Discovering the Beauty of China: Feeling Poetry and the Faraway – Journey Across the Homeland Series 1: General Chapter (5) G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway Self-Drive Travel Guide (Part 2)

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Continued from 'Discovering the Beauty of China: Feeling Poetry and the Faraway – Journey Across the Homeland Series 1: General Chapter (4) G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway Self-Drive Travel Guide (Part 1)'

The highway connecting Sichuan and Tibet is called the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, which is further divided into the Southern Sichuan-Tibet Highway and the Northern Sichuan-Tibet Highway. The southern route is commonly referred to as National Highway 318, and the northern route as National Highway 317. Both roads into Tibet boast their own unique road conditions and scenery. However, comparatively speaking, G318 has better road conditions and more complete dining and accommodation facilities along the way, making it the top choice for most travel enthusiasts embarking on their first self-drive trip to Tibet.

Schematic map of G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway (image downloaded from the internet)

Elevation profile of the southern G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway (image downloaded from the internet)

Tibet - Lhasa - Potala Palace Square - Potala Palace

Tibet - Baxoi - Palong Zangbo River

Sichuan - Batang - roadside scenery

Tibet - Gongbo'gyamda - Basum Tso - Jieba Village

Tibet - Nyingchi - Bayi District - Gala Village Peach Garden

Tibet - Baxoi - section of G318 - roadside scenery

The G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway is the most spectacular and also the most treacherous section of China's scenic National Highway 318. This stretch alone is beautiful, complex, changeable, and precipitous, with the altitude soaring from a few meters to over 5,000 meters. Dozens of mountain ranges, such as Erlang Mountain and Zheduo Mountain, loom before you, while turbulent rivers like the Dadu, Jinsha, and Lancang rivers accompany your journey. Majestic mountains, mighty rivers, alpine snowfields, forests, and glaciers encompass almost all natural landscapes, awaiting you like a visual feast. Because the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway offers rich natural scenery, profound cultural heritage, and rigorous challenges along the way, it has become the most popular and hottest self-drive route in China today.

Tibet - Lhasa - Potala Palace Square - Potala Palace

Tibet - Baxoi - Ranwu Lake

Tibet - Nyingchi - Bayi District - Gala Village

Tibet - Nyingchi - Mainling - Sosong Village - distant view of Namcha Barwa

Tibet - Nyingchi - Lulang

Tibet - Bomi - Gangxiang Nature Reserve - roadside scenery

Tibet - Lhasa - Jokhang Temple

Tibet - Baxoi - Ranwu Lake

Without traveling Highway 318, you will never know the hardship of the Sichuan-Tibet road; without traveling Highway 318, you will never know China's most beautiful scenic corridor. The most beautiful scenery is always on the road, and the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway will definitely not disappoint you.

Tibet - Lhasa - Potala Palace Square - Potala Palace at night

Sichuan - Litang - Kazila Mountain Pass - alpine meadow

Sichuan - Kangding - Mugecuo (Kangding Love Song Scenic Area)

Tibet - Nyingchi - Mainling - Sosong Village - by the Yarlung Zangbo River

Tibet - Baxoi - Laigu Glacier

Tibet - Nyingchi - Lulang

Exclaim at its peril, marvel at its beauty!

Fourth Stop: Batang – Markam – Zogang (260 km)

Not far from Batang, after reaching Zhubalong Township and crossing the Jinsha River Bridge, you have traveled over mountains and waters, endured hardships, and finally begun to enter the Tibet region. You can now experience firsthand the complex, varied, and colorful scenery of the three-river basin of the Jinsha, Lancang, and Nu rivers. Before reaching Markam, the first county in Tibet and the junction of the Sichuan-Tibet and Yunnan-Tibet highways at an altitude of 3,860 meters, you still need to cross the Zongbala Mountain Pass at 4,150 meters and the Lawu Mountain Pass at 4,376 meters.

