【Preface】
Tibet, a holy place that many people yearn for. We are far away from the busy city, the troubles of life and the pressure of work. If you ask me, what is the destination you most want to travel? I will answer you without hesitation - Tibet.
A long time ago, I had a deep awe of Tibet, maybe because I was worried because I saw many people’s problems caused by altitude on the Internet; or maybe it was because of the stories about the Himalayas And feel a deep sense of admiration.
I had countless fantasies about what kind of transportation it would be to go to Tibet for the first time. When I was young, my favorite thing was flying. I imagined that one day I could go to Tibet by plane and overlook Namjagbarwa Peak from the plane. It was a very happy thing. When I was in college, I dreamed of going to Tibet by train, dreaming of spending a sweet and beautiful journey with my beloved. In the past two years, I have been dreaming of riding a motorcycle into Tibet, chasing wind and freedom all the way, realizing my ideals, and living a life that I envy. But things backfired. In the end, due to various reasons, the way to go to Tibet returned to the most efficient means of transportation - airplane.
On this journey, just like when I was a child, I hope to see Mount Namjagbarwa on the plane, but unfortunately, when choosing seats on the way out, the entire window was selected, and I couldn’t see it well. to the scenery. On the return trip, I was unable to see Nanga Bawa Peak again due to the weather, which made me very regretful. But travel is like this, there will be many accidents on the way, there will be many regrets, and there will be more surprises at the same time. Although I couldn't see Namjagbarwa Peak on the plane, this trip to Tibet brought me unexpected surprises everywhere, so many unplanned beautiful scenery brought me an unparalleled visual feast.
【First image of Lhasa】
On the first day, we arrived in Lhasa. Lhasa is the provincial capital of Tibet, and it is also my first impression of Tibet. Due to the altitude of Lhasa is 3650, many people do not recommend flying into Tibet because the altitude of Tibet is generally above 3000 meters, so if you fly to Tibet, there will be a large pressure difference, and the body will find it difficult to adapt. Therefore, when you arrive in Lhasa, whether you are getting off the plane or picking up your luggage, you must move slowly, waiting for your body to gradually adapt.
When we arrived in Lhasa, we stayed at the InterContinental Hotel in Lhasa.
This hotel is still recommended, because the equipment and environment are first-class, and there are 12 hours of support in the room, from 6 pm to 6 am the next day. On the right of the hotel entrance, there is still a 24-hour self-service oxygen breathing room.
If Lhasa is only your first stop and you still want to go to the Shigatse line, and you feel very uncomfortable, then what you need to do is rest. After two days of rest, if your body adapts, then go to other places, and the Intercontinental Hotel is a very good choice.
When you come to Tibet, of course you have to try the local Tibetan food. After all, if you want to understand a place, food is essential.
We went to a Tibetan restaurant called "Jiamusa" in downtown Lhasa, and "Jiamusa" also means Princess Wencheng in Tibetan. The overall style of this restaurant has local characteristics. It is a very good experience to come here not only to enjoy Tibetan banquets, but also to watch Tibetan singing and dancing performances.
Tibetan hot pot is my favorite. The fresh and tender beef is paired with some vegetables, and then served with spicy dipping water. It is appetizing and warm, very comfortable.
Zanba, a traditional Tibetan snack
Crispy Fried Lamb Chops
Tibetan buns
Each one is unique and memorable.
In the restaurant, you can also enjoy delicious food while watching traditional Tibetan performances.
【Lhasa-Shigatse | Walk into Tunba Township and explore Tibetan incense culture】
The next day, we officially set off to Shigatse. We were going to go to the very famous scenic spot on the Shigatse line - Yamdrok Yongcuo, but unfortunately, Yanghu Lake is building roads, and the past time will be greatly increased, because we will stay at the Shigatse Hotel at night, so Yanghu Lake has no time to go Yes, it is also very regrettable, but the pleasant surprise is that on the way to Shigatse, we visited the most famous Tibetan incense culture in Tibet.
