【Blog】Xinjiang-Tibet National Highway| G219

Karakoram The traditional G219-National Highway, also known as the Xinijang-Tibet Highway, runs 2,140 kilometers from Yecheng in Xinjiang to Lhatze in Tibet, going via the world-famous Mount Kunlun, Gangdise and the Himalayas Mountains.

From the high-altitude wasteland, snow mountains, lakes, into glaciers,  valleys, primeval forests and meadows , from the northern slope to the southern slope of the Himalayas via the Hengduan mountains, G219 is truly a "World-Class Landscape Avenue".

 

Mid Part Of G219

Enter Tibet from Yecheng in Xinjiang.

This section is the previous G219-National Highway.

From  Yecheng, across the Mount Kunlun and Karakoram Mountains.

After entering Ali, Tibet,  you will travel between the Himalayas and the Gangdise Mountains.

On the way, we will cross many mountains over more than 5000 meters.

 

The first attraction sight is Bangong Lake.

Most of the Bangong Lake is in China and a small part in Indian.

 

After passing through Ritog, driving 100km southwestwards, we will meet the famous Zada.

Zada is rich in natural and cultural scenery, the magnificent ruins of Zada Clay Forest and the Guge Kingdom are the favorite for photographers.

 

Drive back to G219 National Highway and into the wide valley between the Gangdise Mountain and Himalayas.

Mount Kailash and Naimona'nyi Peak stand opposite to each other.

 

The "Holy Lake" of Lake Manasorovar and the "Ghost Lake" situate adjacent to each other.

This area is the holiest place in Ali, Tibet.

 

Drive southward from the Naimona'nyi Peak, you can reach Puran, which is known as the "place surrounded by snow mountains" in Ali.

 

Continue to go down with G219 and reach a place called Zhongba.

Maquan lake in Zhongba is the source of the Brahmaputra River.

 

We will take the new G219 after arriving Saga, driving from Gyirong, Tingri to Motuo.

Gyirong, situated in the south of the Himalayas, is an important treaty port in Tibet between China and Nepal.

 

Continue to drive southeastward from Gyirong to Peicutso Lake.

To the south of the lake is the Shishapangma Peak.

It is the only mountain above 8,000-meter entirely in China.

 

From old Tingri, you can see Cho Oyu Mountain, as well as the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest.

 

Continue to drive from the  old Tingri and enter the Everest Nature Reserve, from where, you can view and appreciate the oasis scattered in the Himalayan Mountains.

At the Gawula Pass, four 8,000-meter-high mountains line up, waiting for your exploration: Makaru Peak, Luozi Peak,Mount Qomolangma, Cho Oyu Peak.

 

After pass the Tingri County and  reach the Gamba and Luoza, adjecent to Bhutan.

There is a very beautiful glacier on the border -- 40 Glacier.

Glacier 40 is also known as the Cuojia Glacier. Because it's close to the border pillar No. 40, thus getting the name.

 

After pass the 40 Glaciers, we continue to drive to Pumuyongcuo, red temples, blue lakes, silver ice peaks, makes a beautiful picture.

In Loza, there is a lake called Baimalincuo Lake, which is a moraine lake under the Kula Kangri Snow Mountain.

Every year in late May and early June, the hillsides are covered with rhododendrons.

 

From Baimalincuo Lake and keep driving westward, we can see a lot of ancient castles, ruins and pastoral areas in the canyon between China and Bhutan.

 

Pass the grand canyon and arrive at Cuomei County, then to Longzi County.

We will temporarily leave G219 and go south till the Cuona.

Cuona is situated in the south of the Himalayas. There is a very beautiful rhododendron forest at the foot of the mountain, like a fairyland.

 

Drive back from the Cuona to Zari.

Zari Holy Mountain, is a paradise for photographers.

 

From Zari back to the Yarlung Zangbo River and go east along the Brahmaputra River.

 

National Highway G219 stretches from Milin along the Brahmaputra River to the Duoxiongla Mountain.

Suosong Village under the Duoxiongla Mountain is a good place to photograph peach blossoms.

Cross the Duoxiongla Mountain, you can enter Motuo, where the Galongla primeval forest and the great bend of the Brahmaputra River situate.