Sichuan-Tibet Highway Southern Route Travel Guide
The 2,413km long highway begins in the eastern city of Chengdu and ends at Lhasa, Tibet in the west. The highway traverses steep mountains, crosses famous rivers, divides deep forests and ventures through dangerous terrain.
On a journey along the highway, the seasons pass by at great speed; warm spring is a bright light on the horizon as the cold snowing winter fades from the view of the back window. During the rainy season, sections of the highway are closed due to landslides and it is not recommended to travel during this period.
The journey is certainly not for the faint hearted although it will take your breath away for good reasons too. The southern highway is the most scenic overland route, passing through lush valleys, crossing dramatic gorges and picturesque villages where curious, young faces stare back in disbelief.
The spectacular virgin landscape is ever changing, but for most of the journey the road is rugged and winding. Scenic hotspots along the way include Mount Erlang, Luding Bridge, Jingsha River and Nyingchi. The trip usually takes around ten days but extra time should be allowed as the weather can play havoc with driving conditions.