For easier reading, the daily logs have been grouped together.
Sichuan-Qinghai-Tibet Self-Drive Tour------Log
Day 1 4Month29Date Sunny
Beijing–Shijiazhuang–Xi'an
On April 29 at 6:30 AM, we set off from Beijing heading south. There wasn’t much to see along the way since I’ve traveled this route before, so it was all about making good time. We arrived in Xi'an at 7 PM, had dinner, and went to sleep.
Day 2 April 30 Cloudy
Xi'an – Qinling Mountains – Chengdu
We set off at 7 AM. The weather was cloudy. We crossed the Qinling Mountains — China’s geographical divide between north and south. The car drove through mountains and tunnels, going through a total of 136 tunnels. The vehicle weaved through the rugged mountains, surrounded by 100% vegetation. The Qinling Service Area is where most vehicles on the road take a break, and there’s a striking group sculpture of the Three Kingdoms by the roadside. At noon, we ate fish in Guangyuan — it was somewhat like spicy boiled fish. We arrived in Chengdu in the evening, stayed in Shuangliu, and had a bowl of noodles. Tomorrow, we officially enter the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, China’s No. 318 Scenic Route.
Day 3 May 1 Cloudy
Erlang Mountain – Luding – Kangding
Last night there was thunder and lightning, and an unexpected rainstorm arrived. This morning there was still light rain, but it stopped not long after we hit the road. We arrived at the Erlang Mountain Tunnel at 1 PM. The conditions weren’t as bad as we’d imagined — nowhere near as tough as the Qinling Mountains. The view at Lama River in Erlang Mountain was nice, where the Erdao River converges. The Red Army once held an important meeting here. Along the way, there was river on one side and mountains on the other. At 2:30 PM we entered Luding and walked across the iron suspension bridge, looking out at the Dadu River. The road to Kangding was broken — they’re building a hydropower station, and the temporary road was extremely rough, which we hadn’t expected. We drove through a huge puddle and luckily didn’t get stuck. Eventually, we made it through. We drove a total of 283 km that day. We arrived in Kangding at 7 PM.
Day 4 May 2 Cloudy
Kangding – Zheduo Mountain – Gaoshi Mountain – Yajiang
The place we stayed in Kangding last night is where the Sichuan College of Nationalities for the Arts is located. It’s some distance from downtown Kangding. We set off at 7 AM. We didn’t drive far out of the city before entering the mountains. These mountains are no joke — they’re called Zheduo Mountain. The elevation is 4,198 meters, the road has lots of sharp turns, and the surface is full of potholes, so driving was very slow. It started to drizzle, then turned into light rain, and near the mountaintop it became snow. The car moved through fog with visibility of just ten meters. At the mountaintop there’s a stupa for worship. It was so cold everyone wore down jackets, and the wind was so strong it was hard to stay steady. Our heavy coats were in the trunk and couldn’t be retrieved, so we took photos from the car and left. Before long we climbed another mountain, called Gaoshi Mountain, which is even higher at 4,412 meters. Same weather, same road. There were very few cars on the road, and the thick fog made it hard to see. Neither the heater nor the air conditioner helped. Old Zhang held tight to the steering wheel while I tried every trick I could think of to wipe the windshield. Suddenly, there was a car stopped in the middle of the road ahead, blocking our way. People in the car shouted something at us — apparently meaning the road ahead wasn’t passable... We realized something was wrong and feared we might be facing bandits. Without thinking twice, we floored the accelerator and sped through. The bandits immediately sped up after us. They knew the road well and were skilled drivers — they overtook us and blocked the road again. Old Zhang, now furious, floored the gas again, scraping past their car and speeding through. It was so intense we nearly went off the cliff. We straightened the wheel and accelerated to escape. The bandits chased us again, overtaking us once more. Then a large truck came from behind. Thinking quickly, we slowed down and kept the truck in sight as it approached. When it got close, we drove slowly, ensuring the truck could always see us. Seeing that their plan had failed, the bandits gave up and drove away. We arrived in Yajiang at 5 PM. It’s a town along the river with very narrow streets. Most guesthouses don’t have parking, and the police don’t allow roadside parking. After searching for a while, we found only one place that offered parking — the price was a bit high, but we had no choice but to stay there.
Day 5 May 3 Cloudy
Yajiang –Scissors Mountain---Kazila Mountain--Litang---Batang
We left the hotel at eight in the morning and hadn’t driven far before entering the snowy mountains. Just like the previous two days, it was snowing, with endless ups and downs — one elbow bend after another. Scissors Mountain stands at an elevation of 4,659 meters. Lao Zhang drove for a while and kept sensing a burning smell. We stopped to check and, oh no, smoke was pouring straight out from under the hood. If the car broke down in these vast snowy mountains, no one would even hear our cries for help. I analyzed the cause and figured that Lao Zhang had been riding the clutch in first gear with too much throttle, causing the clutch plate to burn. We stopped and let the engine cool for half an hour. When we restarted, the burning smell was gone. I shared my driving habits with Lao Zhang, and from then on, the clutch worked fine. But when Lao Zhang tried to overtake a large vehicle, he cracked the casing of the right side mirror. At least nothing serious happened. In the afternoon, we climbed even higher, over Kazila Mountain at 4,718 meters. The snow got heavier, and my vision grew increasingly blurry. The snow and fog were so thick I couldn’t even see the road ahead. I quickly woke up Lao Zhang, who was resting in the back seat. Just then, we approached an elbow bend. My car was slowly climbing along its lane when, all of a sudden, another vehicle appeared, heading straight toward me downhill at high speed. The driver also realized he had drifted into my lane and made a sharp turn. His car swung sideways, and its rear end was about to collide with my front. I quickly steered right, scraping past the mountain edge, then floored it to climb uphill and narrowly escaped disaster. But we hadn’t gone far when the oil warning light suddenly came on — not good, this meant something serious. I slowed down, and just then we reached the sign for Litang, the highest city in the world. We entered Litang town and spotted a repair shop by the roadside. I quickly turned in. When we popped the hood and checked the dipstick, there was barely any oil — moments later, it was completely gone, and oil was visibly leaking from beneath the car. Time to get it fixed. But this shop only repaired large vehicles, so we had to go to another one about 200 meters away. I stayed with the car while Lao Zhang went to call for help. Before long, two young men arrived on an electric scooter with tools — but Lao Zhang wasn’t with them. After a bit, Lao Zhang slowly walked over, panting heavily and saying, “I thought it wasn’t far, so I ran a bit. But after just a few steps, I couldn’t breathe — then I realized, this is the highest city in the world.” The mechanic was from Shandong and soon had the car fixed. By then, we still hadn’t had a sip of water. We ate something nearby and continued on our way, eager to leave this high-altitude area. While waiting for the car to be fixed in this highest city in the world, I started feeling a bit uncomfortable. Halfway through eating my noodles, I remembered what I’d read online about not eating too much at high altitudes, so I suggested we stop eating. We put down our bowls and chopsticks and left. It was already four in the afternoon, and we had to cover 190 kilometers to reach Batang, where the altitude is relatively lower. We drove cautiously the whole way, afraid of getting stuck again, but the road remained terrible, and we frequently encountered road repairs. Suddenly, a huge pothole appeared up ahead, with signs of a large truck having gotten stuck in the middle. We stopped to assess the situation, and just then, a minivan approached from behind. It tried to pass on the right but couldn’t make it halfway and had to reverse. I suggested it try the left side. After checking, I believed if the left wheel hugged the edge of the road and the right wheel just grazed the edge of the pothole’s center, it might just squeeze through. The minivan followed my advice and made it. Our car did the same. The latter part of the road had been repaired and was very smooth — either cement or asphalt. We drove on, but soon the snow got heavier. Even the windshield wipers weren’t much help. We had to stop frequently to clear the snow with paper towels before driving again. It took many attempts before we finally reached an area with lower elevation and smoother driving. By then, it was completely dark, and we were driving through valleys. We entered Batang at nine in the evening and quickly found a hotel to stay in. What a day of thrills — the bandits from yesterday seemed nothing now. Yesterday we lost property, but today any accident could have been fatal. We decided to rest here for a day, to mentally and materially prepare for the journey ahead.
