The best route and guide for self-driving from Qingdao to Lhasa

The road trip from Qingdao to Lhasa will have many towns along the way, and the natural beauty along the way is also extremely rich. You can play and walk at the same time. The route is actually very simple. Just be prepared in advance, and the most important thing to pay attention to is safety. Let’s introduce it in detail below.

1. Overview of the itinerary

Qingdao self-driving Tibet specific itinerary. First, let’s take a look at the route overview, which is divided into four stages:

1. Qingdao-Chengdu, 2000km (highway), about 3 days;

2. Chengdu-Lhasa , 2100 kilometers (Sichuan-Tibet line), about 10 days;

3. Lhasa-Xining, 1900km (Qinghai-Tibet line), about 4 days;

4. Xining-Qingdao, 2000km (Highway), about 3 days.

2. Detailed itinerary

Self-driving from Qingdao to Tibet, the round trip is more than 8,000 kilometers, and the self-driving time is about 21 days. In fact, if you include travel time in Chengdu, Lhasa, Xining and other cities, it will take about 25 days.

The self-driving routes in the first and fourth stages are highways and do not require detailed introduction. Just follow the navigation. The following is the itinerary for "Kawazu Hatsuharu".

Day 1: Chengdu-Xinduqiao

Depart from Chengdu and arrive at Ya'an via Chengdu-Ya Expressway. Yuya'an is a city famous for its "gentle rain, elegant girls, and elegant fish". Afterwards, we visited Luding Bridge (formerly Iron Lock Bridge in "Flying to Capture Luding Bridge") for lunch. In the afternoon, we will climb the first pass in Sichuan and Tibet, Zheduo Mountain (4200m above sea level), and stay in Xinduqiao Town, a photographer’s paradise, in the evening.

Attractions: Luding Bridge, Zheduo Mountain, Tagong Grassland.

Mileage: 415 kilometers, Xinduqiao altitude: 3300 meters.

The next day: Xinduqiao-Shangri-La Town

Get up early and enjoy the picturesque bridges, flowing water, people and Tibetan houses of Xinduqiao in the early morning. Passing through the Yajiang River, we climbed over Jianziwan Mountain (4,658 meters above sea level), Kazila Mountain (4,718 meters above sea level), and Haizi Mountain (4,500 meters above sea level), and finally arrived at the world's highest city, Litang (4,014 meters above sea level), where we stayed at Shangri-La Town in the evening.

Attractions: Xiongzongka, Eighteen Bends of Tianlu, Maoya Grassland, Haizi Mountain.

Mileage: 430 kilometers, altitude: 2900 meters in Shangri-La Town.

Maoya Prairie

Day 3: One-day tour to Daocheng Yading Scenic Area

After breakfast, go to the Daocheng Yading Scenic Area Visitor Center and take a scenic sightseeing bus. Enter the scenic spot, walk or transfer to Luorong Cow Farm, and appreciate the three sacred mountains in Daocheng Yading Scenic Area: Xiannairi, Yangmayong, and Shanuoduoji, and the three major seas: Pearl Sea, Colorless Sea, and Milk Sea.

Attraction: Daocheng Yading Scenic Area.

Mileage: 0 kilometers, altitude: 4000~4700 meters Daocheng Yading Scenic Area.

Day 4: Aden-Batang

Departure after breakfast, passing through Daocheng, Tu'er Mountain, Litang, passing through the Haizi Mountain Pass under the Maoya Grassland, and looking at the plateau Haizi - sister lake. Then, the altitude dropped all the way, and we arrived at Batang, which is known as the "Hometown of Black Boys".

Attractions: Sister Lake, Haizi Mountain, Tuer Mountain.

Mileage: 405 kilometers, Batang altitude: 2800 meters.

Sister Lake

Day 5: Batang-Basu

Start from Batang, cross the Jinsha River, and officially enter Tibet. The car began to cross the Sanjiang River Basin, then crossed the Lancang River, and visited Bashan, Laowu Mountain and Dongda Mountain. Pass through Bangda Prairie, climb Yela Mountain, enter Sichuan and Tibet, take Route 72, cross Nu Mountain, go down the Nu River, and arrive at Basu.

Attractions: Nujiang 72, Jinsha River, Nujiang River, Lancang River, Jueba Mountain.

Mileage: 465 kilometers, altitude 3260 meters.

Day 6: Basubomi

Today is the best section of the Sichuan-Tibet line. In the morning, we will cross the Anjula Pass and visit Ranwu Lake, where we can enjoy playing around the lake. Ranwu Lake is a famous plateau glacier lake with an area of ??22 square kilometers and an altitude of 3850 meters. In the afternoon, facing the snow-capped mountains and bathed in the warm sunshine, we walked through the virgin forest and the vast sea of ????forests, all the way to Bomi, known as the Little Switzerland of Tibet.

Attractions: Anjula Mountain, Ranwu Lake.

Mileage: 221 kilometers, Bomi altitude: 2750 meters.

Ranwu Lake

Day 7: Bomi-Lingzhi

Starting from Bomi, on the way through the Gangxiang spruce forest, Tongmai Town, arrived in Lulang, had lunch with Lulang’s famous “Stone Pot Chicken”. Then, we crossed Sejila Mountain (4728 meters above sea level) and admired the most beautiful snow-capped mountains in China, Namjagbarwa Peak and Galabaire Mountain. After passing through the pass,

Attractions: Sejila Mountain, Namjagbarwa Peak, and Yangni River.

Mileage: 217 kilometers, Linzhi altitude: 2800 meters.

