Sichuan Tibet Highway - Chengdu to Lhasa Overland

Sichuan to Tibet overland tour, following the most dangerous but the most beautiful Sichuan Tibet Highway, is a lifetime journey to experience the scenery changing from Chengdu Plain to Tibet Plateau. You can enjoy the stunning view of snow mountains en route, experience different Tibet cultures in the villages along the way and be amazed at the magnificent rivers and forest.

The Sichuan Tibet Highway, as a part of China National Highway 318 (G318), is the longest road at such a high altitude. It divides into two routes at Xinduqiao with different sceneries to offer. You can choose either of them to start your Tibt overland tour from Chengdu.

The best time to do the Sichuan Tibet overland tour is spring and autumn, for it is too cold in winter and too much rainfall in summer. And in autumn, you could experience the most beautiful sceneries of colorful leaves in villiges along the way.

Route Map of Sichuan Tibet Highway

There are two routes to Lhasa from Chengdu, including the northern route of Sichuan Tibet Highway and the Southern Route of Sichuan Tibet Highway.

The northern route of Sichuan Tibet Highway follows the National Highway G317 from Chengdu to Lhasa via Dujiangyan, Danba, Dege, Chamdo and Ngaqu. The whole journey is about 2412 kilometers.

There is also a small northern route, which is separate from G318 at Xinduqiao, heads to Chamdo and goes southern to Bangda and finaly arrives in Lhasa via Basu and Ranwu. The whole route is about 2413 kilometers.

The Sichuan Tibet highway southern route is praised as the most beautiful road to Tibet. There is ever-changing landscape along the way. There are mountains and canyons; there are endless grasslands and snow-capped mountains. You can see prayer flags, Mani stones, tempels and monasteries in the villages and experience the colorful Tibetan culture along the way. It is a golden route for travelers and photographers to enter Tibet by overland.

Ruoergai Prairie

Road Condition of Highways from Sichuan to Tibet

Road Condition of Sichuan Tibet Higway Northern Route

The northern route of Sichuan Tibet Highway, from Chengdu to Lhasa via Garze and Chamdo, are mostly tar roads. Only in some mountain areas, there are just dite roads with poor condition. After passing Baqing, the road to Lhasa is asphalt road with a driving speed limit.

Road Condition of Sichuan Tibet Highway Southern Route

Tibet Southern route are gathered in the Hengduan Mountains area. And the road condition between Nyingchi to Lhasa is nice and well paved with driving speed limit. Normally it takes about 8 to 10 hours for the 410 kilometers.

Attractions along Sichuan Tibet Highway Southern Route

Erlangshan Tunnel (2,200 meters)

Located at the border of Ya’an City and Ganzi State, Erlangshan Tunnel is 4176 meters long and at 2200 meters above the sea level. It is amazing to see the weather changes at the two side of Erlangshan Tunnel. Usually, when it is rainy at Ya’an side, once you driving through the tunnel, you will find it is sunshine at the other side.

It is only 5 minutes to pass through the first highest mountain along Sichuan-Tibet highway through Erlangshan Tunnel.

Zheduoshan Pass (4,298 meters)

Located 4298 meters above the sea level, Zheduoshan Mountain is an important geographic boundary. West to Mt. Zheduoshan is the Qinghai Tibet Plateau, and east to Mt. Zheduoshan is the mountain area in Sichuan. You can take a look at the Mount Gongga from a far distance at Zheduoshan Pass.

Zheduoshan Pass is 4,290m above the sea level, where you can see the Mt. Gongga from a distance.

Xinduqiao (3,300 meters)

Located in the west of Kangdi City, Xinduqiao is a little town that praised as the paradise for photographers. Along the way through the town, you can enjoy the rolling hills with local villages dotted in the sweeping grassland. At the scenic platform, you can see the peak of the Mount Gongga, the King of the Sichuan Mountains in a sunny day. 

When driving along the Sichuan-Tibet highway, you will pass by Xinduqiao, the paradise for photographers.

Daocheng Yading (3,800 meters)

In fact, Daocheng Yading is not at the side of Sichuan Tibet Highway, but a few distance from Litang county. But it is worth a day tour to explore the last Shangri-la in Yading scenic area. Covering 1344 square kilometer, Daocheng Yading Scenic Area shows you one of the best preserved and most original alpine natural ecosystems.

If you have time, you can visit Daocheng Yading en route when you take an overland tour from Chengdu to Lhasa.

Nyingchi (3,100 meters)

Located in the southeast of Tibet, Nyingchi is famous for its different scenery and amazing nature beauty, such as the peach flowers blooming in spring.

The landscape in Nyingchi is different from those in other parts of Tibet.

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