We drove about 3000 km in Tibet, covering the two main highways linking Tibet with the outside world -- the Qin Zang Highway (linking with the Qinhai Province), and the Chuan Zang Highway (linking with the Sichuan Province). Both highways only have one lane for traffic in each direction. Traffic on the road ranging from heavily ladden trucks, military vehicles, buses, vans, SUVs, cars, tractors, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrains, hitch hikers, yaks, cows, sheeps, pigs -- in short, every means of transportation imaginable. In all cases, animals have the right of the way, followed by the military and police vehicles, the official vehicles with (Zang-O(fficial)) license plates, and civilians.
The road surface of the Qin Zang Highway is much better; and the road is more straight. It parallels the Qin Zang railroad. We passed the Na Ken La Pass at 5190m to reach Namtso.
The Chuan Zang Highway is in much worse shape and has many sharp turns. We encoutered 2 areas that were washed out by the flood and had to take long detours using dirt road. We passed the Mi La Pass at 5013m on our way.
Driving in Tibet is an adventure on its own. Here are the snapshots along the way.
Rapeseed fields close to Shigatse
Roaming along the river
Sheeps climbing the mountain
Morning fog lifts above a small village
Nomads on the road
Following a military bulldozer
Train rushed by on Qin Zang Railroad
Downtown DangXiong, a small town on the Qin Zang Highway
School building next to the stores in downtown DangXiong, it's a remarkable sight and shows education is valued here
Climbing towards Na Ken La Pass
Na Ken La Pass
Nomads and their yaks.
At about 4500m, one of the highest bank branches in China