Thumba Township is located in Nimu County, Lhasa City. It is the hometown of Thummi Sangbuza, the founder of Tibetan language, and the birthplace of Nimu Tibetan incense. It is also an ancient village with a thousand-year history. Our first stop was Tunba Township, looking for the former residence of Thummi Sambuza and exploring the Tibetan incense culture.
Nimu Tibetan Incense has a 1300-year-old production history and is a national intangible cultural heritage. When the founder Thonmi Sambuza returned to his hometown, he took advantage of the local water resources to invent a wooden waterwheel to grind cypress into mud, and then made the raw material of Tibetan incense. Today, almost every family in Tunba Township is still using this technique to produce Tibetan incense, and you can smell a fragrance when you walk in the village.
And we also walked into the local Tibetan family, visited the whole process of making Tibetan incense, and tasted buttered tea and highland barley wine. They were hospitable and hospitable, which made us feel like a family of Tibetan and Han people.
Later, we stayed at the hotel in Shigatse - Sheli Bieyuan. In Shigatse, this is a hotel that I personally think is relatively clean and very comfortable. Leaving Lhasa, there are few hotels in other places that can provide oxygen. Therefore, before going to bed, you can prepare a bottle of oxygen by the bedside, just in case.
[Mount Everest | Trek thousands of kilometers to meet the goddess]
Today is the most exciting day, but also a tiring day. The excitement is because Mount Everest must be a holy place that must be visited in a lifetime for many travel enthusiasts. But for all mountaineering enthusiasts, it is the goal, the hope, the destination, and the hope. There are many stories on Mount Everest, which makes me very curious. The world's highest peak is so attractive, so what does it really look like? With these little doubts and full expectations, I embarked on a journey to Mount Everest.
On the way from Shigatse to Mount Everest, we encountered a sea of flowers under the snow-capped mountains in Lazi County at an altitude of 4050m. The farmland on both sides of the road is full of rape blossoms, stretching as far as the eye can see, as if covering the land with a golden coat. The snow-capped mountains and blue sky and white clouds not far away make this rapeseed field look extraordinarily beautiful.
Compared with the rapeseed flowers in other places, the rapeseed flowers in Lazi County grow at the foot of the snow-capped mountains, and they look so tough, so lonely, and so beautiful.
At this moment, it seems that time has slowed down, and the original long journey has become colorful; at this moment, I hope that the time to reach the destination can be slower, and then slower, just to let this beautiful scenery stay for us for a while.
After several hours of driving, we finally reached the Himalayas, and the first thing we saw was Shishapangma Peak, known as the "Old 14".
Shishapangma is called "Old 14" because among the 14 peaks over 8 kilometers in the Himalayas, Shishapangma ranks the last with a height of 8027 meters.
And the "boss" is undoubtedly Mount Everest, 8848.86.
Although it is said that Mount Shishapangma is the last among the 14 peaks, it is indeed an 8,000-meter-level peak completely within the territory of our country. Its ice tower area around 5,000 meters has different shapes, like an ice crystal garden, which is very magnificent. Zai.
Originally, I thought it would be great to come to Tibet to see Mount Everest and Kailash Rinpoche, but Mount Shishapangma was a special surprise encountered during this trip, and any time-lapse shot was amazing.
On the other side of Mount Shishapangma, we met the blue crystal-like lake - Pekutso.
Pekutso is the largest lake in Shigatse. Although it is not as famous as Yamdrok and Namtso, its scenery is not inferior at all.
Surrounded by mountains on three sides, the lake is blue, and it is also located under the snow-capped mountains of Mount Shishapangma. The beautiful scenery is a baptism for the body and mind.
If you want to see the scenery of the snow-capped mountains and the lake in the same frame, you can go to the direction of Saga County near the lake.
After a short stay in Pekutso, we continue to set off to the Everest Base Camp.
