sequence

Passing through your whole world, encounter the last piece of pure land on the water blue planet

Summer vacation is a good time to travel, but due to the spread of the new crown epidemic of the delta mutant strain, everyone can only give up their plans to go out and stay at home obediently. It can be said that we are the lucky ones this summer vacation. We rushed to travel in the first time of summer vacation. When the epidemic spread in many cities across the country, we had already returned home safely. The whole itinerary was not affected by this wave of epidemic.

Driving into Tibet is the ultimate dream of my life at this stage. As for the hard-working wage earners, the limited holidays can only be a sigh of relief for the long journey. But the Sichuan-Tibet line that I have been thinking about, I want to get involved first anyway, so I personally planned this trip to Sichuan and Western Asia. There are two options for this trip. One is self-driving the whole journey, passing through Chengdu to Aden, crossing the Luya Line or Daoxiang Line, and returning from Yunnan. Considering the first long-distance self-driving trip, I took such a strong medicine, not because I was afraid that I couldn’t bear it, but because I was worried that my fellow travelers would pick my skin off. So I chose the second option—flying to Chengdu and renting a car when I landed.

This self-driving trip has a total of 9 days (July 10-18, 2021, excluding the time for round-trip transportation), with a mileage of nearly 2,000 kilometers. The actual route is shown in the figure below. The Dujiangyan-Danba section of the original route was planned as "Dujiangyan-Yingxiu-Siguniang Mountain-Xiaojin County-Danba". The entire route is a small loop with a tail. However, I learned that the section from Siguniangshan to Danba on the G350 Panda Avenue will implement traffic control in different time periods. Because it was the first long-distance self-driving tour, in order not to affect the itinerary, I changed the route and took the high speed to Shanghai to Danba. In this way, I went back a lot and missed the beautiful scenery along the Siguniang Mountain.

This article will record the specific itinerary and what I saw on the way each day. The end of the article is a small summary of Tips for this self-driving trip, hoping to provide some references for those who want to drive this route by themselves.

Day0, Zhuhai>Chengdu, stay at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport

Friday, July 9, 2021

After get off work, I went to the airport to catch the midnight flight and arrived at Chengdu Shuangliu Airport at 0:30 in the morning. check in to a hotel.

Day1 Shuangliu Airport>Panda Base>Sanxingdui>Dujiangyan, Su Ruijia Hotel (Dujiangyan Scenic Area Branch)

Get up at 6:00 am to pick up the car. After getting the driving license and other materials, you are ready to go to the car inspection. I took pictures and checked it seriously, but after tinkering for a long time, I couldn't start the fire. Is the battery dead? Why is there no response to one-key start? In desperation, I had to turn to the staff for help. The answer is: You need to pick up the car on the APP. Well, the first time I rented a car, I really didn't know that there was such an operation... The vehicle condition was also listed in the vehicle inspection form on the APP, so it was a waste of time.

After picking up the car, go to the Panda Base, about 1 hour by car. It was the first time I was driving in an unfamiliar city, and my pig teammate who couldn't read the navigation still took several wrong intersections under the guidance of my human assistance, and it took 1.5 hours. There are two parking lots outside the panda base. We parked in the Huanhuan parking lot (directly navigate to the parking lot), which is relatively close to the entrance of the base. Conscience charges 2 yuan/hour.

At the beginning of the summer vacation, the scenic spot has started the herd mode. We went a little late and arrived at almost 10 o'clock, so we had to see the pandas as soon as possible. Pandas are more active in the morning and sleepy at noon. We walked around for nearly two hours, and saw three or four pandas, and many panda villas were empty. Those who slept on trees, those who ate bamboo, and Yuan Gun Gun looked calm, completely ignoring the hustle and bustle of tourists outside the venue.

Sanxingdui Museum is about an hour's drive from the Panda Base. There is a large and simple parking lot outside the museum, which costs 10 yuan/time. After parking, you have to walk for more than 10 minutes to get to the museum. We visited the comprehensive hall, bronze hall, sacrificial platform and so on. The comprehensive hall mainly displays pottery, jade, bronze ware, etc. Yuzhang and various bronze ware crafts are very exquisite. I have to marvel at the ingenious skills of ancient skilled craftsmen. Both the bronze sacred tree and the bronze standing man are in the complex. The Bronze Hall is much smaller than the General Hall. It mainly displays bronze masks, and all kinds of masks with unique shapes compete with each other. The sacrificial altar is not far behind the bronze hall, and the bronze standing man stands on the altar (the phone is out of power, so no photos were taken), majestic and mysterious.

