Information - TIBET

kashgar - ali - saga - mendong:

see roadbook below for detail info!


mendong - namru (on map) / banga

from mendong i went off the main road, on my map (gizi map) was shown some small road, forget about the idea to find a road there, it can be eventually a track if some vehicle passed by recently, to some place a really good track
i've never been really sure of where i was as i had no really good map no compass and not a single information about the road, i think a gps would have been quite useful at least to give some information here!
it's not really horrid cycling even if there is a lot of pushing but the main difficulty for me was to find my way
there is a lot of river crossing and it can be extremely cold to cross them when the ice covering them is not thick enough to support your weight....some where frozen and then was a lot easier
i didn't had much snow there, but some pass were covered by snow the road also witch make the progression slower
i had some trouble with people around dongra yutso lake just before a village called lado shian, as it's a really remote tibetan place and they though i was a chinese spy
in banga (namru) you can find ever things to feel up your pannier including petrol, also restaurant and hotel
around namsto chukmo (quite good road, really nice cycling, but i had a lot a lot of snow in november, very friendly people) to golmut hw
see attachment number 2 for the description on the road till there or table just after (i put both as i don't believe in my capacity to attach correctly a folder!!!)


namtso - chuckmo ride 1

from there the plan was to cross over a pass to yangpachen but over 5000m was about 50cm snow without any track, i think this pass have been done by martin (adserballe) and he told me than it was very high (5600m?) so i gave up
i then tried the southern side of namsto lake but was too snowy to and freezing cold and i was too slow to hope covering the distance in the few days food i had
so i went back to dechen and then to the cross road mentioned before in the description (km 94)
from there i went towards an obvious white house (nothing there) then over a mini pass. after it the road turns right towards a bigger pass (4920)
then down in a valley to reach the main road on the northern side of the lake (bridge plus namsto chukmo conservation house)

see roadbook below for detail info!


namsto chukmo ride 2 (from namsto chukmo conservation house to golmut high way)

see roadbook below for detail info!


damzung - lhasa

i felt like in summer in the warm valley, incredible temperature variation from on side to the other of the mountain.
road from now = asphalt, perfect one, mainly head wind but stopped to complain about it as the quality of the road make the ride easy
i was on a visa rush (10 days to reach zamgmu, nepal , and i didn't felt like asking an extension) so very little info (see other web site for more details!), but anyway there is no much to say
1 pass + /- 52 km after damzhung, flat up to 4700m
then mainly flat down till lhasa (or near by, i haven t been in lhasa its self just 20km out side)


lhasa - zhigatze

easy cycling very good road, head wind before zhigatze, no need to carry food or so, shop and restaurant all the way, i camped all the way


zhigatze - lhatze

still very good road
2 passes, first one easy, and i had so much wind for the second one than i had to push on an asphalt road (no i'm not ashamed!)
food and water every where
still camping


friendship hw

camping all the way no problem
asphalt till 6km after old tingri (food and lodging available there as well as in many other place)
long climb from latze to langpa la with very bad wind in the upper part
the last 2 passes (lalung la and thang la) are easy and short even if no asphalt
the road is easy there is just the wind than could drive you crazy. don t think it's done when you reach the last pass... it's down ok but the thermic wind coming from india make it as horrid as the way up! (depend of your luck)
no asphalt till zhangmu but mainly ok road
nyalam important village (every things)
nyalam- zhangmu bad down hill road (be patient!)
zhangmu big city (internet hotel....money changer 1$=9yuan=71=bad rate but i had no info!)
zhangmu (chinese border hassle free) to kodari (nepali border) 8km of very bad road

ROAD BOOKS - information:


distances
the distances are always in kilometers, according to my speedometer (TOPKEA at the moment) witch is maybe generous of about 2% compared to the kilometer-markers. When possible there is the KMM of the road BUT, those kilometer are not always right either and depending the road, the distance of the speedometer differes (sometime 2% difference, sometime 4%, sometimes -2%....). i never tryed to make the speedometer and KMM distance look the same, i simply wrote down what i saw on both of them. for the speedometer i most of the time took the approximate distance, so it can explain some differences to (for ex 2.3 get 2 or 2.5 exept if i feel it s importante to be precise). the best to limitated the difference is to use the information location from location. Some time some small detour (lunch away from rd, water....) are not off the calcul so this can also add to the difference in the end. Keep in mind than it's just indication! although i did my best to make it as accurated as possible some mistakes may have occured (writing in the rain, re-typing....). I'm in advance extremely sorry for this!

altitudes
the watch altitude (sunto vector watch) depends on the pressure, so the difference with reality can be important depending the weather. Generally speaking it's not too bad and will give a good information. For the GPS, some time it take ages before the "right" altitude appears, and i m not always patient enough!

GPS
I wrote down what seemed to me the most important points, but not all the rd due to battery saving as i really seldom go to hotels.

camping
on some rd i indicated my camp, not that i think that they are the best place (far from this!) but 1. it may give an idea of the speed (note that i'm quite a slow and lazy cycler) and 2. it helps me to make the rd book!!!

road condition
this is not totaly objective! some time in bad days the rd doesn't look good even if it s asphalt!
so here to give you an idea about my classification:
- asphalt: the best
- good rd: no breaking in down hills
- ok rd: acceptable, you ride without thinking to much of it
- so/so rd: you break in downhill and can't ride without looking at the rd all the time, and your ass notices it!
- bad rd: means what it means!
- very bad rd: you push your bike...
- corrugated: you'll learn quickly what it means if you don't know yet: stony, gravel, sandy, muddy....

general
note that i don't write every thing and than things that would have been important to you at a time were not for me at the same place, sorry for this. most of all keep in mind that rd condition change as PSB rules, and that that information is just information.

PSB
when i see a PSB in the region i most of the times mention it, this means that if you stay in the city and are not suppose to be there, there is chance that the PSB visits you in the eve or even in the day. open barrier" means that there was a CP but nobody cared about me passing it. military CP are generally speaking safe.

abbreviations
TOR = turn off right
TOL = turn off left
X = cross rd
BFB = basic food and beverage
All = hotel, restaurant, shop
@ = internet
CM = chinese pass marker
KMM = kilometers marker
KMS = kilometers speedometer
RRS = road repair station (good water place and some times even more...)
LP = lowest point
Rest = restaurant
ST = straight
CP = check post
R = right
L = left
PSB = "petit salaud en bleu" = problems = police = public security bureau
Rd = road
TS = truck stop



kashgar - ali - saga - mendong:

.absolute
.distance
.(km)

km
marker

description

altitude
altimeter
(m)

remarks

road condition

 

-

-

kashgar/kashi

1280

highway 315

asphalt very good road, flat. traffic

-

-

yarkand

1260

turn left for this big town (all)

 

0

0

karghilik/ yechen

1355

end hw 315, turn left after end town for hw 219
towards ali

very good asphalt

25

25

road repair station (RRS)

1630

(just after km28 crossroad, right)

 

56

56

village (kokyar?)

1905

bad water

 

57

57

still asphalt

1920

 

 

61/62

61

village center (pusha?)

1990

basic food and beverages, tape water (barber shop)

 

71

71

village

2090

basic food and beverage, shop

 

78

78

small river

2195

i drink it

 

90

90

bridge

2435

river gorge

still asphalt

93

93

end of asphalt

2540

nice valley

ok road, flatter

90

90

bridge

2435

river gorge

still asphalt

100

100

akmachit?/akmeqit

2640

good water 100m left from bridge, no shop

 

104

104

start up for pass
(not flat from village!)

2800

 

 

112 (111.7!!!)

112

pass

3230

easy regular climb

good road

126

126

village dobe

2530

ok road

 

130

130

army base

2510

good camp site just before

so so road (corrugations)

133

133

asphalt back!

2525

-

very good asphalt

146

146

small village

2525

water

 

160

160

kudi/ tireyali

2930

basic food and beverage, shops, army base and RRS, restaurant, CP end of village (no problem), 3 river on the way

 

179

179

no more small army base

3455

abandoned building, several clear water on the way

 

194 (+ )

194

begin ascent to pass

4040

ruin and water (unclear), and end of asphalt

 

206

206

small RRS (close)

4415

cold valley, with water

good road

217

217

cluragsaldi pass

4835
(adjust to 4960m
altitude)

switch board road, k2 view only if you climb higher

ok road

241

241

mazar

3875

restaurant small shop, dormitory, left for ali up to
yarkant he valley

ok road with gravel section at the end

254

254

abandoned building

3945

nothing, no water except main dirty river

gravel and corrugated

267

267

clear river (small)

4020

crossing river

 

271

271

RRS abandoned

4105

no water

some bad section

289

289

RRS

4135

possible dormitory

bad road, better at the end

292

292

begin ascent to pass

4160

-

bad corrugated road

301/302

301/302

RRS/ river clear

 

 

first so so then good road

309

309

kirgizjangal pass (?)

4960

also xaidulla or kaicha daban, long end….

 

324

324

RRS (not in use)

4460

unclear water there, clear water just after pass

ok road (corrugated section)

326/327

326

clear water

4450/4380

river to cross

 

340

340

RRS

4010

not in use

so/so road (good part mixed with stony and corrugated one)

354

354

end descending

3685

ruins reaching the karakax

gravel + corrugated= bad

364

364 

xaidulla/ shahidulla 

3780 

basic food (bargain haroad), petrol (second house on the right), restaurant, dorms, army base

gravel bad!

378

378

clear river 

3845 

-

in 2006 work on progress= bad (gravel, sand, rock)

386

386

army camp

3800 

better but work starting too 

387

387

turn off for ????

3805 

new road leaving on the right

not on my map 

405

405 

turn off for purtax??

3890

turn of to karakorum pass and sw aksaichin 

gravel part 

410

410

abandoned houses 

3925 

ok road 

417

417

beginning ascending pass 

4000 

little corrugated 

425

425

kosbel pass 

4315 

pass short cut of a river bend

good road up

437

437

kangxiwar

 4060

RRS + end downhill

first good then corrugated then stony

452

452

bridge

4140

clear river (morning), already before

so/so, gravel road, sometime good secondary road

487

487

dahongliutan

4270

restaurant, shop, dorm, army base, RRS

ok road 

505

505

water

4530

main river and road split km 496 here small water point

ok road 

511

511

RRS

4685

water, steep climb afterwards

ok road

518

518 

-

-

beginning of the soda plain of aksai chin

good road (windy and cold)

529 529 khitai (chitai) pass 4960 only last km up, 1 dirty stream on the way up ok road
535.5 535.5   5185   good road 

540

540

end down hill

4925

 

corrugated downhill short cut

543

543

tent in summer (???!!!!)

4915

25 sept nothing! but water km 544

ok road 

560

560

ok river

-

 

good first then ok

578

578

thianshuibai

4815

military base + water 

ok road 

630

630

begin ascent to pass
on gizi map:
kargqiakou = just turn off for south aksay chin + /- 625
-tielengfan = haven t seen turn off,
no village for sure

4940

reaching the end of aksai chin plain
629 + 630 not very clear river
626 + 621 clear pond

ok road (good secondary road from 599 km) 

659

659

lake/pond

5060

river and lake/pond before too (647.648.650)

 

665

665

start up

5060

 

 

672

672

flat up hill

5170

 

ok road with 2nd road

676

676

tieleng (wrong on gizi map)

5135

river (bad crossing)
basic food and beverage (BFB), shops

good road, nice downhill

682

682

start up

5125

 

ok road

691

691

pass

5330

water on the way up

 

697

 

plain + end down hill

5080

water on the way down + in the plain

ok road (good at the beginning)

704

-

mini pass

5100

gravel 2nd road steeper

705

-

end down hill

5020

official entry of tibet (??)

-

714

712

lungmo lake

5000

begin ascent to pass, water on the way but strange color

so/so road corrugated + stone

717

715

small pass (25m downhill
afterwards only)

5135

chang tang nature preserve board

sandy + steep

722

720

pass

5210

work on progress

so/so first then ok

731

730

sumxi

5165

first tibetan town, BFB, dorm small river before town

bad road (sand + gravel)
work=soon better?

