Brief Travel Notes on the Southern Sichuan-Tibet Line (G318 National Road) entering Tibet by car

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August 29th, 2116 (Monday), written in Linzhi City, Tibet

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Important tip/summary/explanation:

1. On the way to Tibet, the elevation of the southern Sichuan-Tibet line gradually increased, which is conducive to reducing the risk of altitude sickness.

2. The most dangerous section of the southern Sichuan-Tibet line in Sichuan: Ya 'an to Kangding County (Yakang Expressway is under construction).

3. The most dangerous section of the southern Sichuan-Tibet line: it is located in Rumei Town, Mangkang County, and it is the most dangerous section from Rumei Town to Lhasa for 11 kilometers. The road is hanging on a steep height of 2111-3111 meters, which is very dangerous and horrible. Landslides occurred in many sections on the right, and rocks and mud piled up in the right lane, turning two lanes into one lane. On the left is the Lancang River. The road surface is 811 meters or even more than 1,111 meters away from the river surface. Subgrade collapse occurs in some sections, and many protective railings are damaged or missing. In the section of about 111 meters, the right lane was completely occupied by rocks and mud, leaving only the left lane to pass, but there was no guardrail at all, which scared me out of my wits and triggered a fear of heights. The driver behind helped me drive through this section, and then slowly moved forward at a speed of less than 15 kilometers per hour. (For example, the elevation of Rumei Town is 2,681 meters, the water level of Lancang River is lower than 2,611 meters, the elevation of the top of the mountain is about 5,511 meters, and the elevation difference between water and mountains is about 2,111 meters).

4. Unless the whole expressway is built in the future, the rainy season is not suitable for the southern Sichuan-Tibet line to enter Tibet by car (it is repaired every year, and it is dangerous every year! ）。

5. rainy season in Tibet: July and August are rainy seasons, with the heaviest rainfall from mid-July to mid-August.

6. Important use of the southern Sichuan-Tibet line: transportation of military supplies, which only lasts for six months every year (starting in March and stopping at the end of June; No transportation in July and August; Transportation resumed in September and stopped in October when the road froze. )

7. Road management in Tibet on the southern Sichuan-Tibet line: The dangerous sections are not maintained by the Tibet Highway Bureau, but managed by the Armed Police Force (at least including the Jinsha River Bridge in Mangkang County, Tibet, the Nujiang Tunnel in basu county, Tibet, and the Tongmai Natural Danger within 61 kilometers from Tongmai Town, bomi county, Tibet to Lhasa). )

8. The altitude data found on the Internet often leads to misleading. For example, it is meaningless to label a town (county or city) with its average elevation. We tourists only need to pay attention to the elevation of the road surface and the hotel in a town (county or city) (the elevation of scenic spots can be found online). Therefore, the altitude data indicated in this travel note are all measured data (road altitude, hotel altitude) with the "GPS status" of the mobile phone app. In remote locations, the error of altitude data may be tens of meters due to poor cell phone signal, which does not affect the use of data.

9. In Sichuan Province, the accommodation conditions passing through the counties are all ok, and the quality of service personnel and service quality have reached a certain level. There are gas stations, inns, hotels, restaurants and plateau medicines in the towns along the way.

11. Mud and dust are flying in Mangkang County, Zuogong County and Basu County in Tibet. The hotels are expensive and the catering is expensive and poor. It is simply pig food, which is hard to swallow (Zuogong is better, Mangkang is the worst). Mangkang County and Basu County are simply "backward barbaric towns", and there are not many choices in accommodation and catering; Basu Dora Shenshan Hot Spring Hotel is the best hotel in the county, with a large scale (more than 211 rooms), but it is expensive and the food is like pig food.

11. bomi county is the first relatively good small county in Tibet, and there are many choices in accommodation and catering, with uneven quality.

12. Linzhi, Tibet is a prefecture-level city with a small scale, but the city looks good, and there are many choices for accommodation, catering and shopping. It is a small civilized city.

13. After arriving in Linzhi, the altitude of roads and hotels has gradually adapted, and the dangerous sections have passed, so my travel notes are only written here.

1. Ya 'an City (611 meters above sea level) →(196km, 5-6 hours) Kangding County (2,481 meters above sea level)

Passing places: tianquan county (748 meters above sea level), Erlangshan Tunnel in tianquan county (2,171 meters above sea level, 4,156 meters long, with poor ventilation) and Luding (111 meters above sea level).

road surface and driveway: two lanes in both directions, and the road surface is basically good (individual sections of landslides, only 1 lanes in both directions).

driving vision: the vision is very poor, and there are many sharp corners, so it is very difficult to overtake.

speed range: 25-51km/h.

hazard description: the most dangerous section in Sichuan (prone to geological disasters, landslides, flying rocks) of G318 national highway in the southern line of Sichuan-Tibet. Forced out of the driveway on the cliff, the rock mass is above the roof. It is very dangerous after heavy rain and long rain.

