Discovering Stunning China, Embracing Poetry and the Distance – Walking the Motherland Series IV: Tibet Chapter (1) Mount Everest National Park
Discovering Stunning China, Embracing Poetry and the Distance – Walking the Motherland Series IV: Tibet Chapter (1) Mount Everest National Park
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Distant View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Entrance
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Distant View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Altitude Monument
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
Witnessing the Highest Altitude of Life at Everest Base Camp – June 2018 Self-Drive Travelogue to Mount Everest National Park
Tibet, a pure sacred land of endless longing, a snow-covered plateau that haunts one's dreams. The holy and mysterious Tibet, with its immense allure and penetrating charm, has captured the hearts of countless travelers. Stepping onto this unfamiliar and magical land, following the footsteps of pilgrims into ancient and distant legends, feeling the vast tranquility of sacred mountains and holy lakes, touching the timeless heritage of ancient monasteries and temples—all these will leave you spellbound, stirred, and unforgettable.
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Overlooking Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Distant View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
During the self-driving trip across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in June and July 2018, we traversed 10 provinces including Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Tibet, Qinghai, Gansu, Shaanxi, Hubei, and Jiangxi. The journey lasted 39 days and covered 12,900 kilometers. Along the way, we enjoyed boundless scenery and visited numerous historical sites, constantly amazed, inspired, excited, and delighted by landscapes that were majestic, holy, enchanting, or full of unique charm. The most memorable, meaningful, and unforgettable moment was at the Everest Base Camp in Mount Everest National Park, at an altitude of 5,200 meters, where we experienced up close the majestic grandeur of the world's summit—Mount Everest—and witnessed the highest altitude of our lives.
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Nature Reserve
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Mount Everest, meaning 'third goddess' in Tibetan, is located on the border between China and Nepal in Tingri, Shigatse, Tibet. Its altitude is 8,844.43 meters (latest measurement 8,848.86 meters), making it the main peak of the Himalayas and the world's highest mountain. Around Everest, there are 4 peaks above 8,000 meters and over 40 above 7,000 meters, truly the Earth's third pole.
Everest Base Camp is a protected area established to safeguard the core region of Mount Everest. At 5,200 meters, it is the best spot to view the world's peak up close, the starting point and base camp for many climbers conquering Everest from the north route, and the closest point for ordinary tourists like us, with no professional mountaineering training, to admire Everest within Mount Everest National Park.
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Nature Reserve
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Overlooking Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
June 23rd was a tremendous challenge and a severe test, but also the fulfillment of a big dream. Our group of four set off from Shantou, Guangdong, on June 4th, and after covering over 5,000 kilometers, today we finally were about to drive to the foot of the Earth's third pole, the world's highest peak—Mount Everest—to reach the Everest Base Camp in Mount Everest National Park.
In the morning, we departed from Baiba Town in Tingri County. Not far away, we encountered a checkpoint where we had to get out and present our ID cards and border permits. Continuing on, we arrived at the main entrance of Mount Everest National Park and bought park tickets. The cost was 400 yuan per vehicle (including one driver), and 90 yuan per person for additional passengers. We also had to have copies made of the driver's ID, driver's license, and vehicle registration. There was a prominent sign at the entrance, perfect for souvenir photos.
A short drive into Mount Everest National Park, we passed the Gawula Pass Viewpoint at 5,198 meters. From the viewpoint, you can not only gaze at Mount Everest but also see the other three 8,000-meter-plus peaks: Cho Oyu, Lhotse, and Makalu. It is the only pass along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway or even any road in the world where you can behold four ultra-high peaks above 8,000 meters. The weather in the morning was fairly good, offering a clear view of Everest and the three other giants. The moment I stood on the Gawula Pass Viewpoint and looked out at Mount Everest, my heart skipped a beat. World's summit, the third goddess—Mount Everest, we are here!!!
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Entrance
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Overlooking Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Overlooking Makalu and the other three 8,000-meter-plus peaks
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Overlooking Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Overlooking Mount Everest
We drove on, navigating the winding mountain roads at over 4,000 meters. There were countless steep climbs and sharp turns, said to total 108 bends. Thankfully, the 110-kilometer road from Baiba to Everest Base Camp had been recently fully paved, with some of the zigzag sections completed only recently. Though narrow, the road surface was smooth, and visibility at sharp turns was generally good. There wasn't much traffic that day, so driving felt comfortable. In the past, the roads were all uneven, potholed dirt tracks, including infamous washboard roads that rattled your bones—'eyes in heaven, body in hell'—a journey of just over 100 kilometers taking at least 5 or 6 hours. Now with the improved road, it could be done in less than 3 hours.