Day 6 May 4 Cloudy turning to sunny
Batang
After days of non-stop driving, especially the first three days of continuously crossing snow mountains and plateaus, facing all kinds of dangers, and covering less than 300 kilometers a day — just over 300 yesterday — both man and vehicle were showing signs of fatigue. Though the past few days had been perilous, the beautiful scenery made it all worthwhile. Truly, the most magnificent views lie atop perilous peaks. There were continuous scenes of snow mountains, forests, grasslands, rivers, and Tibetan villages. In the distance, snow-capped peaks stretched as far as the eye could see; up close, rhododendrons bloomed across the hills. The sound of babbling streams and the chirping of orioles filled the air. Even Lao Zhang, who had been to Tibet and other such places, kept exclaiming that he’d never seen such beauty. Today, we planned to rest well. I slept in until I naturally woke up. During the break, we had the car’s oil pan replaced, but the repair shop didn’t have the part and said it would take until the day after tomorrow. We decided to let it be — the priority was to avoid any more bumps or dings. At the auto repair shop, someone struck up a conversation with us — he was from the Xuzhou Procuratorate in Jiangsu. He had been driving a Jetta alone with a convoy to Tibet. Due to driver fatigue in Litang, he had a rollover accident. No one was injured, but the car’s transmission was damaged. He spent 7,000 yuan having it transported here for repairs. But since the spare parts weren’t available, he had been waiting five days for a vehicle from Chengdu to bring the needed parts. A lesson learned — traveling with a convoy isn’t necessarily a good idea. You’re limited by the group's speed and schedule, and no one will wait for you. In short, safety comes first — always be cautious.
Day 7 May 5 Cloudy
Jinsha River Bridge – Mangkang – Lancang River Grand Canyon – Rumie
We set off at seven in the morning. The first 20-something kilometers out of Batang were asphalt road, then we returned to pothole-filled roads. Road repairs were everywhere. We heard that the national government required the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (Route 318) to be repaired within three years. Along the way, we saw signage erected by roadwork teams from various provinces and municipalities. We truly hoped they’d finish soon. We had originally considered going from Litang to Daocheng Yading, but due to both road and vehicle conditions, we had long abandoned that plan. Yesterday afternoon in Batang, we filled up the gas tank, washed the car, and bought a drum of motor oil and some AB glue for patching leaks — we were well prepared. But the actual road conditions were worse than expected. On a stretch of gravel road, we couldn’t get through and got stuck. We reversed and floored it to power through. The undercarriage made a terrible racket, but we didn’t care — we just kept driving. If anything leaked, we’d deal with it once we ran out of oil. Stopping now would be pointless. We waited for the oil warning light to come on, but it didn’t, which meant the issue wasn’t serious. We reached the Jinsha River Bridge at eight, officially entering Tibet. On the Sichuan side of the bridge was the Batang Public Security checkpoint. We stopped for identity checks. In the middle of the bridge stood the Tibet border sign. On the western side was the Mangkang Public Security checkpoint in Tibet, where we underwent the usual registration and inspection. We took the opportunity to snap some photos. At eleven in the morning, we arrived in Mangkang County. We parked near a gas station on the edge of town to inspect the car’s undercarriage. Since there was an auto repair shop across the street, we stopped for two minutes — sure enough, we noticed oil dripping. Perhaps the damage wasn’t severe, which explained why the oil warning light hadn’t come on. We decided to go into the repair shop. Ideally, we’d replace the oil pan, but the shop said they didn’t work on Jettas. However, they could weld it for us, so we agreed to that. Soon after, Lao Zhang said he was hungry and wanted to eat something. I wasn’t hungry, so I told him to go ahead. An hour later, Lao Zhang returned, walking slowly with a heavy step, his face pale and drawn. What was wrong? He said he had a headache and was having trouble breathing. It was altitude sickness. We quickly sat him down to rest. The workers said you shouldn’t move around too much at high altitudes. Going out to eat and then walking all the way back wasn’t a good idea. By 1:30 p.m., the car was fixed, and Lao Zhang’s altitude sickness had improved somewhat. We hit the road again. The road remained terrible and extremely difficult to drive. We could only proceed in first or second gear, carefully navigating multiple dangerous sections. At one construction site, we even got stuck in traffic. We encountered Tibetan kids trying to stop cars for money several times — pulling on doors, standing in the road, and even reaching into windows to grab things like tissues. We had to accelerate to shake them off. These kids were completely different from the ones we’d encountered in the Tibetan areas of Sichuan a few days earlier. At five in the afternoon, we reached the Lancang River Grand Canyon and stopped to take photos. We learned that it was another 140 kilometers to Zuogong — a five-plus-hour drive. This place was called Rumie, and there was a resort where we checked in. It was spacious, the conditions were decent, and the location right by the canyon offered beautiful scenery. There were quite a few cars parked in the yard, including a Citroën C4 driven by a young Beijing couple on the same route as us. They said they’d already had their oil pan repaired countless times. Hearing that made us feel a bit better. We had dinner at six, then strolled around the resort — it was really nice — and took some photos of the grand canyon. We covered 130 kilometers that day.
