The route from Sichuan Province to Lhasa in Tibet, renown as the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, travels down two different routes. The north line is 2293 kilometers long and the south line is only 2149 kilometers long. These two routes are directly from Chengdu, Sichuan Province, to Lhasa. It’s not just the distance that shares the difference. In many aspects, they are different.
The original road was named Chuanzang Road, which was established from April 1950 to December 1954. At the Xinduqiao, 703 kilometers away from Chengdu, the highway is divided into two routes, north and south. From there on, the road goes two different lines. Although they both finish in the same place in Lhasa, the view is quite different.
The land travel is a bit risky. It’s not easy. Driving along mountain roads from Chengdu to Lhasa is dangerous. Because landslides and torrents may occur. Sometimes the road zigzags through broad plains and mountainsides, through picturesque valleys and sparkling lakes. Although the journey from Chengdu to Lhasa is not very close, many people still like this route because it offers stunning scenery, including Xinduqiao, one of the best attractions for Chinese photography. Starting from Xindu, tourists can choose any route with different scenery. It depends on your choice of either way to appreciate different landscape along each.
Both lines start in Chengdu at an altitude of 500 meters. This route passes through Kangding, 2560 meters above sea level, to Xinduqiao, 3460 meters above sea level. From there on, the roads take different routes and the elevation changes along the way are also different.
The length of the northern and southern lines of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is about 150 kilometers apart. The two routes are quite different. Most of the roads are in general condition, but some sections with dirt roads and those that need to cross mountains are relatively dangerous. We need to be more careful there.
After leaving Xinduqiao, the road turns north to Bamei Town, 3453 meters above sea level. This road passes through the edge of Litang Grassland beside Yala Jokul Scenic Area. Along the northeastern edge of the grassland, a slight westward route will lead to the Garze Monastery (3375 meters). The route from Garzie Temple to the West will not bump during most of the journey. You can take this opportunity to have a good rest. Then, through Dege (3290 meters) and Chamdo (3238 meters), until it begin to rise again to the Naqu, 4508 meters above sea level. From there it slowly descends to Lhasa. After crossing Damxung (4200 meters), the road circles. Then it passes through Namco Lake and goes East into Lhasa at 3656 meters.
Compared with the northern line, the southern line is slightly higher after leaving Xinduqiao. The highway through Litang grassland rises slightly to Litang, 3956 meters long. Then it will drop slightly and pass Markam (3871m) and Zogang (3816m). We continue to drive at a fairly high altitude and then rise to Ranwu, 3900 meters long. We'll start from Lake Ranwu and go down the highway around the mountain to the north of the Dibang Wildlife Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. Then when we arrive at Nyingchi, it drops about 1000 meters, 2992 meters above sea level. Starting from Nyingchi, we pass through the south of the mountain to Lhasa, rise again, and reach Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, along the Lhasa Valley.
Although there is little change in elevation, the topography of the two routes varies greatly. There is a smoother road on the northern line. From Xinduqiao to Chamdo, it passes through high-altitude plains and grasslands, and bypasses mountains to Chamdo. From there, the terrain winds up and down the mountain along the highway, and changes along the valley to the Naqu grassland. Then it becomes flatter. At this time, it crosses the vast grassland and heads for Naqu Town. The flat road stretches from that curve to Namco Lake, along the bottom of the valley to Lhasa, until it enters a more mountainous landscape again.
However, this is not the case with the southern route. Most of the routes pass through the mountains, and the highways snake between them. Crossing the mountain pass, the road needs to travel westward in a serpentine way. As there are many bends, it is difficult to see how the northern route is going. So this is often considered a more dangerous route. On the other side, the southern line runs from Xinduqiao to Maizhokunggar through more mountains. There, it becomes the Lhasa Valley, along the bottom of the valley until it reaches Lhasa.
Each route has its own special landscape, along which there are many scenic spots and historic sites
Northern Route
After leaving Chengdu, you will first see one of the most unique water conservancy projects in the world, Dujiang Dam, which was built in the Qin Dynasty and is still in good operation. Near Dujiang Dam is Qingcheng Mountain, with Taoist monasteries at its top. Since 2000, both sites have been World Heritage Sites.
Go further and you'll see one of the most famous scenic spots on this route, the Siguniang Mountain near Xiaojin. The four mountains are all over 5000 meters above sea level. There are various plants in the alpine climate. From Garze to Dege, there is a beautiful Yulong La-tso. It's an amazing mountain lake, backed by huge glaciers, and you can get closer to see it better. Although it may take several hours to walk, it's worth stopping to see the huge, high-altitude glaciers that are over 6,000 meters above sea level.