Sichuan - Batang - Jinsha River Bridge

Tibet - Markam - G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway - road repair section

Leaving Markam, the winding mountain road ascends steeply as you begin to enter the Lancang River Grand Canyon. The relative drop of the grand canyon exceeds 1,000 meters, with the river surging through the deep valley. National Highway 318 winds along precarious cliffs, giving us a taste of the highway's high altitude differences and treacherous side. Passing through the Jueba Mountain Pass, which is not very high at only 3,911 meters, the section is known as a famous dangerous stretch in the Hengduan Mountains due to its many sharp turns and poor road conditions.

Tibet - Markam - Jueba Mountain Pass

Tibet - Markam - Jueba Mountain

After that, you will encounter the first mountain pass above 5,000 meters on the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the Dongda Mountain Pass at 5,130 meters. This altitude is only slightly lower than the famous Everest Base Camp (5,200 meters). On one side of the mountain flows the surging Lancang River, and on the other is Zogang. This area was once called a 'forbidden zone for life,' where high mountains often experience wind and rain, and even snow all year round. Due to the harsh environment and climate, road conditions here are average. Pay attention to controlling speed and drive cautiously for safety.

Crossing these increasingly higher mountain passes is a self-challenge and test for every self-drive enthusiast on the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway. Descending the mountain and continuing onward, you arrive at the next stop: Zogang County at an altitude of 3,750 meters.

Tibet - Zogang - Dongda Mountain Pass

1. If you have enough time and are interested when passing through Markam, you can drive south along G214 for about 100 kilometers to the ancient salt pans of Markam in Naxi Ethnic Township. There, you can admire the unique scenery of ancient salt pans on both sides of the Lancang River and personally feel the hardship that working people have endured for centuries producing salt by hand along the river.

2. The road condition of G214 is good, and traffic is far less than on the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway.

3. There is a landmark building at Dongda Mountain Pass where you can take photos. Due to the high altitude, move slowly when sightseeing and keep your stay short to prevent altitude sickness.

Tibet - Markam - by the Lancang River - Millennium Ancient Salt Pans

Tibet - Markam - by the Lancang River - Millennium Ancient Salt Pans - villagers selling their own salt

Tibet - Markam - G214 - roadside scenery

Fifth Stop: Zogang – Baxoi – Ranwu (300 km)

The next point after Zogang is Bangda, which is somewhat famous due to Qamdo Bangda Airport. It is also the junction of the southern and northern Sichuan-Tibet highways.

After leaving Bangda and climbing to the Yela Mountain Pass at 4,658 meters, National Highway 318 zigzags down steep ridges all the way to the Nu River, forming the magnificent '72 Turns of the Nu River.' As a necessary route on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, it is its very danger that makes it more challenging and worthwhile for self-drive enthusiasts. When you drive up the mountain and stand at the viewing platform looking down from above, the scene will amaze everyone who sees it. Driving through the 'Tiger's Mouth' at the tail end of the 72 Turns—a dangerous section of the Nu River Grand Canyon on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway with narrow roads, many sharp turns, and poor visibility—requires extra concentration and slow driving. Besides watching for oncoming vehicles, it is generally not advisable to overtake.

Tibet - Baxoi - Yela Mountain Pass

Tibet - Baxoi - 72 Turns of the Nu River

Tibet - Baxoi - G318 Nu River Grand Canyon section - Nu River Tunnel

Tibet - Baxoi - G318 Nu River Grand Canyon section - Tiger's Mouth

Tibet - Baxoi - G318 Nu River Grand Canyon section - Nu River by the road

After passing Baxoi (3,260 meters), you then cross the watershed between the Nu River and the Yarlung Zangbo River—the Anjula Mountain Pass at 4,325 meters, which is relatively gentle. You then enter the legendary and mythical Yarlung Zangbo River basin from the Nu River basin. Descending all the way after the pass, you soon arrive at beautiful Ranwu Lake, at an altitude of 3,850 meters. The lake covers 22 square kilometers and consists of three connected lakes, set against snow mountains, meadows, and blue sky. Its enchanting scenery makes it a must-visit spot on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.

Tibet - Baxoi - Anjula Mountain Pass

Tibet - Baxoi - section of G318

Tibet - Baxoi - G318 - roadside scenery

Tibet - Baxoi - Ranwu Lake

Tibet - Baxoi - Ranwu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve

1. There is a dedicated viewing platform for the 72 Turns of the Nu River where you can stop to rest and overlook the spectacular turns.