Day 8, May 6, Sunny
Dongda Mountain – Zuogong – Yela Mountain – Bangda – Nujiang 72 Turns – Nujiang Bridge – Nujiang Grand Canyon – Baxoi
We left the picturesque town of Rumie at seven in the morning and entered extremely rough roads. From here to Zuogong, it was only about 150 kilometers, but it reportedly took five hours to drive. For us, it would probably take over six. The scenery along the way needs no elaboration — let’s just talk about climbing over Dongda Mountain, which sits at 5,008 meters. It’s the highest mountain on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway and also the most time-consuming and labor-intensive. It’s not an isolated peak but rather part of a continuous range. Since it was a sunny day, the sky looked even bluer and the snow even whiter. Near the summit, everything was a vast expanse of white. I wanted to get out and take photos, but Lao Zhang said the altitude was too high and the surroundings too bright white for good pictures. I got out cautiously anyway and used my video camera to record the blue sky and white snow. We reached Zuogong at one in the afternoon — it really did take six hours. From Zuogong to Bangda, the road was asphalt, so we drove nonstop. Along the way, we crossed Yela Mountain at 4,618 meters. Standing at the summit, in the distance were continuous snow-capped mountains, and Route 318 snaked through the mountain ranges. We reached Bangda at four in the afternoon. At the public security checkpoint, we asked about the road conditions to Baxoi. The answer was that most of the road was asphalt, with only ten kilometers under repair. We should make it there by eight in the evening. After registering and receiving a travel pass, we were told to arrive no earlier than two hours and forty minutes later. Of course, we wouldn’t arrive early. On the good stretches, we sped up to save time for the ten kilometers of rough road. By this section, we began seeing pilgrims prostrating themselves along the road — lying fully on the ground, with their mouths and noses touching the earth. It was moving and awe-inspiring. At five, we reached the famous Nujiang 72 Turns. We stopped to take photos. Looking down from above, it was truly spectacular. In the distance were snow mountains, and nearby, Route 318 twisted like a snake through the mountains. Since it had just been freshly paved with asphalt, it shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight. Villages and terraced fields dotted the landscape, and the newly sown seedlings had begun to show green — a truly beautiful sight. Before the asphalt paving, this was an extremely dangerous section where many vehicles had met their end. Now, it was no longer perilous. At 6:45 p.m., we queued up and crossed the Nujiang Bridge one by one. The so-called bridge was actually a simple structure of wooden planks suspended by iron cables — the planks were just wide enough for one vehicle. Armed police with live ammunition stood guard. With cliffs on both sides, barbed wire was installed to prevent falling rocks. Vehicles moved slowly across, and no honking was allowed. Clearly, this was a key military stronghold. Shortly after exiting the bridge, we entered the Nujiang Grand Canyon. The canyon was incredibly long, with ongoing roadwork. Construction vehicles often held up traffic, and we sometimes had to wait before proceeding. When vehicles came from the opposite direction, we had to find slightly wider spots to pull over and allow passing. The road twisted and turned through the canyon. Near eight in the evening, the road improved a bit, so we sped up and reached Baxoi at nine. We stayed at the Meteorological Hotel. We drove 330 kilometers that day.
Day 9 May 7 Sunny
Ranwu Lake – Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon – Bomi – Tongmai
We left the county town at eight in the morning. We hadn’t driven far before the road ended — we encountered a massive landslide of rocky debris. Earlier, a freight truck had barely managed to get through, nearly tipping over. We had to get out and use shovels to clear the debris. Seeing that it wasn’t going to work — a small car definitely couldn’t get through — we waited by the roadside. Soon, a bulldozer and workers arrived to start clearing the road. I quickly saluted to thank them. Then I remembered the cigarettes we had originally bought for people at the Lhasa High Court — since we no longer needed them, why not give them to these five workers? Lao Zhang thought it was a great idea. So we told the workers we were tourists headed to Lhasa, thanked them for clearing the road so our small car could pass, and offered them the Beijing-brand cigarettes as a token of appreciation. Their enthusiasm soared, and they quickly cleared the road, gesturing for us to go ahead. After that, the drive was smooth. We arrived at Ranwu Lake, and the beautiful scenery returned. Here, snow mountains, lakes, grasslands, and forests complemented each other beautifully. We stopped to take photos. We drove along the lakeshore for a while, then entered the canyon, traveling upstream along the Yarlung Tsangpo River. The scenery was already stunning, but by now, we were somewhat visually fatigued from all the snow mountains and canyons. Only truly exceptional sights could still amaze us. But there was one section that was particularly worth seeing — the canyon was extremely narrow, with cliffs on both sides. The river was squeezed, flowing fiercely, and Route 318 clung to the edge of the cliff. Right above us were the cliffs, and the river water was as clear as a jade-green ribbon. Around one in the afternoon, we reached the 4,000-kilometer marker on Route 318. We stopped and stepped on it to take photos. At 1:30 p.m., we entered Bomi County for lunch. After the meal, we asked about the road. It wasn’t far to Tongmai, the road was okay, but afterward it became a dirt road. We’d have to cross a suspension bridge, commonly known as Tiger’s Mouth, and then climb over a mountain to reach Bayi (Nyingchi). After that, the road improved. So we decided to stay in Tongmai tonight and tackle the Tongmai (Pailong) danger zone tomorrow.
