Roads to Tibet
Currently, there are five highways leading to Tibet respectively from Xining, Chengdu, and Kunming.
1. Sichuan-Tibet Highway
Starting from Chengdu and ending in Lhasa, Sichuan-Tibet Highway is the most precipitous highway in China. It is the most popular self-driving route to Tibet among Chinese travelers. On the way, it passes Ya’an and Kangding. There are the south line and the north line.
South Line:
With a total length of 2146 km, the south line starts from Chengdu and arrives at Lhasa via Ya’an, Luding, Kangding, Dongerluo, Litang, Batang, Mangkang, Zogang, Banda, Basu, Bowo, Nyingchi, Bayi, Gongbujiangda, Mozhugongka, Dazhi, which is also a part of 318 National Road (Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport-Tibet).
North Line:
With a total length of 2412 km, it starts from Chengdu and separates from south line at Xinduqiao, via Qianning, Daofu, Luhuo, Ganzi, Dege, Jiangda, Chamdo to Bangda and then meets with south line again leading to Lhasa.
2. Qinghai-Tibet Highway
Being the highest and longest asphalt road in the world, Qinghai-Tibet Highway starts from Xining of Qinghai Province and ends at Lhasa. With the length of 1937 km, it is the main road to Tibet due to the great scenery and good road condition, which is open to traffic all year round. Along the road, there are prairies, salt lakes, mountains, deserts and other natural landscape.
3. Xinjiang-Tibet Highway
It is probably one of the most challenging roads in the world. Running from Yecheng of Xinjiang to Lhatse in the Tibet, Xinjiang-Tibet highway runs 1,455 kilometers with harsh and highly unpredictable weather condition. The road is notorius for lacking of oxygen and the high degree of steepness. Travelers are known to have to wear oxygen masks during this stretch, to deal with altitude sickness. Those who take the G219 are usually the ones who inhabit a spirit of adventure.
4. Yunnan-Tibet Highway
Yunnan–Tibet Highway is asphalted, which links Dali and Markam via Jianchuan, Zhongdian, Deqin and Zhikang. Running along the Hengduan Mountains, it is a very scenic drive with the total length of 714 kilometers. This highway was built along the “Tea-Horse Ancient Road” which the businessmen and tourists frequented in the ancient times. It’s a less beaten track by passengers.
5. Chinese-Nepalese Highway
It is another main road. It stretches 900 kilometers from Kathmandu in Nepal, then passing through Zhamgu Nyalam, Tingri, Shigatse, and finally getting to Lhasa in Tibet. It is about 150 km in Nepal and 750 km in Tibet. There are about 170 unsurfaced road to Tibet.