Day 2 Dujiangyan>Mount Qingcheng, stay at Qingcheng Mountain Shiguangli Boutique Inn

The hotel I stayed in last night is less than one kilometer walk from Dujiangyan Scenic Area, and is close to South Bridge Pedestrian Street. It's very convenient to eat and shop nearby. I woke up a little late in the morning because I didn't sleep well to catch a flight the day before. When parking in the Dujiangyan Scenic Area, it was a real headache. There were so many cars and the road was narrow. It may be that we came late, and the parking lot of the scenic spot has hung up the "parking space is full" sign early. We queued for more than half an hour before we squeezed into the P4 parking lot in front, which charged 20 yuan. (Tips: There is a parking lot on the right side of the road when you come here, there is no queue there, but it is difficult to get out when we drive in)

During the millennium water conservancy in Dujiangyan, Li Bing and his son transformed the Minjiang River. Since then, the flood has ceased, benefiting generations of people in the Land of Abundance. In the overcrowded scenic spot, everyone is scrambling to take pictures and check in. Dujiangyan, which is as famous as the Great Wall, has beautiful mountains and clear waters. After stripping off the cloak of 5A scenic spots, what really deserves attention is this great miracle of water conservancy engineering itself.

Qingcheng Mountain is not far from Dujiangyan, and it takes more than half an hour to drive there. Qingcheng Mountain does not allow private cars to enter. You can either take a battery car or walk to the ticket office of the mountain gate, which is also the entrance to the mountain.

Mount Qingcheng is one of the birthplaces of Taoism in my country, and has been known as "Qingcheng, a quiet place in the world" since ancient times. Qingcheng Mountain, which is green all year round, is a good place to escape the summer heat, and the mountain breeze is refreshing. The vegetation on the mountain is dense and the trees are shady. Teammate Zhu said that he couldn't climb anymore and was willing to wait for us by the Yuecheng Lake at the foot of the mountain. My little brother and I had no time to go except for the Laojun Pavilion on the top of the mountain. It took a total of more than two hours to climb the mountain. Tianshi Cave, Shangqing Palace, and Chaoyang Cave, although we didn't have time to watch them carefully, we left our footprints wherever we went. In a hurry, before the suspension of the cableway, we queued for more than half an hour and got on the last cable car going down the mountain.

Day3 Mount Qingcheng>Luding Bridge>Jiaju Tibetan Village, Sujiaju Tibetan Village Danba Rob B&B

Start entering Sichuan West today. On the highway, the road is good, the cars are few, and the weather is good. Passing through the Tianquan service area, many people check in here. Seeing the road sign "318 must be driven in this life", the Sichuan-Tibet line is close at hand.

When you come to Luding County, you have to go to Luding Bridge to get a card. There are many cars and narrow roads in the small Luding County. I missed the free parking for meals. When I arrived near the Luding Bridge, all the parking lots were full. We had no choice but to drive forward, crossed the bridge and went up a steep slope to National Highway 318. We found a place where we could park and eat on the opposite side of the Luding Bridge. Parking is 20 yuan, unlimited time, we only parked for less than 1 hour, a huge loss. After dinner, we walked along the Dadu River to Luding Bridge. There were too many people queuing up to the bridge. We had to hurry in the afternoon. We took photos at the bridge and left in a hurry.

In the afternoon, go along National Highway 318, and turn to Provincial Highway S211 to Danba after driving more than 10 kilometers. The road runs along the Dadu River, and the towering mountains on both sides are like barriers, rolling up and down on both sides of the Dadu River. There are many tunnels on the mountain road to Danba. After passing through the tunnels, you will enter Danba County. There are faintly scattered Tibetan dwellings and towering watchtowers on the mountainside. The Suopo Observation Deck is being repaired. The Tibetan village guarded by many watchtowers is on the opposite side of the road, so you can only watch it from a distance by the side of the road. If you want to get close to the watchtowers, drive forward a little and turn right and cross the bridge to enter the stockade.

At 5:30 in the afternoon, we arrived at the gate of Jiaju Tibetan Village. If you don't stay in the village, you can't drive into the village. We booked the homestay in the stockade in advance, and we can drive in after buying tickets at the ticket center, and the tickets can be discounted by 20%.

The road from the visitor center to Jiaju Tibetan Village can be described as thrilling. Looking from bottom to top, the Z-shaped narrow road twists and turns. It seems that there are many roads, but in fact there is only one. There is a cliff on one side and a cliff on the other, and the drop is very large.

The homestay we live in is a newly built Tibetan-style residence, very close to the No. 1 viewing platform, with an altitude of more than 2,200 meters. The homestay provides meals. There is a restaurant on the first floor. You can order soup pots and stir-fried dishes at your own expense. There are viewing platforms on the third and fourth floors, and the environment is not bad.

