Overland Route…Drive a Four Wheel Vehicle to Tibet
For those with a spirit of adventure, driving a four wheel
vehicle to Tibet may provide you with the experience of a lifetime!
Such an expedition is demanding and requires participants to be in
good physical health, time is required to make the journey and it's
costly. Anyone considering this journey should be advised that a
lot of courage and determination are required!
There are five major road routes to Lhasa. They are the
Chuanzang Highway (Sichuan-Tibet highway), Qingzang Highway (Qinghai-Tibet highway), Xinzang Highway (Xinjiang-Tibet highway), Dianzang Highway (Yunnan-Tibet highway), Sino-Nepal Highway
(Nepal-Tibet highway).
Sichuan-Tibet Highway
The Sichuan-Tibet Highway, originally called the Kangding-Tibet
Highway (a section of the No. 318 National Trunk Highway) begins in
Chengdu of Sichuan on the east and ends at Lhasa in Tibet on the
west. The Highway has two routes: Sichuan-Tibet Highway north road
(2,412 km long) and Sichuan-Tibet Highway south road (2,149 km
long). The highway crosses high mountains, passes lakes and
primeval forests, travels through valleys and there are several
sections which should be considered dangerous. But it has fine
views along the way and the traveler will encounter people with
unique customs and practices.
Yunnan (Dali)-Tibet (Markam) Highway
Yunnan-Tibet highway (a section of No. 214 National Trunk
Highway) starts at Xiaguan in Dali of Yunnan and ends at Markam of Tibet, at a total length of 800
kilometers. The highway crosses the primeval forest of the Hengduan
Mountains and the Jinsha River, climbs the 4,300-meter high Baimang
snow-capped mountain and Mount Hongla, and links up with the
southern part of Sichuan-Tibet Highway (No. 318 National Trunk
Highway) at Markam County. It's the main route between Tibet and
Yunnan.
Qinghai-Tibet Highway
Qinghai-Tibet Highway, completed in the early 1980s, starts from
Golmud of Qinghai and is the only road of the five routes providing
a bus service and the main road to Tibet. At 1,160 kilometers long
and averaging 4,000 meters high, it crosses the Kunlun Mountains
and vast grasslands. And what amazes people living in the modern
world is the fact that the bituminous road is actually the best
route into Tibet.
Xinjiang (Yecheng)-Tibet (Burang)
highway
Xinjiang-Tibet Highway begins at Yecheng in Xinjiang and ends at
Burang in Tibet. It runs 2,743
kilometers and winds its way through five mountains soaring more
than 5, 000 meters above sea level. Spectacular views of Mount
Kailash and Lake Manasarova can be seen while traveling this
stretch of road.
Sino-Nepal Highway
Sino-Nepal Highway, 750 kilometers in length, starts from Lhasa
and continues through Quxu, Xigaze, Lhaze, Dingri, Nyalam and Zham,
over the Friendship Bridge and ends at the defense highway of
Kathmandu. Sightseeing along the Sino-Nepal Highway is superb
and of course the world’s number one mountain, Mt. Qomolangma, or
Everest, can be seen in all its’ dramatic splendor.
Among the above routes, driving from Qinghai or Kathmandu
("friendship highway") is easier. We suggest you do not drive to
Tibet on the other routes unless you consider yourself to be a
real adventurer with all the necessary equipment and
backup.
(China.org.cn)