Code: BC-LH03
Adventure on Xinjiang - Tibet
Tour Itinerary: 26 days cycling of Tianshuihai (Sweet Water Sea) - Sirengou (Death Gully) - Sumxi(Songxi) - Domar (Duoma) - Rutok (Ritu) - Risum (Risong) - Shiquanhe (Lion River) - Baer - Tsada(Zhada) - Menshi Village - Darchen (Taqin) - Mt. Kangrinboqe - Parga (Baga) - Hor (Huoer) - Sacred Lake Manasarovar - Xiangzhu - Paryang - Old Dongpa (Zhongba) - Lazang - Saga - Dajiling - Qieer - Sangsang - Kaika (Kaga) - Lhaze (Lazi)
Overview: Xinjiang - Tibet Highway cycling route is not as popular as Sichuan - Tibet Highway as it lack of fantastic snow mountain, green grass, limpid lakes; this route is not as easy as Qinghai - Tibet Highway as it lack of bituminous macadam; however, the challenging route still attract lots of brave challengers every year due to its unique beauty of desolation and loneliness. The following route starts in Tianshuihai in Xinjiang, for the other part of Xinjiang - Tibet cycling, you might click the Xinjiang part.
On the first day, starting from the Tianshuihai (Sweet Water Sea) military depot, you are suggested to cycle for 96 kilometers to reach Sirengou (Death Gully) (672.5K). Most part of this path is bumpy, you must get full prepared. A gentle up slope trail extends along the valley and a lake seats at 660K; you need to proceed to 8 kilometers upgrading path and another 1 kilometer downgrading path to get to Sirengou (Death Gully) (5005m). The sunset is beautiful in Sirengou. You can find room and board easily.
Note: The location name of 660K, 672.5K and other similar ones means the mileage carved on the milestone alone the Xinjiang - Tibet Highway.
On the second day, you will go across the Jieshandaban(which lies in the Xinjiang-Tibet border), and arrive in Sumxi(Songxi) after 58 kilometers riding. Cycle along the lake for 7 to 8 kilometers and then get into a valley, abandoning the original lake bank path; upgrade temperedly and downgrade to the side of lake. Stretch along the lake side, you will see a sign with "Welcome to Tibet". Then you need to climb up and get over Jieshandaban(715K) and please note that the latter part is quite steep. After several up and down trail, you will reach Sumxi (732K). A military depot stands nearby; you might lodge there and camp on the roadside. Some Tibetan families also dots there, and you might ask for some hot water.
On the third day, proceed to Domar (Duoma), which is 101 kilometers away from Sumxi (Songxi). The uphill path will extend for 10 kilometers till the summit - Hongtudaban(5370m), which is the highest mountain along the Xinjiang - Tibet route. The trail comes to wave along the mountainside. There is a deserted Highway keeper's house at 770K, and a Basin follows in the back. As lots of paths prolongs ahead, you can go across the Basin easily. Turn left and cycle along the left side of the mountain; circumambulate around the mountain on the bumpy path until Domar (829K). The first Tibetan village lies here, and you will find room and board, military depot and plain infirmary there.
On the fourth day, head for Rutok (Ritu), 109 kilometers away from Domar. The route is generally similar to the last days. One kilometer gentle path lies in front of an annular ride of another mountain. 15 kilometers upgrading path and 15 kilometers more downgrading path; a bumpy road extends to a Saline. Continue an up and down road to 895K, then ride along the Bangong Lake until 905K. You will meet Bangong Fish Restaurant, and taste the fresh and delicious fish. After a full meal, proceed to Rutok (Ritu) county by circumambulating a lake. Rutok is a small county, but has Net Bar. You can stay in the local hostel.
On the fifth day, you are suggested to cycle for 79 kilometers and reach a deserted shepherd's house. This route is full of frustrations, as it has been repaired for a long time and you need to cross over plenty of rivers. Risum (Risong) county lies at 963K, 30 kilometers from Rutok, and it sells tent and other groceries. When you cycle for 73 kilometers, you will see a large river. Cross the river and ride for another 6 kilometers, you will see an isolated shepherd house and you can camp there in your tent.
On the sixth day, surmount a mountain (4735m) by 20 kilometers up slope trail and another 36 kilometers down slope trail to reach Shiquanhe (Lion River) county. Shiquanhe County is a relatively large county; it has lots of ATM of various banks. The local Lantian (Blue Sky) hostel is a very popular one for cyclists.
On the seventh day, there is about 79 kilometers from Shiquanhe to Namru (Namuru). The initial trail is even bituminous macadam sweeping for 14 kilometers and then you will climb up for 10 kilometers and reach Shazidaba. The piercing wind counteracts severely and you need to be well prepared for such terrible gust. Namru village lies at 1133K and two tea shops stand there.
On the eighth day, you are supposed to ride for 63 kilometers to reach Baer. When you march for 6 kilometers until 1139K, the bituminous macadam disappears. 4 kilometers uphill trail leads to another 5 kilometers downhill path, and the violent wind combining dusty sand blows from the opposite direction. You will reach Jiangbu Village to have a cup of tea and take a short rest after 30 kilometers riding. The cycling becomes harder in the latter 30 kilometers, as the wavelike path together with mad gust. You might camp near the military depot.
On the ninth day, you might rent a car to Tsada(Zhada) and visit the famous Guge Kingdom Ruins. The admission fee is ￥106.00 net per person. Toling Monastery also is worth of visiting. The admission fee is ￥80.00 net per person.