A series of unique Tibetan dwellings are dotted on the mountainside, and the whole cottage follows the undulating mountains, and the trees and houses are scattered. There are more than 100 Tibetan households living in the stockade. There are peaches, apricots, apples, etc. in front of and behind the houses, and the branches are covered with immature fruits. The Dajinchuan River, the upper reaches of the Dadu River, passes through the bottom of the canyon in the middle of the stockade. Some simple Z-shaped mountain roads can be seen on the mountain extending upwards, which are the daily passages for Tibetans to go up the mountain.

Day4, Jiaju Tibetan Village>Tagong Grassland>Gaoersi Mountain>Yajiang, stay in Yajiang Youhao Business Hotel

It was a bad start today, less than an hour after the start, the right rear tire wall was cut by falling rocks. After changing the spare tire, I walked along the G248 nervously. This section of the road was destroyed by water one section after another, and in many places only one car could pass. The road conditions did not improve until entering the G350 Panda Road. The weather is good, and you can see the Yala Snow Mountain from the viewing platform. Drive up from the observation deck, from here, the alpine meadow is beautiful all the way, like walking through a gallery.

In Bamei town we changed new tires and had lunch. It is more than 20 kilometers from Bamei to Tagong Grassland, and it takes less than half an hour to arrive. Passing Moshi Park, I am not very interested in stones, and I didn't go in because I was in a hurry. At the gate of Tagong Grassland is a wide free open-air parking lot. The wooden plank road leads directly to the top of the mountain, with an altitude of more than 3750 meters. Standing on the viewing platform on the top of the mountain, you can have a panoramic view of the surrounding scenery. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the empty grassland, the snow-white pagoda, and the golden dome of the Buddhist temple are shining in the sun. The Yala Snow Mountain in the distance is looming, and the white mountain top cannot tell whether it is cloud or snow.

On the way to Yajiang, I passed the lavender farm in Xinduqiao. I didn't know this place when I passed by (later I stayed in Xinduqiao Town on my return trip, and I heard what the hotel owner said), but I just had a feeling of deja vu. This is a great place to make a big movie. Putting on a white long dress and dancing in the purple lavender bushes, under the effect of light and shadow, the romantic picture can definitely blow up the circle of friends. It's a pity that this is all my imagination after I missed it, and we didn't stop here.

On the section of Gaoersi Mountain, there was no signal on the mobile phone, and the offline priority was not set in advance. The navigation took us to the old pass of Gaoersi Mountain. After the opening of the Gaoersi Mountain Tunnel, the old road fell into disrepair, and people who walked through the old pass thought of turning back the moment they turned into the old road. And we, it can be said that we are the die-hard fans of AutoNavi, we have to follow the navigation when we turn around.

The road surface of the old 318 was covered with mud and gravel, and the vehicles drove through the dust, just like driving a military vehicle on the battlefield during the war. The rugged and winding mountain road has such a big drop that it makes the scalp tingle. Fortunately, it was sunny, otherwise I doubt whether this car can stand the test of bumpy trek. Fortunately, there were almost no cars on the opposite side. It was the first time I ran this kind of mountain road, and I rode carefully in the middle of the road, not daring to look at places other than the road. The 9 kilometers of mud and sand road drove for nearly half an hour.

The pass is 4412 meters above sea level, very close to Tianzhen, and the white clouds are just above the head. If the night sky is clear, it is not impossible to pick the stars.

Although it was "trapped" by the navigation, it can be said that this was an unexpected surprise, and it was the essence that was not planned in the itinerary. In the future, the road conditions at the old pass will get worse and worse, and the opportunity to go to the pass is not every day. The pass of Gaoer Temple Mountain is one of the best places to watch the King of Shu Mountain - Gongga Mountain. Standing at the pass, I never thought that I was looking at the King of Shu Mountain, and that I met Gongga Mountain inadvertently.

The little brother said that he was not feeling very well, maybe he had a high reaction, so we didn't dare to stay for a long time, so we gave him some medicine, took a few photos, and hurried down the mountain. When going down the mountain, the navigation came out with black moths again, which almost made us go back the same way. Fortunately, I met a local Tibetan who showed us the way. The road going down the mountain is a concrete road. Although it is not as good as going up the mountain, it is also narrow with many bends. Concentrating on driving is the top priority.