Altitude sickness: The altitude rises gradually, reaching an altitude of 2,481m in Kangding County, which can be adapted by ordinary people, laying a foundation for adapting to the higher altitude behind.

2. Kangding County (2481m above sea level) →(141km for 4 hours) Yajiang County (2611m above sea level)

Passing places: Zheduo Mountain (4298m above sea level), xinduqiao (3441m above sea level), Bajiaolou Township and Gaoersishan Tunnel (3921m above sea level, 5682m long). Climb a little halfway up the mountain, and then slowly go downhill. After driving for about 31 kilometers, you will start to climb the Panshan Highway, and climb to the top of the mountain, which is the first high mountain pass in Sichuan and Tibet (the stone tablet "bends more in the west" and "the first prayer wall in Sichuan and Tibet"), with an altitude of 4298 meters; Then, it began to go downhill, and the altitude continued to drop. Arrive at Yajiang County at 5:11 pm (2611 meters above sea level).

road surface and driveway: the road surface is good, with two lanes in both directions.

driving vision: good vision and few sharp bends.

speed range: 31-61km/h.

risk description: the risk is not great (there is no flying stone, and there is little chance of landslide), but there is still risk after heavy rain and long rain.

Altitude sickness: 4298 meters above sea level is just passing by, so the possibility of altitude sickness is lower than that of staying for a long time.

3. Yajiang County (2611 meters above sea level) →(136km for 3 hours) Litang County (4111 meters above sea level)

Location: Jianzi Wanshan Tunnel (4261 meters above sea level, 2231 meters long), Kangba Hanzi Village (4311 meters above sea level), Kangba Hanzi Village Peak Highway (4365 meters above sea level), Rili Village Service Station (4266 meters above sea level), Sky City (4321 meters above sea level), Honglong Township (4151 meters above sea level), intersection of Laokela Township (4265 meters above sea level) and Kela Township (altitude) Litang tunnel (4145 meters above sea level)

Travel record: At 9:11 a.m. on Sunday, August 21th, we started from Yajiang County, and drove along the river at the foot of the high mountain for about 25 kilometers, that is, we started Panshan Highway (the first "Tianlu" in Sichuan and Tibet). The car crawled hard and the power was seriously insufficient. After going up the mountain, the altitude changes very little, basically driving on the mountain. After passing through the Jianziwan Mountain Tunnel (4261 meters above sea level and 2231 meters long), there are about 111 kilometers of alpine grasslands and natural forest farms, sometimes uphill and sometimes downhill, and the altitude rises and falls, but it always travels above 4111 meters above sea level and the highest point is 4451 meters. Cross Litang Tunnel (4145 meters above sea level) and you will see the county seat. After descending the slope, you will see Cordyceps Hotel (arrive at 12:15 noon).

pavement and driveway: very good, two lanes in both directions.

driving vision: good vision and few sharp bends.

speed range: 41-61km/h.

description of danger: no danger (there is almost no chance of landslide, except after days of heavy rain and long rain).

altitude sickness: driving at an altitude of 4,451 meters for a long time, it is especially necessary to beware of altitude sickness! (Cordyceps Hotel has good accommodation, high cost performance and free 24-hour oxygen supply. It is recommended to stay for 2-3 days to help you adapt to the altitude of 4111 meters. )

special note: the car is also short of oxygen, and climbing is too difficult, so it must be lowered by 1-2 gears.

4. Litang County (4111m above sea level) →(175km for 3 hours) Batang County (2555m above sea level)

Passing places: Heni Township (4211m above sea level), Haizishan (4695m above sea level), Tianyu Hot Spring (3911m above sea level) and Deda Village (36811 above sea level).

Travel record: At 11:11 am on Tuesday, August 23rd, I started from Litang County and drove along the river, with a speed of 111 km/h. The road surface was good, the view was very good, there was no sharp bend, and the altitude rose slowly (almost no downhill). After driving for about 15 km, I started to climb the mountain gently and arrived at the top of Haizi Mountain (4695 meters above sea level). The national highway G318 meanders along the river between the two mountains, and the altitude drops slowly (almost no uphill) until it reaches Batang County (only 2555 meters above sea level). The road conditions are good, but there are many sharp bends and villages, and the driving vision is poor. Be careful of landslides on both sides in the alpine rainy season, and there are flying stones in some sections. Arrive at Batang county around 3:31 pm.

road surface and driveway: the road surface is good, with two lanes in both directions.

driving vision: it is divided into two sections with different conditions (see "Travel Record" earlier).

speed range: 41-111 km/h

description of danger: there are not many dangerous sections (but it is dangerous in rainy season, so be careful of landslides).

Altitude sickness: Compared with the journey two days ago, the altitude increase is very small, so don't worry about altitude sickness.

5. Batang County (2555 meters above sea level) →(117km takes 3 hours) Mangkang County (3891 meters above sea level)

Passing place: Jinsha River Bridge (Sichuan-Tibet border, 2479 meters above sea level), Longxiang Checkpoint in Juba (within 1 km from Jinsha River Bridge, beside Jinsha River), Haitong Military Station (24 kilometers from Mangkang County, 211 kilometers away from Mangkang County).