Gradually, we entered the Mount Everest Reserve, and I felt very excited, getting closer to Mount Everest. Driving in the Mount Everest Reserve will make people feel a kind of desolate beauty, because there are really few vegetation.
This is the difference between Tibet and other high-altitude areas. Before going to Shangri-La in Yunnan and Ganzi Aba in Sichuan, you will find that although the altitude is relatively high there, there are still some vegetation. But Mount Everest is very different. The amount of vegetation is very small, which brings a sense of desolation and magnificence to others.
A few yaks are grazing leisurely
There are some rest stops on the road. If you feel unwell, you can take a rest and drink a cup of sweet tea or butter tea, which is very useful for Gao Fan.
After another 1 hour of driving in the Mount Everest Reserve, when you find that the road gradually starts to become curved and some friends start to feel a little uncomfortable, congratulations, you have reached another scenic spot - Jiawula Pass.
Here, you can overlook Mount Everest. I was lucky, the weather was good, and I saw the original appearance of Mount Everest. At that moment, you no longer cared about the altitude or the strong wind, so you got off the car and went straight to the viewing platform, just to see from a distance what the real Mount Everest looks like.
The Mount Everest seen at the Gawula Pass is incomplete, and the peak is covered by clouds. Because of this, I feel that Mount Everest is so mysterious.
When I was overlooking Mount Everest, many stories about Mount Everest echoed in my mind, some about climbers, some about believers, and some about those hard-working road builders.
After a long time, I found that Mount Everest itself may be ordinary, but the most important thing is that it is because of Mount Everest that it reflects the dedication of road builders who are not afraid of hard work, the piety of believers, and the mountaineering. Those who are not afraid of hardships and challenges, the spirit of self-challenge. At that moment, I seemed to feel the greatness of Mount Everest, and its spirit deeply moved me.
Perhaps, for thousands of years, there have been tens of thousands of hurried passers-by under Mount Everest. Some people took pictures, some worshiped, some climbed, and some felt enlightened. Just like the stars in the vast universe, every star has its own story, and every tourist who reaches the foot of Mount Everest must have his own unique insights.
Jiawula Mountain Pass is not only a good place to overlook Mount Everest, but also to see the rugged mountain road below the mountain, known as "108 turns", which is especially spectacular. Although it looks spectacular, the experience is really not good. It is best to prepare motion sickness medicine and oxygen.
If you want to go to the Mount Everest Base Camp, after entering the Mount Everest Scenic Area, for the environment of Mount Everest, there will be battery cars in the scenic area to send tourists to the Mount Everest Base Camp.
The Everest Base Camp is very different from what was said on the Internet before. The roads are now well repaired, and the rooms are much better than before. It is no longer like the previous Datong shop, but there are unified single rooms and standard rooms. It's just that there are no doors in each room, only curtains as suggested. For the sake of safety, you still need to take good care of your belongings, and valuables need to be carried with you.
After arriving at the base camp of Mt. Everest, the most important thing is to look at the starry sky and the sunshine on Jinshan. Mount Everest is more than 5,200 meters above sea level, and it does take some time to get used to it. The starry sky of Mount Everest is very wonderful, like the opening of a Paramount movie, magnificent and magnificent. Someone once told me that if you like beautiful scenery, go to Xinjiang; if you like magnificent scenery, you must go to Tibet. I think, at this moment, Mount Everest interprets the magnificence of Tibet.
It takes time and luck to take a time-lapse shot of the starry sky. Although we did not capture the Milky Way, the sky full of stars allowed us to enjoy a visual feast at an altitude of 5,200 meters.
After shooting the starry sky, we went back to rest, although we knew that we should rest well on the plateau, otherwise the burden on the body would be heavy. However, it is rare to have the opportunity to see the true face of Mount Everest so close. Although we only slept for more than 3 hours, we set off to take photos of Jinshan in the sunshine.
But this is how it was shot. Unfortunately, it is not possible to see the true face of Mount Everest every day, which requires a certain amount of luck. With a little regret.