Day5, Yajiang > Shangri-La Town, Shangri-La Town Daocheng Plateau Reflection Theme Hotel

Today's trip is more than 350 kilometers. I got up at 7 o'clock in the morning, set off from Yajiang, drove a certain distance in the canyon, and began to climb the mountain around one turn after another. It didn't take long to arrive at the viewing platform at the 18th bend of Tianlu. There are a lot of people staying here, and cars can't park in it. A lot of cars parked on the side of the road, a bit congested.

Go to the 18th bend of Guotian Road and continue up the mountain, and you will arrive at the Xiongzongka Observation Deck. The beef kebabs here are not bad, so I went to eat it again on the return trip. The beef jerky is also quite authentic, but a bit salty.

After slowly adapting to the altitude in the previous two days, the 4668-meter Nimagong Mountain did not embarrass us. Parking, taking pictures, and bouncing around (within one's ability). Starting from Nimagon, the car has been driving on the Kazila Mountain at about 4,700 meters, and the vast alpine grassland scenery is accompanied all the way. There are herds of cattle and sheep all over the mountains and plains. Some netizens ridiculed that there are walking RMB everywhere.

Arrive in Litang at 12:00 noon to have a meal and rest. In the afternoon, go to Shangri-La Town along the G227 Liya Highway. The road condition of the Liya Highway is better than that of the G318, but the altitude before the descent of Haizi Mountain is relatively high, with an average of more than 4,000 meters. The road is good, the 230 kilometers actually ran for almost 4 hours, which was about half an hour less than Gaode expected. On this section of the road, there are fewer cars than the G318, and the average speed can run above 60. A car in good condition is like driving a highway. The scenery along the way has changed a lot. Alpine meadows, green forests, strange rock wastelands, etc., are played randomly and cannot be seen. Driving on this road is a kind of enjoyment. The car is galloping on the road, and the center line of the road is like a thin and long tail thrown towards the sky. At this moment, it seems that only oneself is left in the whole world, and the mind seems to be emptied, and the relaxation and comfort at this time cannot be expressed in words. The only regret is that I didn't take a lot of photos by driving myself.

Parking at the Tuershan Observation Deck is 5 yuan/time, and going to the toilet is 2 yuan/time, which seems a bit tricky.

I don’t know if it’s because I’m tired from driving or because I’ve got a high-speed reaction. When I’m still 20 kilometers away from Shangri-La, I obviously feel a bit of a headache. The fellow pig teammates also said they had a headache. In fact, at this time, the car had left the high-altitude area and was traveling through the canyon below the mountain. When we arrived at the hotel, arrangements for ibuprofen, glucose, etc., could not be sloppy in the plateau area.

Yak beef hot pot for dinner, as well as yogurt and butter tea. After having enough tea and food, go back to the hotel and have a look at the husky raised by the little fat brother. This stuff can eat everything, even a citrus is not enough, and a bit sour plum is not let go, the bite is crunchy, and the mouth is watering. According to the owner of the hotel, its life experience is relatively poor, and it was brought back from an animal shelter.

The sound insulation effect of this hotel is very poor, the voices outside the room are noisy, and the people in the next room don't care about the partition wall and they call one after another. Fortunately, everyone in the plateau is fairly well-behaved, quiet down after 10 o'clock, and go to bed early. I don't know when the headache disappeared, and I had a good sleep on the plateau at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters.

Day6, Shangri-La Town>Daocheng Yading Scenic Area>Shangri-La Town, stay in Daocheng Plateau Reflection Theme Hotel

In order to travel on a staggered peak, I got up at 5:40 in the morning. It's exactly 7 o'clock after breakfast. The entrance of the hotel was full of cars. Our car was parked inside and we couldn't get out. The hotel owner, Brother Fatty, was coordinating to move the car. After 10 minutes, we drove out to Daocheng Yading.

The hotel is only a 10-minute drive from the entrance of the scenic spot. First, go to the underground parking lot at the entrance of the scenic spot and park your car (private cars are not allowed in the Yading scenic spot, and parking is charged on time), and then go to buy tickets. It takes about 50 minutes to take the scenic bus from the entrance of the scenic spot to the scenic spot. After getting off the bus, you can walk to the Pearl Sea on the plank road on the right, that is, the short line. Go straight for 400 meters to the ticket office and boarding point of the battery car in the scenic spot. From here, take the car to Luorong Cattle Farm (you can also walk along the plank road if you are physically fit), and then walk to the milk sea and five-color sea. This is a long line. You can also ride horses in the first half of the hike to Milk Sea and Five Color Sea, but you can’t go on the last steep road, you have to climb it yourself.