742

740

pass

5330

(highest one on the w tibetan southern road)
water on the way up

moderate road with bad steep section in upper part

780

-

abandoned house

4785

water all the way

ok road till 745 (river) then bad or very bad (2nd road often better)

829

828

domar: imp village

4420

check post (no pb), BFB, restaurant dorm, hotel, water
turn right after CP

very bad sandy road after km 815 (2nd road also sandy)

837

 

turn off to tsapuk (zapuk) 

4415 

-

so/so road (sandy)

845

845

pass 

4600 

flat up hill

ok road with sandy end

860

860 

end down hill, salt lake 

4315

road turn west 

sandy then corrugated (some good and bad 2nd road) 

880

880 

first obvious river since domar 

-

 

895

895 

reaching nyak lake 

4265

-

sandy 

918

918 

village BFB, dorm, fish from the lake

4230

open early oct, close late oct 

often stony= bad

933

933 

rutok 

4285

hotel restaurant shop, petrol
no CP (seen)

stony + sandy till 930
then huge work on progress for sure very good asphalt soon

962

no kmm from there

tibetan houses plus big new building

4360

-

oct 2006 good to extremely bad depend work state!!!

965

 

turn off to rabang

4345

water (dirty in river, thanks to workers camp) 

 

1017

 

army base =water

?

flat up hill till there

 

1020

 

lame la pass 

4810

-

 

1052

 

no CP

4350

no CP

 

1058

 

ali

4280

all= food petrol, restaurant, hotel (many; me 40 yuan for a private big room, public shower (11 yuan), bank and atm (visa master card ok), PSB (theoretically you should ask for your permit and be fined there=400 yuan= up to you!!!)

 

1082

 

pass

4735

quite steep!

asphalt road=perfect!

1093

 

gar valley

4300

end down hill

 

1121

 

bridge

 

4380

 

1131.5

 

old namru

4430 

turn off to zhada

 

1133.5

 

new namru

4430

shop dorm, BFB, river before and after village

 

1139

 

end asphalt

4495

-

end asphalt

1141

 

pass

4600

(4632 on gps, i accurate my watch at this altitude)

good road

1149

end down hill 

4445 

first good then gravel (work), 2nd better 

1152

RRS (water) 

4440 

-

gravel road

1161

village 

4490

BFB

gravel road (2nd road better)

1195

sangsha 

4600

army base, BFB, shop, dorm at army base, turn off to
zhada 2km before, water after village

gravel road (2nd better)
no bridge over important river before village (one in construction)

1205

-

village (BFB)

4660

turn of to ????

ok road with sandy gravel part

1222

-

pass

4795

2 road, i took the old one (right) = steeper and higher afterwards!

first very good then ok gravel road

1247

-

moincer (misar/mensi)

4445

imp town, rest, shop, BFB,
turn off to tirthapuri hot springs

ok road but bad part with work, + river crossing

1261

-

river bridge

4620

-

ok road

1263

-

river bridge 

4600 

 

1264

1275 (????!!!!)

first kilometer marker since long
time, a kind of disagreement
between them and my speedometer...

-

-

 

1281

1293

 river difficult to cross

4730

-

sandy corrugated stony....2nd road better

1289

1301 

kailash! 

4800

-

"

1301

turn off short cut to darchen (8km) 

4655

bad stony down hill 

1309

-

darchen PSB hot shower hotel rest shop...and very dirty!

4700

small and easy river crossing on the short cut

good first then stony

1314

-

back on main road (5km from darchen) 

4600

2 small river crossing

very bad road (stony)

1326

 

barga (BFB, dorm)

4615

turn off for purang, 12km to chui monastery

ok (with 2nd road)

1348

1365

huore (BFB)

4635

 

sandy corrugated or stony (end), 2nd road = better

1353

-

reaching valley ( river)

4655

 

very bad sandy road (2nd road sandy too) 

1368

river 

4735

-

 

1369

end steep climb 

4765 

very bad sandy corrugated road 

1375

1395 

turn off to ????(north)

4750

 

less sand more stone, corrugated

1391

-

leaving valley (river) to pass (up)

4790

-

corrugated and stony most of the time (2nd road little better)

1394

1417 

pass before lake

4870

-

moderate road

1397

1420

 reaching kongyn tso (lake)/gunggyu tso

4805

nomad tent, end of downhill

ok road

1412

 river + houses + dogs!!!!

4870

-

bad sandy corrugated road 

1433

nomad tent before ascending to
pass = water 

5070

also water km 1423 and 1425

ok first then moderate

1436.5

1465

maryum la pass

5190

steep section

ok road

1457

1485 

maryum house

4865

-

ok road with 2nd road 

1460

CP, river and bridge 2km after 

4885

they asked for the permit at the CP

moderate road

1478

small pass 

4825

mostly flat down!!!, last 3km up

good 2nd road, last 3km up=stony 

1481

reaching plain 

4740

end down hill

moderate stony road

1500

-

water 

4660

-

very bad stony road but 2nd road ok

1505

bridge (river) with tent (BFB)

4630

several bridge in the next 10km

bad stony road

1550

1584

no CP just after bridge

4600

dogs

bad gravel corrugated road

1568

1602

paryang/baryang (BFB, hotel)

4580

sand dunes...

....so often very sandy!

1585

start climbing to pass

4600

-

often very sandy (good 2nd road on last km) 

1591

1628 

pass 

4775

-

ok road (for climbing) 

1605

BFB (close nov)

4660

-

sandy corrugated road

1610

small pass 

4755

reaching brahmaputra afterwards 

ok road

1617

bridge (river) 

4620

reaching brahmaputra plain

 

1636

turn off for new zongba (drongpa tradun) 5.5 km (big shop hotel restaurant)

4545

8000 m nepali summit south

ok road (little corrugated)

1641

-

petrol station + turn off (asphalt) to new zhoghba

4550

-

good 2nd road + 100m of asphalt=enjoy!

1659

1700 

old zhongba (BFB shop, hotel, RRS, monastery) 

4585

-

gravel + sand + corrugation = bad (better end)

1677

RRS (water 2km after)

4710

-

first moderate then + /- 5km with very bad sandy part, then better 

1682

 -

pass

4870

quite steep

moderate road

1690

liassi (?) (village), end downhill 

4545

-

 

1699

lowest point reaching yarlung
tsangpo (brahmaputra)

4525

-

some bad sandy section

1717

1760 

niugu/ nyugku lhaktsang (BFB, shop, RRS) PSB

4605

leaving yarlung tsangpo valley again after 8km

 

1752

-

nice ruins, river all the way 

4610

-

ok road 

1754

river 

4590 

corrugated + stone 

1757

1800 

RRS (abandoned) 

4545

-

corrugated + stone = bad

1777

1820

village (BFB, tape water)

4600

-

moderate road with ok 2nd road in first part

1781

chorten + houses 

4640

-

moderate road

1792

bridge + river 

4715 

ok road (flat up hill (soon start up) 

1796

pass, flat up hill until short before pass (abandoned RRS when start climbing) 

4815

-

good road up 

1805

saga important city, all kind of shop (with many good things) restaurant, hotel (post hotel for me, 20 yuan, ok), shower (10yuan several place), internet (english sign, 2 place, 5 yuan/hours)

4470

2 direction possible from there:
short cut for nepal (bridge)
or
road for lhasa

moderate first then bad end

1806

1848 (at CP) 

petrol station and just after CP

4465

you will get trouble without permit there, avoid it!

good road

1819

1860 

small village 

4495 

moderate gravel road 

1838

1877 

village RRS 

4650

-

good road

1843

1883 

start climbing to pass 

4745

-

"

1851

1890 

pass 

5090 

ok road some sandy part 

1867

1905 

turn off for s206 (kmm 404 on it start) 

4960

leaving hw 219

first good then ok

1872

398 

easy river crossing

4990

-

moderate flat road

1881

388

bridge + river

5055

moderate road

1887

382

"

5095 

 

1888

383

ruins + tagejiug geyser + hot spring

5120

-

ok road

1889

384

reaching lake

5110

-

 

1898

371

end lake

5090

nomad tents around lake + dogs

 

1903

365

start up

5090
(higher than
km 1898?)

-

moderate road 
 

1907

361

pass

5215

-

 

1909

359

end down hill

5125

reaching lake

moderate road (possible short cut)

1914

355

bridge + river

5130

-

corrugated

1935

334

end lake

5165

-

often corrugated

1940

330

house probably BFB

5195

-

moderate road

1942

328

house probably BFB

5175

when i ask water they ask me money....not really friendly!

 

1950

320

bridge + river (free)

5205

-

moderate road with bad stony part but short

1953

317

saddle break down!!!! cool!!!

5225

-

moderate road

1964

307

bridge + river + ruins

5360

flat up hill small river crossing just before (ice) 

often corrugated and gravel

1967

304

river crossing (totally icy) (late oct)

5410

-

moderate road

1971

300

bridge + river

5475

first up then flat

 

1974

298

pass

5575

high pass!!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/semo_la or
http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/highestpass.html

 

1979

293

bridge + river + end down hill

5410

-

 

1993

280

bridge + river + ruin

5250

house 1 km further probably BFB, flat down hill

 

2016

262 

river all the way 

5020

start climbing to pass

 

2022

255

pass

5160

-

quite gravel road

2027

250 

end down hill, reaching lake +
village

4960

-

stony

2045

234

 leaving valley (short climb)...for a new one

4890

both valley water

often corrugated and stony (2nd road better and short cut)

2049

230

village (BFB)

4865

turn off to jiangzhe sengrong (???)

moderate road

2058

222

houses (BFB)

4795

-

so/so road 

2096

182

monastery + flag

4710

-

often bad, 2nd road often better

2099

179 (exactly)

CP (nobody)

4735

barrier (i d passed under)

so/so road

2106

after 174

mendong big town

4675

petrol shops restaurant, probably hotels

ok 2nd


mendong - namru (on map) / banga

from mendong i went off the main road, on my map (gizi map) was shown some small road, forget about the idea to find a road there, it can be eventually a track if some vehicle passed by recently, to some place a really good track
i've never been really sure of where i was as i had no really good map no compass and not a single information about the road, i think a gps would have been quite useful at least to give some information here!
it's not really horrid cycling even if there is a lot of pushing but the main difficulty for me was to find my way
there is a lot of river crossing and it can be extremely cold to cross them when the ice covering them is not thick enough to support your weight....some where frozen and then was a lot easier
i didn't had much snow there, but some pass were covered by snow the road also witch make the progression slower
i had some trouble with people around dongra yutso lake just before a village called lado shian, as it's a really remote tibetan place and they though i was a chinese spy
in banga (namru) you can find ever things to feel up your pannier including petrol, also restaurant and hotel
around namsto chukmo (quite good road, really nice cycling, but i had a lot a lot of snow in november, very friendly people) to golmut hw
see attachment number 2 for the description on the road till there or table just after (i put both as i don't believe in my capacity to attach correctly a folder!!!)



namtso - chuckmo ride 1

.kilometers

altitude

description + road conditions

0

?

banga/namru head south in the city for poche

10

-

i get lost due wrong indication for poche, i reach the normal road here, ok road

14

4850

camp just after cross road for a village on the other side of the valley

24

5375

pass= late november a lot of snow and hell wind (i would advice to turn back if there is a lot of snow there it will be worse later…)

28

5335

small pass

32

5070

houses = cha + warm, stony road

35

5110

top short climb, moderate road

36

-

houses extremely nice people, slept there

47

5200

pass, snow but less than the pass before

50

5050

mini pass (almost no climb) nomad tent

55

4900

village

65

4820

poche big village, basic food and beverage (BFB)

71

-

turn off to a small village (+ to northern road along namsto chuckmo, towards chinglung)

85

4865

camp after small lake, river just before

94

4800

cross road with a bridge (road going l=short cut to reach the northern road around the lake, i'll take it on my way back!!!) right for dechen

102

4800

village= cha + tsampa

117

4885

village= cha + tsampa + damze + warm! (horrible head wind)

120

4920

village

123

4975

small pass

134

4865

dechen (turn off for «  lhasa  » 1km before), few shops, invite by the doctor

145

4790

stony road, end nice road, river have bridge in the plain

147

4790

village after crossing the second main river (bridge), stony road

from there the plan was to cross over a pass to yangpachen but over 5000m was about 50cm snow without any track, i think this pass have been done by martin (adserballe) and he told me than it was very high (5600m?) so i gave up
i then tried the southern side of namsto lake but was too snowy to and freezing cold and i was too slow to hope covering the distance in the few days food i had
so i went back to dechen and then to the cross road mentioned before in the description (km 94)
from there i went towards an obvious white house (nothing there) then over a mini pass. after it the road turns right towards a bigger pass (4920)
then down in a valley to reach the main road on the northern side of the lake (bridge plus namsto chukmo conservation house)


namsto chukmo ride 2 (from namsto chukmo conservation house to golmut high way)

.kilometers

altitude

description plus road condition

+ /- 30

-

namsto senso village and lake.