Day 10 May 8 Cloudy
Tongmai – Nyalam – Sejila Mountain – Nyingchi – Gongbo’gyamda
We set off at seven in the morning. First, we crossed the Tongmai Bridge, which was an iron suspension bridge that only allowed one vehicle to pass at a time. It was just wide enough for a single car, with wooden planks laid on both sides. The small car’s wheels barely squeezed across. Armed police guarded both sides of the bridge, and no photos were allowed. After crossing, we began ascending the mountain. We entered the Tongmai Danger Zone. Warning signs along the road read: “Armed Police remind you: The 14-kilometer makeshift road section is hazardous, prone to landslides, mudflows, falling rocks, and roadbed collapses. Please drive with caution. Emergency number: 0894-5423302.” This stretch was right along the edge of a cliff, with dirt roads full of ups and downs, sharp turns, and steep slopes that often combined with tight turns. We had deliberately set out early to avoid heavy traffic. At the time, no large vehicles were coming from the opposite direction — otherwise, passing would have been very difficult. When climbing one steep slope, I thought second gear would do, so I floored it — but it didn’t work. I couldn’t make it up. I switched to Lao Zhang, who used first gear with the clutch and floored it. The car roared loudly and finally made it up the slope. The next three or four steep slopes were handled the same way — some were so tough that even first gear struggled, and the wheels slipped. This area is called Pailong Township, hence the name Pailong Danger Zone. There were two extremely narrow sections at the top of steep slopes, nicknamed Tiger’s Mouth. Fortunately, we had set out early, and only two or three small cars came from the opposite direction, allowing us to get through the danger zone. Not long after, the gravel road became slightly smoother. We saw clouds and mist swirling around the mountains, as if entering a fairyland. We stopped to film and photograph the beautiful scenery. Continuing on, we entered the Nyingchi region. Here, the forests were vast, the plant life incredibly dense, with pine and cypress trees covering the mountains and herds of livestock everywhere. The climate was moist, earning it the nickname “the Jiangnan of Tibet.” The negative ion content was high. We stopped several times at beautiful spots to take photos. After Nyingchi, we began climbing Sejila Mountain. By now, the road was paved with asphalt. Though it sat over 4,000 meters above sea level, it wasn’t much of a challenge for us — we handled it easily. At the summit, it was still a vast expanse of white, and the weather didn’t cooperate, so we couldn’t see the majestic face of Namcha Barwa. After descending, we reached Bayi Town, the capital of the Nyingchi region, at twelve noon. To save time, we didn’t enter the town. We ate outside and continued on, hoping to reach Lhasa that night. Not long after leaving the town, we were stopped for registration and inspection by public security. They also issued us a speed limit slip — from there to a place called Bahu, a total of 80 kilometers, we had to arrive in 2 hours and 40 minutes, meaning a speed of just 40 km/h. Such a good road, yet we weren’t allowed to drive fast. It seemed our hope of reaching Lhasa that night was dashed. Even at Bahu Town, there were more speed limits. To Songdu, 160 kilometers, the speed limit was 30 km/h, and we had to arrive by 6:15 p.m. That meant crossing the Mila Mountain would be too late. There was no choice but to rest in Gongbo’gyamda and continue tomorrow. We drove slowly along the way, admiring the snow mountains and meadows, stopping frequently for photos. We also passed by the former residence of Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme. We reached Gongbo’gyamda at 5:30 p.m. We drove 219 kilometers that day.
Day 11May 9Cloudy
Gongbujiangda — Lhasa --- Jokhang Temple
We set off at 6:40 am. It was just getting light, and the road conditions were excellent. Since we had stayed overnight here, there was no issue of speeding — let’s drive. At 8 am, we passed Dongxing Township Central Primary School, and we decided to donate the school supplies we brought (400 notebooks, 400 pencils, 200 pencil sharpeners, and 200 erasers) to this school. Just before class, the students were cleaning the playground. They were very happy to hear the news. A girl who seemed to be a class leader went to find the principal. Since the students live far from home, they stay in the dormitory. The principal’s home is in the township and he hadn’t arrived yet. Soon the principal came — a middle-aged Khampa man named Lhaba. After hearing our intention, he expressed great gratitude. He told us that there are 210 students here, most of them Tibetan, and he emphasized that we must encourage the children to study hard. The children happily took the school supplies from the trunk of our car. The principal, the children, and we took commemorative photos together. Then we began ascending the last high mountain on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway — Mount Mila, which stands at an altitude of 5,020 meters. Although the mountain is high, the road conditions were good, and since we had gained experience climbing mountains, we passed through smoothly. When we reached the Motuo Gongka traffic checkpoint, the inspectors offered to let two police officers go to the county town with us, and in return they wouldn’t issue a speeding ticket — of course, we agreed. That way, we could reach Lhasa more quickly. From our conversation with them, we learned that these officers work very hard. They take turns being stationed here for a month at a time, rotating out. Living and eating at such a high altitude is extremely tough, not to mention enduring the strong ultraviolet rays. This time, these two officers were finally able to return to the county town to work for a while. After sending off the admirable officers, we had a smooth ride and arrived in Lhasa at noon.
Having a dream is just a matter of intelligence; achieving a dream is a matter of ability.
After 12 days of tough travel, we finally reached the holy city of Lhasa, turning dreams into reality. National Highway 318: Hell and heaven are just one step apart.
Those who haven’t traveled National Highway 318 dream of doing so; those who have traveled it don’t want to repeat the journey.
The Sichuan-Tibet Highway is picturesque and thrilling beyond compare.
Litang Gaocheng is not scary; Rumei Town is worth exploring.
The Palong Skyway’s Tiger’s Mouth, Nyingchi’s Bayi and Ranwu Lake.
The Natural Forest Sea of Nylam, and the Potala Palace in Lhasa.
We stayed at a hotel called Ruifeng not far east of the Potala Palace. It’s only a 20-minute walk to Barkhor Street, which is very convenient. We quickly found a travel agency and arranged the rest of our itinerary. After some negotiation, the agency provided an off-road vehicle for a three-night, four-day trip to visit Yamdrok Lake, Rongbuk Monastery, Tashilhunpo Monastery, Mount Everest, then back to Lhasa, followed by a trip to Namtso Lake and Yangbajing. They also booked Potala Palace tickets for us at 1,700 yuan per person.
Once everything was arranged, and while there was still time, we went to see the Jokhang Temple. It mainly houses the life-sized gold-plated copper statue of the Buddha at the age of 12, which Princess Wencheng brought to Tibet. It has been kept here for over 1,300 years. The Jokhang Temple was built by Princess Wencheng, Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal, and King Songtsen Gampo. It is grand and tall, filled with exquisite murals, numerous treasures, and countless solid gold Buddha statues. Entering it feels very mysterious. The Jokhang Temple is an architectural blend of Tibetan and Nepalese styles. From the third floor, you can look down at the worshippers at the entrance — their every gesture is so earnest, their expressions so devout. From here, you can also see the Potala Palace in the distance. After two hours of visiting, we walked around Barkhor Street (also known as the circumambulation path around the Jokhang Temple). We soaked in the atmosphere of spinning prayer wheels, looked at local souvenirs, and observed many people praying.
