3 18 National Highway Chengdu to Lhasa road trip Raiders

Chengdu-Lhasa National Road No.318 is a road trip route that is very popular with young tourists. There are many natural scenery and traditional cultural elements along the way, which is also very challenging. The following is the specific guide of road trip Raiders.

The Lhasa section of Chengdu is the southern line of the Sichuan-Tibet line, with a red line on the way.

1. Is it worthwhile to enter Tibet and take National Highway 3 18?

Not worth it.

Are you starting to panic? Isn't National Highway 3 18 the most beautiful highway in China? Why is it not worth opening? Are you kidding?

Listen to me about the advantages and disadvantages of National Highway 3 18 (Chengdu-Lhasa section):

Is the scenery of National Highway 3 18 beautiful? Beautiful! However, this beautiful scenery is only a few paragraphs on 3 18: Kangding to xinduqiao, the majestic snow-capped mountains can be seen for the first time, and the vast grassland can be seen from Litang to Batang. However, the clear water and green hills of Lugu Lake will leave you with amazing scenery. The Tibetan landscape near Linzhi combines rivers, forests and snow-capped mountains, which makes people relaxed and happy. But if you think so, the 3 18 section has 80% roads. Even if you are sitting in the co-pilot, you will not pick up your mobile phone to take pictures. What's more, another driver may have to drive for 7-8 days, and they will miss more beautiful scenery while driving.

Let's talk about the famous scenic spots along 3 18. These scenic spots (except Ranwu Lake) should all be driven from 3 18, not directly beside the 3 18 national highway. Hailuogou Scenic Area; 2. Daocheng Yading Scenic Area; 3. Ranwu Lake Scenic Area; 4. Yarlung Zangbo River Scenic Area; 5. Basongcuo Scenic Area; 6. Namco Scenic Area; 7. Yang Zhuo Yongcuo Scenic Area. If your purpose is to visit these famous scenic spots, there is no need to take the 3 18 road: Hailuogou and Daocheng Aden are both in Sichuan, with convenient transportation; Most of the remaining scenic spots are near Lhasa, and the middle section is actually a drive. Why not fly directly to Lhasa?

What kind of people are suitable for driving 3 18? First of all, you have 10- 15 days of free time; Secondly, you like driving; Finally, your goal is to empty yourself, steal half a month, get along with yourself or one or two partners, and feel the mountains and rivers of the motherland at the same time, or go to several scenic spots in a corner. With such psychological preparation, it is very suitable for you to drive 3 18 national highway to Tibet to experience it.

For ordinary people, if you want to visit the snow-capped mountains, grasslands and lakes in Tibet after a holiday, please fly directly to Lhasa, and then rent a car to visit the scenic spots around Lhasa, and you can see the most beautiful scenery in Tibet. It is not cost-effective to take national highway 3 18.

2. In what form does a person want to travel to Tibet?

Please read the last paragraph of the last question again.

Let me talk about my experience this time. From Chengdu to Yajiang, I followed Team A, and then an unpleasant thing happened, which led me and my friends from the first team to immediately decide not to follow them, find another team B and go all the way to Lhasa. Let me tell you something about these two teams:

A: Team A consists of three people. They each drive a car from Chengdu to Lhasa. On the surface, I want to play with the big loop line and recruit several riders to compete. In fact, when we go to Hailuogou Scenic Area, they will not go in to play, but wait for us outside. The fare was agreed before departure. The cost of a rider's trip (from Chengdu to Lhasa) is 2000 yuan, including the fare, fuel, car maintenance, driver's driving fee and so on. The rest of the journey, meals, accommodation, admission AA. We always set out with a rider of 10 and three drivers.

The problem with this team is that before entering Kangding, we found our own accommodation and restaurant, and everyone's AA was fine. After entering Kangding, the captain suddenly designated a restaurant and accommodation. When we proposed to change our residence, the faces of these three people suddenly turned bad. They said a lot of nasty things and drove dangerous cars. This made our riders feel uncomfortable, and made us realize that their purpose of making money was too clear, which eventually led to parting ways.

B: In the second paragraph, the team we took was a five-car team, which drove from all over the country to Sichuan. They may have decided to open 3 18 together after meeting in the service area, or other circumstances. Most of their cars can still take 1-2 people. If they come to pick us up, they will pay at the gas station AA, and the others will eat and live in AA. No extra cost and invisible consumption, completely free. The characteristic of this team is that if you follow them, you will almost follow their rhythm. They have no intention of going to Daocheng Aden, so this time I also gave up my plan to go to Daocheng Aden.