32 (2km from namsto senso)

-

turn off after it, left for chinglung and nakchu right for "around the lake"

34

-

cross road turned right, village afterwards on the left

49

4920

village

53

-

cross road, i went right, i think both roads are the same, but after it i think mine was snowier! (all covered road pushing the bike following old tracks)

64

4960

village

65

4970

steep plus snow

+ /-72

-

i went right in a large valley, one track left to nakchu main road probably, lot of snow but tracks

86

5070

pass, many houses in valley, all the way pushing

91

4890

reaching lake houses, kilometer marker 36

97

5000

pass, kmm30, lot of snow (end track on the way up to pass, trucks gave up!)

101

-

down after pass, less snow, then flat, reaching the end of namsto chukmo

?

?

the road turn south (right) towards a small ruin, last km= extremely snowy and no tracks

from the ruin it's 21 kms to namsto village (4960) it took me more than 2 days (11km first days, 9km second days, 1km next days) pushing more than 10 hours a days, lot to much snow, extremely windy and cold.
namsto = small guest house and restaurant and beginning of asphalt and snow cleaned road! (trucks passing)

+ 7 km (from namtso)

5310

largon la pass

+ 24 km from namtso

4455

end down hill, very very good road (asphalt)

+ 32 from namtso

4395

damzung = reaching golmud highway, right for lhasa , left for golmut, all in the city!

 

 

 


damzung -
lhasa

i felt like in summer in the warm valley, incredible temperature variation from on side to the other of the mountain.
road from now = asphalt, perfect one, mainly head wind but stopped to complain about it as the quality of the road make the ride easy
i was on a visa rush (10 days to reach zamgmu, nepal , and i didn't felt like asking an extension) so very little info (see other web site for more details!), but anyway there is no much to say
1 pass + /- 52 km after damzhung, flat up to 4700m
then mainly flat down till lhasa (or near by, i haven t been in lhasa its self just 20km out side)


lhasa - zhigatze

easy cycling very good road, head wind before zhigatze, no need to carry food or so, shop and restaurant all the way, i camped all the way


zhigatze - lhatze

still very good road
2 passes, first one easy, and i had so much wind for the second one than i had to push on an asphalt road (no i'm not ashamed!)
food and water every where
still camping


friendship hw

camping all the way no problem
asphalt till 6km after old tingri (food and lodging available there as well as in many other place)
long climb from latze to langpa la with very bad wind in the upper part
the last 2 passes (lalung la and thang la) are easy and short even if no asphalt
the road is easy there is just the wind than could drive you crazy. don t think it's done when you reach the last pass... it's down ok but the thermic wind coming from india make it as horrid as the way up! (depend of your luck)
no asphalt till zhangmu but mainly ok road
nyalam important village (every things)
nyalam- zhangmu bad down hill road (be patient!)
zhangmu big city (internet hotel....money changer 1$=9yuan=71=bad rate but i had no info!)
zhangmu (chinese border hassle free) to kodari (nepali border) 8km of very bad road


yunnan - lhasa

in spring 2007 a rumor was saying that the road from zhongdian (shangrila) to lhassa would be open. i was very glad of this rumor but arriving in dali and around there other cyclers told me an other rumor. due to a strike by some foreigners in everest base camp and for“free tibet" the road was once again firmly locked. some even told me it was impossible to go to tibet on this road this year. rumors being rumors, i decide to try the road adding in my pannier a list of the different check posts. after doing the road without problems my feeling is than“it's open as long as you don't stay in hotels". all the CP were“open barrier" (one big exception for the one in yangjing, see rd book for details), so many PSB cars saw me, i went through bayi and nyingchi by night and rode true markam by day even if i passed the CP by night. this feeling have been confirmed by a couple of german cyclers travelling with a permit and who have been checked by the PSB while staying in a hotel at night (they had permit so no problems). you can get food in cities but have to camp outside. many cities that were considered as safe due to“lack" of PSB in the past, have PSB now and the germans have been control in small cities too.

many people consider this rd as the nicest in tibet, it's of course a really nice ride but i wouldn't say the nicest of tibet. most of the road is paved and as a consequence the traffic is quite important for tibet, then it's much more“civilized than the west and i like“sauvage" and deserted places. there are many long climbs but asphalt helps a lot and so the road its self is not really difficult. in june was really rainy (every days almost) but once again thanks to asphalt. the last part (the valley uo from bayi to mi la pass) i found it quite boring with too much traffic.

kms

kmm

alt w

alt gps

description

rd conditions

gps pt

0

-

3180 

3245 

zhongdian (all+ @ + p big city), bus station

asphalt

n27'50.332
e099'42.582  

15.8

2045 

3185 

3273 

out of zhongdian (so long because hard to find good chocolate!) truck stop and army base, x=ST 

"

n27'50.842
e099'41.756 

28 (+12,2)

3345 

3430 

spring water in a way up

'' 

n27'54.920
e099'37.742 

31 (+3)

2029

3490

3588

pass, BFB

''

n27'56.062
e099'36.745

36 (+5)

2024

3260

-

x=ST (left skiing resort)

''

-

44 (+8)

2017

2985

3026

x= ST (r), village (rest + BFB)

''

n28'00.664
e099'32.590

50 (+6)

2010.5

3140

3192

mini pass

''

n28'02.804
e099'30.727

51 (+1)

-

3110

-

village BFB rest PSB

''

-

53 (+2)

2007

3120

3167

mini pass + houses

''

n28'04.107
e099'29.787

66 (+13)

-

2705

2702

water (also few km later)

''

n28'07.917
e099'26.755

75 (+9)

1986

2240 

2199 

bridge + river + village 

''

n28'08.352
e099'25.964

78 (+3)

1982

2120

2077

village (rest + hotel)

''

n28'09.511
e099'24.763

80 (+2)

1981

2055

2010

bridge on big river TOR on dirt road for????

''

n28'09.636
e099'24.198

83 (+1)

1981 (again, pb with kmm)

2055

2006

bridge on main river (cross it)
ST= toward batang (asphalt)
no PSB

''

n28'10.264
e099'23.420

84 (+1)

-

2040

 2017

camp (so/so) r below rd

''

n28'10.452
e099'23.078

85 (+1)

1980

2010

 2028

small village

''

n28'10.767
e099'22.633

94 (+9)

-

2045

-

truck stop (rest)

''

-

97 (+3)

1968

2050

 2065

benzilian (all), PSB (end village)
x in it = ST

''

n28'14.491
e099'17.975

110 (+13)

1956.5

2705

 2741

pass (tongtaling la) houses (water), still up after it, little camp site and no water on the way up

''

n28'15.613
e099'15.149

113 (+3)

1953 

2745

TOR for village (monastery hotel)

''

122 (+9)

1945

2805

2820

village BFB

''

n28'16.384
e099'11.342

123 (+1)

1943

2885

2918

bridge + water

''

n28'16.435
e099'10.602

127 (+4)

1939

3075

3115

water (other river later too)

''

n28'17.137
e099'09.895

129 (+2)

1938

3140

3209

water + camp (r rd)

''

n28'17.468
e099'09.645

132 (+3)

1935

3250

-

house (several water and camp site possibilities on the way)

''

-

133 (+1)

1934

3305

3435

house (water)

end asphalt start cobblestones start

n28'18.124
e099'08.599

156 (+23)

1912.5

4160

4334

pass yak la, BFB, water all the way up, possible camping as well

cobblestone

n28'20.304
e099'04.273

159 (+3)

1909

4070

4223

bridge (water), LP + tents

"

n28'21.051
e099'04.198

163 (+4)

1905

4190

4339

pass 2

"

n28'21.122
e099'02.766

166.5 (+3.5)

1902.5

4030

4173

LP (river + bridge)

"

n28'22.174
e099'02.066

169 (+2.5)

-

4150

4315

asphalt start

"

n28'22.814
e099'00.761

170 (+1)

1890

4195

4362

pass 3 (water), possible camp

asphalt start but ending 300m after pass

n28'23.013
e099'00.335

176.5 (+6.5)

1892

3920

4073

asphalt start

cobblestone till there

n28'23.991
e098'59.073

192 (+15.5)

-

3360

-

end down start up

asphalt

-

196.5 (+4.5)

1872

3455

-

top climb (gompas)

-

205 (+8.5)

1864

3210

3302

dechen (? ?) , imp city all + PSB
x1=l
x2=r (114km on board)

n28'29.377
e098'54.664

215 (+10)

1853

3365

3457

pass view point (meilix veshan), gh+ rest

"

n28'26.595
e098'52.770

224 (+9)

-

2940

-

water

"

-

230 (+6)

1840

2690

2743

camp, left below rd

"

n28'29.324
e098'49.373

234 (+4)

-

2505

2603

end asphalt, X=R

"

n28'30.836
e098'48.525

235 (+1)

1835

2440

-

truck stop

ok rd

-

239 (+4)

-

2300

-

good possible camp (no water)

"

-

242 (+3)

1828

2190

2255

river + bridge

"

n28'33.441
e098'48.564

245 (+3)

1825 

2085 

2123

village (1 shop) 

ok rd 

n28'33.177
e098'47.396

246 (+1)

1824 

2045 

2078

LP (mekong) start flat up 

"

n28'33.578
e098'47.210

252.5(6.5)

1818

2070

2098

house (RRS?)water (2 clear stream also before)

ok rd

n28'36.214
e098'45.522

257(4.5)

-

2090

2106

truck stop (water rest), bridge (cross it, X=R),barriere for trucks

stony rd, rock fall risk

n28'37.819
e098'44.117

258(1)

-

2165

2182

village

so/so rd, up

n28'38.517
e098'43.346

264(6)

1806

2140

2151

village + river

so/so rd

n28'40.772
e098'42.036

267(3)

-

2160

2153

bridge crossing river. clear stream next to it + abandoned houses

"

n28'41.853
e098'41.534

272(5)

1798

2170

2147

foshan (rest, hotel, petrol), out village“open barriere" PSB

"

n28'43.442
e098'41.070

289(17)

1782

2255

2204

village (water)+RRS

corrugated + stony section

n28'50.261
e098'39.612

295 (+6)

1776

2235 

village (water) 

corrugated section 

302 (+7)

1770 

2260

village

better and flatter rd 

312 (+10)

1760(no kmm from there)

2280 

2259

tar border, start work, water , no CP 

quite bad

n28'58.499
e098'37.881

316 (+4)

-

2390

-

no possible camp where power lines cross rd from power station due to works (so no possible camping from tar border)

uggly rd due to works

-

320.5 (+4.5)

-

2545 

2592

after a r bent with a petrol station in it you'll pass under a huge gate, the CP is 50m from there in yanjing
big closed barriere, cops awake till late in the evening (early morning would have been better) looks serious CP
tar boarder to CP=8.5km up and on bad rd in june 2007 (soon asphalt????)

bad=work

n29'01.495
e098'36.534

321.5 (+1)

-

2620

2659

stumpa + top climb after CP
x=keep r, it s up

 ok rd

n29'02.170
e098'36.515

323.5 (+2)