On the last section of the road to Lhasa, there are two of Tibet's most spectacular attractions. Lake Namtso is one of the most famous scenic spots in Tibet. It is the largest salt lake in the region and is one of the most beautiful places in the region. There are a series of caves nearby, where pilgrims have been there for centuries, and where they have lived in seclusion.
Next is the last stop before going to Lhasa - Yangpachen. It is well-known for its natural hot springs. It is the highest hot spring field in the world. It uses Yangbajing power station to supply Lhasa with geothermal energy.
There are few inhabitants round the place, and there are not many people and villages expected along the way. Nevertheless, attention should be paid to the nomads on the high grasslands and their herds, especially those around Lake Namtso, because their lifestyles are the same as those of centuries ago.
Southern Route
Along the southern line of Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the first place to draw attention is Mugecuo Lake. This is the first and most unique stop on the South Line. It consists of several lakes, forests, hot springs, snow peaks and strange, upright stones. This high-altitude lake is known locally as the "savage sea". There is no doubt that this is one of the most beautiful places on this route in China.
Before you leave Kangding, there is Hailuogou nearby. There are high-altitude glaciers, ice waterfalls and unaffected virgin forests. To the west of Litang Town is Maoya Grassland. The vast grasslands are surrounded by mountains. These rolling hills and grasslands will amaze you with their vastness and fill you with wonders on your way to the next amazing place.
From here on, the road condition is not very ideal. You'll find you're walking up a hill along a sandy or dirt road, when you're heading for the Alpine Forest Hills of Chamdo County. The area has been a major transportation hub since ancient times. Compared with most routes, the population density here is higher. However, when you cross Chamdo, you cross another vast grassland, the Bangda Prairie. Here you can see a picture of many nomads grazing on the open plains with their cattle.
Ranwu Lake is an unforgettable beautiful place. It combines alpine, snow mountain, crystal clear blue lake and green grassland around it. Don't stop and go on! You will soon encounter the Midi Glacier, the most famous glacier in southeastern Tibet. The main peaks of these glaciers are 6,800 meters above sea level and are supposed to be the most beautiful glaciers in China.
Lulang Forest, a famous scenic spot from Tongmai, is famous for its various rare plants and trees. Covered with trees in the forest, the low mountain was in a wild profusion of vegetation, wearing a greener out clothing instead of a white one.
The last major attractions before arriving in Lhasa are the Nyang River and Lake Basum. On the one hand, as the longest tributary of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, it is a major river in southwestern Tibet. It is also the longest river in Tibet. On the other hand, as an international forest, Lake Basumu is a sacred lake for the local people, where black-headed seagulls and black-necked cranes are well-known and loved by people in Tibet.
Passing through the rugged and steep highway of Mt. Mila Pass at an altitude of 5000 meters, and after a good observation of the whole area, entering Lhasa is only a short and smooth journey, ending a long and dangerous journey.
On both routes, you can see abundant culture and scenery of Tibetan. Every trip brings you a new and special experience. Don't you think it's exciting?
Northern Route
There are many temples and monasteries on the northern line, though the population is small and the people are deserted. Want to know about Tibetan Buddhist culture? Visit the temple and see with your own eye how people believe in this unique religion. There is no better way. As an important part of Tibetan culture, the status of Buddhism is self-evident. Since Buddhism and Buddhism in people's daily life are intertwined in Tibet, it is difficult to distinguish which is the end of culture and which is the starting point of religion.
If you want to accomplish the task of exploring Tibetan culture, you must travel to Jiaju Village in Danba County. The Tibetan people live in these traditional Tibetan villages. They have an old and traditional way of life. This place seems to exist in Tibetan mythology. It seems impossible, but their ancient Tibetan traditions and cultures continue in these villages.
Want to know more about Tibetan Buddhism? Then go on and sit in some temples along the way. First is the Bamei Huiyuan Monastery, located 8 kilometers north of the town. This is a temple built by the seventh Dalai Lama. Unlike most monasteries in Tibet, Huiyuan is a small, low-level monastery with a simple two-storey building. Then there is Bamei. Bamei is the birthplace of the famous 11th Dalai Lama. Although it's simpler here, I strongly recommend you to take a look at it.
Nyitso Monastery has a history of 450 years. As one of the largest monasteries in Ganzi, it is a Garze monastery. In addition, the Garze Monastery built by the Kuso Mongols in 1642 and the Dengshi Monastery, another small and simple monastery, are both Garze monasteries.
We are arriving at Larung Gar Buddhist Academy soon. Located in Larung Valley, Larung Gar Buddhist Academy is the main center of Tibetan Buddhism. To a large extent, the College is responsible for meeting the needs of practicing in Tibet as a whole and in areas where Tibetan Buddhism is strong. It was founded in 1980 by Khenpo Juigme Phuntsok on the site of his home. Since the first group of disciples gathered together, the academy has grown in size and now has more than 40,000 inhabitants.
