Sichuan-Tibet Travel Route: Sichuan-Tibet Line Cycling Guide

The steep southern line of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, starts from Chengdu City, Sichuan Province in the east, passes through Kangding, Litang, Mangkang, Bomi, and Nyingchi to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. All the way over Folding Mountain, Scissor Bend Mountain, Yela Mountain, Dongda Mountain, Mira Mountain, etc. 4000-5000 meters.

The steep Sichuan-Tibet Highway

The southern route of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway starts from Chengdu City, Sichuan Province in the east, passes through Kangding, Litang, Mangkang, Bomi, and Nyingchi to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. Along the way, we climbed over more than a dozen 4,000-5,000-meter high mountains such as Zheduo Mountain, Jianziwan Mountain, Yela Mountain, Dongda Mountain, and Mila Mountain, and crossed more than a dozen rivers such as the Dadu River, Jinsha River, Lancang River, and Nu River. . The mountains are undulating along the way, and the plateau climate is often rainy in the east and sunny in the west. Spring and autumn are under the mountains, and wind, rain, snow, and hail are on the mountains. People can experience the four seasons in one day. The majestic natural beauty will leave you amazed and mesmerized.

The charm of horseback riding

Cycling is the best and most special way to complete the journey on the southern section of the Sichuan-Tibet Line. Entering Tibet depends on your own physical strength, just like the wheel gets closer to heaven every time it turns, and the wheel gets closer to Lhasa every time it turns. A lot of beautiful scenery is always swept by cars. With the super mobility of bicycles, you can take your wheels and enjoy the scenery freely and slowly along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. There are mountains and valleys, rivers and streams, villages and towns, sunrises and sunsets, rain and fog, birds singing and the fragrance of flowers. Only you can experience it yourself. With the affinity of bicycles, you can have close contact with more history, culture and customs in an all-round way, which will bring you surprises and insights inadvertently.

Tibet is a holy land for many excellent tourists. Because of the high altitude and remote location, it is difficult and makes people feel itchy. I won’t repeat the basic points of attention in Tibet. However, there is a big difference between going to Tibet by bicycle and going to Tibet by other means of transportation. So make special preparations. Cycling on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is high in altitude and has long distances, so it is physically demanding. If you are not in good health, don't take the risk. You should choose other ways to get to Tibet.

To paraphrase an old saying: One mind, two hands prepared.

Red heart means willingness to endure hardship. There are many difficulties along the southern Sichuan-Tibet route, with long route, high altitude, steep slopes, many dirt roads, and changeable climate. There are also many places with poor accommodation conditions, which will affect your rest and recovery. There will be dogs chasing you on the road, and it will definitely not be as simple as once or twice. And it is inevitable that the car will break down. It is necessary to be mentally prepared for so many difficulties. Only with a heart that is not afraid of difficulties but enjoys them, and a heart that enjoys them, can we have the spiritual strength to forge ahead. This red heart must also be a rational heart. Safety is definitely the number one priority when traveling. Plans and tasks don't have to be completed. You should dare to try and learn to give up. You shouldn't be pushed to death, and you shouldn't be looking for a quick fix.

Preparation, physical strength, skills.

Cycling is a physical activity. Let me remind you again that plateau cycling requires better physical fitness because of the high altitude and long distance. If you are not in good health, don’t take risks and choose other ways to enter Tibet.

It is recommended to conduct adaptive training first. New cyclists can build their fitness with distance and mountain biking training.

It will be of great help to participate in ball games. It can enhance physical fitness, increase lung capacity, reduce altitude sickness, enhance body coordination, and improve emergency response capabilities.

Technology refers to the technology of riding a transmission and repairing bicycles.

Through long-distance and mountain riding training, you can discover some problems in riding and learn bicycle riding skills. The riding skills here are healthy and safe riding skills, not about maintaining balance, and how to make better use of your own gearbox to save effort when going uphill, and be safe when going downhill, etc. Due to the complicated road conditions in the southern part of the Sichuan-Tibet Line, you need to master various riding skills. You can learn from the experiences of some senior riders online. Master the basic repair and daily maintenance knowledge of bicycles, such as tire repair, brake system adjustment, transmission system adjustment, chain refueling, etc.

