The magical and beautiful Sichuan-Tibet Highway never gets old to talk about. Previous shares about the Sichuan-Tibet Highway have all focused on the stunning scenery along the way. Today, the editor of Tanlulv brings you an article about mountain passes. The only regret is that once the roads are renovated, some places will be very difficult to reach in the future.

The Sichuan-Tibet Highway, National Highway 318, has been hailed by National Geographic as the "Road of Scenic Wonders." Its grandeur is hard to truly appreciate without being there in person.

Several years ago, large-scale renovations began on the national highways in western Sichuan. Some tunnels were opened to traffic as early as 2014. After these tunnels became operational, certain mountain passes along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway will become difficult to access.

The entire southern route of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is 2,142 kilometers long. The route goes: Chengdu – Kangding – Zheduo Mountain – Xinduqiao – Gaoshipa Mountain – Yajiang – Jianziwan Mountain – Kazila Mountain – Litang – Haizi Mountain – Batang – Lawu Mountain – Jueba Mountain – Dongda Mountain – Zogang – Bangda – Yela Mountain – Baxoi – Anjula Mountain – Ranwu – Bomi – Tongmai (notorious section) – Siguli Mountain – Bayi – Mila Mountain – Lhasa.

[Zheduo Mountain Pass]

The pass sits at an elevation of 4,298 meters and is known as the First Pass of Kham. Zheduo Mountain is also an important geographical boundary. To the east lies mountainous terrain, while to the west begins the eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau—the true Tibetan region. “Zheduo” means “bend” or “twist” in Tibetan.

[Gaoshipa Mountain Pass]

The pass is at an elevation of 4,412 meters (will no longer be passed after the tunnel opens). Gaoshipa Mountain is named after the Gaoshipa Monastery. The pass offers a great vantage point to view the Gongga Mountain Range and the Yala Sacred Mountain.

At an altitude of 5,200 meters, the summit of Heishicheng (Black Stone City) provides the shortest aerial distance to both Gongga Snow Mountain and Yala Snow Mountain. Heishicheng is located within Zhuxiang Township on the left side of Kilometer Marker 2913 on National Highway 318. It is said to be a mysterious religious site, where the black prayer stones covering the mountainside were carried and stacked by monks who practiced here in ancient times. Others say this mountain was once a fortress during tribal battles 300 years ago, now left as desolate ruins.

[Jianziwan Mountain Pass]

The pass is at an elevation of 4,659 meters (no longer passed after the tunnel opens).

The famous Jianziwan Mountain, known in Tibetan as “the pass of the sheep,” is said to be named because sheep rested here during their journeys. The pass is adorned with fluttering prayer flags and colorful “Lungta” (wind horses) printed with scriptures. The ridgeline of Jianziwan Mountain exceeds 4,000 meters in elevation, with its main peak, Duolacuo, offering spectacular views.

[Kazila Mountain Pass]

The pass stands at an elevation of 4,781 meters (no longer passed after the tunnel opens). Due to the high altitude, trees are scarce here, and the area is mainly covered by alpine meadows. From here, the layered mountains stretch endlessly, each layer farther and lighter in color than the last, until they fade into the horizon. The winding road truly resembles a “road to the heavens.”

When the fog begins to lift and clouds gather in the sky—sometimes pure white, sometimes dark and mystical, ever-changing—it’s a breathtaking scene. But you can only fully experience this beauty when you’re embraced by it.

[Litang Haizi Mountain Pass]

The pass is at an elevation of 4,685 meters. Located about 70 kilometers west of Litang County along the southern Sichuan-Tibet Highway, it’s named for the several high-altitude lakes near the pass.

In a beautiful U-shaped valley on the northwest side of Haizi Mountain, you can see a series of glacial erosion lakes formed by ancient moraine dams, resembling strings of pearls. The lowest lake’s outlet is the source of the Maqu River. This unparalleled scenery will remain unaffected by road changes in the years to come.

[Lawu Mountain Pass]

The pass sits at an elevation of 4,400 meters. The terrain of Lawu Mountain is relatively gentle, so travelers heading into Tibet often breeze past it. In reality, Lawu Mountain is even higher in elevation than the rugged Jueba Mountain.

At the summit of this mountain is a rather spectacular array of prayer flags. If you had the “heavenly eye” from atop the pass, you could look down upon the Jinsha River and the Lancang River.

[Jueba Mountain Pass]

The pass is at an elevation of 3,940 meters. Over thousands of years, the Lancang River has deeply cut through the landscape, leaving steep cliffs on either bank that appear barren and rugged, giving a strong impression of deep valleys and towering heights.

This is one of the most notorious and treacherous sections in the Hengduan Mountain region. A 30-kilometer-long mountain road with nearly 2,000 meters of elevation gain makes Jueba Mountain one of the hardest and most time-consuming climbs along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.

[Dongda Mountain Pass]

The pass is at an elevation of 5,008 meters, though its actual height is closer to 5,100 meters, nearly reaching the elevation of Everest Base Camp. From the pass, you can still see the Lancang River far below at the base of Jueba Mountain.

While the Lancang River Valley at the foot of the mountain remains in the sweltering heat of summer with temperatures around 30°C, the temperature at Dongda Mountain Pass can drop below zero. Having conquered Jueba Mountain and Dongda Mountain, you’ve experienced what many consider the first major trial of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.

[Yela Mountain (Nujiang Mountain) Pass]

The pass sits at an altitude of 4,658 meters. This is a famous viewing spot for the "99 Bends" of the Yela Mountain.

However, due to the current excellent road conditions, it's no longer possible to see the once endless dust clouds from the slow-moving vehicles, like ants on a winding mountain road.

[Anjula Mountain Pass]

The pass is at an elevation of 4,468 meters. From the Anjula Mountain Pass, you can see stretch after stretch of grassland, dotted with small puddles—locally called "haizi"—between them.

Unlike many other towering, rugged mountains with sheer cliffs, the surprisingly gentle-looking Anjula Mountain is unusually flat. Yet, this unassuming Anjula Mountain Pass is actually the watershed between the Nujiang River and the Yarlung Tsangpo River.

[Tongmai Dangerous Road]

(No longer passed after tunnel opening, recorded here as a classic): Known as the "Tongmai Graveyard," the Tongmai Dangerous Road is the most treacherous section of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, spanning 14 kilometers between Bomi and Bayi.

It's known as the "world’s second-largest debris flow cluster." The surrounding mountains have loose soil, and the area is riddled with snow-capped mountains and rivers. Rain, wind, or glacial melting can easily trigger landslides and mudflows, earning the Tongmai-Pailong area the nickname "Death Road." Fortunately, in 2015, the danger was eliminated.

[Sejila Mountain Pass]

The pass is at an altitude of 4,728 meters. Sejila Mountain is located east of Linzhi County in Nyingchi City, Tibet Autonomous Region, belonging to the Nyenchen Tanglha Mountain Range. It serves as the watershed between the Nyang River basin and the Parlung Tsangpo River.

From the mountain pass, you can enjoy sunrises, sea of clouds, vast forests, and even catch distant views of the majestic Mount Namcha Barwa.

[Milaha Mountain Pass]

The pass sits at an elevation of 5,018 meters. This is the dividing mountain pass between Lhasa and Nyingchi.

Mila Mountain, with its grand and imposing presence, is revered as a sacred mountain by local Tibetans. The pass is adorned with numerous prayer flags and paper strips inscribed with scriptures. At the highest point of the pass stands a Tibetan yak stone sculpture labeled "Boat of the Snow Region."

Source: Tibetan Tourism