Only when you come here can you understand what faith truly is. This invisible, intangible, yet solid and unyielding thing is deeply rooted in the spiritual world of these plateau peoples.
Because of its western location, the sky doesn’t get dark right after dinner. It was perfect for taking night photos of the Potala Palace. After dinner, we strolled to Potala Palace Square, enjoying the beautiful night view, listening to the moving music, and watching the water features change rhythmically with the music. A modern urban scene unfolded before us.
Day 12 — May 10 — Sunny
Lhasa — Yamdrok Lake — Shigatse
We got up early and ate some toast. The car was supposed to arrive at 8:40, but it didn’t come until after 9. The driver, Mr. Liu, was from Henan. Later, we picked up one man and one woman. It wasn’t until after 11 am that all the formalities for the car and border permits for the passengers were completed. Not long after leaving Lhasa, we passed a sky burial platform and took photos. We started climbing over mountains. It was said that we should have taken National Highway 318, but it was under repair, so we had to take the road to Yamdrok Lake to get to Shigatse. Not long after passing the Gangbala Pass, looking down from the mountaintop — wow, it was Yamdrok Lake, so beautiful, like a huge emerald embedded among the mountains. We stopped to capture the beauty and got down to the lakeshore to have an intimate encounter with this sacred lake. We had seen Yamdrok Lake on TV or in others’ photos, but today we were finally here. Take pictures and let your eyes feast. Then the car drove along the shores of the sacred lake. The young man in the car was only 20 years old, from Henan. He had earned some money working outside and was determined to go to Tibet. His parents had stopped him several times when he tried to leave, but this time he slipped away while they weren’t paying attention. The beautiful woman in the car was 27, said to be from Wenzhou, running a chain of cake shops in Zhangjiakou. She also went ahead without telling her family, buying her train ticket first and then informing them she was going to Tibet. An 80s kid and a 90s kid, meeting our two 50s folks, gradually became friends as we got to know each other. We took photos for each other, exchanged contact info, sent photos to each other online, and made plans to travel together again if we had the chance. We arrived in Shigatse at 8 pm. There was no time to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery, so we returned to the hotel to rest. When we climbed to the fourth floor with our luggage, Old Zhang was already panting heavily, clearly affected by the high-altitude oxygen levels. Soon the driver-cum-guide came to our room and said that tomorrow we would first go to Tashilhunpo Monastery, then head to Everest Base Camp, and estimated we’d arrive by 6 pm. So we took showers and prepared for bed. Thinking about the next day’s plan, we felt it wasn’t right — arriving at Everest at 6 pm, would we even be able to see the peak? Where would we stay? Sleeping in a yak tent was unbearable. The itinerary needed to be changed, otherwise the next two days would be wasted. We called the driver, but he didn’t answer. We’d talk to him in the morning — we must go to Everest first, then Tashilhunpo Monastery the next day.
I couldn’t sleep well, feeling short of breath. In the middle of the night, Old Zhang was even having trouble breathing. I told him to get up and drink some water, sit for a while, and that helped a bit. I also felt my breathing was uneven, always a bit lacking, and when it got bad, I’d get up to drink water or use the restroom. Finally, dawn broke.
Day 13 May 11 Sunny
Everest Base Camp ---- Zhaxizong
After getting up, we immediately found the driver-cum-guide and shared our thoughts. The driver said it was fine, seeming quite agreeable. So we drove straight to Everest Base Camp, passing by the Karola Glacier and crossing two snow-capped mountains, both over 5,000 meters in altitude, even higher than those on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. We passed by the filming location of the movie “Red River Valley.” Along the way, we admired the scenery, firm in our belief that we would definitely see Everest. No one seemed to have any reaction to the high altitude. The driver said this place is close to Zhangmu, which has lower altitude and very beautiful scenery. Many tourists go there, and he suggested we do too — for an extra 400 yuan per person. Oh, only then did we realize why we were hurrying the itinerary — the trick was in this. No one responded, only the driver kept praising how beautiful it was, warning us not to regret missing it. We passed through Lazi County and Bai Ba Township. The asphalt road ended, and we entered a gravel road. The whole way was bumpy, full of speed limits, and border checks. The weather had been fine, but suddenly it clouded over and started drizzling. Everyone’s hearts sank — how could we see Everest like this? I said we would see it, we’re lucky, just pray, trust me. Sure enough, after that stretch, the sky cleared. Finally, at 4:30 pm, we arrived at the foot of Everest. Rongbuk Monastery is located here, and from here we could already see Everest. We scanned the area with the video camera. Further ahead was an open area, flanked by yak tents, with families setting up stalls selling souvenirs at their doors. China Post also has a station here. Our car could only stop here, and we had to transfer to a local eco-friendly vehicle to drive another dozen kilometers to Everest Base Camp. Before reaching the base camp, we underwent one final border registration, and were informed that the viewing platform was currently closed. With no choice, we took a photo with the signboard here. To photograph Everest, we’d have to walk out onto the river beach. Later we learned that a few days ago, a foreign tour group had someone attempt self-immolation here, so the base camp was closed to visitors. It had only reopened three days ago. We huffed and puffed our way onto the river beach, but Everest was hidden in the clouds — nothing to be seen. The weather had alternated between sunny and cloudy along the way, and our moods shifted with it. But I kept praying, convinced that as long as I came, Everest would reveal itself and welcome us with open arms. Wait. Just wait. Someone suddenly said it’s out — and sure enough, a peak emerged. Camera shutters clicked nonstop. After taking some photos, I said Everest looks like a goblin face. Old Zhang, though it was his second time here, hadn’t seen the peak last time due to light rain, so he couldn’t be sure either. Then the clouds on the right side of the peak slightly parted, revealing a summit — wow, this was the real Everest. That reminded me of the peaks we’d seen on TV or in photos. The clouds slowly dispersed, the summit appearing as if draped in a veil, shyly refusing to show itself. Suddenly, the entire summit was revealed, like the roof of a palace. We cheered, we were overjoyed. So many people, so many visits, and yet so few had ever seen its face. But we were the lucky ones — no, we had sincere hearts. We couldn’t stop taking photos, adjusting aperture and shutter speed, capturing this beautiful moment in the world. Suddenly, I remembered the earlier photo with Everest was of the fake peak, so I quickly took another. I went up to Old Zhang and said let’s take a photo with the real peak. Just as he raised his camera to take the shot, the clouds covered the summit again. The time from when the peak emerged to when it was hidden again was less than five minutes. It was already 6 pm, so we hurried down the mountain. When we reached the yak tents, Everest emerged again, so we took a few more photos. The car drove to a small village called Zhaxizong. It was dark by then. We ate a bowl of noodles here and stayed at a Tibetan-run guesthouse — basically just three or five rooms upstairs, with only three single beds in the room, nothing else, no water, no electricity. We had no choice but to stay here — it was better than a yak tent. We took off our outer clothes, covered ourselves with blankets, and lay down. The altitude here was over 4,000 meters. We had specially brought glucose solution, and now it was essential to use it. It worked indeed. At night, the wind howled fiercely, sounding like ghosts, but we didn’t suffer from altitude sickness and actually fell asleep. Old Zhang described it as drinking a hearty meal.