On the way back, I also saw the monument that I missed the night before because it was too dark.
[Jielong Town | A port town hidden at the foot of the snow mountain]
We continue to set off to the next destination - Geelong Town. On the way to Jilong Town, when we completely came out of the Mount Everest Reserve, we found that Mount Everest was completely displayed in front of us. What a spectacular sight that is, how nice it would be if it came out when the sun was shining on Jinshan!
First of all, the first stop is Jilonggou. When I first arrived in Jilonggou, I felt that the whole air has become so fresh. Unlike most areas in Tibet, the vegetation in Jilonggou is lush, and the altitude is only over 2,000, which is very comfortable. Let you get well adjusted after coming down from the Everest base camp.
On the way to Geelong Town, we saw a very spectacular waterfall - Kaire Waterfall. It is only 17 kilometers away from Geelong Town. Kaire Waterfall is 40 meters wide and 50 meters deep. Seen from the bottom up, a torrent gushes out and roars straight down to the shallow pool of boulders on the terrace at the bottom of the cliff, which is particularly spectacular. For travelers, after seeing the snow-capped mountains, mountains and yaks for a long time, look at the lush greenery and surging water in the jungle; this seems to be a seasoning dish, adding a different color to your journey.
And go further, you will find another cultural landscape - recruiting barriers. The greenery along the way, surrounded by yews around the trail, is very spectacular.
After reading the recruitment barriers, we continued to set off to Jilong Town. In fact, the most attractive thing about Jilong Valley is the port city - Jilong Town. In the south of Jilong County, Shigatse City, there is such a small town surrounded by snow-capped mountains and mist. Walking on the street, you can see residents who look very different from us, and their diets are very different.
Gyirong Town is a port town where Tibetans and Damans live. Damans are descendants of Nepalese, and they look similar to Nepalese and Indians, so there are many Nepalese restaurants and souvenir clothing stores in the town.
Here, life feels like it slows down. When you wake up in the morning, you can see snow-capped mountains surrounded by mist through the window. Strolling around in the small town, buying some small gifts from Nepal, and eating a Nepalese meal are all very pleasant.
Due to the altitude of more than 2000 meters, the night in Geelong Town is very comfortable. The high altitude will make your heart beat faster when you sleep, while the night in Geelong Town is quiet and comfortable.
[Naixia Village|The secret village under the snow mountain]
Today, we set off from Jilong Town to Naisha Village, a small village affiliated to Jilong Town. In Tibet, there is such a place with an altitude of only more than 2,000 meters, rich in vegetation and green grass. And it is Naisha Village, a small secret place hidden in Jilong Town, Shigatse.
Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, Naixia Village has sufficient oxygen and is known as "half of Tibet's history, the back garden of Mount Everest". Coming here is like going to Switzerland, and every shot is very good.
Associate a place with a photo
This is definitely the village that brought us the most surprise of this trip. Just like in Switzerland, the small village is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, which feels like a paradise.
If you want to go to Naixia Village, you can choose to charter a car or drive by yourself. Although it is only 20 kilometers away, the mountain road is rugged and very steep. We asked for the driver's phone number at the front desk of the hotel, and it took a total of half an hour to arrive at Naisha Village.
Back to Gyirong town from Naisha village, we went to enjoy a very delicious Nepalese meal.
The fried chicken here is very, very tasty, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Nepalese coffee is quite unique and worth trying.
Leaving Jilong, went to Tingri County to stay for one night. On the second day, we were going to go to Qilinxia, but because the power outage in the entire county that night caused the equipment to not be charged, we returned directly to Shigatse.
In the evening, I went to the People's Park in Shigatse. I didn't expect there to be such a spectacular musical fountain here. While enriching the life of the local people, it also satisfies our tourists' need to have a different kind of surprise while relaxing.
