In-Depth Guide: Tibet’s Most ‘Open’ Eastern Tibet Loop – A Scenic Corridor Long Overlooked

📍 Lhasa · 👁 6728 reads · ❤️ 23 likes

Eastern Tibet brings together the most important cultural and natural tourism resources of Tibet, from Sapu Sacred Mountain to the mysterious skull wall of Dam Temple, from the Three-Color Lake to the majestic Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon.

The Eastern Tibet loop has always been the most 'open' self-driving route in Tibet. While the northern and southern Sichuan-Tibet highways, the Shannan loop, and the big Ali loop all have basic, traditional routes, the Eastern Tibet loop alone offers many ways to travel, with great flexibility.

Starting from Lhasa, passing through Nagqu, Biru, Banbar, Lhorong, Baxoi, Bomi, and Nyingchi, and finally returning to Lhasa, the recommended duration is 10 days and 9 nights. Most sections are paved roads in good condition, and a sedan can handle it.

Day 1: Depart from Lhasa to Nagqu. Last year, the Lhasa-Nagqu Expressway was completed and opened to traffic, becoming the highest-altitude expressway in the world. Now it takes only 4 hours from Lhasa to Nagqu. But the altitude here exceeds 4,500 meters, so avoid strenuous activity to prevent affecting the following itinerary.

Day 2: Travel from Nagqu to Biru County, passing by the mysterious sacred site of Dam Temple. Feel the shock of life and death in front of the skull wall. Generally, sky burial sites are not open to outsiders. Dam Temple's sky burial platform is one of the few in Tibet that allows visitors. The reason why skulls are preserved here remains an unsolved mystery. The entrance fee for the skull wall is 40 yuan per person. If the gate is locked, just call the phone number on the sign at the entrance. Be sure to respect local customs, such as not stepping on the sky burial platform, entering and exiting through the 'birth gate' on the west side, and not taking photos with the skulls.

Dreaming of Tibet on the snowy plateau, the pure land on earth is only Sapu. Sapu Sacred Mountain is one of the highlights of this journey. The most beautiful scenery is always found in places hardest for humans to reach – this saying fits Sapu perfectly. As one of the fastest-rising destinations in popularity in recent years, Sapu's notoriously bad access road is as famous as its stunning beauty. Actually, it's not that exaggerated. The most difficult section is only the last 10-plus kilometers closest to Sapu, from Sanda Monastery to the northern shore of Samtso Lake, all unpaved gravel roads with several icy and water-crossing sections. A four-wheel-drive SUV can pass in good weather, but a rugged off-road vehicle or pickup is best. If encountering special road conditions, be sure to get out and check before proceeding.

Banbar gathers a variety of landscapes – sacred lakes, ancient forts, and glaciers – each leaving a deep impression. The Three-Color Lake consists of three high-altitude lakes that appear black, white, and yellow under sunlight. The Dazong ruins are an important office site of the former Tibetan local government in the Banbar area, perched on a hilltop between the black and yellow lakes. Driving further for over 10 kilometers from the Three-Color Lake, at the end of the road lies the Xiangela Glacier. As an undeveloped sight, it’s free and uncrowded, easily becoming your private scenic spot.

The most beautiful scenery is on the road. Although there are no striking attractions from Banbar to Lhorong, the landscapes along the way are still breathtaking. The 'Three Sisters Carrying Water Mountain' has a unique shape – from any angle, it looks like three girls carrying water on their backs. Another saying is that it resembles five fingers pointing to the sky. Legend has it there is a lake on the summit, but it hasn't been confirmed yet.

After arriving in Lhorong, depending on your situation, you can choose to go north and join the G317 National Highway, returning to Lhasa along the northern Sichuan-Tibet route, or go south to the G318 National Highway and return via the southern route.

China's most beautiful scenic avenue – even if you've traveled it many times, you can never exhaust the scenery along the way. After heading south from Lhorong to join the southern Sichuan-Tibet route, you'll travel towards Baxoi and Bomi, passing the Bangda Grassland, the 72 Turns of the Nujiang River, and Ranwu Lake, finally arriving at Laigu Glacier. Stop as you like along the way. Laigu Glacier is located in Laigu Village, Ranwu Town, Baxoi County. Following Ranwu Lake inward leads you there. It is one of Tibet's most famous and largest glaciers, where ice, blue sky, and lakes reflect each other, creating a spectacularly beautiful scene.

The most comfortable region for tourism in Tibet is undoubtedly Nyingchi. The 'Switzerland of Tibet' never disappoints. From Bomi, head to the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, the world's largest and deepest canyon and the area with the richest hydropower resources. The abundant moisture creates unparalleled beauty here. The Yarlung Tsangpo River and the Nyang River converge in this area, forming a vast delta wetland. Towering snow mountains and winding rivers create charming landscapes and an epic, magnificent picture.

Namcha Barwa, the most beautiful mountain peak in China, is a must-visit spot in Nyingchi. And Suosong Village is its perfect match. Suosong Village is located within the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon scenic area. Situated on a hillside, facing the Namcha Barwa peak with the Yarlung Tsangpo River below, it offers an excellent vantage point to admire the mountain. Due to perennial clouds and mist, Namcha Barwa rarely reveals its full face. Even in nearby Suosong Village, seeing the entire mountain is a matter of luck. Generally, the chances are higher in winter when the weather is clearer.

If you come to Tibet without soaking in a hot spring, it's as if you haven't truly experienced Tibet. If I had to choose, I would only pick Detrum Hot Spring. Detrum Hot Spring has been gaining popularity online in recent years. Compared to the more famous Yangbajing, Detrum, with a history of over a thousand years, is slightly more offbeat but is a local favorite. The water temperature stays around 40°C year-round, earning it the title 'World's No. 1 Hot Spring.' The water contains various minerals beneficial to the body. Legend has it that when the water temperature is high, a medicinal snake emerges from the nearby stone wall.

Travelogue Index: 1. Before You Go | Tibet's Most 'Open' Self-Drive Route; 2. Day 1: Highway on the Plateau | The Highest-Altitude Expressway; 3. Day 2: Contemplating Life | The Most Mysterious Sky Burial Site in Tibet; 4. Day 3: Harvesting Scenery | The Challenging Access Road to Sapu; 5. Day 4: Breathtaking Beauty | Sacred Lakes, Ancient Forts, and a Private Glacier; 6. Day 5: Roadside Surprises | The Uniquely Shaped 'Three Sisters Carrying Water Mountain'; 7. Day 6 & 7: Back on the Main Road | China's Most Beautiful Scenic Avenue; 8. Day 8: Tibet's Jiangnan | Spring Returns to the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon; 9. Day 9: Peak Gazing in Suosong | The Best Spot to See the 'Bashful Peak'; 10. Day 10: Return Treat | Soaking in the World's No. 1 Hot Spring with Locals