Day 14 May 12 Partly sunny
Shigatse — Yamdrok Lake — Lhasa
We set off early. The road jolted everyone as if our bones were falling apart, but the driver kept boasting about his route. Last night, the driver approached us and said that today after visiting Tashilhunpo Monastery, we’d drive straight back to Lhasa. This would cut a day from the trip, but they wouldn’t refund the accommodation or meal fees. Otherwise, we’d drive slowly and arrive in Lhasa by the morning or noon the day after tomorrow. Everyone thought about it and figured this was the better option — even without a refund, we’d save a day. That’s just how it is — if the driver didn’t try to gain something, why would he do it? We arrived in Shigatse at 2 pm. It’s the second-largest city in Tibet, after Lhasa. It’s big, but every street and storefront was under construction. The whole city was one big construction site. It was said to be in celebration of the 60th anniversary of peaceful liberation, or perhaps because the young Panchen Lama was coming. After lunch, we visited Tashilhunpo Monastery. When buying tickets, we were told that if we wanted to enter and visit now, we’d need to pay 100 yuan for a guide, otherwise we couldn’t enter until 3:30 pm. To save time, we had to go with the guide. But listening to the guide’s introduction was also good — we learned about Tibetan customs, the meanings behind different colors, and what the different colored markings outside rooms signified in terms of who lived there. We learned that the true body of the 10th Panchen Lama is enshrined here, and why the 7th, 8th, and 9th Panchen Lamas were buried together. The visit ended at 4 pm, and we quickly got back in the car and hit the road. Around 8 pm, just as the sun was setting, we passed by Yamdrok Lake and saw another side of it. We found a suitable spot to park and capture this extraordinary Yamdrok Lake. By the time it was completely dark, we were all staring intently at the downhill road. Finally, at 10 pm, we arrived in Lhasa. We traveled 1,500 kilometers in three days.
Day 15 May 13 Partly cloudy
Lhasa — Norbulingka
Since I arrived a day early, I wanted to sleep in, but still didn’t rest well — probably due to the altitude. After getting up, I did laundry. I checked with the front desk and found there was a washing machine that I could use, so that solved it. I tossed in all the dirty clothes we’d accumulated over the past few days. After doing laundry, we went to Norbulingka, the summer palace of the Dalai Lama. The area is lush with vegetation, shaded by towering trees, and features four or five palaces, locally called “Pozhang.” The most beautiful is the Golden Pozhang. After exploring, we had lunch and rested. In the afternoon, we went to Barkhor Street (commonly known as the Eight-Angle Street) to buy some souvenirs, then returned to Potala Palace Square in the evening to take night photos.
Day 16 May 14 Partly cloudy
Lhasa — Yangbajing — Damxung — Namtso Lake — Lhasa
As planned, today we headed to Namtso Lake. We set off at 7 a.m. There were 35 people in total on the bus. The road was in good condition but speed-limited. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway runs parallel to the highway. After passing Yangbajing, we turned westward from Damxung. Although Yangbajing is quite famous, it’s actually no bigger than a small town. The Qinghai-Tibet Highway cuts through the town, which has only a few dozen households. The main attraction here is the world’s highest-altitude geothermal power plant, along with a hot spring bathing spot. Damxung is a bit larger. To get to Namtso Lake, we had to cross the 5,195-meter-high Nagenla Pass, where the wind was very strong and there was a geographic landmark stone tablet. After buying the Namtso Lake entrance ticket, we still had to drive 61 kilometers to reach the scenic area. Due to the mountainous surroundings, the microclimate changes frequently — one moment it’s sunny, the next it’s raining. Fortunately, when we arrived at the scenic area, it was sunny. We could see Namtso Lake through the rows of vendors, but the lake was still frozen, so its deep blue surface wasn’t visible. From here, you also can’t see the distant lake or the snow-capped mountains as expected. Mount Nyenchen Tanglha was hiding in the clouds and refused to show itself, so there wasn’t much desire to take photos. We just snapped a few pictures to commemorate the visit. At 12:30 p.m., we started driving back. When we stopped to take photos at the pass, a woman from another vehicle suddenly fainted, her face turning deathly pale. Everyone quickly helped carry her into a car. We arrived in Damxung around 2:30 p.m. for lunch. The return trip was also speed-limited. On the mountains, we already saw some herders starting to dig for caterpillar fungus. It’s said that during winter, grass seeds get inside the worms, and in spring, as the grass begins to grow and absorb nutrients from the worm, just before it emerges, it’s dug up and dried to become “winter worm.” The caterpillar fungus digging season lasts from May 15th to the end of the month. On the way back, we visited a high-tech Tibetan enterprise, Hengkang Biotechnology Co., Ltd. This Hong Kong-funded company, supported by the state, refines fish oil from fish in Lake Yamdrok, which is said to be of even higher quality than major international brands. Behind this enterprise is a towering mountain. The guide told us it’s a local sky burial site. We looked up to see the mountain ridge covered with prayer flags and colorful banners. Regarding sky burials:Tibetan Buddhismbelieves that burningjuniper smokepaves a colorful path to invite the dakinis to the sky burial site. The body is offered as a sacrifice to the deities, praying to atone for the sins committed in life, and asking the deities to carry the soul to the heavens. The vultures drawn by the juniper smoke at the sky burial site do not harm any other animals besides consuming human remains — Tibetans call them “sacred birds.” It’s said that this burial method imitates the Buddha’s act of “offering his body to feed a tigress,” which is why sky burials are still widely practiced in Tibet.