Travel record: At 4:31 pm on Tuesday, August 23rd, drive about 31 kilometers from Batang County to Tibet, that is, see the Jinsha River Bridge in Sichuan-Tibet border; After crossing the bridge at 4:31 pm, drive for about 1 km, which is the checkpoint of Juba Long Township. About 1 km further on, the roadbed collapses. The river water is turbulent, and the mountains on both sides are steep, which is very dangerous. It continues to go up along the gentle slope of the river (almost no downhill), and the roadbed collapses seriously within about 51 kilometers along the way, with almost 1 roadbed collapses every 211 meters, with an average of more than 5 collapses per kilometer. After adding color to ding cun, Panshan Highway went up to the gentle slope section, and more roadbed collapsed. Climb about 8 kilometers, that is, to the top of Zongla Mountain (4151 meters above sea level), then steep down the mountain, the altitude drops rapidly, and the bottom of the mountain is Mangkang County (3891 meters above sea level). Arrive at Mangkang County at 7:11 pm.

road surface and driveway: the road surface is good, but the subgrade collapse is very serious, with two lanes in both directions.

driving vision: the vision is not bad, and there are not many sharp bends.

speed range: 31-41km/h (71km from the checkpoint to the county seat, and the checkpoint requires a driving time of at least 2 hours).

hazard description: dangerous road sections (many landslides, flying rocks on the mountain, subgrade collapse, absolutely not allowed to drive in rainy season).

altitude sickness: no need to worry.

6. Mangkang County (3891 meters above sea level) →(168km for 8 hours) Zuogong County (3781 meters above sea level)

Passing place: Rumei Town (2679 meters above sea level) and Dongdashanyakou (5118 meters above sea level)

Travel record: Wednesday, August 24th at 8:11 am. Leave the city, that is, start Panshan Highway, leave the county town for 11 kilometers, that is, go to Laowu Mountain (4376 meters above sea level). The top of the mountain is an alpine grassland, and less than 1 kilometers ahead, that is, it quickly goes down the mountain along Panshan Highway. Drive down the mountain for about 11 kilometers, that is, to Kajun Village (3811 meters above sea level). After that, it passed through Laowu Village (at an altitude of 3,591 meters), Duomei Village (at an altitude of 3,491 meters), Rumei Village (at an altitude of 3,141 meters), Rumei Town Primary School in Riwa Village (at an altitude of 2,811 meters) and Rumei Town Lancangjiang Zhuka Bridge (at an altitude of 2,679 meters). It is 111 kilometers away from Zuogong County and 58 kilometers away from Mangkang County. Eat in Rumei Town at noon. There is no public power supply here, and each family uses diesel generators to generate electricity at 7:11-12:11 pm.

After lunch, start from Rumei Town, drive to Zuogong County, cross the bridge and start Panshan Highway, and drive for about 2 kilometers, then enter the most dangerous section of human beings. About 8 kilometers of roads are very dangerous and scary! On the right is a steep mountain with a height of 811 meters or even more than 1,111 meters, one landslide after another, and rocks of different sizes rolling down from the mountain are not cleaned, piled up or scattered in the right lane. On the left is a cliff with a depth of 811 meters or even more than 1,111 meters. Many roadbed collapses, many guardrails are not available, many guardrails are damaged, and many 2 lanes are changed into 1 lanes (originally two lanes). Go on, 25 kilometers away from Rumei Town is the Jueba Mountain Observation Platform (3,911 meters above sea level), then pass through Dengba Village 3521 meters, Wuzong Formation (4,161 meters above sea level) and Dongdashanyakou (5,118 meters above sea level), then go down the Panshan Highway, pass through Dongda Village (3,931 meters above sea level), and then drive along the river, then go up the mountain and then down the mountain. Arrive at Zuogong County (3781 meters above sea level) around 5:11 pm.

road surface and driveway: the road surface is fairly good (except for the most dangerous section of 8km), with two lanes in both directions.

driving vision: the vision is not the worst, and there are many sharp bends. Be careful when overtaking on Panshan Highway, uphill and downhill!

Speed range: 11-61km/h

Danger description: 11 km around Rumei Town is the most dangerous, and it will never come again in this life (subgrade collapse, landslide, absolutely no driving in rainy season, unless it is fatal! The subgrade of the section from Rumei Town to Mangkang County is 111 meters or even 211 meters higher than the canyon channel; The subgrade of the section 11 kilometers to Zuogong County is 811 meters or even more than 1,111 meters higher than the canyon channel).

altitude sickness: the distance ahead has been adapted, so there is no need to worry about altitude sickness.

7. Zuogong County (3781m above sea level) →(211km for 6 hours) Basu County (3211m above sea level)

Travel record: On Thursday, August 25th, at 11.11 am, I left Zuogong County (3781m above sea level) and went upstream along the "Yuqu" river, with the altitude slowly rising; First pass through the top of Changra Mountain (3854 meters above sea level); Drive 37 kilometers to