-

2605

2659

bridge, 200m before big gate (open door) rd follow the mountain flat down and flat up

bad rd (work)

n29'02.498
e098'37.066

324.7 (+1.2)

-

2635

2681

2 nd barriere (open) after 2 bent“inside the mountain"(left bent) you come on a r bent under a bridge/gate, the CP is 200m from there. no light
CP1 to CP2 4km (45mn work!)

bad rd
from there +/- flat down for another bent then down on a rd with good and bad section
 

n29'02.834
e098'36.706

331 (+6)

-

2490

2546

x=ST house + water no possible camp

 often bad (work)

n29'05.472
e098'36.944

331.5 (+0.5)

-

2470

-

LP river

-

332 (+0.5)

-

2490

2546

rest/camp (along the rd bad place)

n29'06.031
e098'37.254

337 (+5)

-

2735

2787

big bridge

500m paved on the bridge
first 4km bad then better (work) 

n29'07.824
e098'38.568

339 (+2)

-

2855

chorten, water just before

ok rd 

350 (+11)

-

3320 

3361

small pass

often bad (work), stone + dust

n29'11.342
e098'37.576

358 (+8)

-

3685

-

small village (village also before), BFB

good and bad part

-

363 (+5)

-

3880

3972

camp above rd (hidden) often water before

n29'13.842
e098'41.239

365 (+2)

-

3920

-

RRS

mud (work)

-

369 (+4)

-

4100

4231

pass (water on the way)

work!

n29'15.839
e098'40.789

376 (+7)

-

3830

-

RRS (water on the way)

mainly ok rd

-

385 (+9)

-

3465

3515

LP

work!!!

n29'19.110
e098'40.533

389 (+4)

-

3545

-

village(water)

uggly rd (work)

-

393 (+4)

-

3525

-

village (BFB)

-

399 (+6)

-

3650

-

RRS

-

411 (+12)

-

3665

-

village BFB (some people report nasty village around there with stones thrown)

-

414 (+3)

3675

3685

camp (left behind trees) very little water there 

n29'30.929
e098'36.312

435

-

3770 

3865
 
 
3863

markam (??) center, all (longer due to work i think), went there by day (bike pb) but crossed CP by night. possible camp in the last 5 km.
lot of cops! 

work

n29'41.162
e098'35.672 
PSB:
n29'40.966
e098'35.654

436.5 (+1.5 from PSB main building)

-

3775 

3848

X = L for lhassa (r = chengdu)
CP 50 m after in on the rd to lhassa (open barriere looks non active) 

asphalt 

n29'41.726
e098'35.689

437.7 (+1.2)

-

3800

3912

2nd barriere +PSB building, lit up at night. look much more serious than the first CP 

"

n29'41.975
e098'34.987

+/-440 (+2)

3432 (on rd 318)

3820

3970

end asphalt

n29'42.138
e098'34.230

443 (+3)

3435

3990 

4068

start asphalt for 500m 

ok rd 

n29'42.209
e09833.034

447 (+4)

3439

4150 

-

start asphalt for 500m 

often stony 

-

449.5 (+2.5)

3441

4235

4347

pass lao la (4338 on board)

stony 

n29'41.785
e098'31.530

452 (+2.5)

3443 

4220 

4360

pass lao la 2 (almost no up and down possible camp in beetwin) 

"

n29'41.804
e098.30.293

465 (+13)

-

3590 

3693

chorten with little open house for rainy day!) 

first 3 km down stony then ok 

n29'43.043
e098'26.627

486.5 (+21.5)

34 78

2615

2641

LP juka+ bridge over mekong
truck stop + army base just before
PSB 500m after bridge (open barriere) 

ok rd

n29'37.037
e098'21.233

491 (+4.5)

2865 

-

rest + water 

gravel rd 

497 (+6)

-

3155 

3170

houses + bridge + river 

gravel rd often bad

n29'34.813
e098'18.293

500 (+3)

3355

house water (+1) 

ok rd 

512,6 (+12.6)

3503

3840 

3917

pass jyo la (house and water on top)

ok rd

n29'33.131
e098'18.970

521 (+8)

3535 

water + house (+1.5 water also)

"

-

524 (+3)

-

3435 

3477

camp in ruin left above rd

"

n29'32.419
e098'14.940

526 (+2)

-

3380

3476

LP (bridge) village, BFB , gh

"

n29'32.420
e098'13.799

527 (+1)

-

3425

-

RRS

"

-

540 (+13)

-

3975

-

army base

ok rd (little sandy) 

-

559 (+19)

3549

4440

-

TOR for?, RRS + ruin just after, end good camp possibilities (not hidden)

ok rd (flatter)

-

566 (+7)

3556

4930

5096

pass damda la

ok rd (steeper from RRS)

n29'42.622
e098'00.196

571 (+5)

3561 

4685

4851

camp behind ruin, water just after the pass

ok rd

n29'43.293
e097'58.854

589 (+18)

3579

3855

-

asphalt start

ok rd

-

593 (+4)

-

-

-

to for putok end down hill and LP soon after

asphalt

-

599 (+6)

-

3690

-

petrol station barriere just after (not for cycler), PSB

-

600 (+1)

3590

3705

-

zuogong (zogang wamda) ( ? ?) all + PSB (2 germans stayed in hotel there and i've been controled by PSB but they had a permit)

ring rd possible, asphalt

-

607 (+7)

-

3735

3827

end asphalt

asphalt

n29'42.034
e097'48.599

608 (+1)

-

3735

-

village + monastery + asphalt back

ok rd

-

616.5 (+8.5)

-

3780

-

end asphalt

asphalt

-

619 (+2.5)

3608

3785

-

village + asphalt back

ok rd

-

632 (+13)

-

3730

-

500m no asphalt

asphalt

-

634 (+2)

-

3840

-

village

-

639 (+5)

3626.5

3890

-

village

-

645 (+6)

3632

3880

-

village, PSB“open barriere"

650 (+5)

3637.5

3890

-

village

-

653 (+3)

3640

3890

-

village, BFB

-

662 (+9)

3649

3920

-

village BFB

-

664 (+2)

3651

3910

-

camp (next river, grass) river 500m before

-

665 (+1)

3652

3910

-

ruin possible camp inside i guess

-

667 (+2)

3654

3910

-

thentok (village, BFB), X=L (over bridge)

-

676 (+9)

-

3930

-

RRS + water

''

-

708 (+32)

3693

4030

-

village several river on the way

„ (flat up)

-

710 (+2)

3695 (entrance)

4025

-

bang da, village, RRS, resto, shop, army base, X=L (lhassa on 318 rd) r = chamdo , PSB barriere on 318 rd (out village)“open"

-

724 (+14)

3709

4510

4649

gama la pass (4618 on board)

n30'09.381
e097'18.612

727 (+3)

3712

4400

4545

end asphalt

n30'08.973
e097'17.636

729 (+2)

-

4315

4465

water

so/so rd

n30'08.667
e097'17.370

746 (+17)

-

3545

3694

tongni village (water), difficult camping on the way

so/so rd

n30'07.174
e097'18.173

751 (+5)

-

3280

-

gama village

so/so rd

-

756 (+5)

+/-3739

3080

3117

camp left rd in r bent above few houses (army base), not great

ok rd

n30'05.377
e097'17.556

764 (+8)

3748

2720

 2806

ruin (possible camp l)

so/so rd (stony)

n30'04.990
e097'14.728

766 (+2)

3749.5

2660

 2707

LP

n30'05.319
e097'14.175

770 (+4)

3753.5

2680

-

nujiang bridge over salween river
military CP (no pb)
attention land slide risk

corrugated/stony

-

779.5 (+9.5)

3762

2825

 2771

water (+1km=other bigger river + ruin + possible camp)

so/so rd

n30'03.135
e097'09.327

783 (+3.5)

3765.5

2875

 2922

asphalt start

ok rd

n30'01.915
e097'08.085

786 (+3)

3768

2970

3038

village

asphalt

n30'01.286
e097'06.853

792 (+6)

3774

2990

-

-

797 (+5)

3779

3075

-

-

809 (+12)

3790.5

3210

3257

baxoi (pema), all+@+ PSB (no CP)

n30'03.427
e096'55.220

827 (+18)

3808

3485

3572

camp r, down, no water there but several water possibilities from baxoi.

n30'02.435
e096'45.173

833 (+6)

3814

3575

3692

bridge (possible camp)

n30'01.091
e096'42.449

835 (+2)

3816

3650

-

village

-

839 (+4)

3820

3690

-

-

847 (+8)

3828

3735

3834

„new village" diu, BFB, rest

n29'54.961
e096'40.543

879 (+32)

3858

4325 adjust to4460

4463

dokha la pass, water all way up, many possible camp on the way +on top (small lake) but seldom hidden

„ (flat up)

n29'40.165
e096'43.089

901 (+22)

3879

3985

-

X=R over bridge (l= dzayul via doma la)

-

902 (+11)

3880

3980

3926

rawu (rawok) = BFB, gh, PSB ("open barriere" out village, zhongmu lake start

n29'30.459
e096'45.276

908 (+6)

3886

3980

3933

camp (good)+ water, r rd

n29'29.690
e096'42.316

909 (+1)

3887

3950

-

village

-

914 (+5)

3892

3920

-

end lake

-

920 (+6)

3898

3880

3968

end asphalt

n29'30.429
e096'36.247

934 (+14)

3911

3620

-

house

good first then ok, one river crossing (on rainy days)

956 (+22)

3932

3360

3305

asphalt + village(300m after)
dogs!

in part corrugated

n29'37.055
e096'20.657

965.5 (+9.5)

3940

-

-

RRS + barriere (for trucks) dogs!

asphalt 

-

989 (+23.5)

3963

3150

-

village

 991 (+2)

3965

3150

-

village BFB rest, petrol + PSB“open barriere"
(+2km other village)

1006 (+15)

3980

3070

-

village

-

1013 (+7)

3986

 2995

-

village BFB

-

1016 (+3)

3989

 2885

2899

camp (r,r on track after kmm 3989)
 

"

n29'47.375
e095'53.960

1035 (+19)

4007

2820

 2934

bomi all + @ + PSB

n29'51.711
e095'45.910

1051 (+16)

4024

2805

2669

bridge + TOR for xumu and zharze la (90km)+BFB

n29'54.898
e095'37.684

1067 (+16)

4038

2770

-

village BFB

-

1073 (+6)

4045

2780

-

end asphalt for 500m

-

1076 (+3)

4049

2715

-

camp in ruin (roof) but under destruction!

-

1091 (+15)

4062

2600

-

village

1096 (+5)

4066

2575

-

abandoned house (RRS??) roof, village after

-

1116.5 (+20.5)

4085 (?)

2355

-

end asphalt

-

1120 (+3.5)

4090

2315

-

asphalt start

ok rd
be careful, land slide

-

1126.5 (+6.5)

4096

2260

-

village, BFB, rest (RRS before)

asphalt

-

1127 (+0.5)

4097

2250

 2088

tangme, BFB rest gh, PSB out of village

n30'06.124
e095'04.623

1129 (+2)

4098

2235

-

end asphalt, +500m bridge and TOR for yigang lake

-

1140 (+11)

-

2200

-

bridge

glue rd on rainy days must be ok in dry weather

-

1142 (+2)

-

2185

 1995

+/- LP+ changing valley

n30'01.630
e095'00.929

1144 (+2)

-

2220

-

village, BFB,gh, rest= trulung

-

1153 (+9)

4112 (!!!! wrong kmm)

2415

 2271

asphalt back, 500m after track right up=empty houses with roof = camp

n29'59.735
e094'55.892

1159 (+6)

4118

2530

-

RRS+BFB

-

1171 (+12)

4129

2680

-

RRS+BFB
tongyuk, village and bridge

-

1189 (+18)

4146

3240

-

army base

-

1196 (+7)

4153

3430

-

RRS (+1km rest)

-

1200 (+4)

4157

3480

3383

lunung, all + PSB+ petrol

n29'44.096
e094'43.534

1204 (+4)

4161

3540

-

RRS ,water, start up for pass

 ''

-

1205 (+1)

4162

3585

3504

camp left rd (water just before)

 ''

n29'41.618
e094'43.647

1212 (+7)

4169

3925

-

RRS + water

 ''

-

1219 (+7)

4176

4290

-

toilet, view point, souvenir....