If you are very interested in Tibetan Buddhism, Dege is an important place to help you understand. The center of Dege is Bakong Scripture Printing Press Monastery. There are over 217,000 sculpture blocks for printing Tibetan Buddhist scriptures. The order comes from various churches including Bon. This single collection accounts for more than 70% of the region's literary heritage, including literature on music, medicine, geography and astronomy. The monastery is still in operation, where monks produce more than 2,500 scripts a day.
Jampaling Monastery in Chamdo County is also a popular place for tourists on the northern route. At its height, the temple accommodates more than 2500 monks. The average temperature in the area is only 7.6 degrees Celsius and there are about 800 monks living there. Because of the low temperature, it is necessary to wear a warm jacket when you visit.
As the most sacred city in Tibet, Lhasa is also the two most famous Buddhist holy places in Tibet. Moreover, Jokhang Temple is considered to be the most respected temple in Tibetan Buddhism. It situated in the center of the city. Thousands of Buddhist pilgrims come here every day to pray. At the same time, the world-famous Potala Palace, once the seat of Tibet's regime, is situated on the top of the Moburi Mountains, overlooking the city as if it were a blessing to the people.
Southern Route
The southern route is more densely populated, in sharp contrast to the northern route, which is sparsely populated. There are many villages and towns along the line. The southern route is a more dangerous and arduous road than the northern one. It's a road through centuries in densely populated areas. However, the southern route has the most charming natural scenery of the two routes, and is also favored by photographers. Such a better road is easier to travel and less dangerous. It gives you a chance to stop and enjoy it. Almost anywhere you can enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery. So make full use of your camera.
This route not only passes through many lakes and mountains, but also has amazing landscapes such as Hailuogou Glaciers and Mugecuo Lake, which blend many other wonderful landscapes. On the Xinduqiao, the road from Chengdu is divided into two different routes. The scenery of Xinduqiao is one of the most beautiful in the world. Xinduqiao is known as the best place for landscape photography and is the pleasure of catchers.
Nearby, you can see the low-lying plains of Litang. From August 1 to 7, there is an annual horse racing festival. The town is situated in a long and wide valley, where tens of thousands of tourists come to watch the game. The local Khampas people, once inhabitants of the ancient Khampas area, filled the valley with their colored tents during the festival, forming a beautiful and colorful picture. It also makes it an absolutely worthwhile place to stay.
Then we set about to Batang. On the way, you can see the largest natural hot spring area in Sichuan. There are many natural hot springs in Pucuogou Natural Ecological Reserve, which is called Chaluo Geothermal Area. If you feel pain after driving or cycling, this is the best place to park.
If you do arrive in Tibet, you will pass through Zogang County. This is the ancient transportation hub of the area. The natural scenery of the valley is amazing. This is a very unique landscape for the region. Both Licang River and Nujiang River cross the region. Zogang's valley was carved out of glaciers that disappeared millions of years ago. Both sides of the cliff and the valley on the hillside can be used as evidence.
In short, the scenery along the South Line is one of the most magnificent sceneries in Asia. It's no waste of your time driving around. The long and beautiful Lhasa Valley is the end of this place. It's full of wetlands, small lakes filled with wild birds and cranes. And here, your trip comes to an end. This is your destination, the capital of Tibet.
Northern Route
Passing through the wild, mountainous and remote Tibetan areas of Western Sichuan along the northern route, you will be surprised to find that Tibetan culture here is better preserved in many ways than other areas of Ham. This route gives us an insight into the rich culture, clothing and traditions of the Khampa people and their way of life. Monasteries are an inevitable part of their daily lives, from which you can feel their faith in religion. From Kangding to Dege, the population of this area is ancient Khampa people, whose history is more like soldiers than the people of Tibet Autonomous Region. Houses here are built of wood or stone, not traditional concrete and mud brick houses on the plateau. The influence of the Han nationality is rare in the northern part of Ham, where there are very few Han people, and it has long been known for its uninhibited and independent nature.
In addition, the high-altitude grasslands in the northern region are home to thousands of Tibetan herdsmen and their animals. They graze yaks, goats and sheep on lush grasslands. It is clear for you to see Yak fur tents handmade by nomadic people from many places along the highway. Because of its remote location, poor infrastructure and facilities, the journey along the northern route is full of challenges.
