Go to the mountains and rivers with your first love, and meet the pure world

Find the most innocent place and just leave, you will think of where

By the way, it is the city closest to heaven, the highest city in the world - Litang.

Litang

Looking for the beautiful scenery in my heart, the hidden city in the sky, and going to the ends of the earth together, it must be you by my side-my first love, my love.

Litang

Lao Zhao and I met each other in high school and fell in love with each other when we were 17 years old. It has been more than ten years now, and we are still our first love. At the age of 30, we bought a house and a car, and supported each other to become full-time travel bloggers. Together we have the dream of traveling around the world by car. With our car, we are always on the way to the beautiful scenery.

The word first love has a special meaning to me and to him. It is not only a testimony, but also a promise, guarding our original intention.

Although it has entered West Sichuan several times, Litang has never been there, because its altitude is always prohibitive, even if it passes by, it may not stay. But this time, we decided to stay overnight, watch the sunrise and sunset, and feel the secularity and temperature of this pure and high city.

Litang

All the yearning first came from the popular Ding Zhen, who said sincerely: In our village, you can see the Genie Snow Mountain every day when you open the door... Ah, how beautiful this should be, it is in my heart An ideal hermit life, to be accompanied by the beautiful scenery, to sleep with the lover; to be awakened by the sunrise, and let the sunset and sunset illuminate the way home.

Litang

Litang is about 600 kilometers away from Chengdu. It doesn’t feel too far away just by looking at the kilometers, but the winding “Shu Road” makes people feel that the journey is far away.

Litang

Moreover, there are various possible adventures and high reactions brought about by high altitudes. But it is precisely because of this unknown that the journey becomes interesting and eager to try.

So, let's set off now, all the way west, to see the cities in the plateau, to see the secret place where the sky is within reach.

Five hours of running all the way, entering Litang at night

Starting from Chengdu, after staying in Kangding for one night, I drove all the way to Litang. Walking along the G318 National Highway, which is "must drive yourself in this life", because of the infinite scenery along the way, and taking pictures while walking, the original 3-hour journey took about 5 hours, and the eyes were full of beauty, and it was picturesque to press the shutter.

From snow mountain roads to towns built along the mountains, every encounter is a surprise.

At sunset, we finally arrived at the Panshan Highway known as the "Eighteen Bends of the Heavenly Road", which also indicates that Litang, the city of the sky, is not far away.

Along the winding mountain road all the way to the top, I checked that the altitude has reached 4,400 meters, the air has become thinner, and my breathing is already a little panting, but the pink and purple Gongga Snow Mountain Golden Summit on the other side healed my tired body and mind.

Driving in West Sichuan, we are often surprised by the beautiful scenery that suddenly appears at the corner at the end of the road. This is the charm of West Sichuan, and this is the attraction that is unknown to us.

Litang County has an east gate and a west gate, and the G318 national highway runs through it from east to west. Many people entered through the east gate, crossed the entire county and left in a hurry when they arrived at the west gate, without having time to take a look at its beauty.

And this time we decided to stay for one night, watch the sunrise early the next morning, visit the ancient town of Letong in Litang, and then drive to the foot of Genie Snow Mountain 80 kilometers away to see the village of Dingzhen and feel A "ideal state" sunset.

Litang Sunrise Litang, the sky within reach

The most beautiful sunrise viewing spot in Litang City is located on the hillside behind Changchun Keer Temple. It takes only ten minutes to navigate in the city, and the sunrise in Litang is not particularly early, about 7:30 in the morning It's around 8 o'clock, so it's not too hard to watch the sunrise here.

However, after the navigation arrived and parked the self-driving car, we still needed to climb a short section of the road. With the high reaction, the two of us had to stop and go, panting. Old Zhao walked in front with more than ten kilograms of photographic equipment on his back, looking back at me from time to time, and thinking of reaching out to give me a hand. Seeing him sweating profusely and short of breath, I felt both warm and funny: you People who can't protect themselves, don't take care of me.

"I'm fine, but it's you. Every time I enter West Sichuan, I feel very high. How do you feel this time?"
Don't worry, I have beautiful scenery with you, and I am fine.

Litang

Slowly climbing this small hill, the morning light behind us gradually came, which made us feel nervous, please slow down this golden morning light, and accommodate those who are highly rebellious.

