林芝新城农贸市场

Our original plan for this trip to Tibet was to depart from Shanghai and, after arriving in Chengdu, take Highway 318 directly into Tibet. However, following this standard Sichuan-Tibet route, we would have spent nearly half our time in Sichuan. To gain a deeper and more efficient understanding of Tibet and see more of its scenery, we ultimately decided to transit through Chengdu and land in Nyingchi, our starting point. This was partly because Nyingchi, as the entrance to Highway 318, boasts some of the most stunning scenery. Furthermore, Nyingchi's location at a low altitude and rich in oxygen made it easier for us, our first-time visitors, to acclimate to altitude sickness. [Yeah] 🗓 Itinerary: Nyingchi → Bomi, 280km, 5.5-hour drive Nyingchi New Town Farmers' Market Located in downtown Nyingchi, it's about an hour's drive from Nyingchi Milin Airport. During mushroom season, there are many stalls selling mushrooms. Compare prices, and prices are nearly half the price of restaurants. You can also have them delivered. There are so many varieties, many of which we didn't recognize, that we hesitated to buy anything without worrying about getting stuck. [Facepalm] 📝 Tips: 1. If you want to buy mushrooms and have them processed at a restaurant, it's recommended to only buy matsutake, as local regulations prohibit restaurants from processing other mushrooms. 2. Try the local matsutake stone pot chicken, which is delicious. There's also matsutake sashimi, which is fragrant and unique. Sejila Mountain Observation Deck From here, you can see Mount Namjagbarwa from afar. However, since Mount Namjagbarwa is shrouded in clouds for nearly half the year, passersby often stop to check in and try their luck. Plus, this is one of the few restrooms along the way, so the parking lot is always busy. On our first day in Tibet, the 4,700-meter altitude gave us our first taste of altitude sickness. My companions all experienced varying degrees of dizziness and shortness of breath. 📝Note: Tips: My trip to Tibet revealed a problem, or rather a shortcoming, with Tibetan tourism. Viewing platforms with good views are often cordoned off, sometimes entirely, for photo ops. Lambs, yaks, and Tibetan mastiffs are also there, waiting for photos. If you don't want to take photos and just want to capture the scenery, the stall owner will stop you if you accidentally point your camera at the props like lambs and calves, making for a rather poor experience. Tongma Bridge Just passing by, this crucial piece of National Highway 318 construction—although it's been built for a while—still leaves me in awe. #TibetTravelGuide #SummerSelf-DrivingDestinations #LyingzhiTravelGuide

This summer's Tibet trip was a spontaneous decision made by my friends and I after our Xinjiang trip last year. Being a chronic procrastinator, I consulted various online recommendations and pitfall prevention posts. I also considered all the potential challenges of a first-time visit to Tibet (altitude sickness, weather, food, accommodation, etc.). Since I was already there, I couldn't just rush through the sights or follow the crowd. Ultimately, I decided on this off-the-beaten-path 12-day self-driving route. It was truly worth it, and anyone interested is welcome to check it out. [Grin] Departure Point: Shanghai Travel Date: August 🗓Itinerary: D0: Shanghai → Chengdu D1: Chengdu → Nyingchi → Bomi Nyingchi New Town Farmers' Market: Taste seasonal mushrooms Sejila Mountain Observation Deck: View Mount Namjagbarwa Tongmai Bridge: The "throat" of the 318 Highway D2: Bomi → Ranwu → Bomi Ranwu Lake: The highlight of the 318 Highway (March-May) Yalung Glacier Low-altitude glaciers that can be visited up close even in summer. D3: Bomi → Medog Gawalung Scenic Area: Journey through the four seasons, with two scenic views at each end of the tunnel. Medog Menluo Historical and Cultural Heritage Museum: A panoramic view of Medog. D4: Medog → Bomi Guoguotang Big Bend: The mighty Yarlung Zangbo River makes a 180-degree turn. Glin Tree King Forest: Hike through the primeval forest in search of the King of Trees. D5: Bomi → Lhasa (Travel Day). Lulang International Tourist Town. Mi La Pass. D6: Lhasa. Jokhang Temple: Experience the power of faith up close. Potala Palace: Embark on a pilgrimage to the summit of the snow-capped mountains. Barkhor Street: Experience the urban life of Tibet. D7: Lhasa → Se Township. Yamdrok Lake: One of the Three Sacred Lakes. Pumo Lake: Known as "China's Lake Baikal." D8: Se Township. Bai Ma Lake: A distant view of the Kulagangri Snow Mountain. Jiejiu Lake. The lake's colors are stunning even on cloudy days. D9: Se Township → Kangma Tuiwa Village, one of the world's highest villages Tsomba Yongcuo Scenic Area, known as "Angel's Tears," with Bhutan just next door D10: Kangma → Tingri Duoqingcuo, overlooking the Zhuomula Snow Mountain Range Jiru Village, the first village on the China-India border Dingjie Zongcuo Lake, facing the Amazhimi Snow Mountain D11: Tingri → Shigatse Mount Everest Base Camp, Kagyu La Pass, and the 8848 Monument Sakya Monastery, Huihai Sutra Mountain, the world's longest Sutra Wall D12: Shigatse → Chengdu → Shanghai Going home to work #TibetTravelGuide #Let'sGoTibet #TibetTravel #TibetSelf-DrivingTour #UniqueTibetTravel