is also a hotel opposite, but we still chose the off-road e family.
In the morning, in the backyard of the cross-country e family, the golden mountains were photographed. This should be a veritable "Golden Summit". It is a little joy to make up for the regret that the "Golden Summit" of Mount Everest was not photographed at the Gawula Pass.
Yecheng
On the 34th day, itinerary and destination: Thirty-mile barracks-Xinzang line O km (Yecheng), stay in Yecheng on July 5.
On the way to Yecheng, we passed Seriyak Daban.
Nucleic acid sampling is required when passing through the checkpoint. This is the first time to do nucleic acid in the 33 days of traveling.
At 7 o'clock in the evening, we arrived at the O kilometer of the Xinzang line.
At the end of the 19-day trip to Tibet, when we reached 0 km of the Xinzang line, several "young people" laughed heartily, not hiding our excitement and pride at all.
Here, take a photo with our chariot and the iconic Xinjiang-Tibet Line O-kilometer starting point (we are the end point).
In the past 19 days, we have climbed many snow-capped mountains higher than 5,000 meters. Along the way, we have witnessed the majesty of the sacred mountain and the clearness of the holy lake. On the way, I experienced wind, rain, snow, mud and stone roads, washboard roads, and landslides. At 5,300 meters above sea level, I had no lunch or used Tibetan hot noodles to satisfy my hunger. When the altitude is higher than 4000 meters, it is also difficult to fall asleep due to high altitude.
But in the third pole of the world, which is the place closest to the sky, there are no other high reaction symptoms and discomforts in various situations, which is very fortunate.
Give us a thumbs up for our perseverance in entering Tibet! More praise for the team leader's meticulous itinerary!
This travel note—itinerary (3) Tibet part is the focus of the whole itinerary, which covers more content and photos. Thanks to Da Wang, Brother Lin and Sister Yu for their beautiful photos, so as to enrich every scenery we have experienced together and stories.
After arriving in Yecheng, the itinerary (3) Tibet Qamdo, Medog, Ngari South Line G219-Yecheng ends here.
From June 17 to July 5, 2021, Qamdo-Yecheng took 19 days and traveled 3718.1 kilometers.
Next stop: Itinerary (4) Xinjiang Desert Highway, Duku Highway, S101 Provincial Highway and return to Beijing via Inner Mongolia G7
Tomorrow's destination, Yecheng-Hetian.