As we neared Everest Base Camp, we passed another border police checkpoint at the foot of Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest monastery, where ID cards and border permits were checked again. Finally, we drove into the Everest Base Camp at 5,200 meters. What an exhilarating moment! After all the hardships and difficulties to stand before Mount Everest, it was truly remarkable. Joy, excitement, and pride shone on everyone's faces. This is the most longed-for destination for every travel enthusiast, but due to various constraints, it was something I never dared to dream of before. Now, not only had we actually made it here, but we could personally experience scenes previously only seen in films or media. The excitement was indescribable. Though the weather was only so-so, affecting the view, everything before our eyes was still utterly breathtaking.
After a short rest, we made our way to the Mount Everest viewing platform. There stood a stone monument inscribed with 'Mount Everest Base Camp, Altitude 5,200 meters.' Here, everyone gazed reverently at the Earth's third pole, letting the scene purify the soul. We fixed our eyes on nearby Everest, taking photos to commemorate and witness the highest altitude of our lives. The plateau weather changes in an instant. The morning had been fine, but by noon when we reached base camp, it had worsened, with clouds obscuring part of Everest. To be so close yet unable to see the whole face of the mountain—what a pity!
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Rongbuk Monastery, the world's highest monastery
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Altitude Monument
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
A short walk beyond the 5,200-meter monument leads to the Mount Everest Elevation Survey Monument—the closest point allowed for tourists. It's said that beyond this, only those with mountaineering permits are allowed. Though not far, walking at such altitude was a bit tiring. We walked slowly; luckily, the wind wasn't strong (it's often very windy here) and the temperature wasn't too low (around 5-6°C), so we didn't feel very cold. At the elevation survey monument, we took more photos and also glimpsed Rongbuk Glacier (once rated by Chinese National Geography as the most beautiful of China's six great glaciers), which isn't easily seen by ordinary visitors. Then we slowly headed back to the base camp area and browsed around the tent guesthouses run by locals, stalls selling local products, and the world's highest-altitude post office. It was in such a barren, thin-air, nearly primordial place that one could most profoundly feel nature's greatness and human smallness. In total, we stayed at Everest Base Camp for over two hours.
Thus, the biggest highlight and most memorable day of our Qinghai-Tibet self-drive trip—the Everest Base Camp visit—came to an end. We were fortunate that all four of us were in good spirits and health; the great pity was that the weather was so-so upon our arrival, affecting the views. Staying at such a high altitude for so long without any discomfort, viewing Mount Everest up close, witnessing the highest altitude of our lives, and experiencing the capricious climate of the Everest region—all this was extremely rare and precious! Though tough, it was utterly worth it. To have such a rare experience in life fills me with contentment and gratitude!
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Mount Everest Elevation Survey Monument
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - World's Highest Post Office
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Encounter with a Flock of Goats
1. To visit Everest Base Camp, you need a border permit. You can apply in your place of household registration, or entrust a travel agency in Lhasa or Shigatse. When applying, make sure the destination is stated as Shigatse Prefecture, Tingri County, and the Everest region.
2. The weather at Everest Base Camp is extremely changeable, with huge temperature differences between morning and evening. No matter when you go, remember to bring plenty of warm clothing. If you plan to stay overnight, pay extra attention—avoid catching a cold at all costs.
3. The altitude is very high. For ordinary tourists who aren't trained mountaineers, the 5,200-meter altitude of base camp is already approaching the limit. So be especially careful to prevent altitude sickness: move slowly, and absolutely avoid running, jumping, or other strenuous activities.
4. According to reports, to protect the ecological environment of the Everest area, the original Everest Base Camp has been permanently closed since the end of 2018. The base camp accessible to tourists now is much farther back, and self-driving is no longer allowed. Visitors must buy tickets at the entrance of Mount Everest National Park and transfer to park-operated eco-buses to enter.
5. If the weather is good and your body has adjusted well, it is recommended to stay overnight at Everest Base Camp. Though the facilities are basic, the evening and early morning scenery will definitely make it worthwhile. At the time, we were worried about the high altitude and feared staying too long might cause problems, so we didn't dare arrange an overnight stay. We missed a lot and left with great regret.
6. As an alternative, you can stay in Baiba Town, Tingri County, which is just over 100 kilometers from Everest Base Camp at an altitude of 4,400 meters. It may be a small town, but it serves as a staging post for many tourists heading to Everest, with food and accommodation readily available and quite convenient.
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Gawula Pass Viewpoint - Overlooking Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Winding Mountain Road
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - World's Highest Post Office
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Close-up View of Mount Everest
Tibet - Tingri - Mount Everest National Park - Everest Base Camp - Encounter with a Flock of Goats