Two, money and time.

I seriously disagree with these statements: I spent the least money riding into Zanghua and spent the least time riding into Zanghua.

With more time, you can move forward slowly and enjoy the scenery. The journey will be relatively comfortable, and you will be more flexible in dealing with altitude sickness and minor physical illnesses.

With more money, you can eat better, live better, rest better, and recover better; you can buy a better car that saves effort, is safe, and requires low maintenance. It can be better equipped to make the journey safer and more comfortable. In addition, if you are short on time, bring enough money to rent a car or take a shuttle bus for some sections.

If you are determined and prepared, plan well.

The total length of the Sichuan South Line is difficult to determine the exact number of kilometers because there are many new tunnels under construction and many new roads and diversions along the line. It used to be more than 2,100 kilometers, but now it is at least 2,000 kilometers. A long trip like this must be planned well. According to your own abilities, if you are a team member, you must clearly know the abilities of each team member and plan your daily itinerary and destination.

Pay special attention to altitude drops and fluctuations, as well as weather changes. It’s also 10 kilometers uphill and 3,000 meters above sea level. It doesn’t take a while to climb above 4,000 meters.

But when it comes to climbing 100 meters over 10 kilometers and climbing 500 meters, the former is easy, and the latter can be achieved. It is best to make a map of the same height yourself, and then make and modify the plan according to the changes, check the road conditions, accommodation, and attractions ahead, and modify and adjust the plan in time to make the trip smooth.

1. Season and time

The first season is from May Day to July before the rainy season. The weather is getting warmer and it basically doesn’t snow anymore, so you will bring less and lighter equipment (lighter equipment is very important. When exercising at high altitudes, the amount of weight you carry will greatly affect your physical strength). Landslides and rockfalls are also less likely.

Secondly, after the rainy season in August and before winter comes, autumn is infinitely beautiful, but when the weather starts to get cold, you need to add a lot of equipment.

Some super-powered riders travel from Chengdu to Lhasa in 25-27 days. I don't feel good about it. Even with the time constraints, completing the ride would be a waste of the route. It is recommended to plan 35-40 days to ensure that the daily schedule is not too tiring, because we are neither professional racers nor coolies. We should experience this journey calmly, take more pictures of the beautiful scenery, and enjoy the ride more. If time is really short, you can choose some difficult or relatively mediocre roads to take a shuttle bus or rent a car.

2. Journey

The first section:

Chengdu Qionglai Ya’an Xingou Luding Kangding

More than 30 kilometers of asphalt road, After passing Mingshan County, we started going uphill and downhill. After passing Erlang Mountain, Erlang Mountain Tunnel, and Dadu River, this section of the road is an adaptation period, and your muscles will be sore. It is reasonable and necessary to rest for a day in Kangding because there are still difficult sections ahead. You can also walk 15 kilometers after Kangding and rest in the hot springs of Zheduotang. The next task will be lighter.

Section 2:

Kangding is 3800 meters, Dieshan is 4200 meters, Xindu Bridge is 3500 meters, Gaoersi Mountain is 4200 meters, and Yajiang River.

The two sections of the road, which go up first and then go down, are basically asphalt roads for more than 30 kilometers, and the Xindu Bridge section is under construction. These two mountains are the difficult points. This folded mountain is 35 kilometers long. The slope of Gaoer Temple is very steep, and you still have to walk up after reaching the pass. It should be noted that altitude sickness will be obvious as soon as you reach an altitude of 4,000 meters. Xinduqiao is a photography paradise. It is beautiful in the morning and evening

More than 30 kilometers, uphill and downhill, the whole journey is difficult. 100 kilometers is more than 4,000 meters above sea level, and there will be a certain amount of altitude sickness. Only Luban can stay, and the accommodation conditions will be poor. Neither the radar station nor the military station can accommodate them now. Rest in Litang, the high city on earth. There are some scenic spots such as Changqing Hakka Temple nearby.