Halfway through the climb, we looked back and were immediately shocked by the scenery in front of us. Houses with Tibetan characteristics are full of mystery in the morning light and mist, and the curling smoke brings vitality to the whole city. Ah, this is the Litang I yearn for.

Litang

Litang County is dominated by hilly plateaus and mountainous landforms, with some alpine valleys. Due to the uplift of orogeny in the west and central part, the terrain is relatively undulating, sloping to the southeast and northeast. The average altitude of the main city of Litang is 4,000+ meters. It is the highest city in the world and has the reputation of the city of the sky. So here, the sunlight in the sky feels palpable. Although it feels very romantic, it also means that the sunlight is particularly dazzling and poisonous, and it will burn the skin when it is exposed to the sun.

This section of the road up the hillside can circle around the temple, so there are many believers accompanying them along the way. They are spinning prayer wheels in their hands, chanting words in their mouths, and are very devout.

Litang

The people in Litang are very friendly. Once they make eye contact, they will greet you warmly and ask you if you are cold, tired, and high-risk. We even met someone who invited us to her house for breakfast.

And they are not afraid of the camera, they generously let you take pictures, and guide us to some places that they think are good to take pictures. No wonder Litang has always been known as a "photographer's paradise". It has cultural characteristics and natural scenery.

Sometimes I would sigh that our big China has a vast territory and has many ethnic groups. They have different styles and mysterious religious cultures. This is also the original intention and motivation for Lao Zhao and I to drive on the road all the time.

Litang

After walking and stopping, I finally reached the top of the hillside behind the Keer Temple in Changchun. The view is acceptable, and the golden morning light is matched with a large area of Tibetan characteristic buildings.

Litang

When local believers see us, they will also enthusiastically share some religious customs. For example, you can pick up a small stone on the road and put it on the stone pile at the top of the mountain, which means praying for blessings; for example, the hillside can only turn clockwise One circle, but can't go back to the top of the mountain...

Litang

So we had no choice but to follow the crowd all the way around the mountain. Although the road was long, we gained more scenery because of this.

Litang

It is also possible to walk from Changchun Keer Temple to Letong Ancient Town. There is a place where Ding Zhen works-Cangyang Gyatso Miniature Museum. If you are lucky, you can meet Ding Zhen hahahaha.

Litang

Letong Ancient Town also has another name, Qianhu Tibetan Village. This is the most Tibetan street and area in Litang, and it is very worth visiting.

Litang

Putting on a Tibetan robe, we are going to drive 3 hours on the mountain road to the foot of the Genie Snow Mountain, 80 kilometers away, to explore Ding Zhen’s hometown and look for Ding Zhen’s childhood footprints.

It is said that there is a pure world, undeveloped, and you can see the most simple appearance of the land.

At the foot of Genie Snow Mountain, a pure land beyond the mundane world

The 80 kilometers of road are almost all mountain roads and washboard roads, and it is estimated that it will take 3-4 hours to walk.

However, the scenery along the way is destined to not be a dull journey.

Driving out of Litang City, you can slowly see the snow-capped mountains in the sky, that is the Genie Snow Mountain Range, and you will be accompanied by it throughout the journey. There is a lover in the car, and there is a scenery outside the window. This is the beauty of self-driving with the one you love.

There is also a big and big surprise in this trip, which is the blue ice of the unknown Xiaohaizi. The specific location is on the only way from Litang County to the Eye of Genie.

In winter in western Sichuan, Haizi above 4,000 altitudes will freeze, and the pure lake water will appear transparent blue after freezing, which is very dreamy. Take a stone and hit it, and if you find that the ice is thick enough, you can boldly walk on the ice. Of course, don't go too deep, safety still needs attention.

When you see the shocking scenery below, you can conclude that we have arrived. This is the village where "you can see the Genie Snow Mountain every day when you open the door".

Ge Nie Mountain

This is more primitive than Litang County, I think, this is what this land looked like in the first place.

next pass

Some people say that first love is unreliable, but it is just a heartbeat that has not been experienced in the world. But in fact, it was lucky to meet each other when they had unpolished original intentions. The love at that time was not based on "suitability", but only because of a glance.

Then, it is also lucky to be able to go from first love to marriage. No matter how many quarrels there are, as long as you recall that original intention, you can get back together.