If you travel alone and you decide to take the 3 18 road, you may come into contact with the above two teams. If you can't drive by car, my suggestion is to find a small team with less than two people and a car with less than three people (fewer people and fewer ideas). Find out in advance whether it is an outdoor organization for the purpose of charging or a pure tour for travelers. Their route doesn't accord with your symbol. If you can drive by car, it is better to drive by car. It is most comfortable to listen to yourself. If you don't take the 3 18 bus directly to Lhasa, you can meet many like-minded friends in the youth hostel in Lhasa. After arriving in Lhasa, you can also sign up for a one-day tour of nearby attractions. There are more possibilities.

If you want to carpool, you can go on a poor tour, Baidu Post Bar and so on. So I won't go into details.

Finally, if you are a girl alone, I don't recommend hitchhiking or carpooling. You can say that there are always many good people in the world. You want to meet strangers on the trip, but girls are in a weak position after all, so please think twice.

3. What is the effect of altitude sickness? How to overcome it?

Before going to Sichuan and Tibet, my parents were worried that altitude sickness would affect my trip, and I was afraid that I would vomit halfway up the mountain and then faint on the ground (laughs). Then the classmates who have never been to the plateau are very worried. Is altitude sickness so horrible?

Besides, we have 10 riders this time. Until 3 18, 10, no one needed oxygen. Some people will feel dizzy, some people will have headaches, but only a few. The duration is only 1-2 days, not very long. Lhasa is 3600 meters above sea level. On the second day in Lhasa, everyone was alive and kicking. So for a healthy ordinary person, altitude sickness can't be a moth that adds fuel to the fire. Do something at high altitude, slow down and everything will be fine. Please relax.

I am personally scared by my parents. Ten days before departure, I bought a bottle of Rhodiola oral liquid, 10ml, and drank two bottles a day. You can look at the ones with high salidroside content. You don't have to drink when you get to the plateau. During the whole process, I never felt dizzy or headache. The only possibility related to altitude sickness is diarrhea. But diarrhea may also be caused by acclimatization, so there is no conclusion. If you are really worried about altitude sickness, drink oral liquid in advance and take Nuodikang capsule with you.

If you choose to go to Tibet by National Highway 3 18, you should choose a place with low altitude (within 3000m above sea level), so that you can sleep more comfortably. This is the online elevation map of National Highway 3 18 (the picture has been deleted). This time we live in Chengdu, Hailuogou (between Luding and Kangding), Yajiang, Batang, Basu, Ranwu Lake (elevation 3960), Bayi and Lhasa. If it's the first time to take bus No.318, try to avoid living in xinduqiao or Litang, which is unfriendly to Van Gogh. Please consider it carefully.

4. How to bring the oxygen bottle? What medicine did you take with you on the trip?

This time, I saw that the oxygen bottle used by others was portable. One bottle of 20 yuan with respirator. If you are really worried, you can buy it in Kangding and take it with you. But it must be used in an emergency, otherwise it will rely on oxygen cylinders and may have to be used all the time.

Drugs that must be taken during the trip: 1. Nuodikang capsule against altitude sickness; 2, gastrointestinal drugs and berberine: against diarrhea and colic caused by acclimatization or irregular diet; 3, Fenbid and other cold medicines: pay attention to the plateau not to catch a cold, you can eat this if you have a headache; 4, painkillers and band-AIDS. Girls can bring some brown sugar and drink it with hot water.

I hope you can put these medicines in your luggage. At that time, the captain of our team said that he would take these drugs, and no one expected to be separated later. Many things will happen on the Sichuan-Tibet line, so be sure to take the necessary things with you.

5. What kind of driving level is required for self-driving 3 18?

Just drive through the mountain road and you can drive 3 18. National Highway 3 18 is a very mature route with complete roads and at least one lane back and forth. Moreover, the legendary dangerous sections on 3 18: Jueba Mountain Road and Ranwuhu Road are only a short section. Their danger lies in the cliffs on one side, and then you have to turn on the mountain road. Actually, it's okay to drive slowly.

1: Be sure to avoid the rainy season and take National Highway 3 18. No one can save you in case of a mudslide.

Note: If it is already raining lightly at the foot of the mountain, try not to climb. It may be snowing at the top of the mountain. To prevent the road from freezing, install snow chains. Retreat is also a good choice. Don't risk your life driving, especially on icy roads at night.

May-September 38 National Highway has no snow-covered pavement. Please rest assured, but please take a snow chain just in case. (But there will be a rainy season)

6. How much is the whole journey from Chengdu to Lhasa?

If you drive with your friends, you can safely arrive in Lhasa from Chengdu via 3 18 national highway, excluding the car rental fee, and the fuel fee is up to 2000 yuan. According to the price level along the way, 200 yuan a day, two hotels a day, 200 yuan a day. Driving to Lhasa for 7 days like this, 4800 for two people and 2400 for one person.

