Why do most self-driving Sichuan-Tibet lines choose G3 18 instead of G3 17?

Every year, a large number of tourists drive the Sichuan-Tibet line by car, because it is a challenging outdoor adventure, and many changeable climatic environments and natural beauty can be foreseen along the way. So why do people like to choose G3 18 instead of G3 17?

To go to go on road trip, Tibet, the Sichuan-Tibet line is the first choice for most people. On the one hand, it has beautiful natural scenery and is called "the first scenic avenue in China". The scenery along the way is dazzling and unforgettable. On the other hand, for road trip fans in most provinces and cities in China, it is the shortest distance to take the Sichuan-Tibet line from their own place, so they don't need to spend more time on the road.

However, as a well-known Sichuan-Tibet line, many people don't know that the Sichuan-Tibet line is actually a general term for two completely different routes. One starts from Chengdu, with a total distance of over 2100km, passing through Ya 'an, Luding, Kangding, xinduqiao, Yajiang, Litang, Batang, Mangkang, Zuogong, Basu, Bomi, Ranwu and Linzhi, and reaches the southern section of G3 18 Sichuan-Tibet line in Lhasa. The other one also starts from Chengdu, with a total distance of more than 2,400 kilometers, passing through Wenchuan, Aba, Luhuo, Ganzi, Dege, Jiangda, Changdu, Leiwuqi, Dingqing, Baqing, Suoxian and Naqu, and reaches Lhasa G3 17 Sichuan-Tibet North Line.

For most friends who drive the Sichuan-Tibet line into Tibet, more than 95% of the preferred route will always choose the southern section of the Sichuan-Tibet line, while few people will choose the northern section of the Sichuan-Tibet line. So, why?

As an old traveler who often goes to Tibet, in my opinion, there are several reasons.

The influence of propaganda and traditional cognition should be said that for many years, G3 18 Nanchuan-Tibet Line is synonymous with Sichuan-Tibet Line, regardless of media propaganda or word of mouth in the self-driving circle. The northern part of the Sichuan-Tibet line is a more mysterious and awesome existence. Why do you say that?

Five or six years ago, the northern part of the Sichuan-Tibet line was a difficult route with harsh natural climatic conditions, complicated road conditions and rugged roads. Not to mention cars, SUVs with high chassis and ordinary off-road vehicles will have great challenges. The northern section of G3 17 Sichuan-Tibet line in those days is like the following pictures.

There are more complicated and scary road conditions, which will make you give up the idea of driving in the northern part of the Sichuan-Tibet line. This image is deeply imprinted on the psychology of many ordinary people and road trip lovers. Overcoming this psychological barrier is not an easy task.

Compared with the "terrible" northern section of G3 17 Sichuan-Tibet line, the southern section of G3 18 Sichuan-Tibet line has a better geographical location, a large traffic volume, a relatively developed regional economy and more and more priority investment in road infrastructure, so the road conditions are much stronger than the northern section of Sichuan-Tibet line for many years. Even now, in G3 18,

The road conditions in the southern section of the Sichuan-Tibet line are like this.

Therefore, in this contrast, and because most friends who drive to Tibet are visiting Tibet for the first time, and will not visit Tibet for the second time for a long time, most people will choose G3 18 in the south of Sichuan-Tibet line, and only friends who visit Tibet for the second time or even the third time will consider challenging G3 17 in the north of Sichuan-Tibet line, even though it is G3/kloc-0 now.

consistent

Most friends who travel to Tibet by car, especially those who travel for the first time, always try their best to understand various strategies and consult riders who have been to Tibet. At this time, among the 100 people who have traveled to Tibet by car, 99 people will suggest that novices take the G 3 18 Sichuan-Tibet South Line first. There are many reasons, and I will explain them one by one. Finally,

Under this information bombardment and inducement, few people will choose other routes by themselves. Except those friends who are close to Yunnan or want to travel to Yunnan by the way, most people will take the Yunnan-Tibet line to enter Tibet naturally and start their first self-driving trip to Tibet.