For Tibetans, sky burial is their greatest wish after death. They view the purity of life as fleeting, believing in reincarnation and the cycle of life. The body is seen as merely a vessel for the soul, and the remains are considered meaningless flesh. Ascending to heaven after death is the greatest wish in life, so they choose the sky burial site as the most ideal path to paradise. In valleys surrounded by sacred peaks and clear water sources, a nearly flat rock quietly appears on a hillside not far from the monastery. A large group of soaring vultures silently circles and guards the site, along with scattered teeth wedged in rock crevices and bones strewn across the hillsides — these make up the entirety of the sky burial ground. All of this doesn’t seem to signify the end of a life, but rather the beginning of something new. Life is inherently simple and transparent. We then visited a tourist goods market and a yak products enterprise. After dinner, we returned to the hotel at 9 p.m. The travel agency delivered our reservation tickets for visiting the Potala Palace tomorrow.
Day 17 May 15 Cloudy
Lhasa — Potala Palace — Damxung — Nagqu
After finishing the check-out procedures around 8:30 a.m., we stowed our luggage in the bus and grabbed our cameras before heading out at 9 a.m. toward the long-awaited Potala Palace. It took just over ten minutes on foot to get there. After verifying our reservation tickets and ID cards, we began climbing the stone-paved steps. From the elevated spots, we could overlook the square and urban area of Lhasa in front of us, as well as the distant snow-capped mountains. Once we exchanged for the official tickets and entered the palace, photography was no longer allowed. The Potala Palace is like a maze. For tourism purposes, it seems a designated route with signage has been arranged, while other areas are off-limits. We admired palace after palace, marveled at golden Buddha statue after statue, and lost count of how many Dalai Lama relics we saw. We finished the tour around noon, exited through the back gate, had lunch near the hotel, and set off on the return journey at 12:40 p.m. Not long after leaving the city, we began adhering to speed limits in Maxiang. The 55-kilometer stretch had to be completed within 35 minutes, marking the start of our speed-restricted drive. The road conditions were actually excellent, with no steep climbs or descents — it’s unclear why the limits were so strict. Perhaps it’s to guard against altitude sickness, though that explanation doesn’t quite hold for local vehicles. Around 4 p.m., we passed through Damxung County, a county aided by the former Chongwen District. The former district Communist Youth League secretary Xue Guoqiang served as the county party secretary here, while former petition office official Chen Beixin was the deputy county head in charge of tourism. Last July, Chen Beixin died here of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage due to overwork, at the young age of 40 — just three months short of completing his term. He would have been able to return home soon. Four years ago, Old Zhang drove through here and interacted with him, noticing he couldn’t stop coughing and wore a thick cotton coat even in hot weather. Old Zhang advised him to rest more or return to Beijing for a check-up, but Chen insisted, “I can hold on.” Who would’ve thought that when we passed through again today, he was no longer with us? Seeing the county government building, Old Zhang remarked, “We once took a photo here. What a pity!” We expressed our deepest respects for Chen Beixin here. Tibet also has many mainland cadres supporting Tibet. In our judicial system, there are still people working at the Lhasa court. We salute them. After Damxung, we entered Nagqu. We checked into the Jiuzhou Hotel in Nagqu around 6 p.m., got settled, and went out for dinner. Just as we finished ordering, it began to snow outside. By the time we barely finished eating, it had turned into a heavy snowfall. Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder shook the dining table. After dinner, we hurried back to the hotel. The roof was already covered in white. Let’s hope it doesn’t snow again tomorrow, or the speed limits will be even stricter.
Day 18 May 16 Sunny
Tanggula Mountain Pass — Tuotuo River
I woke up early, around 5 a.m., to check if it was still snowing outside. Wow, it had indeed stopped. We had breakfast and checked out. When I went downstairs to the bus, I was shocked — the snow from the previous night had completely plastered the front and rear windshields, which hadn’t melted and couldn’t be scraped off. I started the engine, used the heater, and frantically wiped the windows by hand until the front windshield finally became clear enough to see the road. We set off. We drove through the night and reached the speed-limit checkpoint. The speed ticket required covering 30 kilometers in 35 minutes — no choice. After passing Anduo, the speed limits were lifted, so we sped up. At 10:45 a.m., we crossed the Tanggula Mountain Pass at an elevation of 5,231 meters and stopped to take photos. The wind was extremely strong and bitterly cold. Old Zhang had passed through twice before without taking any photos, but this time he made up for it. It’s true that the road conditions were decent, but there were frequent small bumps — likely caused by the wear and tear from heavy vehicles. Near Tuotuo River, an accident occurred. Old Zhang didn’t notice a small bump and damaged the oil pan, causing a leak. Though we were at a high altitude, it was only around 1 p.m., so we weren’t too worried. We stopped to fix it ourselves. Following the procedure we’d seen others do before, we attempted the repair. It seemed fixed for a while. We added oil, and everything was fine. But when we started the engine again, it began leaking oil shortly after. With no other options, we decided to keep driving, figuring we weren’t far from Tuotuo River. The road still seemed endless. The oil warning light came on, and the engine started making strange noises — we couldn’t drive any further. We had to fix it again. I used a bucket to catch the leaking oil so it could be reused, but there still wasn’t enough. We tried hitchhiking to nearby cars to borrow oil, but several drivers said they didn’t have any spare. Finally, Old Zhang hitched a ride into Tuotuo River to buy oil, while I stayed behind to keep patching. As I was busy fixing the leak, Old Zhang returned — with a mechanic. The mechanic said there was no point in patching it because there was a chain inside the oil sump that had gotten bent when the car hit a bump. No matter how well we patched it, the rotating chain would just cause another leak. So that’s what happened — it wasn’t that our patch failed. The mechanic said the only option now was to pour in oil and drive quickly to Tuotuo River to have the part removed and repaired properly. At the repair shop, the mechanic said the engine sounded abnormal — possibly the main or connecting rod bearings were worn. After fixing the oil pan and paying, we looked for a hotel, but the oil warning light remained on. We turned back to the repair shop. The mechanic said he’d fixed it, but after repeated test drives, it still didn’t work. I called a car repair friend in Beijing, who said it could be either the oil pump or the engine bearings. In the end, we decided to have the truck tow the vehicle to Golmud tomorrow — they’d definitely be able to fix it there. Back at the accommodation, my mind raced as I planned for tomorrow’s repairs. I asked Old Zhang to find the repair manual in the vehicle and look up whether there were any repair shops in Golmud — none. Then we checked for options in Xining, hoping to find a way to contact a Golmud shop through there. That actually worked — we managed to get in touch with a specialized 4S repair shop in Golmud. Over the phone, we explained the possible issues with the vehicle and asked them to prepare the necessary parts. Later, after calming down, we analyzed the cause of the incident: the uneven road surface, lack of attention, and excessive speed led to the undercarriage scraping the ground. Our self-repair measures were correct. If the engine bearings were damaged, it might have happened after the DIY fix and during the rushed drive to Golmud after refilling the oil. Truly, haste makes waste. For tonight, we’ll just have to stay put.