In case of road rescue, the cost of a rescue vehicle is 500-800 yuan.

It seems that the A team we contacted at that time could earn 6000 yuan for a car in Lhasa, which is too much.

At the same time, I sorted out the tickets for various scenic spots for reference:

7. What clothes are better to wear in plateau climate?

Never bring clothes: sweaters! You can't wear it when it is cold, and you can't take it off when it is hot.

The ultraviolet rays in the plateau are particularly strong. Lhasa is very hot when the sun is shining in the daytime, so it is enough to wear a thin coat (short sleeves and long sleeves are ok). It will be a little cold after the sun goes down. You can wear autumn clothes if you need to go out.

If you drive from Lhasa to two nearby scenic spots, or take the national highway 3 18 to Tibet, the car will be warmer, and a long-sleeved sweater will be enough. But when crossing the mountain pass, the altitude is often above 4500 meters. These passes are in a state of snow all the year round. If you want to get off the bus and take photos on the observation deck, you can get off the bus with a thick down jacket, which is convenient and comfortable.

Never bring a sweater! Say the important things three times.

8. What necessities do you need to bring?

1. A hat with a brim! If you don't, your mother will disown you when you go home;

2. sunscreen! Beware of ultraviolet sunburn;

3. water cup! Tibet is very dry and needs to be replenished at any time.

4. Snacks replenish energy! Due to the long sightseeing time in the scenic spot, meals are generally not provided. Students with bad stomachs must bring snacks to replenish energy and physical strength.

Please put these in your own small backpack. Other traditional travel goods will not be described.

9. What do you suggest for a week's holiday?

The first day: direct flight to Lhasa, urban rectification and rest. (Lhasa altitude: 3600 meters)

The next day: Visit Barkhor Street and Jokhang Temple, have a rest and get used to altitude sickness.

Day 3: Visit Potala Palace, rent a car in the afternoon, and take a rest in Linzhi via Kaila Expressway. (Linzhi altitude: 2900 meters)

Day 4: Visit Basongcuo Scenic Area and return to Lhasa. On the way, you can visit two small towns.

Day 5: Visit Yang Zhuo Yongcuo Scenic Area and live in Lhasa;

Day 6: Visit Namco Scenic Area and live in Lhasa.

Day 7: Return the car and fly home from Lhasa.

Share my trip and the scenery of 3 18 road with you.

April 25th: Chengdu-Yajiang (lunch)-Luding (scenic spot: Luding Bridge)-Hailuogou Accommodation (altitude 1580m).

April 26th: Visit Hailuogou Scenic Area and stay in Hailuogou (altitude 1580m).

April 27th: Hailuogou-Kangding (lunch)-xinduqiao Yajiang Accommodation (elevation 2530m).

April 28th: Accommodation in Yajiang Batang (2425m above sea level).

April 29th: Rumei Town, Batang (lunch) Basu Town-(3,225m above sea level)

April 30th: Basu Ranwu Lake (lunch)-Ranwu Lake Accommodation (elevation 3960m).

May 1: Ranwu Lake-Bomi (lunch)-Linzhi (August 1) Accommodation (elevation 2930m).

May 2: Linzhi Linla Expressway-Lhasa (3600 meters above sea level)

D 1: Chengdu-Ya 'an-Luding-Hailuogou

In many service areas, you can see the sign "Sichuan-Tibet Line must be opened in this life" and take a group photo together. When I went at this time, I happened to meet many people selling red cherries by the Luding Bridge. It's 5 yuan a catty cheaper. Sweet and sour, but you can't buy it in mainland China. Don't miss it. Tickets for Luding Bridge 10 yuan/person, but parking fees nearby are more expensive than tickets.

D2: Visit Hailuogou Scenic Area.

Hailuogou scenic spot is very large, and there are five drop-off points in the camp after going up the mountain by car from the gate. This time, we followed the girls who had been to Hailuogou Scenic Area before, got off at Camp 4, and then took the hiking route of Black Pine Forest. Get off at Camp 4, the ground is covered with snow. Everyone must wear non-slip and waterproof snow boots. If it is summer, there should be no such problem.

Walking along the landscape road of the black pine forest to the top of the mountain, you can see the glacier 1, but because of the snow, the snow covers the glacier and you can only feel a white world.

To visit Hailuogou Scenic Area, I wanted to take a shortcut up the mountain to Kangding, but my car broke down in heavy snow, so I had to return to Hailuogou Scenic Area for one night. The next day, I returned to Luding and started to go to National Highway 3 18.