Day 8: Linzhi-Lhasa

Go up Yangni as early as possible, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the plateau Tibetan area, climb over the last snow mountain Mila Mountain on Route 318 (5130 meters above sea level), and then Drive along the Lhasa River Valley. You can see the hometown of King Songtsen Gampo of Tibet in Mozhugongkar. Passing through Datse County, you can reach the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region - the "Holy City of Lhasa". Crossing the Lhasa River Bridge, you can see the majestic Potala Palace.

Attractions: Yangni River, Mira Mountain, Potala Palace.

Mileage: 415 kilometers, 3650 meters above sea level, in Lhasa.

Day 9: Lhasa-Yanghu-Lhasa

After breakfast, drive to Yangzhuoyongcuo, one of the three holy lakes in Tibet. Yangzhuoyongcuo is a natural scenic area with plateau lakes, snow-capped mountains, islands, pastures, hot springs, wild animals, temples and other landscapes. After the tour, return to Lhasa.

Attraction: Yangzhuo Yongcuo.

Mileage: 230 kilometers, altitude: 3650 meters in Lhasa.

Day 10: One-day trip to Lhasa

Visit the Potala Palace according to the scheduled time. There is a golden pagoda that stores the true bodies of the Dalai Lamas of the past dynasties, and there are a large number of precious murals, thangkas, Buddha statues, diamonds, etc., which are a concentrated expression of Tibetan culture. Afterwards, you can freely visit Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple and other places, which are full of exotic customs. Walking on the streets of Lhasa, I couldn't help humming a poem like Tsangyang Gyatso's, "Living in the Potala Palace, I am the biggest king in the snowy land"

Attractions: Bu Dala Palace, Barkhor Street, Jokhang Temple.

Mileage: 0 kilometers, altitude: 3650 meters in Lhasa.

yamdroktso

Day 11: Lhasa-Nagqu

After breakfast, you can follow the Qinghai-Tibet Line 109 National Highway in "Journey to the West" to see the Nyainqentanglha Mountains and The famous Qinghai-Tibet Railway. Passing through Damxung County, you can reach the filming location of "Legend of Tianmai", visit the world's highest lake Namtso, arrive at Nagqu County in the evening, and check into the hotel.

Attraction: Namtso.

Mileage: 340 kilometers, Nagqu altitude: 4450 meters.

Day 12: Nagqu-Golmud

After breakfast, enjoy the scenery of the Qiangtang northern Tibetan grassland along the way and climb the Tanggula Mountain Pass. If you are lucky, you can see groups of Tibetan antelopes in the uninhabited land of Hoh Xil. Visit the Sonam Grand Victory Protection Station, overlook the majestic Mount Everest, and arrive in Golmud in the evening.

Attraction: Hoh Xil Tanggula.

Mileage: 852 kilometers, Golmud altitude: 2780 meters.

Namtso

Day 13: Golmud-Ulan/***Heguo

Run the highway along the Gobi Desert in Qaidam, and then From Chaka Salt Lake, visit the "Mirror of the Sky" - Chaka Salt Lake. Arrive at ***Heguo/Ulan Hotel in the evening.

Attraction: Chaka Salt Lake.

Mileage: 629 kilometers, altitude: 2960 meters/2880 meters.

Day 14: Wulan/***he-Xining

Depart for Qinghai Lake, the pearl of the plateau, where the water and sky are the same color, gently rippling like a cup of nectar. Free tour of Qinghai Lake Scenic Area. After lunch, proceed to Xining and check into hotel.

Attraction: Qinghai Lake.

Mileage: 600 kilometers/358 kilometers, Lanzhou altitude: 1520 meters.

Qinghai Lake

The best time to drive on the Sichuan-Tibet Line is from June to September. At this time, the scenery of the plateau on the Sichuan-Tibet line is the most beautiful, and the climate is more suitable for self-driving.

:3. Things to note

1. Reliable car

First of all, you must have a reliable car. It's better to drive an off-road vehicle. If you want to drive, you can, as long as you don't feel uncomfortable. If you don’t have experience, you can drive into Tibet by yourself, but don’t drive yourself.

2. Clothes

Down jackets, sweaters, sun hats, anti-UV sunglasses, thicker socks, and outdoor hiking shoes with good waterproof performance are all necessary.

3. Food and water

There may not be food on the way to Tibet. We should make sure we have enough water and food in the car to keep us active. Chocolate, Snickers bars, beef jerky, and other high-calorie foods are a must.

4. Sleeping bag

It is still necessary. If possible, bring an extra sheet. The accommodation along the way is definitely not as good as you think.

5. Medicine

Medicine is the most important. Plateau medicine: Rhodiola rosea, American ginseng lozenges, Baifu Ning. Cold medicine: isatis root, perfungin, vitamins, glucose, etc.

6. Vulnerable parts of the vehicle

Spare tire, tire pressure monitor, belt, headlight bulb, engine oil, engine filter, steam filter, spare tire, trailer strap, fuse , antifreeze glass water, oil suction pipe, empty oil barrel, electric air pump, simple vehicle repair tools. With these tools, minor vehicle faults can be repaired promptly.

7. Driving recorder

Why should I bring this? I don't need to say it. It is estimated that most vehicles now have it.

8. Personal documents

You must have: ID card, driver's license and driving license when going on a road trip.

9. Insurance

When it comes to insurance, everyone may be a little bit repelled. I would like to say that it is still necessary to buy insurance before traveling. If an accident occurs, insurance can help you recover some losses. Especially when going to a place like Tibet, you can buy an accident insurance for helicopter rescue if possible. It really is a life saver at a critical moment.