14 Days in Chamdo

Land at Bangda Airport, about 4,334 m, and drive 2 hours down to the city at about 3,200 m. Rest, then visit Jampa Ling, founded in 1437, halls usually open 8:00-17:00. Two weeks allow a gentle start.

1. chamdo qiangbaling monastery
2. chamdo lancang confluence

Twelve kilometres southeast, the Karuo site preserves a village from some 4,000 years ago, discovered in 1977; the city museum rounds it out. A quiet day at altitude before the roads begin.

1. chamdo karuo site
2. chamdo museum

About 100 km north on the G214, the Chajie Hall of Riwoqe Monastery, first raised in 1276, is among the region's largest prayer halls. Sleep back in Chamdo at 3,200 m.

1. chamdo riwoqe monastery

Over the Bangda grassland at about 4,300 m, up the Yela pass at 4,658 m, down the 72 turns to the Nu River. Overnight in Baxoi county town at about 3,260 m.

1. chamdo bangda grassland
2. chamdo yela pass
3. chamdo nujiang 72 turns

Mirror views at Ranwu Lake, about 3,800 m, then the rough 30-odd km track to the Laigu viewpoint at about 4,000 m, facing six glacier tongues. A second night follows in Ranwu.

1. chamdo ranwu lake
2. chamdo laigu glacier

A clearly marked cross-city day — Midui Glacier lies in Bomi County, Nyingchi, west along the G318. Its ice tongue reaches down to about 2,400 m into forest. Return east to sleep in Ranwu again.

1. nyingchi midui glacier

Early lake light, then about 330 km via Baxoi and Bangda to Markam county town at about 3,870 m, where the G318 and G214 meet. An honest 8-hour driving day.

1. chamdo ranwu lake
2. chamdo bangda grassland

About 100 km south of Markam, salt has been sun-dried for over a thousand years on the cliffs above the Mekong, the valley floor at about 2,300 m. The nearby Catholic church dates to 1865. Sleep low in Yanjing.

1. chamdo yanjing salt pans
2. chamdo yanjing catholic church

A clearly marked cross-province day in the Diqing Shangri-La direction — some 200 km down the G214 to Feilai Temple in Deqen County, Yunnan, at about 3,400 m. The viewing platform faces the Meili range, main peak 6,740 m.

1. shangri la feilai temple

Early risers catch first light on the Meili snows, then the road climbs back north to Markam, roughly 200 km. Keep the afternoon easy after two high sleeping spots.

1. shangri la feilai temple

West on the G318 over the Dongda pass, about 5,130 m, the highest point of the whole trip, then down to Zuogong county town at about 3,800 m. Slow on the pass, early to bed.

1. chamdo dongda pass

About 260 km east past Bangda and back up the G214 to Chamdo, arriving by late afternoon. An easy evening by the river helps close the loop gently.

1. chamdo bangda grassland

A long but honest day — about 250 km each way toward Dengqen County, where Zizhu monastery sits on a cliff at about 4,800 m. Mountain road the whole way; return to sleep in Chamdo.

1. chamdo zizhu monastery

A final riverside loop at Chama Square, then 2 hours up to Bangda Airport for the flight out. Keep the last morning calm — the airport sits among the world's highest.

1. chamdo chama square
2. chamdo bangda airport