Luorong Cattle Farm is backed by Yang Maiyong, and a crystal-clear stream flows quietly on the pasture. The plump aquatic plants feed the horses and cows on the cattle farm. Walking along the boardwalk to Yang Maiyong in the clouds, like a shy girl along the way, she shyly hid behind the clouds and refused to show her face. Until it is close to the sea of ​​milk and the sea of ​​five colors, from the side, it seems that part of the clouds and mists have dispersed, and the main peak of Yang Maiyong is looming in the haze.

The road from the end of the caravan to the milk sea and the five-color sea is more difficult, and it is full of steep slopes. In addition to high-altitude hiking, take three steps for a short break, and five steps for a big break. Along the way, countless people took oxygen. The pig teammate just finished walking the wooden plank road of the Luorong cattle farm and couldn't keep up with our footsteps. Worried that he would be dragging his feet, I carried my backpack on my back. All the way forward with heavy burdens, but the distance between him and us is getting farther and farther. At the intersection of the milk sea and the five-color sea, I headed alone to the highest-altitude five-color sea, and they took a flat road to the milk sea and waited for me to meet. When climbing the Desperate Slope, I met a 78-year-old old man who was in good health and spirit. (Tips: If you want to go to the five-color sea, go up the desperate slope on the right, and then go down the plank road to the milk sea on the left. It will be relatively easy to walk this way)

The five-color sea and the milk sea each have their own characteristics. The five-color sea seen from the plank road is dark green, like a piece of translucent emerald inlaid in the mountains. But when I went down to the lake, the water turned gray and white, blending in with the surrounding scenery.

On the plank road of the five-color sea, you can overlook the whole picture of the milk sea. From a distance, the lake-blue milk sea is like a sapphire left in the world, shining on the barren plateau; when you walk to the lake and take a closer look, the center of the milk sea is still lake blue, and it gradually turns into a blue lake around it. Turned milky white, the surface of the lake shone with a charming light.

Going down is much easier than going up. When we returned to the Luorong Cattle Farm, Yang Maiyong poked his head out of the clouds and mist, allowing us to witness her true face. Without the backdrop of the blue sky and white clouds, although Yang Maiyong is a bit inferior, what he saw with his own eyes was quite shocking. It's a pity that the weather is not good, and the three sacred mountains are like clouds and fog, like a dragon that sees its head but doesn't see its end. If the eyes are thousands of miles away, it should be so beautiful that people can't move.

There is no meal in the Yading Scenic Area. After climbing up and down for several hours, I am tired and hungry. It seems that my feet are a little floating, and it may be reversed. When you come to Aden, "the eyes are in heaven, but the body is in hell" is definitely not groundless.

Day 7, Shangri-La Town > Xindu Bridge, Su Xindu Bridge Kangding Muya Backpacker Inn

Started the return trip today. I was exhausted from the long line yesterday, and it was raining when I got back to the hotel. I was planning to go for a short-term walk this morning, but I really don't have the energy, and the weather is not so good, so I'll save it for next time. Aden in autumn is the most beautiful. In the autumn of the coming year, I will meet Xiannairi again.

Today is also a rush day. I originally planned to stay in Litang for one night to take a look at Baita Park and Maoya Grassland. Considering that the schedule behind was a bit tight, I checked out the hotel and went straight to Xindu Bridge. When approaching Haizi Mountain, the navigator started acting like a demon again. Keep reminding the traffic control in front to make a U-turn and detour. I almost turned off the road to Aden Airport. The pig teammate was wise this time. He said that he would go straight ahead and go to the control area. Even if he waited for a few hours, it would be better than walking more than 500 kilometers for 10 hours. I've seen some cars start to turn around. I continued to drive forward a little apprehensively, and after a while, a group of military vehicles drove towards me. Could it be that the traffic control is to give way to Brother Bing? After driving a little further, the navigation returned to normal, and there was no traffic control.

Arrived in Litang at noon. The blue sky unique to the plateau is more pure under the embellishment of white clouds. The mighty Dongcheng Gate straddles National Highway 318. The gold inscription "Litang, the world's highest city" on the gate tells the world that this is the county with the highest altitude in the world. The place where the Sixth Living Buddha Cangyang Gyatso was reincarnated is also the hometown of Ding Zhen, an Internet celebrity Kham man.

Leaving Dongchengmen, go all the way along National Highway 318 to today's destination. They are all the roads they walked when they came here, the same scenery, and different moods. There is no hustle and bustle in the afternoon in Nimagong, and there are no strangers to take photos with the landscape stones.

This time I walked through the tunnel on Gaoersi Mountain, and I was a little dizzy when I went up the mountain. I still have lingering fears when I think of the thrills of the old road. The little white female driver who has never had driving experience on mountain roads for more than a year has passed the test of the Sichuan-Tibet line.