 ''

-

1225.5 (+6.5)

4182.5

4545

4563

sekye la pass

 ''

n29'36.638
e094'39.112

1234 (+8.5)

4191

4180

-

RRS

 ''

-

1253 (+19)

4209

3275

-

village, rest (?), BFB

 ''

-

1257.5 (+4.5)

4214

3135

-

nyingchi entrance, CP“open barriere"
dangerous city for PSB, i crossed by day but i would not stop

 ''

-

1258 (+0.5)

4214.5

3135

3026

nyingchi 
x=ST for lhassa/bayi
l=city center (all but to avoid!)
PSB just after

 ''

n29'34.651
e094'29.007

1261.5 (+3.5)

4217.5

3075

-

military CP (no pb)

 ''

-

1270 (+8.5)

4226

3125

-

village BFB

 ''

-

1272.5 (+2.5)

4228.5

3105

 2985

petrol station=bayi entrance
no CP but dangerous place
i passed by day on the ring road, without stopping! haven t seen PSB

n29'38.315
e094'22.713

1279 (+0.5)

4229

3100

-

bayi  x= ST for ring rd (l=center, to avoid)
there are many x like that on the ring rd=always ST (l=always center)

-

1276.5 (+3.5)

-

-

 2994

 light (shops before)

n29'40.019
e094'21.729

1279 (+2.5)

4235 

-

3003

after 2 petrol station and one x (ST for lhassa), you re out of city!

n29'40.936
e094'21.248

1284 (+5)

4239

3125

3026

camp left rd (no water)

n29'42.873
e094'19.044

1292 (+8)

4247.5

3120

-

army base

-

1293 (+1)

4248.5

3130

-

rest, BFB, military + PSB CP (they've seen me no problem)
+1km RRS

-

1304 (+11)

4259

3155

-

village

-

1310 (+6)

4265

3155

-

village, BFB + rest

-

1312 (+2)

4267

3180

-

village, BFB + tap water

-

1338 (+26)

4292

3250

-

bepa, all + petrol + PSB

-

1353.5 (+15.5)

4306

3310

-

x=ST for lhassa (r tibetan tower)

-

1357(3.5)

4310.5

3320

3214

x=ST (lhassa over ring rd)
r=namse zampa (+1km)= all
=rd to draksumlatso lake

n29'51.215
e093'40.527 

1388 (+31)

4341

3415

3335

camp r rd (no water there but many possibilities on the way)

n29'52.916
e093'25.175

1406 (+18)

4359

3585

3401

x=ST for lhassa over bridge (ring rd)
r=kongpo gianda (+1km,all)

n29'53.004
e093'15.514

1414 (+8)

4366

3520

3436

CP, no pb by day, they didn't stopped me

n29'53.913
e093'11.509

1431 (+17)

4383

3655

-

x=ST for lhassa + village (BFB)
r=?

-

1452 (+21)

4403

3780

3686

rest shop PSB

n30'01.544
e092'53.936

1463 (+11)

4414

3870

3755

camp r rd (better place before)
no water there but water is never a pb

n29'57.123
e092'50.745

1470 (+7)

4421

3920

-

xiabatang, village, rest + BFB

-

1481 (+11)

4431

4010

-

RRS

-

1504 (+23)

4453.5

4280

4210

military CP (water just after)+1km hot spring

n29'53.266
e092'30.314

1507 (+3)

4456

4315

-

shungdor (songduo) shop, many rest, hotel

-

1521 (+14)

4471.5

4495

4518

camp r rd (water l rd in river, but better stream + 500m)

n29'54.352
e092'21.042

1535 (+14)

4484+

4920

5013

mangshung la (mihlap) pass

n29'49.632
e092'20.642

1541 (+6)

4490

4720

-

abandoned house (good for hell weather)

-

1555.5 (+14.5)

4503.5

4415

-

village + TOL for sangri

-

1561 (+5.5)

4509

4335

-

riduo (rutok) , BFB hotel, rest hot spring

-

1597 (+36)

4543

3995

-

village BFB, PSB (many other small village from rutok to meldro gungkar)

-

1617 (+20)

4563

3850

-

petrol station +TOR to drigung
(see lhassa nakchu details road for info)

-

1618 (+1)

4564

3850

3819

meldro gungkar, big city all

n29'50.198
e091'43.732

 

 

 

 

i haven t been to lhassa from there as i went north toward drigung, here the last 70 km to lhassa from fred ferchaux ( http://fred.ferchaux.free.fr/chine/indxchin.htm )
 

 

 

1645.5 (+27.5)

4591.5

3610

-

x=ST (r=gandon gompa+9.5km)

asphalt

-

1663.5 (+18)

4609.5

3590

-

bridge x=ST (r=yerpa gompa+19km)

-

1665.5 (+2)

4611.5

3590

-

dechen dzong =all

-

1685.5 (+20)

4631.5

3520

-

X=R over bridge (kmm4632)

-

1686.5 (+1)

-

3520

-

round about=left

-

1688.5 (+2)

-

3520

-

X=R

-

1689 (+0.5)

-

3520

-

lhasa , dekyi=beijing lu

n29'39.298
e091'07.868

 
lhasa - nakchu (alternative road + side trip to lhari)

arriving from the yunnan - lhassa rd, i got bored by the last section from bayi, so i decided in meldro gungkar to find a way to avoid lhasa it's self.
so here a description of some small rd, starting 70km east of lhassa and reaching - after some incident - nakchu on the golmut high way.
there are so many small rd and if i haven't completed all i wanted to do on this trip because of rivers and PSB maybe it could help some one to push the exploration further.
nice rd hight pass, some possible climbs for those carrying crampons and ice axe....

i got in to trouble with PSB in lhari/artsa so be extremely careful if passing there! Don't stop, many PSB cars saw me on the rd and i first passed lhari without problem, but after getting blocked by a river, i went back, stopped for food and there they caught me. i've been fined and they drove me back to nakchu for "illegal travel". nakchu PSB told me that cycling on the big road (they meant golmut hw i guess) was legal but not the small ones....

kms

kmm

alt w

alt gps

description

rd conditions

gps pt

0

4635

3520 

lhasa( ? ? ) (see yunnan tibet rd book for more information, on the 70 first km)

asphalt (rd 318)

n29'39.298
e091'07.868

71

4564

3850

3819

meldro gungkar (???? , big city, all

"

n29'50.198
e091'43.732

72 (+1)

4563 

3850 

petrol station, TOL for drigung on rd s302
(st = bayi on rd 318) 

"

-

72.5 (+0.5)

-

3830

3806 

camp, before bridge, r rd 302, behind trees, dirty water there

"

n29'50.340
e091'44.620

93.5 (+21)

21 (on s302)

3850

3866

X=R (left towards dam), village BFB 

"

n29'57.626
e091'53.156

97.5 (+4)

3890

3900 

bridge
+100m X=L on asphalt rd

"

n29'58.941
e091'54.429 

98 (+0.5)

-

3900

-

drigung
village BFB+ rest 

"

-

106.5 (+8)

-

3950

-

village, BFB 

-

114.5 (+8)

4000 

village, BFB (1km before crossed river, bridge) 

126 (+16.5)

-

4150

4181

X = Left
ST for memba (see below)
village BFB

"

n30'05.477
e092'10.641

 

 

 

 

on the chinese atlas was/is a rd from memba to lhari (artsa), on the gizi map a track showed a possibilities to reach lhari (artsa) from memba
i tryed but had to turn back, here the information from this cross road of the rd till i went (no more rd) very nice ride

 

 

3.5

-

4150

4233

memba, all, PSB, monasteries

asphalt

n30'06.101
e092'12.614

5 (+1.5)

-

4200

-

x=ST (left=up tp nunery), end asphalt

"

6.5 (+1.5)

-

4210

-

dirty stream near houses (upper cleaner), many water possibilities in all the valley

ok rd

8.5 (+2) 

-

4245

4288

camp left rd (not hidden)

ok rd

n30'05.236
e092'15.304

9.5 (+1)

-

4245

4309

bridge crossing river
+200m x= ST (east)

ok rd

n30'04.978
e092'16.076

13 (+3.5)

-

-

4375

X=R (east)
l=??? tibetan told me no, it s maybe the rd shown on the map??? i didn't try!)

often stony

n30'06.058
e092'19.557

16.5 (+3.5)

-

4445

4529

river

stony + steep section

n30'06.180
e092'21.420

21.5 (+5)

-

4585

-

x=ST (left over bridge=village)
barriere just before????
be careful: dogs
+3km x=ST (l=village) 

stony rd

-

39.5 (+18)

-

4925

4960

small spring clear water left rd

better (as average)

n30'10.452
e092'32.831

44.5 (+5)

-

4965

-

river to cross
3 possibilities water in the last 5km 

so/so rd

46.5 (+2)

-

5035

5137

camp (not many flat place)
river 500m below

so/so rd

n30'12.064
e092'35.813

47.5 (+1)

5050

-

houses (mine)+water

ok rd 

-

48.5 (+1)

-

5135 

-

mine, work camp ,

-

49 (+0.5)

-

-

5269 

end rd down into valley towards small lake 

bad rd

n30'12.703
e092'36.704

50 (+1)

-

5100

5176 

pass end valley end cycling pushing possibilities (i walked down hardly a path!)
could be a good bc for the mountain just above (5900?)

no rd

n30'12.726
e092'37.092

 
 
 
 

 

 

 

so went back to the cross rd before memba, same rd
below the continuation from this cross rd 

 

 

129 (+3)

-

-

-

hot spring

asphalt

-

130 (+1)

-

4275

4266

camp left rd after crossing river (bridge) near small stream, hidden in trees, difficult access

"

n30'07.299
e092'10.119

132 (+2)

-

4325

4302

X=L (end asphalt)
r= monastery (+2km) on asphalt, steep

"

n30'08.324
e092'10.157

142 (+10)

-

4735

4730

x= ST, +500m village
r = iyul ???? over pass?

ok rd

n30'11.456
e092'02.658

148 (+6)

-

5070

5077

pass

ok rd

n30'12.611
e092'02.658

149 (+1)

-

5020

5079

X=R (l for carriere), camp below rd (river)

ok rd

n30'13.160
e092'02.693

152.5 (+3.5)

-

4810

-

x=ST (north)
(l=???)

so/so rd

-

154.5 (+2)

-

4710

4749

x=ST(north)
(l=village+ valley toward west)

"

n30'15.807
e092'01723

164.5 (+10)

-

4555

-

village (few houses/tent on the way)

"

-

166 (+1.5)

-

4535

4530

bridge + X=L for rting tsangpo

"

n30'19.886
e092'04.622

168.5 (+2.5)

-

4510

-

village (left)

mainly bad stony rd

-

169.5 (+1)

-

4500

-

village (right)

"

-

178.5 (+9)

-

4380

4404

bridge over retting tsangpo

"

n30'25.832
e092'04.040

179.5 (+1)

-

4390

4385

X=L (+500m village BFB)
(r was my plan but PSB barriere+ officer (not planned!) and nobody pass! i moved before more question!

"

n30'26.133
e092'03.849

197.5 (+18)

-

4315

4322

camp r above rd (great)
village + water on the way

"

n30'26.199
e091'54.063

200.5 (+3)

-

4250

-

x=ST, tent
(l over bridge ????)