Section 4:

Litang 3900 meters Haizi Mountain 4600 meters Yidun 3630 meters Mirana Mountain 3400 meters Batang

More than 50 kilometers, the first section It's an asphalt road, and the back section is a dirt road. There are three tunnels built in the mountain, but they can pass cars but not bicycles, so you have to light your own lights. This section of road used to be a robbery-prone section, but now there are patrols, so it shouldn't be a big problem, but be careful.

Item 5:

Batang Jinsha River Bridge Nursery Hot Spring 3100 meters, Mangkang 4100 meters in the middle section of Bala Mountain

100 kilometers across the Jinsha River The bridge officially entered Tibet. There is a good cement road before crossing the bridge and a gravel road after crossing the bridge. After entering Tibet, the highway squad has been replaced by highway guard armed police, and there is no longer a 4th route squad. However, you can stay at Miaopu Hot Spring, but not at Haitong Military Station. You must plan your stay and itinerary. Mangkang is the first big town after the southern Sichuan-Tibet Line enters Tibet, and it is also the entry point for the Yunnan-Tibet Line. There are many attractions nearby.

Section 6:

Mangkang 3800 Mila Wushan 4300 meters Zhuka 2600 meters Jueba Mountain 3800 meters Xurong 3500 meters Dongda Mountain 5090 meters Zuogong Bangda

More than 20 kilometers, there is a dirt road in front of the mountain, and a gentle uphill road behind Zuogong, mainly asphalt road.

Difficulties: Dirt road, Dongda Mountain. Dongda Mountain is the highest point in the southern part of the Sichuan-Tibet line, and you have to ride to an altitude of 5,000 meters. By the time we got to Bonda, we were basically halfway there.

Paragraph 7:

Bang 4100 meters, Lashan 4600 meters, Basu 3250 meters, Anjula Mountain 4100 meters, Ranwu

more than 90 meters The kilometer-long Yela Mountain, also known as Nujiang Mountain, has an asphalt road when going up the mountain, and dusty roads when going down the mountain. The 20 kilometers of road before and after Basu are basically paved with asphalt.

Difficulty: Nujiang Mountain 72 bends down the mountain. The dust is thick on a sunny day and turns to mud when it rains. Be careful when you are prone to falling.

Ranwu is a very beautiful place with beautiful lakes, mountains and snow peaks. You can transfer from Ranwu to Lancha Highway and walk along Ranwu Lake to see the ancient glaciers.

Paragraph 8:

Tongmai, the ancient town of Zongbomi, Ranzhongbasong

More than 20 kilometers, uphill and downhill. Generally, the downhill is slow and the road conditions are quite good. OK But when we came out, the lakes and mountains were beautiful, and then the mountains were like Huangshan, the rivers were like Jiuzhaigou, and there were glaciers and waterfalls. Mr. Song comes out, and there is a rain forest at the foot of the mountain, surrounded by mountains, with pine and cypress rocks, clouds and low mist. Migu Township, passing through Gongyi National Geological Park, riding horses in the woods, with birds singing and flowers fragrant. The scenery along the entire stretch is rich and colorful, just like walking through a big park, and is worth taking your time to see.

Paragraph 9:

Maipailong 2100 meters Dongjiu 2500 meters Lulang 3400 meters Sejila Mountain 4600 meters Gongbujiangda Linzhi Bayi Town

More than 80 kilometers, only Tongmai and Pailong roads are dirt roads. This road used to be a natural hazard, and now it is still a natural hazard for cars, but it is not a big problem for bicycles. After passing Pailong, we went uphill to Sejila Pass. After going down the mountain, it became relatively flat, all the way to Gongbujiangda.

Lulang Forest Farm has beautiful houses and farmland squares, which together with the forest farm’s snowy peaks are as beautiful as oil paintings. The Sierra Mountains may not be beautiful until autumn. After going down, it will be a relatively flat road. We have arrived in Linzhi, known as southern Tibet. Its capital, Bayi Town, is a large Tibetan city.