I would like to go to the top of the mountain and the heart of the sea with you all the time, to visit the unrefined beauty of this world, to reach with my feet, and to record with my eyes.

next pass

If you want to say whether there is any regret in this trip, it should be that the eyes of Ghenie found after enduring all kinds of washboard roads have dried up. But every regret during the journey may be an excuse for the next departure, so don't worry too much.

Eye of Genie

next pass

Let's take another look at the sunset of this world's tallest city! The winding path leads to the top of the mountain, and the top of the mountain seems to be the realm of the gods. The white pagoda of the temple with ethnic characteristics adds to the exotic features here, and every time the shutter is pressed, it is very moving.

Litang

I will always remember this story about first love. You took me to the purest place in the world by driving Harvard first love, and found our original love.

Grasping a gust of wind at your fingertips is the taste of early spring in Litang; along the way, there is another member who has witnessed with us in the mountains and rivers—Haval's first love! I remembered that when I first discussed with Lao Zhao about buying it, I never thought that I would go to Litang with us in such a short time.

The more you experience the hardships, the more you can feel the joy of reaching the top of the mountain. Haval’s first love, who shared the journey with us, is also shining brightly under the rare mountain top; the road to the distance is far away, but the days of holding the steering wheel and walking away are not slow .

During this trip to Litang, a car is an indispensable part of our journey. When we bought the car, we ignored Lao Zhao’s thoughts and “forced” Lao Zhao to choose Haval’s first love. Life, let Lao Zhao's particularly hurt mouth shut, life is a closed loop, I met my first love when I was 17 years old, and when I was 30 years old, I met "first love" again

Travel strategy

Must-see attractions in Litang County: East and West City Gates, Changqingchun Keer Temple, Letong Ancient Town (Thousand Household Tibetan Village), Cangyang Gyatso Miniature Museum, Eye of Genie, Maoya Prairie, Lengu Temple

Let me share with you the specific itinerary of Litang for 3 days and 2 nights:
On the first day, go to the back mountain of Changchun Keer Temple (that is, Litang Temple) to watch the sunrise. Be careful to walk up the mountain and you need to turn around, and you can't go back. After sunrise, enter the temple to visit and pray, and the temple can take pictures. Also worth visiting in the county is Letong Ancient Town Qianhu Tibetan Village (Renkang Ancient Street), where Ding Zhen works. If you are lucky, you may meet Ding Zhen by chance. Baita Park can be arranged to go to sunset, the light and shadow are very beautiful.
On the second day, drive to Xiazetong Village by yourself. On the only way to navigate from Litang County to the village, you will meet Lanbing Haizi, and the aerial photography is particularly beautiful. When you arrive at Xiazetong Village, you can overlook the Genie Snow Mountain, and there are wild hot springs to experience. Then navigate the Eye of Genie on the mountain. You must take aerial photography of the Eye of Genie to see its shock. Without aerial photography, it is meaningless. Unfortunately, the water will dry up in winter, and the scenery will be greatly reduced.
On the third day, drive to Lengu Temple, where you can see the Three Treasures of the Town Temple, among which the "Heart of Genie" is amazing. Lenggu Temple is located in the Xuefeng Canyon, at the foot of the Genie Mountain, and the aerial photography is also very shocking.

?stay:
There is a holiday hotel in Litang County, 200-300 yuan a night, only 100+ per capita, with heating, breakfast included, oxygen inhalation, considered the best accommodation in the area.

Some notes:
1. Ganzi on the western Sichuan line is actually a Tibetan autonomous prefecture, so Tibetan culture must be respected, and Buddha statues and Tibetan scriptures on the road should not be destroyed at will.
2. After the whole line arrives at Xinduqiao, it starts to stay at an altitude of 3000+ for a long time, or even 4000+. Litang stays at an altitude of 4000, so it is normal to have high altitude, remember to keep oxygen cylinders.
3. If the reaction is severe, do not take a bath, drink warm water instead of cold water, and do not eat indigestible things.
4. Sleeping at night is the hardest for high-response patients. It is seriously recommended to book a hotel equipped with diffuse oxygen supply.
5. There will be many yaks or small animals walking on the road along the road, so be careful when driving.
6. Always prepare dry food, self-heating rice, etc. There may be no restaurants for several hours along the way, but remember to collect garbage such as packaging bags that you have eaten.
7. Self-driving in winter needs to be equipped with snow tires or snow chains.
8. In the event of high reaction, you can drink some cola appropriately to help relieve it, or you can always prepare ginseng slices and soak it in water to drink.