Yunnan Tibet Highway: Kunming to Lhasa Overland

Yunnan Tibet Highway is another important highway entering into Tibet after Sichuan Tibet highway and Qinghai Tibet highway. Yunnan Tibet highway was completed in October, 1973. The highway is 1,930 kilometers in total, among which 39 kilometers has an altitude of more than 4,000 meters. Not only the snow mountain surrounds these sections of highway, but also the canals and bridges are running through the highway. In addition, there are beautiful landscapes on the way, including Cangshan Mountains, Erhai Lake, Naxi ancient city, Hengduan Mountains and so on.

Route Map of Yunnan Tibet Highway

This highway route from Kunming to Lhasa is 2,300 kilometers in total. It starts from Kunming, and passes by  Dali, Lijiang, Zhongdian, Deqin, Mangkang, Basu, Nyingchi, and finally heads to Lhasa.

The highway from Yunnan to Tibet join the Sichuan-Tibet highway southern route at Markam.

Road Condition of Yunnan Tibet Highway

The Yunnan Tibet Highway crosses virgin forests and passes Jinsha River. You have to drive up to the Baimang Snow Mountain and Hongla Mountain which are at altitude of 4,300 meters. From Xiaguan to Mangkang, the road is connected to the southern part of Sichuan Tibet Highways, so the road condition is very smooth.

Attractions along Yunnan Tibet Highway

1. Attractions along the Way from Kunming to Dali (365 kilometers)

During this section of Yunnan Tibet Highway, the road condition is good. It will take you four hours from Kunming to Dali by car. During this section of journey, you can enjoy the scenery of Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, Shuanglang and others. Cangshan Mountain is located to the west of Erhai Lake. The view of snow on the main peak of Cangshan is very splendid, so it is one of the famous views in Dali Ancient Town, which are called wind, flower, snow and moon. The cloud and fog change a lot in the mountain, and it forms unique shape such as a woman waiting for her husband. What’s more, you can experience the local customs and practices of Bai nationality, dancing and singing with the local people.

You can enjoy the beautiful landscape of Cangshan and Erhai.

2. Attractions along the Way from Dali to Lijiang (196 kilometers)

It takes three and a half hours to drive from Dali to Lijiang. During this section, you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of ancient city where Naxi people live. You can know more about Dongba culture and mysterious Naxi nationality. Meanwhile, you can also visit the Ancient Tea Horse Road and Tiger Leaping Gorge. The Ancient Tea Horse Road is very famous in history. People in ancient time would do business and trade along this road. It was the important cultural and economic exchange place in southwest China in ancient time.

The Tiger Leaping Gorge is A natural scene. It is located in Longpan County, which is about 90 kilometers away from Lijiang Ancient Town. The gorge has length of 16 kilometers, and the mountains on the both sides have width of 2,500 to 3,000 meters, and the flow of the water is much turbulent, which is very spectacular.

On the way from Dali to Lijiang, you can visit the famous Tiget Leaping Gorge.

3. Attractions along the Way from Lijiang to Shangri-la (383 kilometers)

This distance from Lijiang to Shangri-la is about 178 kilometers and it takes about 7 to 7.5 hours. It is suggested to spend few days in Shangri-la to enjoy the beautiful scenery and experience the Tibetan culture there. In your Shangri-la tour, you can travel to the Pudacuo National Park and enjoy the clear lakes, pasture, and azalea which will be all over the mountains in summer. You can also visit Songzanlin Lamasery as well as Meili Snow Mountain. 

You can see the Meili Snow Mountain from Shangri-la.

4. Attractions along the Way from Shangri-la to Markam(204 kilometers)

You will spend 4 to 4.5 hours from Shangri-la to Markam. You will pass Yanjing on the way, which is the gateway in the southeast Tibet. The average altitude of Yanjing is 2,400 meters. It is between the Markam county and Deqin county. In history, Yanjing was the only way which must be passed to arrive at Nanzhao from Tubo and also the way where tea was transported from Yunnan to Tibet. Yanjing is famous for its unique method of making salt. In Yanjing area, there are different religions. People in Shang Yanjing believe in Catholicism, while people in Xia Yanjing believe in Buddhism. People with different religions live in harmony and peace, which makes it a unique cultural sight.

The road from Yanjing to Markam

5. Attractions along the Way from Markam to Baxoi (360 kilometers)

It takes about seven hours to drive from Markam to Baxoi. During the journey, you will see the Lancang River (also known as the Mekong River in Southeast Asia), Nujiang River, and also the Ranwu Lake, and enjoy the outstanding view the turbulent water in Lancang River. The Yunnan Tibet Highway and Lancang River is just like two sprinkling ribbon, showing and hiding among the mountains. After hours’ driving, you will reach to Ranwu Lake. Ranwu Lake covers 22 kilometers square and the average altitude of the lake is about 3,850 meters. It is said that buffalo and cattle fight together, after they die, their bodies turned into mountains, among which was called Ranwu Lake. The lake is calm and colorful, and it seems like a drop of tear from the sky, remaining the original natural beauty.

Taking the Yunnan Tibet Overland tour, you could drive pass the Ranwu Lake.

6. Attractions along the Way from Baxoi to Lhasa (860 kilometers)

The distance from Baxoi to Lhasa is about 846 kilometers and it takes about 13 hours by car. It is very time-consuming, but the beautiful scene along the way will make you up. You will pass Nyingchi, which is known as the Switzerland in Tibet. There is Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in Nyingchi. The average altitude is over 3,000 meters and it had length of 500 kilometers, being the biggest Grand Canyon in the world. It is chosen as the most beautiful canyon in China’s top ten canyons. After visiting Nyingchi, you finally arrive at your destination Lhasa, the holy city on Tibet Plateau.

Before arriving in Lhasa, you can visit the beautiful Nyingchi area.

Related Trips

• 
  17-Day Kunming to Lhasa Overland Tour via Yunnan Tibet Highway

  17 Days & 16 Nights
  Kunming (2N) - Dali (1N) - Lijiang (2N) - Shangril (2N) - Feilaisi (1N) - Markam (1N) - Zogang (1N) - Baxoi (1N) - Bome (1N) - Bayi (1N) - Lhasa (3N)

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