Feel the magic of this holy land and travel to Tibet by car with Ai Jia Tian Xia

If you plant flowers intentionally, they will not bloom, but if you plant willows unintentionally, they will create shade.

This trip to Tibet (also my second self-driving trip to Tibet) actually originated from a video chat with my classmates. He is a devout person who chants the Buddha's name. I told him about the many devout Tibetans who kowtowed while driving in Tibet 13 years ago, and my classmate decided to let me accompany him to Tibet again. For me, an out-and-out self-driving travel enthusiast, we hit it off immediately, and my second trip to Tibet began.

The last time I drove in Tibet, I took the Southern Sichuan-Tibet Line (National Highway 318) from Chengdu to Lhasa, and then flew back to Guangzhou. This time my classmates and I also planned to take the Southern Sichuan-Tibet Line (National Highway 318) to enter and the Qinghai-Tibet Line (National Highway 109) to exit, covering a total of 6,000 kilometers. While planning the itinerary, a few more friends joined us one after another. Although I very seriously tell the group members who are willing to go all the way, I will drive 6,000 kilometers for more than ten days, an average of 500 kilometers per day. Most of the road conditions are on plateaus with an altitude of more than 3,500 meters. The conditions are very difficult, which is very harmful to people and vehicles. challenge. However, the mysterious place of Tibet was too tempting for them. In the end, no one gave up, and the size of the team gradually increased to two cars and seven people.

To be on the safe side, we have prepared on-board equipment such as river crossing dragons, air pumps, flashlights, towing ropes, and anti-skid chains in case of emergencies. On September 25, a 2021 Changan CS75 PLUS automatic flagship version, a 2020 Chevrolet Trailblazer top-of-the-line model, and a group of 7 of us met in Chengdu, and the "318 in, 109 out" was officially launched the next morning. The journey to Tibet begins towards the holy land of dreams.

Tibet has always been a place that people have been fascinated by. For many people, it is so remote and mysterious. Its vast snowy peaks, its majestic temples, its desolate history, its beautiful legends, its barren land, its cattle and sheep everywhere... Traveling around Tibet has become a dream for many people.

It is different from driving in Tibet with the team 13 years ago. This time I was in charge of organizing the event from beginning to end. The increase in the number of people in the team also made the responsibility on my shoulders heavier. Of course, what I am even more looking forward to are the changes in the Sichuan-Tibet Line and the new adventures in the Qinghai-Tibet Line. Not only is the condition of the 318 road different from what it used to be, and Tongmai’s natural dangers have changed the route, but more importantly, it is the first time to drive the 109 National Highway with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters, which is full of unknowns and temptations.

It is 2,000 kilometers from Chengdu to Lhasa, and we plan to complete it in 4 days. On the first day, we went from Chengdu to Yajiang and visited Luding Bridge on the way. Thirteen years ago, when we drove on the Sichuan-Tibet Line, the expressway could only go from Chengdu to Ya'an, but now the expressway can reach Kangding. The Changan CS75 PLUS we drove is equipped with the Blue Whale 2.0T high-pressure direct injection engine jointly developed by Changan headquarters and Changan UK center, and has 74 intellectual property patents. The maximum power is 171kW/5500rpm, the power per liter reaches 85.5kW, and the peak torque is 360Nm/1750-3500rpm. At present, the torque output of most 2.0T engines is mostly around 350Nm, which not only maintains the strong power of the engine, but also takes into account The low-rpm torque output setting, coupled with the solid and stable frame, and the delicate shock-absorbing suspension, make the driving feel very car-like.

After passing Ya'an, the traffic volume became smaller. I tried to use floor oil to accelerate. The Aisin 8-speed manual transmission had almost no impact and even downshifted two gears. The speed of the car was quickly increased to 120km/h. h. With a weight of 1.7 tons, three adults and a lot of luggage, it doesn't feel strenuous at all to run. Coupled with its gentle direction, it makes driving seem incredibly easy. Occasionally, when you encounter a situation where you need to slow down, lightly applying the brakes will have a very linear deceleration effect, and the braking effect is not weak at all. Compared with the top model of the Chevrolet Trailblazer, all friends who have driven the CS75 PLUS say that it is better to drive and more relaxed.

We cruised at the legal speed of 120km/h for a long time, and the engine only ran at 1800-1900rpm. The ability to maintain such a low speed at such a speed shows that there is an excellent match between the engine and the transmission, surpassing many joint ventures. car model. At this time, apart from some road noise, wind noise and engine noise are minimal in the car, and communication between the front and rear seats is very easy. I have to admit that as an SUV, Changan CS75 PLUS’s pursuit of NVH is no weaker than many joint venture rivals, and even reaches the level of joint venture mid- to high-end sedans. Occasionally, the undulations of the vehicle body caused by uneven road surfaces are quickly absorbed by the suspension, making the ride easy and comfortable.

