Motuo is not the end, but the starting point of forging ahead
Hello everyone, today I have carefully planned a 【Motuo 5-day 4-night deep trekking guide】 for you, with a budget controlled within 3800 RMB. It will take you into Motuo, the last county in China accessible by highway, trekking through the tropical rainforests on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, cliff plank roads, and Menba villages, completing a pilgrimage to the "Lotus Secret Realm."
📍Trip Keywords:
✅ Trekking into Motuo ✅ Subtropical rainforest ✅ Distant view of Namcha Barwa Peak ✅ Menba culture ✅ Cliff plank road ✅ Border secret realm
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📌 Trip Overview (5 days 4 nights | Budget 3800 RMB)
- ✈️ Transportation: Mainly by plane + bus + local carpool
- 🥾 Trekking: Light load + porter optional, suitable for beginner to intermediate trekkers
- 🏡 Accommodation: County town hotels + village inns (simple conditions)
- ⚠️ Reminder: Motuo is a border area, you need to apply for a 【Border Pass】 in advance!
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🗓️ Day 1: Arrive in Nyingchi → Gather at Paizhen
- 🛫 Fly to 【Nyingchi Milin Airport】 (direct or via Chengdu/Lhasa from most cities nationwide, round-trip ticket averages 1600 RMB)
- 🚌 Carpool/bus to 【Paizhen】 (about 100 RMB/person, 3-hour drive, passing through Niyang River Valley)
- 🏡 Stay at Paizhen inn (recommended "Zhaxi Inn" or "Watcher Station"), about 180 RMB/night × 1 night = 180 RMB
- 🌄 Afternoon:
- Climb to 【Duoxiongla Mountain Pass Viewing Platform】 for a distant view of Namcha Barwa Peak (weather permitting)
- Check equipment, collect trekking permit (ID registration required)
- 🍽️ Dinner: Tibetan noodles + butter tea, about 40 RMB per person
- 🌌 Overnight in Paizhen, preparing for tomorrow’s trek
💰 Daily expenses: Transportation 1600+100 = 1700 RMB + Accommodation 180 + Meals 40 = 1920 RMB
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🗓️ Day 2: First day trekking · Paizhen → Mangkang Village (altitude 2600m)
- 🥾 Trekking start: Paizhen → Duoxiongla Pass (altitude 4200m) → descend to Mangkang Village (total about 18km, 7–8 hours trekking)
- First half climbs 1000m, quite tiring, recommended to split into sections
- After crossing the pass, enter tropical rainforest, vegetation changes dramatically, like passing through four seasons
- 🌿 Scenery along the way: snow mountains, glaciers, primeval forest, prayer flag tunnel
- 🏡 Stay at Menba guesthouse in Mangkang Village (simple wooden house, with electric blanket), about 120 RMB/night × 1 night = 120 RMB
- 🍽️ Dinner: Menba hand-grabbed rice + wild vegetable soup, about 35 RMB per person
💰 Daily expenses: Accommodation 120 + Meals 35 = 155 RMB
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🗓️ Day 3: Second day trekking · Mangkang Village → 52K Checkpoint → Motuo County Town (altitude 1200m)
- 🥾 Trekking: Mangkang Village → Tiger Mouth Cliff Plank Road → 11K landslide area → 52K (car section available) → carpool to Motuo County Town (about 60 RMB)
- Tiger Mouth is a suspended wooden plank road, clinging to the cliff, thrilling (pay attention to safety)
- 11K is a frequent mudslide area, follow forest ranger instructions to pass quickly
- 🏡 Stay at Motuo County Town hotel (recommended "Lotus Secret Realm Hotel" or "Gesar Hotel"), better conditions, hot water available, about 220 RMB/night × 2 nights = 440 RMB
- 🍽️ Dinner: Sichuan restaurant for Motuo stone pot chicken (a must-try!), about 60 RMB per person
- 🌆 Evening: stroll the small streets of the county town, buy tropical fruits (bananas, plantains, jackfruit)
💰 Daily expenses: Transportation 60 + Accommodation 220 + Meals 60 = 340 RMB
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🗓️ Day 4: Deep experience day in Motuo County Town