Xinduqiao is about 3,500 meters above sea level, with mountains, water, trees, grass, and Tibetan dwellings, and the scenery is picturesque. We arrived at dusk, when the sun set, the surrounding mountains seemed to be covered with a golden veil, and the gray-blue sky spread out in gradient colors from far to near. I have never seen a sky with such advanced colors. This is a place where novices in photography can produce blockbuster films, and the photographer's paradise is not for nothing.

In the evening, eat yak meat hot pot in the restaurant downstairs of the hotel. The waiters in the store are two Tibetan girls who are sophomores working in summer vacation. One of them asked us to comment on the butter tea she made. We did not drink authentic butter tea, we ate it once in Shangri-La Town, this is the second time. Obviously, the taste of Shangri-La is more in line with our taste. The milk taste is relatively strong, without such a heavy ghee taste. The little sister said that this is what they drink every day, maybe this is more authentic. I chatted with us about her study situation, and I was a little surprised that they didn't need to make up lessons in the second year of high school. I don't know how those parents and students who are infinitely anxious and introverted will feel when they hear this news?

Day 8, Xinduqiao>Chengdu, Chengdu Jiahao Forstar Hotel (Chengdu Wuhouci Jinli Branch)

In the morning, I planned to stroll around Xinduqiao, but it started to rain early in the morning. After breakfast, head back on your way. With the obsession with 318, I must run the section before the expressway. The rain stopped when we set off, and we drove all the way to appreciate the gallery scenery along the Xindu Bridge, and arrived at Zheduo Mountain not long after. Although there are not many mountains in the forward direction, it is also a good experience to go backwards. Helplessly, the weather is not beautiful, and there is a thick fog on Zheduo Mountain. There is a traffic jam in the direction of going up the mountain into Tibet. If you want to go to the viewing platform, it is full of people and cars, and you can't seem to see anything. Simply go down the mountain to avoid further congestion. There is a lot of traffic into Tibet, long-distance traffic jams, old drivers who occupy the road to overtake and jump in line are everywhere, and it is difficult to force them back even if the horn is broken. Whose is the comparison? If you are bold, let's see who is more shameless.

After Kangding, all the way to Chengdu at high speed.

Day 9, Chengdu (Tianfu Square > Kuanzhai Alley > Chunxi Road > Shuangliu Airport), stay at Gangwan Apartment (Chengdu Shuangliu Airport Branch)

Back in Chengdu, it was as if someone pulled me back from a dream to reality. The hustle and bustle of the city will be the main theme of life. Traffic flow, people herd, food, tasteless. Stroll around Kuanzhai Alley, Tianfu Square, Chunxi Road like a horse and watch flowers, and check in IFS's panda climbing wall. Try ice powder sorbet and eat spicy hot pot. After eating Sichuan cuisine for so many days, I am already immune to Sichuan cuisine.

Day10, Chengdu>Zhuhai

The flight at 6:25 arrived at Zhuhai Jinwan Airport at 9:00. Since then, I have continued my daily life of moving bricks.

postscript

This trip is the first time to rent a car and drive by yourself, and it is also a warm-up tour for the dream-chasing trip. Traveling to Tibet by car is generally the dream of men, and I am afraid that there are not many white female drivers who are obsessed with it like me. Life is short, people always have a little dream, women are the same, isn't it? If you can't read thousands of books, you must travel thousands of miles, and one of your body and your soul is always on the road. At the beginning, the pig teammate avoided the desolate plateau, and he had to follow my westbound pace under my soft-hearted and coercive attack. Although I arranged almost everything during the journey, he was like a pinnacle of Dinghai.

The travel time this time is not short, but many places along the way are still visited like a horse on a horse. The significance of traveling on the western Sichuan and Sichuan-Tibet lines lies in being on the road, not caring where the end point is. It is a very unwise decision to give up staying in Litang. The weather was very good that day, so I should go to Sister Lake for a while according to my original plan, and then go back to Litang for a stroll, engraving the beautiful scenery of this area in my memory. Another place that should not be missed is Kangding. Although Xinduqiao stayed for one night, it didn't actually get the essence. But compared to Litang, Kangding is not so regretful. Although the impression of downtown Chengdu is not as good as imagined, it should not be missed when passing by. But leaving Litang and going to Chengdu is more or less worth the loss. The obsession with Litang is mostly due to the worship of Tsangyang Gyatso, but Litang is not actually his hometown, but the place where he was reincarnated, that is, the place where the seventh Dalai Lama Kelsang Gyatso was born.

Attached is the poem by Tsangyang Gyatso:

O white crane,

lend me a pair of wings,

Don't go to that far away place,

Go to Litang and go back.