The fame of Erlang Mountain comes from the song "Singing Erlang Mountain" in the 1950s, but whether it is Chairman Mao's poem "The golden mountains and rivers beat against the clouds and cliffs are warm, and the iron cables across the Dadu Bridge are cold" or the local ballad: "Cars passing by Erlang Mountain is like entering the gate of hell. If you are lucky enough not to overturn, you will have to freeze for three days." They all describe the precipitousness of Erlang Mountain. But because of the Erlangshan Tunnel on the Yakang Expressway, it no longer feels dangerous. In no time, we drove Changan CS75PLUS through the Erlangshan Tunnel.

Immediately after turning off the highway, I came to the famous Luding Bridge on the Dadu River for sightseeing. In the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Kangxi ordered the construction of the first bridge on the Dadu River in order to solve the transportation problem between Han and Tibet.

After it was completed, Emperor Kangxi took the meaning of "Lushui" (the old name of the Dadu River) and "Pingding" (quelling the rebellion of Junggar in Tibet), and wrote the three characters "Luding Bridge" in his own handwriting, and Luding County also became known as "Luding Bridge". name. However, modern people's familiarity with "Luding Bridge" mostly comes from the heroic deeds of the Red Army flying to capture Luding Bridge during the Long March. The Luding Bridge, made of iron chains and wooden planks, still spans the Dadu River. Looking down at the wide river surface and the rapid water, we walked cautiously. Apart from being afraid of the large gaps between the wooden planks on the bridge, We are also afraid of awakening the heavy history of 85 years ago.

After coming out of Luding Bridge and turning onto the expressway, we arrived at Kangding, the end of Yakang Expressway. A "Kangding Love Song" has made people remember this place forever, and starting from Kangding, the non-high-speed section of National Highway 318 in Sichuan has also officially opened. From Kangding to Yajiang, you have to climb over Zheduo Mountain and Gaoersi Mountain, two mountains with an altitude of over 4,000 meters. For those who live in low-altitude areas, this is the first test.

High-altitude areas are not only a test for people, but also for cars. When we crossed the Zheduo Mountains, the mountains were constantly shrouded in rain and fog, with sleet and sleet falling on many sections of the road. The temperature outside the car was only 2°C. There was snow on the soil and grass on the roadside, and the road surface was extremely slippery. As we followed the traffic, more and more water accumulated on the road. However, the Dunlop 225/55R19 tires matched to the CS75? PLUS have good drainage properties and do not feel much floating when running over water, making the driving feel very solid.

The mountainous and winding road is very narrow, and it is very difficult to meet the car at the corner. If the trailer is meeting the car at the corner, you need to be especially careful, and some unruly traffic jams, This makes the originally slow-traveling congested road section even more "congested on top of congestion." Without the on-site management of the traffic police, it would be almost impossible to move forward. At this time, there was an emergency road with poor road conditions that could avoid traffic jams and go up the mountain. A small number of four-wheel drive vehicles chose to take the challenge. After discussion, we also chose to take the emergency road.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a four-wheel drive, while the CS75? PLUS is a two-wheel drive. To be honest, I was a little worried at first, but considering that the car has emergency equipment such as towing ropes and anti-skid chains, I can solve the problem at any time. Go boldly. During the entire climb, I shifted the automated manual transmission into 1st gear, lightly stepped on the accelerator and took advantage of the engine's ability to output a strong 360Nm of torque at a low speed of 1750rpm, and moved forward steadily and slowly. The minimum ground clearance of CS75? PLUS is 170mm, which is 30-50mm higher than that of many cars. There is almost no bottoming when walking on such bad roads, fully demonstrating the advantages of SUV models.

On this bad road, we encountered many situations where the vehicle ahead skidded, and we had to stop and wait. But when starting again, the Dunlop 225/55R19 tires equipped with the CS75?PLUS showed good grip. In most cases, the front wheels just skidded slightly when starting, but they instantly regained the grip and dragged the car forward. Slowly, I gained more confidence in its ability to handle bad roads. The friend driving the Chevrolet Trailblazer behind told me through the intercom that the CS75 PLUS was similar to the Trailblazer in 4-wheel drive mode, and the wheel slippage was not serious. I told him that this was down to the excellent combination of the powertrain and the tires, both of which are indispensable. The tow ropes and protective chains we specially prepared are naturally useless.