- 🌅 Morning: Visit 【Motuo Menba Culture Museum】 (free)
- Learn about Menba and Lhoba history, totems, hunting culture
- 🏘️ Afternoon: Trek or carpool to 【Dexing Village】 (20 RMB/person)
- Visit Menba households, experience bamboo weaving and brewing
- Can join a 【Home Visit】 (50 RMB/person, includes bamboo tube wine + singing and dancing)
- 🍱 Lunch: Dexing Village farmhouse meal, about 40 RMB per person
- 🌄 Return to county town by evening
- 🍲 Dinner: Small eatery for stir-fried chicken giblets + rice, about 30 RMB per person
- 🌌 Night stargazing, Motuo’s air is clear, the Milky Way is clearly visible
💰 Daily expenses: Accommodation 220 + Meals 70 + Experience 50 + Transportation 20 = 360 RMB
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🗓️ Day 5: Return to Nyingchi → Home
- 🚌 Early bus from Motuo County Town → Bomi County (ticket 80 RMB, 6-hour drive, passing snow mountains and forests)
- 🚌 Bomi → Nyingchi (ticket 100 RMB, 4-hour drive)
- 🛫 Return flight from Nyingchi Airport (or stay one night and fly next day)
- 🍱 Lunch: Bomi town Sichuan noodles, about 30 RMB per person
- 🛍️ Souvenir shopping:
- Motuo stone pot (small size under 300 RMB, can be shipped)
- Handmade bamboo woven coasters (50 RMB)
- Tropical honey (80 RMB/bottle)
💰 Daily expenses: Transportation 80+100 = 180 RMB + Meals 30 + Shopping 200 = 410 RMB
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✅ Total budget summary (precisely controlled within 3800 RMB):
| Item | Cost |
|------|------|
| Transportation (round trip + local) | 1600 + 100+60+80+100+20 = 1960 RMB |
| Accommodation (4 nights) | 180+120+220×2 = 740 RMB |
| Meals (5 days) | 40+35+60+40+30+30 ≈ 235 RMB |
| Tickets + Experiences | 50 (home visit) = 50 RMB |
| Shopping + Emergency | 200 + 115 = 315 RMB |
| Total | 3300 RMB ✅
📌 Remaining 500 RMB can be used for:
- Hiring a porter (200 RMB/day, to lighten the load)
- Upgrading accommodation
- Buying an extra stone pot or bamboo craft
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📌 Thoughtful Tips:
- 🛂 Border Pass application:
- Must be applied in advance at your registered residence or Lhasa, specify "Motuo County, Nyingchi City, Tibet"
- Carry ID + border pass for travel, multiple checkpoints along the way
- 🥾 Trekking advice:
- Wear non-slip hiking shoes (very slippery in rainy season), bring trekking poles, waterproof backpack cover
- Trek 6–8 hours daily, moderate physical demand
- Can hire local porter (200 RMB/day, to carry luggage)
- 🌦️ Weather tips:
- Motuo is one of the wettest areas in China, rainy all year, be sure to bring a rain jacket + raincoat + waterproof bags
- Best seasons: April–June (after peach blossom season), September–October (clear autumn weather)
- ❌ Avoid: July–August rainy season (frequent landslides), November–March heavy snow blocking mountains (Duoxiongla Pass closed)
- 🍵 Food characteristics:
- Mostly Sichuan and Menba home cooking, fresh vegetables but limited variety
- Recommended to bring energy bars, chocolate, vitamins
- 📸 Recommended photo spots:
- Duoxiongla Pass: looking back at Namcha Barwa
- Tiger Mouth plank road: thrilling cliffside views
- Motuo County Town: small town in tropical rainforest
- Dexing Village: Menba bamboo houses and terraced fields
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5 days 4 nights, from snowy mountain passes to tropical rainforests, from cliff plank roads to Menba fire pits, Motuo is not the end, but a practice of courage, patience, and reverence for nature.
May you hear the breath of the forest and the firmness of your heart in the rain of the Lotus Secret Realm.🌧️🥾🌿
📌 Special reminders:
- Motuo is an ecological protection priority area, please take all your trash with you, do not pick plants or disturb wildlife
- Respect Menba beliefs, do not enter sacred tree areas without permission, do not photograph rituals