And the scenery of Kazila Mountain also makes me never forget. If you pass by there next time, you must find a place on the hillside and be in a daze quietly; or just lie down on the spot, bathed in the sunshine of the plateau, temporarily forget the past, and now only have poetry and the distance.

I am very grateful for every strange encounter during this trip, even if there is only a few words of greeting, or just a simple nod. May kindness and sincerity accompany every journey!

Small Tips for self-driving tour in western Sichuan

Finally, I would like to summarize the tips for this self-driving journey.

About the car:

1. Car condition: The first time I rented a car, the Chevrolet Malibu I rented was not in good condition, with a mileage of nearly 130,000 kilometers, and the body was full of scratches. The power of the 1.5T car is acceptable, but the accelerator and brake of this car are relatively hard, and it is very difficult to step on it. The most frightening thing is that the speed is slow, and it is very difficult to overtake on the plateau. Fortunately, after many days of running-in with it, I have figured out its temper. When driving on mountain roads, it can be integrated with its car. No matter how bad it is, it brought us back safely. 90% of self-driving cars on the plateau are large-displacement SUVs, and cars are all overtaken. It is more reliable for self-driving friends to drive an SUV on the Sichuan-Tibet line.

2. Insurance: I bought the premium insurance and the million-dollar insurance for peace of mind. It really saves my heart. The side of the tire was cut and could not be repaired. The cost of replacing the new tire is fully reimbursed by insurance, and the procedures are not cumbersome. Call the customer service as soon as possible to negotiate. After changing the tire, bring back the broken tire and the invoice and hand it over to the car rental store. I didn't ask for compensation when I got to the hub. There is no need to repeatedly take pictures to check the car when picking up and returning the car.

3. Road conditions: The road conditions of G350, G318 and G227 are all good, and cars can run casually. The section of G248 along the river before turning from Danba via Xibei Road to G350 Panda Avenue is seriously damaged by water, there are many unilateral passages and few cars, please slow down. Cars can pass on sunny days, but you must go carefully in rainy days. The road condition from S211 to Danba is acceptable, the concrete road is a bit potholed, and there are many tunnels. After entering Danba County, there is an asphalt road. There are many falling rocks on the mountain road, especially when driving in the morning, you must pay special attention to prevent the falling rocks from hitting the tires at all times.

4. Driving: The mountain road has many curves and steep slopes. When cornering, especially turning around, the speed of the vehicle must be well controlled. It is strongly recommended not to overtake on curves! Do not overtake on curves! Do not overtake on curves! Say important things three times (mark the key points, take the test). Overtaking is extremely dangerous, especially when the line of sight is blocked. Don't affect the normal driving of the opposite vehicle by overtaking. Please be patient in queuing on one-way congested roads. Don’t try to rush to the front and jump in the queue. Don't speed. Nine out of ten accidents are fast, and one time is extremely fast. This is not a joke, but a bloody lesson. Cherish yourself and life while traveling. There are a lot of speed tests on the western Sichuan and Sichuan-Tibet lines, and the navigation will prompt.

5. Parking: The scenery on the western Sichuan and Sichuan-Tibet lines are all on the road. Do not occupy the road when temporarily parking on the side of the road for fun and taking pictures. It is dangerous and immoral.

6. Itinerary: Don’t arrange the daily itinerary too full, drive on the plateau according to your ability. You can start early every day to avoid traffic jams.

7. Refueling: There are PetroChina gas stations in every county along the way, but Sinopec doesn't seem to see them. If you rent a car, you can pay the full amount. When returning the car, the fuel level is less than that when picking up the car, not only the fuel fee, but also a refueling service fee of 100 yuan. Any extra fuel than when picking up the car will be refunded at the market price. Before renting a car, check the relevant regulations of each car rental company.

About accommodation

1. Reservation: Summer vacation is the peak season for tourism in western Sichuan and the Sichuan-Tibet line. It is best to book hotels in advance. When booking, it is best to choose the one that can be canceled for free on the day of check-in, so as to avoid losses caused by sudden cancellation of the itinerary.