Compared with the rain, snow, clouds and fog on the first day, it was basically sunny all the way. Indeed, on the entire Sichuan-Tibet line and Qinghai-Tibet line, the most generous things are the blue sky, white clouds and snow-capped mountains. The next day, we set off from Yajiang at 5:30 in the morning, and the journey was smooth. At around 8:00 in the morning, we arrived at Litang, the highest county in the world. After crossing Haizi Mountain at an altitude of 4,600 meters from Litang, we entered Batang on the southern Sichuan-Tibet line, which is lower than the Yajiang River. At the "Food Group" restaurant in Batang, the friends had a meal of Sichuan cuisine that is recognized as the best on the Sichuan-Tibet line.

After leaving Batang, the traffic jam started when we were still 8 kilometers away from Zhubalong Township at the junction of Sichuan and Tibet. Due to road construction, we encountered three unilateral clearances, and we waited for nearly 3 hours in total. The dug gravel road was waiting to be repaired. The car drove up and kicked up a huge cloud of sand and dust, like a long billowing dragon, covering the car behind it. Fortunately, the CS75PLUS I drove has very good sealing. No matter how dusty it is outside, as long as the internal circulation is turned on, there will be no abnormality inside the car and the dust will be kept out.

After coming out of Batang, we noticed that there was a small river running parallel to the roadside. After consulting the map, we discovered that this was the famous Jinsha River. And on the other side of the river is Tibet, which everyone is fascinated by. Some friends said that this is far from the Tibet he imagined. The river is as narrow as a small river and the water is very turbid. Especially on the mountains on the other side, there are no trees. The brown rocks are intertwined with the dark green bushes. Appearing desolate. I smiled and told him: Don't worry, you can't see a rainbow without going through wind and rain!

After staying overnight in Mangkang, not long after setting off early on the third day, majestic and high-spirited mountains appeared in front of us. The dark green pyramid-shaped peaks shone in the morning sun, and there was something special about it. A different kind of cold beauty. Looking at the mountains in front of me reaching into the sky, they are golden, aloof and quiet, and I feel like I am looking down at all living beings calmly. The friends couldn't help but get out of the car and take photos wildly. The freshness of the beautiful scenery in front of them was no less than that of Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

From Mangkang to Ranwu, we kept crossing mountains and ridges.

This section of the road has great ups and downs, sometimes with high mountains and sometimes with deep valleys. I remember the last time I walked along the Sichuan-Tibet Line, I saw the training convoy of the armed police car company many times, and sometimes I had to wait for 1 or 2 hours to give way to the convoy. At that time, standing on a high hill overlooking the winding mountain road, there were rows and groups of "long queues" of heavy-duty trucks from Dongfeng, Jiefang and Steyr. The spectacular scene is still unforgettable. Of course, we did not encounter such a team this time, but looking at the winding and rugged mountain road and remembering the previous scenes in my mind made me feel inexplicably excited.

What made the friends excited was Ranwuzhen, where we stayed on the third night. I don’t know whether it was because of the high altitude of Ranwu Lake in Ranwu Town or the beautiful scenery. The friends were so excited that they couldn’t fall asleep for a long time. Ranwu Lake is 3,850 meters above sea level and covers an area of ??about 22 square kilometers. It is the largest lake in eastern Tibet.

The picturesque scenery beside Ranwu Lake made us forget the fatigue of the journey. The steep mountains, snow-white glaciers, turquoise lakes, green pastures, floating white clouds, and lush forests all show the beauty of nature. The friends picked up their cameras and clicked wildly again, fearing that this beautiful scenery would be taken away inadvertently. Several locals looked at us curiously, with doubts on their faces. Perhaps in their eyes, this is an ordinary sight they see every day. But to us, it is so precious and fascinating.

The reason why Tibet is called a holy land is not only because it is a Buddhist holy land, but also because the spotlessly clean environment is like a paradise. After many people come to Tibet, they will feel a sense of purity of mind and enlightenment. This is also the charm of the snow-covered plateau. Man and nature have been interdependent for thousands of years. As a modern civilized automobile, the exhaust gas during its use has also become one of the important factors of environmental pollution. Therefore, many countries and regions have also implemented strict automobile emission standards, and various car manufacturers It also invests heavily in improving the emission standards of its own products. The National VI emission standards currently implemented by China are the strictest standards in the world. The Changan CS75 PLUS we drove is equipped with a Blue Whale engine. While it has surging power, it is also the first machine among its own brand cars to achieve National VI emissions. Moreover, Blue Whale Power has now become an important label of Changan Automobile, and it has also become the leader of a number of independent brands.

This article comes from the author of Autohome Chejiahao and does not represent the views and positions of Autohome.