Day 19 May 17 Sunny
Wudaoliang — Xidatan — Golmud
Early in the morning, we contacted repairman Wu. Around 10 a.m., the vehicle was finally loaded, but for some reason, it just wouldn’t leave. After asking around, we learned the vehicle belonged to the convenience store opposite — they needed to transport some miscellaneous goods and vegetables, and settle a few payments. So we decided to have lunch first. After lunch, we waited until 2 p.m. before finally setting off. Passing Kunlun Mountain Pass was underwhelming — perhaps we’d seen too many mountain passes. Not far beyond the pass, the distant mountain ranges were quite nice, but all our photography gear was in the vehicle, so we only have lunchtime memories. Along the way, the highway and railway run side by side. The road remained bumpy, and with the vehicle jostling atop it, we didn’t dare drive too fast. We arrived in Golmud at 9 p.m., found a repair shop, had the vehicle unloaded, and then looked for a place to stay. After lying down, Old Zhang felt uneasy about the current accommodation and insisted we go to the previously arranged 4S shop for repairs. We decided to head to the pre-contacted FAW-Volkswagen specialty repair shop tomorrow.
Day 20 May 18 Sunny
Golmud
Arrived at the Quantong Auto Repair Shop where we had the car unloaded last night at eight in the morning. We told them, “You said it would take you three or four days to fix the car, but we can’t afford the delay — our annual leave is almost up. Can we go to a specialized repair shop instead? Maybe it’ll be done sooner so we can get the car back.” We planned to drive slowly along the way while asking around for a Volkswagen specialist. It wasn’t hard to find one. It was still early when we got there, and the shop hadn’t opened yet. Staff arrived at 9:40, assessed the damage, lifted the car, and drained the oil. Upon inspection, they found that both the big and small bearings and the axle were damaged, with metal shavings evident. They removed the entire engine for further examination. In the afternoon, they discovered that the clutch disc was also burnt out. So, we decided to proceed with the repairs. I gave the last pack of Zhongnanhai cigarettes to the mechanic, Xiao Yuan, and asked him to work on it as quickly as possible. We returned to the hotel, did some laundry, and had a good rest.
Day 21 May 19 Cloudy turning to sunny
Golmud
The Sichuan-Tibet Highway is indeed even harder to travel than we imagined, while the Qinghai-Tibet Highway isn’t as smooth as we thought either. In the morning, we first visited the Kunlun Jade Trading
Day 22 May 20 Cloudy
Golmud — Qinghai Lake — Xining
We picked up the car at 8 a.m., test-drove and inspected it, and found no issues. At 9 a.m., we returned to the hotel to collect our luggage, checked out, and set off. Following the driver’s advice, we kept the speed under 100 km/h. As we left Golmud, all we saw was desolation — barren mountains, infertile land, and a gloomy sky. The farther we went, the more bleak it became. After crossing two mountains, especially Wulan Mountain, the color of the earth began to change. The wilderness turned green, and there were signs of human habitation. Near Xiangride Township, we suddenly spotted a sign for the Panchen Lama’s Palace. We turned the wheel and went in to take a look — it turned out to be a temple where the Panchen Lama once rested during his travels. The temple was not small and admission was free. We had lunch in Xiangride, refueled, and continued on our way. After passing through Dulan, we began climbing over Rubber Mountain. This mountain was quite high, and when we reached the summit, the fog was so thick that we could barely see oncoming vehicles. The road surface was also bumpy, but we had seen worse and faced the challenge calmly. Not long after crossing the mountain, we spotted Qinghai Lake in the distance. The road conditions improved, and the car followed the lakeside. We passed by the previously visited Riyue Mountain and Daotang River, entered the highway via Huangyuan, and arrived in Xining around 8 p.m. Xining is really big — no wonder it’s the capital. The city is well developed, and at night it’s brightly lit.
Day 23 May 21 Cloudy
Xining — Gansu — Shaanxi — Lüliang, Shanxi
After breakfast at 8 a.m., we left Xining and entered the highway. The roadside was still desolate. Soon, we crossed into Gansu and then Ningxia. Although there was some greenery along the road, there was still a sense of desertification. We arrived in Zhongning, a small county in Ningxia, at noon. The town was quite clean. After lunch, we got back on the highway, bypassed Yinchuan, passed through Yanchi, and entered the Qinghai-Yinchuan Expressway. After crossing Wangquanliang, we entered Shaanxi. This was truly the Loess Plateau — along the roadside, many people still lived in cave dwellings. The highway wound through the highlands. Near Wubao, tunnels became increasingly frequent as we crossed through Shaanxi. By around 8 p.m., we had reached Lüliang in Shanxi. There were more large trucks on the road, so we decided to stop here for the night. We stayed in Lüliang tonight.
Day 24 May 22 Partly sunny
Lüliang — Taiyuan — Shijiazhuang — Beijing
Last night, we packed our luggage, throwing away what we didn’t need. After breakfast this morning, we left Lüliang City and entered the highway. There were more and more freight trucks, so we could only find gaps to overtake them. We had already been to Taiyuan and Shijiazhuang, so we headed straight home. Over the course of 24 days, spanning nine provinces and municipalities, crossing three great canyons — the Yarlung Tsangpo, Lancang, and Nujiang — passing nine rivers, and climbing over twenty mountains with altitudes above 4,000 meters, we finally fulfilled our dream. Tibet is a place many yearn to visit. Some come here to pray, some to atone, some to cleanse their souls... Friends, no matter what your mindset may be, Tibet welcomes and embraces you all. Come with a sincere heart.
Those with faith are the happiest. The more one does for their faith, the more one gives, the greater the joy and inner fulfillment they receive.
Those with faith are the strongest. They can endure physical suffering and mental anguish, whether from within or without, and remain steadfast on the path in their hearts, day after day, without interruption.
Those with faith are the most sincere and lovable. When you face those earnest smiles, give a gentle wave, and smile back, you’ll realize that communication and blessings are so simple.