Paragraph 10:

Gongjiang Dasongduo is 4,300 meters, Mila Mountain is 5,030 meters, Mozhugong Kalasa Potala Palace

More than 70 kilometers, basically all good asphalt road. First, it goes up the mountain to Mila Pass and then down the mountain to Lhasa.

Difficulty: Mira Pass, 5030 meters above sea level, rising 700 meters in 28 kilometers. We drove all the way to Lhasa and took photos in front of the Potala Palace to capture the exciting moments.

Here, the journey is only divided into ten sections, and the days spent on each section must be planned

Here, I would like to pay tribute to the predecessors who rode the Sichuan-Tibet Line 2005 years ago pay tribute! From the previous guides and travel notes, we can see that the road conditions are much better now than they were then. Let us pay tribute to the cyclists who ride all the way! This requires the cooperation of physique, will, time, opportunity and ability.

3. Accommodation

The food along the Sichuan-Tibet Line is cheap at the two ends and expensive in the middle. Areas close to Chengdu and Lhasa have relatively low prices, while the central area has higher transportation costs due to inconvenient transportation.

Be sure to eat a good breakfast, including starchy food and eggs.

Eating solid food for lunch saves money and time. You can buy more steamed buns, flatbreads, steamed buns, and eggs for breakfast, and you can also provide high-energy compressed biscuits along the way (the taste is much better than before). The lunch time is uncertain. You can eat around 11 o'clock and 3 or 4 o'clock respectively to replenish your energy, have some snacks, drink water or take a rest.

Generally, dinner is Sichuan cuisine, with a combination of meat and vegetables. Vegetables are 8-10 yuan, stir-fried meat is 10-20 yuan, and meat is 15-30 yuan.

Fruits shipped from the mainland are not cheap. Local peaches, apples, apricots and plums do not ripen until late June. There are some early fruits on the way that you can try. Don’t miss Linzhi’s watermelon. You can go to the market in each town to buy some cucumbers and eat some fruits to ensure good health.

Accommodation in towns is sufficient and frugal, but for heavy exercise, better rest and better recovery are very important. The price of a bed: about 10 yuan without a shower, 15-30 yuan with a private shower, and 20-40 yuan with a shower toilet. Most showerheads are barrel-type electric water heaters, which can be used by one person for only 30 minutes. If you are taking a shower in public, pay attention to the time. There are also many water heaters that have problems or insufficient voltage and water pressure. Be sure to pay attention, otherwise you will impulsively walk away, angry. What's more, it will be because of the low temperature at night.

In some small towns, conditions are very poor, so pay attention to mosquito prevention. We found scorpions in the queue and in the room.

Note:

The military station reception mentioned in the previous guide basically no longer accepts tourists. Rumor has it that something happened at the depot during the reception.

Accommodation in Daoban is free, but it is just an empty house, which may be quite airy. You must have a sleeping bag and moisture-proof mat, and always bring your own food.

After entering Tibet, the Taoist classes have been replaced by road guard armed police. Some have been destroyed, some have been rented out to cordyceps diggers and businessmen, and some have accommodation, but some may be full.

When checking in, the bicycle is usually placed directly in the room. In larger hotels, it can be placed in the luggage room or restaurant.

4. Equipment configuration

Among the bicycles I met in Tibet along the way, the cheapest ones cost around 1,000 yuan, and the most expensive ones cost 4,000-5,000 yuan. Although some people ride 28-inch bicycles to Tibet, a reliable brand (Armigen, Giant, Merida) transmission bicycle can give you peace of mind and can indeed minimize the maintenance rate.

Although the road conditions are much better now, you still have to choose a mountain bike, mainly because of its strong comprehensive adaptability. If you want to save money, choose a mountain bike that is a little bit more travel-oriented. It is reflected in the original load-bearing rear frame, front and rear sand blocks, and front and rear reflectors. No additional configuration is required. This economical and durable all-terrain bicycle is the most cost-effective. If money is no object, you can refer to the store clerk’s recommendation.

The outer tire should be a mountain tire, with a thin plain pattern in the middle, consistent patterns, and thick teeth on both sides. When riding on dirt roads, the coarse tooth pattern on the side can prevent gravel cutting and be wear-resistant, while on asphalt, you need the quickness of the fine tooth pattern.