This is Caohaizi Scenic Area between Camp 2 and Camp 3 in Hailuogou Scenic Area:

D3: Hailuogou-Kangding-xinduqiao-Yajiang

Entering Kangding means entering the actual Tibetan area. You can see that the signs in the shops are all written in Tibetan.

Kangding to Yajiang needs to climb the folding mountain, which is also the first mountain with an altitude of more than 4000 meters west of 3 18. At the top of Zheduo Mountain, we happened to meet the fading of dark clouds, and the appearance of blue sky and sunshine made the snow scene more charming.

Stay in Moxi Town next to Hailuogou Scenic Area:

Fold the top of the mountain:

D4: Yajiang-Batang

From Yajiang to Batang, especially after Litang, I can feel the vastness of grassland for the first time, and combine with snow-capped mountains to complement each other. The grass was still yellow when we went. I heard that in summer, the green grassland will be more beautiful.

You are sure to see many yaks. If they are on the road, they must slow down and don't hit them.

When crossing Haizi Mountain, Sister Lake became famous. It's a pity that there is a big piece of ice in our photos. Seeing the photos of Sister Hu on the Internet is beautiful, but I can only leave regrets.

Sister Lake at the top of Haizi Mountain:

D5: Batang-Rumei Town-Basu

In order to get from Batang Town to Basu Town, it is actually a long journey, so we should be prepared for a one-day trip. On this day, you will climb Jueba Mountain, which is slightly in danger of getting lost, and Dongdashan Mountain, which is 5000 meters above sea level. If we can reach Basu smoothly, the next trip will be easy. If you can't make it, you may need to live in Zuogong.

Before entering Basu, you will pass the famous scenic spot "Nujiang 72 Turn". Don't miss this observation deck!

Nujiang 72 turn observation deck:

D6: Basu-Ranwu Lake

Ranwu Lake is really beautiful. We live in Ranwu Lake, a network celebrity BB, and the scenery outside the window is beautiful. We can sit and watch the clear water and green mountains and enjoy the passage of time.

Aerial photo of drone:

D7: Ranwu Lake-Bomi-Linzhi

We had a very delicious Tibetan meal in Bomi, which was the first Tibetan meal our group had since we entered Tibet. You can search for "Shengdi Zhuolong Tibetan Family Banquet" for public comments. While eating, I happened to meet my boss, who invited us to visit his Tibetan living room. Very Tibetan and exquisite, reflecting the Tibetan people's love for all aspects of life.

On the way to Linzhi, you will pass through a small town called Lulang Town, where there are lawns and commercial horseback riding. The grassland is beautiful. Don't miss it.

On the way to Linzhi, after passing the pass, you can also see an observation deck of "Nanjiawa Peak". Nanpowa Peak is more than 7,000 meters high and is shrouded in mist all the year round. It is said that she is a shy girl. This time, we were lucky to see the sharp corners sticking out from behind the clouds. I heard that in the Yarlung Zangbo River Scenic Area, if you are lucky, you can also see the peak of Nangarbawa Peak. But you can't see it all year round.

Restaurant owner's living room:

Langzhen Lawn:

South Capova Peak:

D8: Linzhi-Linla Expressway-Lhasa

The road from Linzhi to Lhasa, in addition to the traditional 3 18 national highway, also has Linla Expressway. From the map, there is not much difference between the two roads. The road condition of Linla Expressway is good, and the speed limit is 100 km/h ... In this case, there is no need to stick to National Highway 3 18. It takes 4-5 hours from Linla Expressway to Lhasa.

All the way to the end of the journey, I was excited and gratified to see the Potala Palace in the distance.

Zonglukang Park:

In Lhasa, you can also go to Barkhor Street and Jokhang Temple, where there is more local life. You can also see many devout Tibetans walking around the temple and experiencing their inner worship of Buddha. During the epidemic, indoor scenic spots in Lhasa were closed, and Potala Palace and Jokhang Temple were inaccessible. So, I thought I would come again in the future, so Yang Zhuoyong CuO and Namtso let you go first, hahaha.

Egg at the end of the film:

The bus fare from downtown Lhasa to Lhasa Gongga Airport is 30 yuan (70 minutes' drive), and the parking spot in downtown Lhasa is on the east side of Potala Palace, with the address of "Niangze Road 1, Chengguan District, Lhasa City, Xizang Autonomous Region".

If you are flying to or from Lhasa, please be sure to sit by the window. You will see something very close to the sky:

Thank you for seeing here. I look forward to seeing you again in Lhasa.