Southern Route
The northern Tibetan culture is closer to the primitive Tibetan culture in the reign of the King of Tibet and the Living Buddha. Under the influence of the Han people, the Southern Line has a stronger flavor. Along the ancient road of the ancient Tea and Horse Caravan Road, there are more people along it. On the road from Chengdu to Batang, there are more modern facilities with distinct Chinese characteristics. Once you pass Batang Township, you enter the Tibet Autonomous Region. Along the highway, culture has also changed. As you move further towards the West, China's influence seems to be weakening, and traditional Tibetan culture occupies a larger position. It can be seen from the changes of Nyingchi houses everywhere, the varieties of mud bricks, the traditional farming and grazing methods.
Across western Sichuan, along the ancient Tea-Horse Highway, we are on the G318 to Lhasa. This route seems to have been an avenue for tea-horse trade as early as the Tang and Song Dynasties, and was formed before the influx of Han people into the region. This route is an important link among Tibet, Yunnan, Sichuan and other ancient cultures. The discovered archaeological sites date back to about 1600 BCE, among which the pool tombs predate the Shang Dynasty. These tombs are mainly distributed in Sichuan and Yunnan, very close to the ancient tea-horse road. This means that the route has become an important part of the region's 4000-5000-year history.
The other conditions of the two routes from Chengdu to Lhasa are just like always, even the road conditions are very different. Although the Northern Highway is almost completely covered with tar, the Southern Highway extends only to sand or soil. Usually we encounter with these when we are climbing mountains and crossing high mountain passes. Several sections of the road from Markam to Nyingchi have not been paved. The scary thing is that once it gets a little wet, it gets stuck in the mud. Causing serious traffic problems, it could go back several miles.
As heavy trucks continue to travel, the road conditions along the more used southern route are getting worse and worse. Heavy truck routes from Sichuan to Lhasa and to Shigates. Once the railway is built, the goods to be transported will eventually be transported by train. At present, however, trucks do not stop driving. It is not easy for maintenance personnel to keep up with the losses caused.
Landslide tendencies are another danger affecting the condition of southern roads. An avalanche of mud and stone could fly down the mountain at any moment. They usually cover part of the road, leaving only one or half lanes for traffic. That would be difficult to settle.
Northern Route
For tourists from Sichuan to Tibet, the northern route is more suitable for inexperienced and adventurous drivers. The roads here are considered more dangerous because there are many sharp bends and twists around the mountains, and the roads are winding and complicated. But a technically stable, often passing driver will have no problem crossing the Asphalt-Covered road, even if the road is covered by a small amount of sand and gravel.
Southern Route
On the southern route, however, the situation is different. Although it has as many turns and bends as the northern route, it is more dangerous because of the poor conditions along the main part of the route. If you really want to cross the southern route, you are recommended to find a technically stable, often passing driver. And pay attention to the road conditions and weather in advance, so that your journey is not more difficult.
There may be some fairly good roads along the southern route, but it's probably dangerous to drive along these two routes by yourself. Since rainfall in southeastern Tibet is more often than that in other parts of the plateau, both routes may suffer from flash floods and debris flows during the summer rainy season.
What’s more, both routes are long. From the beginning to the end, there are more than 2,000 kilometers in each route. Driving such a long distance can be exhausting. And driving at higher altitudes only aggravates fatigue. Therefore, regular rest on the way and parking at night are very important for safe driving. It's also a good idea to leave enough extra time for this road trip, because it's better to climb slowly to a higher altitude. After climbing to a height you haven't experienced before, you may have to stop for a day to rest.
For the northern route, it's better to have some experience driving on rugged and dangerous terrain. This requires special attention. The route includes some roads with only sand or clay on the surface, and it is usually best to use 4x4 vehicles. If your driver is inexperienced, it is advisable to choose an easier southern route.
Last but not least, check your car before driving. Take some basic spare parts with you. Pay attention to the road signs and warning signs along the way.
Be careful when driving along the highway. Remember to always be on the right side of the road and be as close as possible to the asphalt edge to ensure safety. In bad weather, stop and wait. It is also suitable for riding in heavy rain or snow. Keep warm. Wear a hat to prevent heatstroke. Check your bicycle at each stop and make sure you are ready for the next day's ride in advance. Keep in mind the principles of safe riding. So don't take pictures while riding. Avoid and ignore wild dogs on the road. They will soon quiet down when you pass by. If you are panic, it will only make them more aggressive. Pay attention to the environmental protection and don't litter on the roadside.
Whether you drive or ride, the best times to travel along the highway are spring and autumn. First, Summer is a rainy season, heavy raining can easily clean you out of the road. Besides, at this time of year, landslides are more likely to occur along this route. Moreover, the weather in spring and autumn is milder and the sky is clearer. It's not too hot for cyclists to enjoy the local scenery better.
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