2023 National Day Road Trip Along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway
The naked-eye 3D billboard at Chengdu Taikoo Li — absolutely stunning.
A quick snapshot looking back at the Ya’an road trip base camp — the starting point of the 318 journey.
Leaving the city behind, heading into the mountains. Altitude rising, clouds close enough to touch.
Prayer flags and national flags everywhere along the road.
Zheduo Pass shrouded in clouds and mist.
The team’s first group photo. (I was behind the camera.)
Missing you at Zheduo Pass.
Clouds formed by warm, moist Indian Ocean air blocked by the Himalayas.
Yak hot pot served by the Tibetan guesthouse owner in Xinduqiao — incredibly flavorful! (One teammate was resting due to altitude sickness and missed out.)
The nameless stream outside the guesthouse.
Onward, driving through the wilderness.
Tibetan script on the mountainside across from the viewpoint. (My cousin who taught in Tibet said it means “Master Tsongkhapa.”)
Snow mountain viewpoints everywhere.
Cattle grazing.
Mountains beneath your feet. Reach out and embrace the clouds.
A Windows 10 wallpaper in real life.
Harley on the grasslands.
“Mongolian yurts” in Ganzi.
Hooray!
Arriving at the world’s highest city — Litang! (Spotted a beautifully modified BMW 3 Series.)
First steps into Daocheng Yading. (The 1-hour bus ride was exhausting.)
Hiking up Yangmaiyong Sacred Mountain with Chichi.
Pearl Lake (called “Zhuoma Latsuo” in Tibetan — really just a slightly larger pond).
A snow mountain in Yading — forgot which one. (Camera died by this point, so fewer photos from here on.)
The mani stone pile Chichi and I built together.
Sister Lakes at Haizishan!
A mobile coffee shop near the viewpoint.
A dog.
Entering Cuopu Valley. (You can tell Batang really wants to develop this scenic area — extremely friendly to outside visitors. Highly recommended!)
Tiffany blue at the foot of Cuopu Valley’s sacred mountain.
The three amigos.
Golden sunrise on Namcha Barwa Peak, shot from the Sera Mountain pass.
