Are you like me, often full of curiosity about the world, such as: where is the highest county? What is life like there? Because there are all kinds of questions in my heart, Yalun's travel is a process of constantly solving doubts. This process of constantly unlocking new knowledge makes me feel deeply happy. Just like this trip on the Qinghai-Tibet line, I opened up a new world on the plateau!
Starting from Nagqu, after passing through the Qiangtang no-man's land, I arrived in Anduo County at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. This is not an ordinary county, but the county with the highest altitude in the world! It is no exaggeration to say that it sits on top of the clouds. Located in the north of Tibet, on the north and south sides of the famous Tanggula Mountains, it is the northern gate of Tibet.
Did you have any special experience or feelings when you came here? Of course, and such an experience is really unusual. The first impression is: summer is so cold! How cold is it? The moment I got out of the car, I tasted the "bitter cold wind". I was so cold that I didn't know why, and suddenly small snowflakes floated up.
Because the altitude is very high and the climate is very harsh, life here is quite difficult, and even daily outing activities have to endure the torment of low temperature and strong wind. Since Anduo is a passing point of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway and one of the few county towns, like many people, I chose to rest here.
Rest is all about resting. I seldom choose to stay here for one night, because the oxygen content in Amdo is very low, and even instinctive breathing is a challenge. If you stay here overnight, many people may experience discomfort in their bodies, so Everyone will rush as far back as possible. Of course, there is also some accommodation here, after all, there is always demand.
In Amdo, there is such a saying: take a step and pant three times, and wear a leather jacket in four seasons. This is not an exaggeration at all. When I came here in summer, I sat in the car wearing a down jacket, and I still felt cold with the heater on. The locals walking outside the window were all wearing thick leather jackets, and they were still walking. It will naturally wrap its hands around its chest, and it is possible to prevent the wind from blowing into the clothes.
Although the people who have lived here all year round have long been accustomed to the climate here, the strong wind and low temperature still blow their faces and lips very dry, and their hands turn red from the cold. This kind of life is beyond our imagination. In their faces and words, I can see the calmness that has already adapted to nature, but there seems to be a trace of helplessness in this calmness.
Because it is a county seat, the living facilities here are still very complete. Gas stations, car repair shops, hotels, markets, etc. can basically meet the needs of daily life. In addition, this is a must pass point of the Qinghai-Tibet line, and the supplies are still better than ours. Think richer and more varied.
A large number of large vehicles is a major feature of Anduo County. Large red trucks are parked on the side of the road, as if they have made an appointment. The drivers of large vehicles have been driving the Qinghai-Tibet Highway all year round. People know better than them, so drivers who are used to resting in Amdo will choose to stop here. It's just that there are too many cars passing by, and the wind will be accompanied by sand and dust.
As the highest county in the world, Amdo's climate has left a deep impression on me, and I even think silently: How should I live in this? But the fact is that not only people have lived here, but it has also developed into a large county. This is probably the indescribable fate between human beings and nature!
