Crossing the Earth's Third Pole
🌟 🌄 Ali · Tibet
❓ Why Ali?
Ali, Tibet’s Tibet, the roof of the world’s roof! This is the gateway to the Qiangtang no-man’s land, featuring:
✅ Mount Kailash — recognized by Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism as the "Center of the Universe"
✅ Lake Manasarovar — one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes, whose waters can cleanse the soul
✅ Zanda Earth Forest — a millennium geological wonder resembling an alien landscape
✅ Dark Night Park — China’s best stargazing spot, where the Milky Way is within reach
“No Ali, no Tibet” — only by coming here can you truly reach the soul of Tibet!
🗺️ Top 5 Must-Visit Places in Ali
1️⃣ Mount Kailash Kora (altitude 6,656m)
The ultimate challenge for believers: a 52 km trek completed in 2-3 days, passing prayer flags, mani stone piles, and devotees prostrating.
- 📍Tips: Non-believers are advised to take the outer route; the inner route requires a local guide; border permits must be obtained in advance during peak season (May-October).
2️⃣ Lake Manasarovar + Lake Rakshastal (Ghost Lake)
- Sacred Lake Manasarovar is as blue and clear as a mirror, while Ghost Lake Rakshastal is dark and mysterious; the two lakes are adjacent but completely different.
- 🚗 Around the lake: self-drive or charter a car, shoot the “Sacred Lake sunset golden mountain” in the evening.
3️⃣ Zanda Earth Forest + Guge Kingdom Ruins
- Earth forest landscape like the surface of Mars, glowing golden at sunrise; the ruins of the Guge Kingdom hide an unsolved mystery of a sudden disappearance overnight.
- 🎫 Tickets: Guge Kingdom 65 RMB, remember to bring a telephoto lens!
4️⃣ Pangong Lake — the “Swan Lake” on the China-India border
- Half salty, half fresh water; take a boat to Bird Island to see black-necked cranes.
5️⃣ Dark Night Park (Ali Astronomical Observatory)
- Altitude 5,100m, the Milky Way is clearly visible to the naked eye, star trails can be photographed in summer.
🚗 Classic Route Plan
🔥 Ali Grand Loop (13-15 days)
D1-3 Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Shigatse (get border permit) → Everest Base Camp
D4-7 Saga → Lake Manasarovar → Mount Kailash Kora → Tarchen
D8-10 Zanda Earth Forest → Guge Kingdom → Shiquanhe
D11-13 Pangong Lake → Qiangtang Grassland → Return to Lhasa
⏳ Short Essential Route (7 days): Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Everest → Lake Manasarovar → Mount Kailash → Zanda → Return
⚠️ High Altitude Survival Guide
Altitude sickness prevention: take Rhodiola two weeks in advance, acclimate in Lhasa for 2 days before departure, carry glucose and oxygen bottles.
Border permit: apply in your registered residence or Lhasa, fill in “Ali Prefecture, Shigatse.”
Accommodation: Tarchen and Zanda have better conditions; stay in tents at Zhile Monastery during the kora.
Transportation: recommend 4-person off-road vehicle charter (about 1500-2000 RMB/day); self-driving requires an experienced driver plus spare fuel tanks.
📸 Photography Tips
Mount Kailash: shoot the golden mountain sunrise at Zhile Monastery early morning.
Lake Manasarovar: wear bright clothes by the lakeside prayer flags and mani piles for striking contrast shots.
Zanda Earth Forest: two hours before sunset, the earth forest turns crimson.
Starry sky: use a wide-angle lens + tripod, set ISO above 1600.
🍵 Flavors of Ali
Must-try: yak jerky, butter tea, tsampa, sweet tea (Shiquanhe’s “Shaanxi Noodle House” is a lifesaving supply station).
Bring your own: chocolate, instant noodles, vitamins, as supplies are scarce in remote areas.
🎒 Pre-trip Checklist
▢ Border permit ▢ Outdoor jacket (big temperature difference day and night) ▢ Sunscreen + sunglasses
▢ Trekking poles (for kora) ▢ Sleeping bag (for hygiene-conscious) ▢ Power bank (no electricity in some areas)
💬 Travelers say
“In Ali, you forget your phone signal but remember the name of every snow mountain.”
“The cup of butter tea handed by a Tibetan mother during the kora is more healing than any chicken soup.”
✨ Ali is not just a trip, it’s a journey of awakening where hardship and awe coexist.
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