Different Landscape Features As a superb landscape avenue, the southern part of the Sichuan-Tibet line has indeed gathered various landscapes including snow-capped mountains, dangerous peaks, glaciers, grasslands, lakes and rivers, and the scenery is very magnificent. However, the human landscape on this route will be much less. Different from the southern line, G3 17 Sichuan-Tibet Northern Line is a line rich in human and natural landscapes, especially many human landscapes. Along G3 17, there are many holy places of Tibetan culture with profound humanistic history, such as Wuming Buddhist College, Degeyin Academy and celestial burial terraces, but for many people who only love beautiful scenery but have no time to pay attention to human landscape, it is simpler and more direct to choose the southern line of Sichuan and Tibet.

Objectively speaking, many friends who drive to Tibet first take photos and make friends for beautiful scenery. The attraction of cultural landscape to them will obviously be greatly reduced, just like the first time I drove to Tibet.

Although G3 17 and G3 18 pass through western Sichuan and eastern Tibet equally, the route of G3 18 passing through the southern part of Sichuan-Tibet line is generally low in altitude and the terrain fluctuates greatly, especially after entering Tibet, whether passing through Linzhi area or Lhasa area, the overall altitude is low, the climate is relatively warm, the temperature is high and the air is in the air.

The northern part of G3 17 Sichuan-Tibet line requires higher altitude, lower temperature, greater temperature difference between day and night, not to mention Qamdo and Naqu after entering Tibet. For friends who are visiting Tibet for the first time, the probability of physical discomfort is higher and the symptoms will be more serious.

From the perspective of health and self-driving safety, many people will also give priority to taking the southern route.

The difference of driving difficulty If the road conditions of the two routes decided that the northern part of G3 17 Sichuan-Tibet line would be a hellish route a few years ago or more, the southern part of G3 18 Sichuan-Tibet line would be much easier.

However, at present, the self-driving difficulty of these two lines is not much different. Both G3 18 South Line and G3 17 North Line have basically completed road hardening, especially in spring and autumn, the two most suitable seasons for self-driving, and the road conditions will be very good, which can meet the traffic needs of various vehicles.

If it is in the rainy season, there will inevitably be landslides, mudslides, landslides, road gravel accumulation and other problems that affect the traffic safety of the two lines. Judging from the actual situation in recent years, it seems that there are more rivers and tributaries along the southern line, and the frequency and probability of problems are also more.

In addition, due to the terrain, latitude and climate, the northern line is more prone to sudden snowfall, snow and ice accumulation in high altitude areas. If it is not a four-wheel drive vehicle or without snow chains and other rescue facilities, it is easy to get into trouble in this weather.

In my opinion, the reality is that the number of tourists in the southern line of Sichuan-Tibet is much higher than that in the northern line of Sichuan-Tibet, and the passenger and freight flow is much higher than that in the northern line. People flow is capital flow. Driven by this demand, the number of service industries (catering, accommodation, supermarkets) in the southern section of the Sichuan-Tibet line is far more than that in the northern section. From the aspects of service guarantee, service quality and fierce competition, the southern line will be superior to the northern line. For many people who pay attention to the quality of travel accommodation and food, this is also a factor that cannot be ignored.

The difference between travel time and cost First of all, the travel distance of the southern section of the Sichuan-Tibet line is 300 kilometers less than that of the northern section. The road quality and convenience of service facilities along the southern Sichuan-Tibet line can ensure that you can complete your journey-Daocheng Aden-Lhasa route within 5-7 days. If you only take the southern section of G3 18 Sichuan-Tibet line and don't go to Daocheng, you can arrive by car in 4 days at the earliest (all within 3 days); If you take the northern section of G3 17 Sichuan-Tibet line and want to visit all the cultural attractions comprehensively, it is estimated that it will take at least 10 days to reach Lhasa. For most friends who have very limited holidays in go on road trip, time limitation will be an important reason for choosing the southern route.

Finally, whether it is the G3 18 southern Sichuan-Tibet line or the G3 17 northern Sichuan-Tibet line, the scenery is very beautiful. As long as you are willing to start this trip, you will definitely feel glad that you have come. For most friends who have never been there, you really need to consider when you are going to start this trip to go on road trip in your car.