Prepare for the next trip: From
May to July 2005; Destination: Tibet.
Which route to enter into Tibet, from Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai
or Nepal? All of them are fabulous.
Two photos in the latest issue of French GEO magazine helped
me make the decision. One is on the left cover page. It
is a village called 'Lhagu' in the eastern Tibet, nothing
more was mentioned. I searched on the web and found two
articles on Lhagu. There is a map on the second article.
Comparing it with my Tibet Map, I found Lhagu located not
far from Rawu town on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. Rawu is
close to Markham (Mangkang).
1.
Exploring Tibet's Lhagu Glacier and Its Unclimbed Peaks
(Gore-tex.com).
2.
Kangri Garpo Range in Southeast Tibet (The Himalayan
Association of Japan).
The
second photo is the lake of Tso-me-lung with the reflection
of Mt Makalu and Mt Everest, a splendid scared place in
Kangshung. Both
places are not far from the road. There must have bus connecting
Rawu either to Markham or Lhasa.
My
itinerary: the North Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
Route:
Chengdu - Mt. Siguniang (Rilong Town)- Danba - Ganzi
- Dege - Chamdo - Rawu - Pomi - Kongo Gymda - Lhasa
Landscapes:
Along the north Sichuan-Tibet highway, click the following
links to see some pictures.
Highlights with hiking possibilities.
1.
Siguniang
Shan
(四姑娘山 Four Sisters Mountain):(Rilong
Town 日隆)
Time:
2 to 3 days;
Things to do: hiking the Haizi gully where hides several
alpine lakes, climbing Mt Daguniang (5355m). ..more
2.
Danba:
460km from Chengdu. Altitude: 1950m.
Time: 2 days; Things to do: hiking in the countryside and
discover some picturesque Tibetan villages. More information
can be found on my
Danba page and Youduo.com
(A Chinese Website).
It is possible to hike from Dangling
to Daofu
3.
Bamei Town (3450M), Tagong Grassland (3800m).
Highlights: Mt Yala and its lakes: Photo1
Photo2
Hiking around Tagong proposed by Trek magazine (issue no.
63)
1. Discovery
trek to the Yala (Zhara) Sacred Mountain, where hides beautiful
Alpine lakes. A good link to Zhara Mountain on www.summitpost.org.
2. A 6-day circuit in the west of Tagong. Highlights: several
isolated monasteries, lakes.
Guides and horses can be found in Tagong.
Climbing: Mt. Yala (Zhara) - Useful information and beautiful
photos on Summitpost.org
If Danba doesn't have any direct bus to Ganzi, go first
to either Bamei or Tagong, stay overnight, and catch the
Kangding-Ganzi bus next day.
Pictures: Ganzi
Town.
Hiking around Ganzi: "From Dargye (Dajin) Monastery,
walk along the Yalong River to a nunnery, around 7km upstream,
on the west bank of the river." More details on Khamaid.org,
with a good map.
"A really great hot spring: heading Dargye Gonpa (Dajin
Si) after Ganzi, reach Rongbatsa town. ..more"
Sertar
(3984m): In the north of Ganzi hides a splendid monastery
and the biggest Buddhism college outside Tibet. But the
150km distance needs a whole day to get there.
Baiyu: There is a road connecting Ganzi direct to Baiyu.
No information on the bus service.
Link: Wooden
Architecture in Ganzi (Khamaid.org)
5.
Dege
Town: The famous Dege Printing House. A plenty of spectacular
hiking possibilities exist in the backcountry.
Khamaid.org provides the hikers with detailed information:
See
Trekking in Dege and Dege
Venture: "The walk to Babang is possibly the most
wonderful day's trek anywhere in China. The people here
grow highland barley on spectacular green terraces that
line the trekking route."
Things
to see:
Babang/Palpung Monastery, and its surrounding area
including a Buddhism college, Dordra Monastery.
Dzongsal
monastery.( stay in the monastery overlooking the Meisu
village).
Baiya
Monastery
All three monasteries provide accommodation.
Hiking information: Dege(Anjihei)
- Babang (7-10 hours, climb over two passes: the highest
Ngose La is around 4700m)
Babang has a guest room, no restaurant.
Babang - Dzongsal, Meisu (7-9 hours, one high pass: Ha La
4355m).
Acccomdation in Dzongsa Gompa or a guesthouse at the painting
school at the shedra below. Meisu has shops and restaurant.
The accommodation in Manigango is horrible. Better to camp
at Yilhun Lhatso Lake.
Dzongsal - Dopu valley - Maniganggo (the monastery may help
arrange the tent and food for this hike).
From
Dzongsal to Dege: the monastery can call a jeep from Dege
to pick up the hikers.
Price. 80-190RMB/day for a guidewith a horse 80-90RMB.
Rawu Lake: lying along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway.
Links only found in Chinese: 1. Rawu
Lake - Youduo.com Forum 2. Expedition
in the eastern Tibet - Rawu Lake.
Lhagu Glacier:
1.
Exploring Tibet's Lhagu Glacier and Its Unclimbed Peaks
(Gore-tex.com).
2.
Kangri Garpo Range in Southeast Tibet (The Himalayan
Association of Japan).
"Near
the sacred Mt Namtche Barwa is the well-known area of Pemako
which is as famous as Mt Kailas. This area is located not
far from the inaccessible Tsangpo Gorges where hundreds
of falls are met over nearly 50km. " Link to a
local map.
The gorge is claimed by Chinese Scientists
the Deepest gorge in the world. The trail to Motuo is adored
by Chinese keen hikers as the most challenging trail.
The gorge, covered by dense primitive forests, cuts through
some soaring peaks up to 7000 meters. The two highest among
them are the famous Mt. Namjagbarwa (Namtche Barwa, 7782m)
and Mt. Gyalha Bairi (7234m).
Recommended book: <<A Journey Through the Gorge>>
by Zhang Jimin. (Only in Chinese).
Motuo village can be accessed only by foot.
(Information source in Chinese:
"A Tour Guide for China Hikers" )
West Trailhead: Paixiang near Bayi, a 6-day hike to reach
Motuo.
East Trailhead: the 80km point. The road comes from Bomi
ends here. A 3-day hike to reach Motuo.
Northwest Trailhead: Pailong near Tongmai on the 317 highway
between Bomi and Bayi. Hike around 11 days to reach Motuo.
9. Kongo Gymda
Basumtso Lake: Photo
link
Updated on 17.2.2005
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