If you want to buy a car in Chengdu, you can go to West Yulong Street, where there are bicycle shops of all major brands. The competition is fierce and the prices are naturally reasonable.

After arriving in Lhasa, you can take the train to check in your bicycle home. Price reference: more than 140 yuan to Guangzhou.

Bicycle spare parts and repair tools

Service tools:

Multi-purpose tools (including adjustable wrenches, Phillips screwdrivers, knives, pliers, etc.

), 1 double-ended fixed wrench and spare parts: 1 tire (one spare for about 3 people), 1 inner tube, 1-2 brake pads, 1 long and 2 short brake lines, 1 A shift cable, a scrap toothbrush (for cleaning the chain), some sewing machine oil (for lubricating the chain), iron wire or rubber rope, and some electrical 3M tape (for fixing).

Luggage placement:

Pack the front of the car and store maps and other commonly used small items for easy access; load water bottles, food and other heavy objects to balance the front and rear loads. Luggage bags are the best way to lower your center of gravity and improve your car's stability. If you use a large backpack, be sure to have a safe and spacious shelf. You need to pay attention to the even placement of bags and tie them securely. The disadvantage is that the center of gravity is high and unstable. The advantage is that you can store the bicycle very well during the trip and walk with the backpack at any time.

It is best to use the kind of tying ropes used on motorcycles on the market. The twisted braided rope is extremely difficult to break and has a certain amount of elasticity, making it convenient and strong to tie things.

Vehicle maintenance:

During a long downhill road on a rainy day, the brake pads are worn. Check whether the brake pads should be replaced. After rain, the lubrication of the chain will be washed away and stuck with sediment, making it easy to rust. It is necessary to clean it with water and re-oil it. On bumpy dirt roads, check whether the screws of both wheels, treads, and tail bags are loose every day.

Adjust the braking system to achieve a responsive and appropriate state. Adjust the seat height according to the principle of personal comfort, increase the height when going uphill and road conditions, and decrease the height when going downhill and road conditions.

Cycling equipment: helmets, watches, cycling clothes, night lighting tools, backpacks or backpack waterproof covers, sun protection products. These trips will be safer and more convenient.

Travel equipment

Clothing: Depending on the season, quick-drying clothing, breathable cycling clothing, lightweight waterproof breathable clothing, thermal underwear, thermal jackets, etc. The accommodation conditions in Luban are poor, depending on the season, there are sleeping bags with a size of -15 to 5, and moisture-proof mats.

Tent, because there are basically accommodation spots along the Sichuan-Tibet Line, so you can increase the load without avoiding it. We also saw teams of riders equipped with tents and cooking utensils, and large groups of people camping.

Drugs: drugs to prevent altitude sickness, drugs to treat colds and fevers, drugs to enhance metabolism, vitamin C, gastrointestinal drugs, etc.

As long as the equipment is practical and sufficient, you must have it if necessary. When trouble comes, you can solve it yourself in time. Otherwise, you will have to pay a heavy price on the deserted sections of the Sichuan-Tibet Line.

5. Pay attention to environmental protection during the trip.

I have been to the beautiful Xinduqiao, and I was frustrated to see that the farmland ditches and rivers were covered with plastic bags, beverage bottles and other hard-to-decompose garbage. I revisited my old place this year and saw great improvements and rectifications. However, this kind of pollution has reappeared in Tibet, and the beautiful Ranwu roadside and lakeside are full of garbage.

Cycling itself is an environmentally friendly performance. Even though we may not be able to promote environmental protection, we must protect it ourselves. During the journey, do not change the original local natural environment: respect local customs; do not eat wild animals; the garbage generated during the journey must be kept and collected, and then put into the garbage disposal collection point in the town.

The southern section of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway has gradually become a well-known and popular bicycle travel route at home and abroad. This section of National Highway 318 is rich in natural and cultural landscapes, and there are towns and villages along the way that provide accommodation and supplies. In fact, if the Sichuan-Tibet South Road were better managed, it could become the best cycling route in the world.