"

-

208.5 (+8)

-

4225

4263

X=R (up)
(l = phodo dzong according to a tibetan, if true would make a nice way out of lhasa, not on my map)

"

n30'26.007
e091'48.211

225 (+16.5)

-

4320

4363

bridge + chorten + X = L

getting better

n30'33.061
e091'46.158

242.5 (+17.5)

-

4430

4461

camp above rd (difficult access but great
many village (water) on the way

so/so rd

n30'35.093
e091'36.568

251 (+8.5)

3681.5 on rd 109

4485

4531

golmut hw
X=R for nakchu (??) /golmut (? ??)
(l = lamzhung (??) /lhasa (? ?) )
village on the rd no supply

so/so rd

n30'37.871
e091'32.282

252.5 (+1.5)

3680

-

-

TOR namtso ???

asphalt

-

267 (+4.5)

3667.5

4555

-

water

"

-

268.5 (+1.5)

3665

4575

-

water + TOR ????

"

-

276.5 (+8)

3657

-

-

village BFB rest, PSB CP (no barriere)

"

+/-
n30'49.651
e091'37.501

283.5 (+7)

3651.5

4695

4735

TOR???

''

n30'53.064
e091'38.325

291.5 (+8) 

3643

4740

4732

kind of pass flat up

''

n30'57.273
e091'39.357

299.5 (+8)

3635

4665

-

ts, BFB, rest (LP +/- 4640 before)

''

-

303.5 (+4)

3631

4670

-

TOR

''

-

312.5 (+9)

3621

4740

4771

kind of pass (up and down)

''

n31'07.675
e091'43.310

319.5 (+7)

3614

4625

-

RRS + water

''

-

322.5 (+3)

3611

4590

4573

river+ camp 300m after left rd

''

n31'12.445
e091'46.431

342.5 (+20)

3591

4505

4536

lhoma village BFB, PSB (CP no barriere no pb)

''

n31'18.978
e091'52.215

354 (+11.5)

3580.5

4510

4528

TOL for lhari (??) (230 km)
see table below

"

n31'23.083
e091'57.398

367.5 (+13.5)

3566

4490

4493

nakchu (??) all + @ + petrol + PSB
very big town

"

n31'28.053
e092'02.223

 

 

 

 

side trip toward lhari (on the gizi map it s wrongly place or wrongly named, and it s where artsa is supposed to be)
the plan was to reach do martang but river and then PSB decide elsewhere....
nice ride in remote place

 

 

0

3579.5 on 109 rd 

4545

4528

turn off for lhari (??) , signed, end asphalt

-

n31'23.083
e091'57.398

18 (+18)

-

4480

4505

camp left rd, very little dirty water there, no good water point in the valley (always dirty)

quite bad rd (corrugated + stony)

n31'17.161
e092'05.145

20  (+2)

-

4475

-

village (water) X=L for main rd
(r short cut i guess)

bad rd, 2nd rd better

-

26.5 (+6.5)

-

4465

4463

x=ST for lhari, leaving salween river
 

corrugated rd

n31'16.283
e092'09.224

32 (+5.5)

-

4510

4495

bridge+ river (village above)

so/so rd

n31'13.559
e092'09.556

35 (+3)

-

4535

-

village(water) BFB in tent

bad rd, 2nd better

-

46 (+11)

-

4605

4577

bridge + river, house afterwards

so/so- rd (2nd better) 

n31'08.379
e092'14.375

54 (+8)

-

4690

4647

bridge + good water

so/so rd

n31'06.515
e092'18.419

57 (+3)

-

4735

-

house+ stream

better rd

-

60.5 (+3.5)

-

4785

-

tent + stream + dog

 

-

68 (+7.5)

-

5060

5100

pass (water just before pass below rd)

ok rd except last 2 km

n31'03.517
e092'25.730
 

72 (+4)

-

4965

4995

bridge+ LP (RRS just before)
good stream on the way down
camp 200m r from bridge (water there but less good)

stony rd

n31'02.112
e092'26.574

77.5  (+5.5)

-

5120

5178

pass

ok rd for up

n31'01.547
e092'28.550

83 (+5.5)

-

4900

-

small track leaving r (for tent)

ok rd

-

85 (+2)

-

4850

-

village

ok rd

-

91 (+6)

-

4750

4771

imp village rest, BFB, petrol in cans
1 track r just after village

ok rd except last 2km corrugated

n30'58.100
e092'34.691

95.5 (+4.5)

-

4740

4753

bridge over big river
TOL just before= ????
rd turn south

so/so rd

n30'56.939
e092'36.648

106.5 (+11)

-

4730

-

big building (school RRS???) + tent (many tents also before), several river on the way, one 500m further

corrugated stony rd

-

116 (+9.5)

-

4725

4752

X=L for lhari
r rd coming from south, maybe where the PSB stop me (see above), but i haven t seen the 2 other rd shown on my map coming from south.

corrugated + stony (2nd rd better)

n30'48.171
e092'33.778

123 (+7)

-

4760

4783

village, +500m water, +2km other village

-

n30'48.353
e092'37.561

128.5 (+5.5)

-

4805

4830

imp village, BFB, rest = sangpa

so/so rd

n30'47.874
e092'40.619

130 (+1.5)

-

4785

4842

camp left above rd

"

n30'47.701
e092'41.435

130.5 (+0.5)

-

4790

4866

2 small bridge (water), TOL just before

"

n30'47.788
e092'41.909

140.5 (+10)

-

4835

4862

X=L (river crossing, don t looks like main rd, no bridges from there!)
(r = ngukank, looks good rd)

so/so rd 

n30'44.743
e092'45.568

146 (+5.5)

-

4855

4882

river (to cross)(2nd one from x)
good camp possibilities

ok rd

n30'45.039
e092'48.460

151 (+5)

-

4900

4931

small village

ok- rd 

n30'45.109
e092'51.606

155 (+4)

-

4910

4920

small village left, small lake, small pass, left bent (north)

+/-
n30'44.739
e092'53.565

159 (+4)

-

4865

4884

r bent (small toll)
reaching river and tents

"

n30'45.838
e092'54.959

166.5 (+7.5)

-

4770

-

big river crossing (shoes off, deep till hubs)

ok rd (last 2 km so/so rd

-

171 (+4.5)

-

4750

4750

camp r above rd
another serious river crossing
many small stream in the valley

so/so rd 

n30'41.913
e092'58.216

178.5 (+7.5)

-

4645

4658

bridge on big river (non drinkable, but many small stream on the way)

"

n30'41.309
e093'02.614

185.5 (+7)

-

4605

-

imp river crossing, shoes off

quite bad rd

-

196(10.5)

-

4550

4531

bridge (changing valley side)

ok rd

n30'39.231
e093'11.282

199 (+3)

-

4535

-

river crossing (shoes off)

"

-

200.5 (+1.5)

-

4530

4497

artsa or lhari (??) (gizy map wrong i think than lhari it s at the place of artsa, people say more shali)
all + @ + PSB + petrol (entrance) + TOR (south) to gyamca over tro la or zhoka (rd 318)
always ST to continue toward "lhari" or do martang

ok rd+500 m asphalt in city,

n30'38.603
e093'13.623

203 (+2.5)

-

4530

4515

CP barriere but nobody

ok rd

n30'38.518
e093'15.232

205 (+2)

-

4515

-

TOL for small monastery + water

so/so rd

-

206 (+1)

-

4515

-

RRS (?)+water

bad muddy rd

-

209.5 (+3.5)

-

4450

-

village (well)

bad to very bad (if rain) rd

-

212 (+2.5)

-

4450

-

end ugly rd (for now but they push the destruction! maybe good rd soon)

very bad

-

213.5 (+1.5)

-

4445

4452

good water (village and river crossing just after)

-

n30'38.227
e093'19.474

216 (+2.5)

-

4420

-

village

good rd

-

219 (+3)

-

4400

-

village

ok rd 

-

220 (+1)

 

4370

4366

camp r rd behind rocks

"

n30'36.462
e093'22.517

267 (+47)

-

4025

3989

river in the middle of the rd
big very big crossing
houses and clear river other side (bridge! but useless for our direction)

ok rd

n30'35.275
e093'37.731

269 (+2)

-

3970

4022

bridge (river from north)

no rd almost

n30'36.155
e093'38.503

276 (+7)

-

3900

3888

end ride possibilities, 4 hours for the last 7 km many river crossing and here a to big and deep one for me (all way back!!!!)

no rd

n30'36.708
e093'40.766




nakchu - xining

after having some trouble with the PSB i was free again and decide to set off for xining on the 317 rd for RIWOQE and then on the rd 214 for XINING. The first part on the rd 317 till RIWOKE is all on dirt rd, passing trough really nice tibetan areas and very friendly people. The first part till the TO for BIRU (Naksho DRIRU) is very dusty. From Riwoqe to YUSHU the rd is good with most of it asphalt, from there to XINING it's all asphalt but don't think it's done as the wind can be terrible (head wind of course). Even in summer the area was cold (freezing some night). A really nice ride, according to me and a good touch of tibetan culture. With the PSB, i had no problem at all, i cycled all by day, there are some check posts but they never stopped me – except once… note that i've never used a hotel on this route.


KMS

KMM

ALT W

ALT GPS

DESCRIPTION

Rd conditions

GPS PT

0

-

4500

4454

NAKCHU Internet cafe
(first big cross rd in city=R, then L to another one then R, sorry i did this by night... no better info!)

asphalt

N31'28.280
E092'03.334

5(+5)

-

4540

4495

petrol station out of NAKCHU
End asphalt just before road 317

asphalt then stony rd

N31'28.515
E092'05.105

6(+1)

-

4560 

-

X=ST for 317 (r= Niygma?) attention dogs

ok rd 

-

7(+1)

-

4620

-

mini pass (gate)

ok rd 

-

14(+7)

-

4600 

4630

camp R rd just near village

N31'30.305
E092'10.139

17.5(+3.5)

-

4670

-

bridge + water + houses

-

21.5(+4)

1976

4770 

4788

TOR Niygma (65km)

ok- rd

N31'32.717
E092'12.732

23.5(+2)

1974

4800 

4815

pass BFB (tent) water on the way up

N31'33.713
E092'12.800

30(+6.5)

-

4595 

-

end down hill (some water point)

-

40(+10)

-

4595 

4484

bridge + LP (houses after, BFB)

so/so rd 

N31'38.548
E092'19.222

44(+4)

-

4515 

-

bridge water

-

52.5(+8.5/9)

-

4595 

-

village(BFB) water (dirty) RRS

so/so- 

-

54.5(+2)

-

4640

4661

camp R above rd

 -

N31'42.205
E092'26.276

61.5(+7)

-

4855

4926

pass (4900 CPM)

ok rd 

N31'43.817
E092'28.286

64(+2.5)

-

4720

-

reaching valley, bridge (water)

-

65.5(+1.5)

-

-

-

house left rd with well (+500m river)

-

66.5(+1)

-

4745

-

RRS (water)

so/so rd 

-

92(+25.5)

-

4260

-

RRS

ok- to so/so rd 

-

93.5(+1.5)

1906

4240 

-

village + bridge (changing valley side)

ok-rd 

-

95.5(+2)

1904

4225 

4229

LP reaching big river Shak Chu

ok-rd 

N31'44.837
E092'46.008

103.5(+8)

-

4240 

-

village

-

106.5(+3)

-

4245

-

big village XIAQULUN (SHAKCHUKA) BFB, rest, petrol, X=left entering it, (-0.5 bridge + TOL)

-

113(+6.5)

-

4265

-

bridge very dirty river

ok rd ("cyclo track left rd!) 

-

113.5(+0.5)

-

4275

4288

X=ST for SOG (SOK, 124 km board)
(R=???16km)

 -

N31'50.142
E092'53.274

117.5(+4)

-

4290

-

"tibetan water"!

ok-rd 

-

118(+0.5)

-

4285

4313

camp R rd

 -

N31'51.031
E092'55.751

118.5(+0.5)

-

-

-

river

 -

-

121(+2.5)

-

-

-

river + ruin (no roof) before climb

 -

-

123.5(+2.5)

-

4350

-

RRS (bridge + river 500m after)

ok rd 

-

127.5(+4)

-

4380

4369

DRILUNG village, BFB + rest + petrol station (+500m)

ok-rd 

N31'53.304
E093'00698

129.5(+2)

-

4385

-

TOR to BIRU (NAKSHO DRIRU, 125km on board, on rd 303, asphalt.)
ST for 317 on dirt rd!