At the end of the musical fountain, the six-day journey on the Fanni Trail in Tibet came to an end. Here you can choose to fly back from Shigatse, you can take a train from Shigatse to Lhasa, and then fly from Lhasa to the departure point.
【Precautions】
1. High inverse problem
The altitude of most parts of Tibet is above 3,000, and our routes this time are basically around 4K, so we must be well prepared for anti-altitude reactions. The first thing you need to bring is oxygen, which can be purchased in Lhasa, especially when you go to the Everest Base Camp, Shigatse, and Ali, where the altitude is above 4,000, you need to prepare more oxygen. My personal high fever is not that serious, but I drink glucose drinks every day to replenish my strength, and I can also eat some vitamin C. In addition, if you are in Tibet, you must not run, your movements should be small, and you should not be too excited when you see the beautiful scenery, and keep a stable mind. In many cases, high reaction also has a psychological effect, so there is no problem in maintaining a good attitude. Slight headaches, dizziness, nasal congestion, and ferocity are all normal phenomena. If it is not too serious, don't be too nervous, just eat your head and inhale oxygen; if it is serious, go to the hospital. Remember that it is recommended not to wash your hair and take a bath in the first 3 days of going to Tibet, because it will speed up blood circulation and there is a risk of catching a cold. Cold is a very serious thing, be sure to bring good cold medicine, just in case.
2. Traffic
It is best to charter a car or drive by yourself. Because the distance is relatively long, it is recommended that friends who go to high altitude areas for the first time should charter a car. No matter how superb your driving skills are, you can't afford to drive at high altitude for a long time. You must rest well on the plateau, so it is recommended to charter a car. Those who have been to Tibet many times can drive by themselves.
3. Itinerary
D1: All over the country - Lhasa - hotel rest to adapt to the plateau environment
D2: Lhasa - Tunba Township - Lazi - Shigatse
D3: Shigatse - Gawula Pass - Everest Base Camp
D4: Mount Everest Base Camp - Geelong Town
D5: Jilong Town-Naixia Village-Dingri County
D6: Tingri County - Shigatse
D7: Shigatse - Lhasa - return
(When we went there, we encountered Yanghu road construction, and the original planned itinerary has been adapted. It is recommended to go to Yanghu Lake and Karola Glacier on the way to Shigatse, and then Qilin Gorge should not be missed.)
4. Hotel
In Lhasa we lived in Intercontinental, while in Shigatse we lived in Sheri Bieyuan. Both places are very nice and well worth a stay. Everest base camp, if you feel that the altitude is too high, or the environment is average, and you don’t want to live in a tent at the base camp, there are hotels not far away where you can live, and they have cars that will take you to watch the starry sky and the sunrise.
5. Food
When I came to Tibet, there are a lot of delicious meat, including a lot of yak hot pot and Sichuan cuisine. I think Tibetan food is just a matter of trying a little bit for me. The key is that there are many dishes from various places, especially Sichuan cuisine is very good.
6. Clothes and equipment
It is recommended to bring a jacket in summer, especially when the base camp is still relatively windy at night. If you plan to look at the stars, and then watch the sunrise and sunset, bring a jacket. Moreover, the ultraviolet rays on the plateau are particularly strong, so you should wear sunscreen clothing, 50 times more sunscreen, or sunscreen sleeves.
7. Shooting equipment
The best equipment for shooting landscapes is to bring a wide-angle lens with a large aperture, and then a telephoto lens is also necessary when shooting snow-capped mountains, and finally a tripod is also necessary. In addition, because Tibet has strict control over drones, it is necessary to fly drones in places where they are allowed to fly, so as to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.
【Conclusion】
Although this is my first time in Tibet, I believe it will not be the last. There are many friends and family members around, and they go to Tibet every year to play. At that time, I didn't understand them. Until you actually come to Tibet, you will find out how charming it is. Regardless of its scenery and humanities, you can't miss it.
We are @LouieSally Travel Memory, we are always on the road, see you on the next trip!