Tibet - Baxoi - viewing platform for the 72 Turns of the Nu River

Tibet - Baxoi - viewing platform for the 72 Turns of the Nu River - 72 Turns of the Nu River

2. Ranwu Town has become a tourist stop, offering convenient dining and accommodation, including upscale resort hotels. Here, you can visit not only Ranwu Lake and the Ranwu Lake Wetland Reserve but also Laigu Glacier and Laigu Village.

3. Although refueling is generally not a problem along the way these days, it's still a good habit for self-drive trips to fill up the tank whenever it's half empty and you come across a gas station, just to be prepared.

Tibet - Baxoi - Ranwu Lake

Tibet - Baxoi - Ranwu Lake lakeside tourist resort

Tibet - Baxoi - Ranwu Lake Wetland Nature Reserve

Tibet - Baxoi - Laigu Glacier

Sixth Stop: Ranwu Lake – Bomi (120 km)

Leaving Ranwu Lake and continuing west along the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway, the beautiful Palong Zangbo River accompanies you all the way, with stunning scenery prompting frequent stops for photos. Not far along, you reach the Midui Glacier scenic area in Yupu Township, Bomi County. Midui Glacier is the lowest-altitude maritime glacier in the world, with a complete range of glacier features. Its most distinctive characteristic is the coexistence of huge ice basins, numerous avalanches, giant ice waterfalls, glacial lakes, and villages. It has been named one of China's six most beautiful glaciers by Chinese National Geography magazine and is a glacier you can easily view up close. The small village of Midui at the foot of the glacier is a quiet Tibetan village, where Tibetan-style courtyards are arranged in a charming, rustic pattern. Trees, prayer flags, and threshing grounds in the courtyards create an idyllic pastoral scene that is very beautiful.

Tibet - Baxoi - Palong Zangbo River

Tibet - Bomi - Palong Zangbo River

Tibet - Bomi - G318 - roadside scenery

Tibet - Bomi - Midui Glacier

Tibet - Bomi - Midui Village

As you drive closer to Bomi, the forests on both sides of the road become denser, and the terrain is relatively gentle—a pleasant stretch that brings joy to self-drivers. In Bomi, at an altitude of only 2,750 meters, there are many famous scenic spots, making it an ideal place to rest and stay overnight.

Heading south from Bomi along the Moza Highway leads to Mêdog, known as the 'Secret Lotus Land,' the last county in China to be connected by road. Due to long-term inaccessibility, it still retains an air of mystery and is a most coveted destination for travel enthusiasts.

Tibet - Bomi - G318 - roadside scenery

Tibet - Bomi - G318 - villagers performing kora

Tibet - Bomi - Galang National Wetland Park

Tibet - Bomi - county town - night view

If you come to Bomi during the peach blossom season in March and April, you'll find plenty of blooming peach trees along both sides of G318, attracting visitors to stop and admire them. The famous Bomi Peach Blossom Valley stretches for dozens of kilometers, offering a feast of peach blossom scenery.

Tibet - Bomi - G318 - roadside scenery

Tibet - Bomi - Galang National Wetland Park

Tibet - Bomi - Bomi Peach Blossom Valley

Additionally, there is the Bomi Gangxiang Spruce Forest, once ranked one of China's top ten most beautiful forests by Chinese National Geography magazine, and Gang Village, named one of China's most beautiful villages. The pristine natural scenery, strong rural atmosphere, and unique Tibetan culture all make it worth pausing to look around and explore.

Tibet - Bomi - Gangxiang Nature Reserve

Tibet - Bomi - Gangxiang Nature Reserve - Gangxiang Spruce Forest Scenic Area

Tibet - Bomi - Gangxiang Nature Reserve - Gang Village

Tibet - Bomi - Gangxiang Nature Reserve - roadside scenery

1. The Midui Glacier scenic area is less than 10 kilometers from G318. After buying tickets at the gate, you can drive several kilometers in and park at the Midui Village parking lot. If you don't stay overnight in Ranwu, some households in Midui Village offer accommodation and meals, and the altitude here is very low, only about 2,000 meters.