-

131(+1.5)

-

4365

-

bridge+ water

-

137 (+6)

-

4405

-

bridge+ water

-

142.5(+5.5)

-

4460

4489

TOL ? (86km)+ RRS+ village (before)

N31'56.075
E093'08.268

148(+5.5)

1853

4495

-

bridge+ river

ok rd

-

151(+3)

-

4520

-

bridge + river + RRS

-

157(+6)

-

4580

-

river (little one also before)

-

159 (+2)

-

4595

-

bridge + river, start up to pass

-

161.5(+2.5)

-

4650

-

RRS + water (+1km also)

 -

-

164(+2.5)

-

4770

4818

pass GANG LA

ok rd

N31'55.006
E093'20.255

170(+6)

-

4635

-

RRS plenty water possibilities after pass

-

171.5(+1.5)

-

4620

4685

camp left rd (near small stream)

N31'55.028
E093'24.615

176(+4.5)

-

4570

-

bridge changing valley side (R)
plenty water

-

179.5(+3.5)

-

4545

-

village BFB+RRS

-

180.5(+1)

-

4410

-

village+ river crossing

-

195 (+14.5)

-

4235

-

village, rest BFB (abandonned house with roof just before) river crossing just after

ok rd 

-

201 (+6)

-

4170

-

bridge changing valley side (L)

ok rd 

-

202.5(+1.5)

-

4150

4132

TOR Biru (?), 68 km on board, RRS

N31'45.162
E093'35.088

206(+3.5)

-

4115

-

village BFB

 

219(+13)

-

4010

4170

village+ TOR for other village (2km), afterward changing valley (UP) so +/- LP

N31'45.562
E093'44.386

224.5(+5.5)

-

4025

-

RRS

ok- rd 

-

225.5(+1)

-

4010

-

TOR over bridge for monastery

-

239.5(+14)

-

4070

4025

Tibetan SOK (SOG), X=R, petrol station

mainly so/so rd

N31'52.529
E093'47.110

241.5 (+2)

-

4045

4002

chinese SOK , X=ST for 317, big city, shop rest, hotel (probably)
No obvious PSB

 1.5 km paved

N31'53.265
E093.47.016

242.5(+1)

-

4040

-

TOL before bridge (along SOK CHU), X=R over bridge for 317
after bridge TOR Chamda (?) , +300m TOL for a village at 5km
be careful f..... dogs

ok rd

-

245.5(+3)

-

4050

4016

sign for TOL 138km but????
clean river, camp after it R rd

ok + rd (but getting corrugated)

N31'54.048
E093'48.929

252(+6.5)

-

4085

-

RRS

ok rd 

-

259.5(+7.5)

-

4140

-

school + BFB (tent)

ok- rd 

-

263.5(+4)

-

4145

4111

TOL 20km=?, river (many on the way as well)

ok rd 

N31'55.709
E093'57.745

267.5(+4)

-

4175

-

ruin with roof, afterward TOR =??? over bridge, ST for 317

-

271.5(+4)

-

4190

4148

X=R for 317, TOL=40km???

N31'55.726
E094'01.848

273.5(+2)

-

4200

4142

TARTENG (BAQEN) all + petrol (1 entrance, 1 exit)

N31'55.231
E094'03.050

280.5(+7)

-

4260

4201

TOL=??, keep ST for 317

N31'54.770
E094'07.063

293.5(+13)

1711

4450

-

village BFB, TOL, water all the way, attention dogs!

-

294(+0.5)

-

4460

4438

camp left above rd

N31'51.868
E094'14.069

299(+5)

1706

4575 

4588

TOR=? 15km, ST for 317, (RRS on the way)

ok+ rd

N31'50.685
E094'16.120

301(+2)

-

4590

4595

pass (highest point)

N31'50.448
E094'17.140

314(+13)

1691

4515

4117

TOL =? 50 km, bridge (reaching valley)

ok rd 

N31'50.012
E094'23.583

319 (+5)

-

4200

4150

village (YANGADA) BFB,RRS

ok-rd 

N31'50.471
E094'26.033

323 (+4)

-

4170

4103

village + RRS + TOL = ? 20km+ river, ST for 317

ok rd 

N31'49.508
E094'28.141

327.5(+4.5)

-

4160

4118

bridge, TOR= Chamda? 43km

ok-rd 

N31'47.664
E094'29.683

335.5 (+8)

1670

4505 

4505

pass CHAK LA (CPM 4750), water just before, possible camp

so/so rd 

N31'44.381
E094'29.568

342(+6.5)

-

4265

-

village BFB, no water pb

ok first then good 

-

352(+10)

-

4090

-

village, BFB, bridge (changing valley side)

mainly good road 

-

354(+2)

-

4050

4025

camp L below rd

ok rd 

N31'39.192
E094'36.767

357.5(+3.5)

-

4000

-

village+ RRS

ok rd 

-

367(+9.5)

1640 

3915 

3869

village = GYARUBLANG (RONGBO) (LP), BFB TOR to ? 10km (probably reaching Chamma rd) ST for 317 with road turning east (L) over bridge (changing valley)

ok rd

N31'33.555
E094'39.083

375(+8)

-

3990

-

village + RRS + BFB (tent)

ok rd 

-

384.5 (+9.5)

-

4110

-

village RRS+BFB

ok first then good 

-

385.5(+1)

-

4125

4093

village in construction, CP "open barrier" (no PSB i guess)

 -

N31'38.697
E094'46.852

398.5(+13)

-

4500

-

RRS, BFB, soon after start climb to pass

 mainly good rd

-

408.5(+10)

-

4850

4871

pass SHEL LA, water just after and on the way up

ok rd 

N31'41.478
E094'55.546

418(+9.5)

-

4400

-

RRS (haven t seen the rd to Bambar)

-

430(+12)

-

3880

3852

camp left rd after a small bridge, plenty of water

N31'41.345
E095'01.677

-

-

--

431(+1)

-

3855

-

bridge over KA CHU river, RRS just before

ok rd 

-

432 (+1)

-

3890

3881

village+ TOL, ZHANGDRA (ZADOI?)?

N31'41.220
E095'02.845

445(+13)

-

3820

3775

imp village TRIDO (SANDO), rest shop PSB, rd turning L (east), leaving KA CHU, up from there (+/- LP) , TOR in village

ok- rd

N31'36.269
E095'04.935

466.5(+21.5)

-

3995

3935

imp village SERTSA (SERCA), all.  X at entrance=R over bridge

ok/ok- rd 

N31'32.643
E095'16.049

477.5(+11)

-

4475

4452

pass, water just before rd

ok rd 

N31'31.174
E095'19.719

481(+3.5)

-

4355

-

RRS+BFB (tent)

so/so rd 

-

494(+13)

-

4130

4117

camp L above rd (plenty water on the way)

+300m RRS

ok rd (average) 

N31'27.751
E095'27.774

502(+8)

1555

4020 

-

village

ok-rd 

-

507.5(+5.5)

-

3975

-

top small climb, TOL monastery, TOR village, 317=in middle with left bent toward valley

ok rd 

-

508.5(+1)

-

3925

-

TOL= short cut to rd 214???

 

-

511(+2.5)

-

3940

3858

imp town TENGCHEN (DENGQEN)
all, petrol PSB...

so/so rd
2km paved in city 

N31'24.729
E095'35.991

514(+3)

-

3890

X=R over bridge

 -

-

524(+10)

-

3830

-

village + RRS + bridge (changing valley side)

ok rd 

-

539(+15)

-

3715

-

village + RRS + BFB + trees!!!!

ok-rd 

-

541(+2)

-

3720

3637

camp R below rd (water all the way)

N31'16.776
095'48.328

544.5(+3.5)

-

3650

3677

village BFB, just after TOR along main river
rd 317 turning left changing valley
up (+/- LP)

so/so rd 

N31'15.977
E095'49.981

555(+10.5)

-

3710

-

village BFB PSB

ok-rd 

-

564.5(+9.5)

-

3760

-

village BFB, monastery

ok-rd 

-

575(+10.5)

-

3980

-

RRS

ok-rd 

-

582(+7)

-

4020

4014

camp left rd (water all the way)

N31'12.141
E096'08.541

591.5(+9.5)

-

4095

-

village BFB, RRS

Ok rd 

-

605(+13.5)

-

4230

-

RRS, village just before (tape water)

ok rd 

-

625(+20)

-

4645

4686

pass (water both side)

ok rd,ok + last 3 km 

N31'05.680
E096'29.814

631(+6)

-

4390

-

RRS

ok rd 

-

635 (+4)

-

4210

4217

barrier CP (no PSB i guess), be careful dogs!

ok/ok+ rd 

N31'08.284
E096'29.320

638.5(+3.5)

-

4035

-

village, BFB

-

643(+4.5)

-

3950

-

monastery (just after RRS), bridge changing valley side

ok rd

-

649.5(+6.5)

-

3885

-

TOL =????

ok rd

-

652(+2.5)

-

3850

3834

camp left below rd (water all the way)

ok rd

N31'14.337
E096'32.274

659.5(+7.5)

1198 on rd214

3800

3800

X = L for YUSHU XINING on rd 214, (R = chamdo chengdu on rd 317) R= Riwoqe 100m all + petrol
asphalt start, CP be careful (active), i passed at lunch time (nobody) 

ok rd

N31'13.545
E096'36.155

665(+5.5)

-

3815 

-

TOR???? (24 and 70km)

asphalt

-

679(+14)

1179

3880 

-

TOR???? 

-

685(+6)

1173

3910 

-

CHONGKU, BFB, Rest, monastery
(-05 TOL???)

-

694.5(+9.5)

1164

3980

-

RRS

-

712(+17.5)

1147

4045 

4035

village, BFB, X=R for 214( main rd), changing valley

N31'29.904
E096'20.183

721.5(+9.5)

1138

4255 

4289

TOR 30km for ????

N31'33.327
E096'24.055

728(+6.5)

1131

4375 

4420

pass, flat up, water all the way on both side

N31'36.305
E096'23.949

745(+17)

1115

-

village BFB

-

753.5(+8.5)

1107

3655 

3606

camp, R rd along Mekong

N31'45.253
E096'20.245

756.5(+3)

1104

3665 

3628

bridge over Mekong, TOR? after it

N31'46.314
E096'19.724

763(+6.5)

1098.5

3685 

3643

village, BFB, PSB barrier (CP), for trucks

N31'49.252
E096'18.974

770.5 (+7.5)

1090

3705 

3630

TOL for village, rd 214 turning R leaving Mekong (up)

N31'51.768
E096'17.594

775.5(+5)

1085

3890 

-

end asphalt

-

778.5(+3)

1082(exact)

3975 

3683

CP (PSB) "open barrier" TAR boarder

ok rd

N31'55.153
E096'16.824

780.5(+2)

1081.5

4000 

3946

TOL 46km for Tengchen (dengqen)?
BFB

ok rd

N31'55.951
E096'17.266

781.3(+0.8)

1080

4010 

3960

barrier for truck i guess (no PSB)

N31'56.160
E096'17.708
 

793.3(+12)

1068.5

4485 

4511

pass no water problems

N31'57.707
E096'19.113

806.3(+13)

1055

4025 

4068

TOL 3km for???
reaching big river 

ok rd 

N32'01.583
E096'21.445

812(+5.5)

1050

4120 

4116

camp left rd, up, leaving river few km before
100m after little water 

ok rd 

N32'00.875
E096'23.312

834(+22)

1028

4480 

4496

pass + TOR (very small track down into valley) 

ok-rd (average)
up and down climb! 