2. Price: The hotels we booked are basically standard rooms or parent-child rooms around 200 yuan. The ratings on Ctrip are all about 4.5 points, and the price/performance ratio is not bad. Sanitation and facilities are not bad, are free parking. It is best to choose a parent-child room when traveling with children. The standard room depends on the size of the bed, and choose a 1.5-meter bed. It is still not comfortable for a family of three with two 1.2-meter beds. In the past two years, the epidemic has had a greater impact on the tourism and hotel industry, and hotel prices are cheaper than in previous years. There are also luxurious viewing rooms with a price of hundreds of thousands or even higher, which can be chosen by local tyrants who are not short of money. Even poor travelers can find affordable accommodation.

about eating

1. Taste: Western Sichuan and Sichuan-Tibet lines are basically Sichuan cuisine restaurants, not spicy but very numb. The dishes are greasy. If you usually eat a light diet for many days, it will be a bit uncomfortable. You can also choose hot pot, there are clear soup and red soup (spicy), you can also choose mandarin duck pot. Yak meat hot pot is worth tasting. Yajiang is the hometown of matsutake. When the matsutake is on the market, you can try matsutake stewed chicken. It tastes very delicious.

2. Price: Breakfast is about 15 yuan per person, home-cooked dishes for lunch and dinner are 30-50 yuan per person, and hot pot is 50-100 yuan per person. Just taking the counties and towns we have traveled as a reference, the prices are similar.

About tickets

Xinduqiao Lavender Farm 30 yuan/person (did not go)

Tickets can be purchased on Ctrip or other platforms (a few dollars cheaper), can also be purchased through the WeChat applet, or can be purchased at the entrance of the scenic spot by scanning the code. Discount tickets for some scenic spots (students/elderly, etc.) can only be purchased at the window of the scenic spot. Children under 1.2 meters are basically free of tickets. Tickets are generally purchased at scenic spots. Some can also buy package tickets online together with tickets.

About high anti

1. When you first arrive at the plateau, you should slow down your movements. Even if you don't feel any discomfort, don't jump up and down excitedly. At Rabbit Mountain, I ran up the stairs for a few steps, and when I came down, I felt a little floating under my feet. I quickly drank some American ginseng tea and calmed down my breathing.

2. When planning a self-driving itinerary, try to find accommodation at a place with a low altitude. There is an advantage of self-driving from a place with a low altitude to a place with a high altitude. It can slowly adapt to changes in altitude, and will not cause serious high-altitude reactions due to sudden changes in altitude.

3. Do not stay for a long time if you feel uncomfortable at the high altitude pass. You can take glucose oral liquid to relieve it, or eat some foods high in sugar. If you have a severe headache, you can take ibuprofen or headache powder (Tiresan).

4. In plateau areas, you can drink a pack of glucose powder with warm water every morning. Remember to bring a thermos cup and a teacup with a lid. Make a cup of American ginseng tea every day before leaving the hotel and drink it on the road. The plateau climate is dry, drinking more warm water can also prevent high fever.

5. Eat well and wear warm clothes, ensure adequate rest and sleep, and prevent colds and illnesses. When tired and hungry, people's resistance will drop, and they are especially prone to high reactions. On the way down the long line in Aden, I didn't have lunch and I went on a high-intensity hike. I was tired and hungry, my feet started to float again, and I still had a headache and nausea.

something else

1. Sunscreen: Needless to say, sunscreen clothing, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, lipstick, etc. should not only be brought but also used.

2. Clothes: If you go to western Sichuan in summer, you don’t need to bring overly thick clothes. You can just bring a light down jacket or a jacket to wear in the morning and evening. You need to bring long pants and a T-shirt. You don’t need to change the trousers every day, and the T-shirt doesn’t take up space. When it’s cold, put on sun protection clothes or down jackets. Try not to wear short sleeves alone when the temperature is high during the day, as the ultraviolet rays are very strong. Girls can bring a few beautiful long skirts, which are very eye-catching when taking pictures. Underpants, towels, and socks can all be bought disposable, so you don’t need to wash them. If you think the hotel is not hygienic enough, you can also bring your own dirty bedding.

3. Drugs: cold medicine, anti-inflammatory drugs, painkillers, glucose, throat lozenges, American ginseng tablets, Band-Aids, etc. (see the article list for details).

4. Weather: The weather on the plateau is changeable, and there are many geological disasters during the rainy season (usually June-August), so pay more attention to weather changes before going out. The rain on the plateau comes as soon as it is said, and stops as soon as it is said to stop. Sometimes the morning is gloomy, and the sky will be clear after a while. Traveling in the rainy season mostly depends on luck. Those who do not bring children can stagger the rainy season, especially during the summer vacation, the probability of good weather is high.

5. Network: China Unicom card has no signal in many places in western Sichuan. For example, there is basically no signal on the road from Danba to Bamei, and there is no signal in the area from Xinduqiao to Gaoersi Mountain. I can't remember where there is no signal. Generally, there will be signals in densely populated places such as towns and counties. As for the signal of mobile and telecommunications, it is not known. I heard that the signal of China Telecom is the best in Tibet.

At the end of the article, a list of expenses and a list of items are attached.