On the tenth day, proceed to Menshi Village, which is 54 kilometers away. Today's route still features as bumpy road with numerous undulations. You might stay in the Menshi Village. There are telephone and post office there.
On the eleventh day, you will see the holy Mt. Kangrinboqe. Ride for 12 kilometers and you will climb on a small up slope, and around 23 kilometers more later, get over another slope and go through a river. Then proceed to Darchen (Taqin). This route is totally 64 kilometers today.
On the twelfth and thirteenth day, you might circumambulate Mt. Kangrinboqe, which is an ancient ritual of devotion. You might see the detailed itinerary from TIBET-LHASA03 from our hiking website, where has elaborated introduction.
On the fourteenth day, cycle from Parga (Baga) to Hor (Huoer) for 24 kilometers and you need to proceed to an empty shepherd house for another 28 kilometers.
On the eleventh day, you will see the holy Mt. Kangrinboqe. Ride for 12 kilometers and you will climb on a small up slope, and around 23 kilometers more later, get over another slope and go through a river. Then proceed to Darchen (Taqin). This route is totally 64 kilometers today.
On the twelfth and thirteenth day, you might circumambulate Mt. Kangrinboqe, which is an ancient ritual of devotion. You might see the detailed itinerary from TIBET-LHASA03 from our hiking website, where has elaborated introduction.
On the fourteenth day, cycle from Parga (Baga) to Hor (Huoer) for 24 kilometers and you need to proceed to an empty shepherd house for another 28 kilometers.
On the fifteenth and sixteenth day, you are suggested to have an annular pilgrimage of Sacred Lake Manasarovar. For the detailed information, please check the TIBET-LHASA04 from our hiking website.
On the seventeenth day, another 52 kilometers leads you to a temporary military depot.
On the eighteenth day, a difficult day covers 92 kilometers. The initial trail is a period of down slope and then the path starts rising and even steep. There is a tea shop after 46 kilometers riding, and you can purchase some food and take a short rest. Pass a checkpoint; you will enter wide valley and grassland. Turn around two isolated hills, and you will reach today's destination - Xiangzhu. Lots of Tibetan tents scattered there, food and lodge are served there.
On the nineteenth day, riding on the carpet of green grass land, you will feel free from worry. There is a big bridge after 41 kilometers and lots of houses dotted on the way. Paryang will exhibit in front for you after 60 kilometers from Xiangzhu. You can find room and board in this large county.
On the twentieth day, head for Old Dongpa (Zhongba) for 93.6 kilometers. 17 kilometers even trail lies at first and then 7 kilometers up slope follows it until Shugela Pass (4780m). Due to the severe desertification, a great deal of dunes blocks on the way. The road becomes flat again after 40 kilometers. When you get to a fork in a road, turn left to New Zhongba. A gas station stands at the 73 kilometers and the second fork in bituminous macadam. Several hundreds of meters later, the main road turns to messy. The latter 10 kilometers becomes extremely terrible, which makes endless troubles on the way.
On the twenty-first day, pass Lazang (37 highway keeper's house), 32 highway keeper's house and arrive in 32 highway keeper's house with wholly 101 kilometers route. The route becomes challenger out of Zhongba, and you need to ride on rising and falling trail. The mess-up laterite might sink your bike. The first disgusting trail will lead you to Lazang, and you will be more abhorrent to the latter part. The strenuous riding comes to an end until the appearance of some small villages. Cycle along a river valley and reach the deserted 32 highway keeper's house before a big bridge.
On the twenty- second day, you are supposed to ride for 48 kilometers and reach Saga. You can see some villages after a couple of kilometers. Continue to ride on the rising and falling path for 19 kilometers and arrive in Dajiling. You might stop to have a cup of tea. Climb up for a short trail, cross over a large bridge, and 3 kilometers more leads you to a Pass, and you can enjoy several kilometers of fantastic downgrading trail until Saga. There are banks and post office there for communications with the outside world.
On the twenty-third day, the trail is still in poor condition and you are suggested to ride for 100 kilometers to reach Qiere Village. The comfortable thing is that the former 14 kilometers path to Dajiajia Village is gentle and even; and this flat trail continues another 19 kilometers to Luma village. Climb up a slope to Kula Mountail Pass (5080m), and you can have a short excitement by gliding down the slope. However, the latter 40 kilometers route becomes evil and the gust from opposite direction will devastate your body and will until today's termini Qiere village.
On the twenty-fourth day, proceed to Sangsang by 90 kilometers. After 4 kilometers gentle path, you are forced to shin on a hill for 7 kilometers to a Pass and follow the slime and slush downgrading trail. Go across plenty of streams and get out of the valley; you might see precious Tibetan antelopes in the natural reserve area if you are lucky. Meet a lake after 30 kilometers, you will welter a long period of terrible muddy trail together with numerous messy stones. There is a highway keeper's house about 64 kilometers later. You will reach Sangsang village after a big turn around the swamp area. Sangsang is a large town full of jollification. You can relax yourself and enjoy some good food.
On the twenty-fifth day, the trail is not as terrible as previous days although you need to get over three Passes for 65 kilometers and arrive in Kaika (Kaga) town.
On the twenty-sixth day, your long march comes to its final destination - Lhaze (Lazi). The latter period seems gentle and only 59 kilometers covered. You will cross over the convergence of National highway 318 from the original National highway 219. You can easily rent a jeep or truck to Shigatse or Lhasa.