N31'56.476
E096'28.735

839.5(+5.5)

-

end downhill 

ok - rd 

842(+2.5)

1021

4315 

mini pass 

845.5(+3.5)

1018/17

4165 

4158

TOR ??? 

so/so rd 

N31'58.124
E096'32.085

853(+7.5)

1010

3900 

3862

barrier for truck (no PSB) 

N32'00631
E096'29.186

859(+6)

1004

3795 

-

asphalt start 

-

880(+21)

984

3705 

3639

SHARDA (NANGQEN)
big city all+ @ + petrol + PSB
X in it, R for XINING and YUSHU (214)
(L=Domada+ @)

 poorasphalt
last 2km so/so

N32'12.293
E096'28.595

889(+9)

975

3680

3656

camp (bad) R rd
water just before 

asphalt 

N32'16.491
E096'27.719

894(+5)

970

3695 

-

bridge changing valley side 

-

921(+27)

944

3950 

3921

TOL 20km for ??? 

N32'30.686
E096'22.358

933.5(+12.5)

932

4325 

4328

pass

N32'33.340
E096'27.423

934.8(+1.3)

931

4285 

-

end asphalt 

-

938.8(+4)

927

4110 

asphalt back 

ok rd

942.5(+3.7)

923/24

4005 

end downhill start up 

asphalt

946.5(+4)

919

4145

pass

-

951(+4.5)

915

3960 

4366 

TOR for MOZHONG (69km on map)
soon after end downhill and LP
 

 poorasphalt

N32'36.146
E096'33.221

962.5(+11.5)

904

3980 

village (XIALAXIU), BFB + rest + monastery, be careful about 100 dogs in this village very dangerous!

-

980.5(+18)

887

4135

4134

TOL ????+ river+ camp (L rd)

N32'47.944
E096'38.410

993.5(+13)

 

873

4290 

-

TOL for ZADOI/DZATO (170 km on board), BFB

-

997.5(+4)

870

4445

4489

pass

N32'53.269
E096'41.565

1035.5(+38)

833

3870

-

TOR for village
no water in the first 25km after pass except in tent (river far)

asphalt (glueasphalt part if warm)

-

1037.5(+2)

831

3850

3821

TOR for village at 7km

N32'52.283
E097'04.200

1039.5(+2)

829

3840

3842

TOR ??? (2km on board) looks big rd maybe the one toward the rd 317 (short cut) via DENKHOK along Yangtze

asphalt

N32'53.127
E097.03.696

1052.5(+13)

817

3740

3700

 YUSHU (JYEKUNDO) entrance, barrier for truck

N32'58.710
E097'00.664

1055.5(+3)

-

3735

3687

YUSHU center, X=R for XINING
(L=ZHIDOI) very big town all + @ + petrol+ PSB...

N33'00.243
E097'00.586

1080.5(+25)

-

3580

3562

LP reaching Yangtze
rd turn L (north), changing valley (up)

N32'58.726
E097'14.610

1084.5(+4)

-

3580

3582

camp left above rd

N33'00.134
E097'14.743

1085(+0.5)

-

3580 

bridge over yangtze (new one almost completed, will be 500m shorter) 

1090.5(+5.5)

-

3665 

RRS 

1105.5(+15)

-

3885 

3836

imp village (ZHIWU/XINUTUR), shop rest petrol hotel(?), X in it= ST (R= JUMANG/SERXU 73km)
monastery 

 ''

N33'07.996
E097'20.894

1122.5(+17)

-

4475

4451

pass 

 ''

N33'12.045
E097'28.167

1134.5(+12)

-

4300

4256

TOR????

 ''

N33'17.172
E097'27.660

1151(+16.5)

724 (board)

4270 

4247

TOL for DRU CHUNG/CHINDU (28km)
be careful dogs from tents 

 'asphalt (flat up along ZA QU since few km)

N33'22.339
E097'19.897

1156.5(+5.5)

-

4275

-

village (DRUBGYULING?) 

 ''

-

1164(+7.5)

-

4275

4297

camp R rd (water 1km before)

 ''

N33'27.874
E097'15.530

1200(+36)

674

4440 

4402

TOL for ZADOI and QUMARLEB ( 195 on board), be careful dogs before 

 ''

N33'44.220
E097'09.736

1209(+9)

-

4420 

4418

important village DUMDA (QINGSHUIHE)
shop rest hotel (probably) petrol 

 ''

N33'48.310
E097'08.234

1248(+39)

628              

4550          

4567                     

camp R rd (no water pb all day) 

''

N33' 59.187
E097' 26.572

1254(+6)

622

4560

-

RRS

 ''

-

1275(+21)

601.5

4785

4839

pass (4 last km steeper), BAYARHAR SHANKOU

 ''

N34'07.612
E097'39.483

1300(+25)

578

4725

4765

small pass, unfair downhill (up down)
head wind!!! (like from yushu!)

 ''

N34'14.601
E097'50.264

1318.5(+18.5)

560

4465

-

RRS, head wind = hell

 first pavement not so good then goodasphalt

-

1335(+16.5)

544

4335

-

 village(YENIUGDO), BFB, rest, RRS

asphalt

-

1355.5(+20.5)

524

4220

4233

 camp R rd (no water from the last village but there water)

 ''

N34'38.759
E098'02.265

1358.5(+3)

521.5

4195

-

real river (dirty) start up

 ''

-

1362.5(+4)

517

4290

4330

small pass+ TOR to HUANGHE

 ''

N34'41.272
E098'04.795

1391.5(+29)

489

4200

4218

bridge over Yellow river, TOL just after for main MATO/MADOI

 ''

N34'53.098
E098'10.357

1395(+3.5)

486

4205

4229

MADOI TS, BFB, rest , petrol, probably hotel, TOL MADOI center=3km

 ''

N34'53.525
E098'12.549

1444.5(+49.5)

438

4295

4348

camp nest river R rd, long flat up with head wind, be a bit careful with water

 ''

N35'00.742
E098'36.571

1454.5(+10)

428

4485

4538

pass

 ''

N35'03437
E098'41.148

1473(+18.5)

410

4200

4241

village (HUASHIXIA) shop, rest, petrol, hotel
TOR to TEMAHE (QAMALUNG)=196km

 ''

N35'06.967
E098'51.796

1485.5(+12.5)

398

-

-

TOR for TANO (ZHOLMA)= 38km

 ''

-

1490.5(+5)

393

4260

4292

TOR+TOL
top small climb

 ''

N35'13.381
E098'57.946

1496.5(+6)

387

4240

-

top climb

 ''

-

1508(+11.5)

375

4125

-

dirty river (first since HUASHIXIA)

 ''

-

1530(+22)

354

4275

-

tent + water

-

1531(+1)

353+

4305

-

camp (dry bridge)

-

1533(+2)

351.5

4405

4463

pass

 ''

N35'2.432
E099'18.571

1550.5(+17.5)

-

3925

3947

CHUTSEN village, shop, rest, petrol, RRS, probably hotel, river on the way down (muddy in lower part), (-1.5km, 3900,+/- LP)

 ''

N35'24.314
E099'25.924

1561(+10.5)

-

4160

-

bridge + river (no water pb)
and asphalt (work)

 ''

-

1565.5(+4.5)

-

-

-

kind of pavement back (work)

ok rd (muddy if snowing!)

-

1567.5(+2)

-

4440

4508

pass

 ''

N35'29.891
E099'30.607

1573(+5.5)

-

4225

-

end asphalt but should be soon paved

work

-

1578(+5)

--

4060

-

asphalt back

work

-

1606.5(+28.5)

-

3690

-

village BFB (new rd will avoid it and be shorter, soon completed)

asphalt

-

1619(+12.5)

264

3750

-

river

 ''

-

1620(+1)

263

3745

3780

camp R rd

 ''

N35'51.355
E099'40.074

1624(+4)

259

3735

-

main river rd turn R

 ''

-

1636(+12)

247

3660

-

RRS

 ''

-

1645.5(+9.5)

238

3610

3620

X=left for XINING (start up to pass)
(R=XINGHAI/ZIKETAN and TONGTE/TONGDE)

 ''

N35'48.053
E099'52.720

1648(+2.5)

-

3705 

-

end asphalt for 1.5 km (work for a tunnel)

 ''

-

1652.5(+4.5)

234 (kmm wrong)

3910

3934

pass

 ''

N35'49.629
E099'54.181

1657(+4.5)

230(kmm wrong)

3735

-

end asphalt (tunnel exit)

 ''

-

1660.5(+3.5)

228(kmm wrong)

3580

-

asphalt back (soon all paved)

ok rd

-

1669(+8.5)

220

3290

3281

imp village HEKA/HOIKA
shop market, petrol, rest, probably hotel

asphalt

N35'53.902
E099'59.610

1678.5(+9.5)

210

3260

-

water left rd

 ''

-

1688.5(+10)

200

3165 

-

water L rd

-

1692.5(+4)

196

3160 

-

TOR for MANGRA, TOL for NGARMA
village

-

1698.5(+6)

191

3165 

-

water R rd

-

1701(+2.5)

188

3170 

-

water R rd

-

1741(+40)

150

2865 

-

TOR KIUKUG (?)

-

1743(+2)

148

2855 

2830

X=L for ring rd to XINING (longer i guess than crossing city!), (R = CHABCHA /QABQA, big city, all)

N36'14.470
E100'36.245

1745(+2)

146

2915 

2849

camp left rd

N36'16.394
E100'36.243

1747.5(+2.5)

143

2925 

-

TOL for QOJIE, 2 TOR for the city center

 ''

-

1749.5(+2)

141

2990 

2917

TOR city center+ petrol+ end ring rd

 ''

N36'17.699
E100'38.040

1757.5(+8)

133

3100 

-

village+ water

 ''

-

1760.5(+3)

130

3145 

-

village + water

 ''

-

1770(+9.5)

121.5

3245 

3190

water L rd

 ''

N36'21.333
E100'47.633

1771(+1)

120

3240 

-

TOR for??? 4km

 ''

-

1776(+5)

115

3315 

-

water R rd

 ''

-

1783(+7)

109

3610 

3577

pass

 ''

N36'22.299
E100'54.447

1789.5(+6.5)

102

3355 

3287

city ( Daotanghe = all+ petrol
TOL for GOLMUT (680km)
start HW ST Xining)

 ''

N36'23.880
E100'58.062

1811(+21.5)
 

76 (HW KMM)

3205

-

TOR for MODUOJY, many TOR and TOL on the way toward village, hilly first then all down from +/-1804

 ''

-

1816(+5)

71

3090 

-

village, BFB, rest, petrol

 ''

-

1818(+2)

69

3095 

-

Toll gate (not for cycler!!!!)

 ''

-

1827(+9)

60

2900 

-

3 short tunnels (light)

 

1830(+3)

57

2835 

-

XIAGAOLING (long village), rest shop petrol, water

 

1839(+9)

49

2720 

-

TOL for HUANGYUAN (big city)+rd 315, shop, rest there, keep always ST for XINING on main rd (rd turning R, east)

 

1849(+10)

-

2660

-

tunnel light (other later also lit up)

 

1862(+13)

26

2480 

-

exit to DUOBA (no possible camp while on the HW)

 ''

 

1863(+1)

-

X after exit Toll gate, R=XINING and DUOBA, (L=HUANGYUAN) 

 ''

 

1865(+2)

-

2465

-

DUOBA shop rest probably hotel, X=ST in it

 ''

 

1867(+2)

-

2465

2353

camp left rd in field

 ''

 

1875(+8)

16 on rd103

2465

-

back to HW, end of rd 103

 ''

 

1876(+1)

14 on HW

2415

-

city (all+@ +petrol...), from there city style traffic

 ''

 

1886(+10)

-

2310 

2249

big cross rd, keep st

 ''

 

1887(+1)

-

-

 

leaving LANXIE HW,R, (no choice)

 ''

 

1888(+1)

-

-

2242

X=R, +300m round about=st toward WUSI LU (board)

 ''

 

1889(+1)

-

-

2263

X=L on WUSI LU

 ''

 

1891.4(+2.4)

-

-

2246

big square after crossing river=west door
R after it, then first L on XIDAJIE
(JianYIN Hotel at the corner)

 ''

 

1894(+2.6)

-

-

2259

big market street on the R after crossing BEIDAJIE, @ in it (L hand side)
= XINING CENTER

 ''