Tibet - Bomi - Midui Glacier

Tibet - Bomi - Midui Village

2. The Gangxiang Spruce Forest Scenic Area and Gang Village are both within the Gangxiang Nature Reserve, not far from Zhamo Town, the county seat of Bomi. Here, there is a spectacular spruce forest stretching for dozens of kilometers, allowing you to enjoy pristine, natural jungle scenery. In Gang Village, the hamlets and pastoral landscapes are beautiful, and Tibetan households can provide simple dining services.

Tibet - Bomi - Gangxiang Nature Reserve - Gangxiang Spruce Forest Scenic Area

Tibet - Bomi - Gangxiang Nature Reserve - Gang Village

Tibet - Bomi - Gangxiang Nature Reserve - roadside scenery

3. Although the Moza Highway from Bomi to Mêdog is now open, road conditions often change greatly due to the special geographical structure and climate. Moreover, it is said that due to traffic restrictions, entry to Mêdog currently follows a one-way system of 'entry on even dates and exit on odd dates.'

Tibet - Mêdog - Moza Highway - Galongla Tunnel

Tibet - Mêdog - Moza Highway - roadside scenery

Seventh Stop: Bomi – Lulang (160 km)

Leaving Bomi toward Lulang, you will pass the legendary Tongmai natural barrier. In the past, due to complex geological structures, this area often suffered severe natural disasters such as landslides, roadbed collapses, and mudslides, sometimes blocking the road for over ten hours or even several days. In recent years, the state invested heavily to rebuild the Tongmai Grand Bridge and the Polonggou Grand Bridge, and several tunnels were excavated to bypass areas prone to landslides and mudslides, fundamentally improving the traffic conditions of this section of G318. Since then, the Tongmai natural barrier has become history. Now, you can safely and quickly pass through this once infamous area in just a little over ten minutes—a dangerous road turned into a smooth path. Continuing after Tongmai, you arrive at another particularly suitable place to stop: the international tourist town of Lulang.

Tibet - Bomi - Tongmai - Tongmai Grand Bridge

Lulang (3,285 meters) is located in Bayi District, Nyingchi area. It is a quiet town surrounded by forested mountains, with pastoral scenes of wooden houses and fences. In the distance, mountains are wreathed in clouds and mist, and alpine meadows bloom with wildflowers—serene and beautiful. Lulang has now developed into an international tourist town, with complete accommodation and dining facilities and many upscale hotels and resorts. Combined with its beautiful environment, it has become a place for many Sichuan-Tibet Highway travelers to lodge, relax, and explore. In and around the town, there are attractions such as Lulang Flower Sea Ranch, Zhaxigang Village, and Lulang Forest.

Tibet - Nyingchi - Lulang

Tibet - Nyingchi - Lulang - Zhaxigang Village

Tibet - Nyingchi - Lulang - Lulang Forest

1. In front of the Tongmai Grand Bridge, there is a parking lot and viewing platform where you can stop to rest and take photos. Walking to the left bank opposite the bridge, you can capture images of three bridges spanning the river from different eras, witnessing economic development and social progress.

Tibet - Bomi - Tongmai - Tongmai Grand Bridge

Tibet - Bomi - Tongmai - three bridges spanning the river from different eras

2. Lulang offers a beautiful environment and fresh air, well worth staying a while to relax, slow down, and fully appreciate everything here. The town is most beautiful in the early morning, when clouds and mist linger, creating enchanting scenery that refreshes the mind and makes you reluctant to leave. Be sure not to miss it by sleeping in!

Tibet - Nyingchi - Lulang

3. There are many beautiful sights along the G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway, but it is often very busy with many cars and people. When stopping to rest or take photos, be sure to park your vehicle where it will not affect or obstruct traffic safety. Be especially careful when crossing the road. When traveling, always keep safety top of mind.

Continued in 'Discovering the Beauty of China: Feeling Poetry and the Faraway – Journey Across the Homeland Series 1: General Chapter (6) G318 Sichuan-Tibet Highway Self-Drive Travel Guide (Part 3)'