The day before, starting from Gongbu Jiangda, along the way through the mainstay, Taizhao Ancient City, Jinda Town, Jiaxing Township and other places, cycling 100 kilometers, all the way through the Niyang River Valley, at 9 pm, arrived in Songduo.
Mira Mountain Sacred Cow
On this day, according to the tips on the strategy, Songdo to Lhasa Potala Palace, a total of 186 kilometers, along the way will cross the second high mountain on the Yunnan-Tibet Line at an altitude of more than 5,000 meters - Mira Mountain (5013 meters above sea level), pass through yakou, all the way downhill, through Riduo Township, Mozhugongka County, Dazi District and other places. If you get up at 5 a.m. and leave at 6 a.m., before dark, you can ride to the Potala Palace Square.
Yangmen Inn: Mira Mountain Sacred Cow Map
The night before, when I arrived at the Yangmen Inn and checked in in the living room, I found that a picture of a sacred cow on the wall was eye-catching, and there were three sacred cows standing on the high hill, and the horns of each cow were covered with white Hada, and the narration of the picture was "He accompanied him the whole time".
Yangmen Inn Sacred Cow Diagram
"He accompanied him the whole time", this sentence made me think back to the scene when I entered the Tibet border from Yunnan, at that time, there were several cattle and sheep wandering at the boundary gate, and when I approached the boundary gate, the cattle and sheep came over, as if they had waited in line at the boundary gate as if they had agreed in advance.
Yunnan enters Tibet, and at the gate of the boundary, cattle and sheep greet each other
On the way, you can also see herds of cattle from time to time. On this day, when riding to the end and looking at the sacred cow map, think about this road, you will occasionally meet a riding partner, and more often than not, the cow will accompany you all the way.
Herd of cattle at Mira Pass
Songdo: Hit the road on an empty stomach
At 5 a.m., the uncle in the same room had gotten up, and after he left, I continued to rest for two more hours. Wait until 7 o'clock, get up to wash up, and go downstairs to check out. When exiting the gate of the inn, a cart parked at the door was particularly eye-catching. "Guizhou guy hiking, headlines concerned: alone Xiao Wei." When I arrived last night, I didn't look closely. In the morning, it was already bright. To this end, I specially searched for "Today's Headlines", but I did not find this author.
Out of the inn, a cart at the gate
Out of the inn, I came to the street, riding while looking for a breakfast place. Suddenly, I saw a familiar figure, it was Lao Yan, who was dressed neatly, carrying a backpack, riding a bicycle on the side of the road. The two of them invariably looked for a breakfast restaurant, rode around the inn, and did not see the breakfast restaurant. In desperation, I went to a small shop and bought some dry food and drinks. Finally, we set off on an empty stomach.
Early morning in Songdo
Songduo street view, looking for a breakfast restaurant with Lao Yan
Heavenly Tibet: from 4200 meters above sea level to 5000 meters
At 8:00 a.m., he left Songduo Town with Lao Yan one after the other. The town of Songdo is more than 4,200 meters above sea level, and the Mira Pass is 5,013 meters above sea level, and from Songdo to the foot of Mira Mountain, there are first 12 kilometers of uphill undulating roads, to the foot of Mira Mountain, and then 17 kilometers of winding uphill roads to Yakou. At an average speed of 5 km/h uphill, it is expected that it will take 4-5 hours to reach the pass.
Heavenly Tibet, Mount Mira, 5000+ above sea level
Biking sky road, elevation: 4300 m-5000 m
Three kilometers from Songdo, ride to an open valley, under the blue sky, the Niyang River flows on the side of the national highway, and the Linla Highway runs parallel to the G318 national road. What is it like to ride on a plateau above 4,300 meters above sea level? Unexpectedly, the sky is so close, the white clouds are so ethereal, in the green mountains and green grasses, people ride in the painting, feel the whole person and nature are integrated.
Out of The Pines, ride along the Niyang River
G318 National Highway, at 4411KM
National Highway G318 and Linla Highway
While riding, while watching the scenery, the picture is too beautiful, especially comfortable, not at all feel hard. When he looked back, he had disappeared from sight, and he should have been nostalgic for this beautiful world.
At the foot of Mira
Overlooking the Linla Highway - Mira Mountain Tunnel
Hill Mira Hill Uphill Road
Mount Mira turns uphill
Continue uphill
Mira Mountain Valley
Big turn uphill
Look back on the road
At 4427KM, Mira Pass, close at hand
Mira Mountain Sacred Cow Statue: A yak looking up at the top of the mountain
All the way to the wind and dust, 200 meters from the Mira Pass, 100 meters... Looking up at the sky, under the blue sky, at the Mira Pass at an altitude of 5013 meters, on the slopes of more than 100 meters higher than the pass, a group of yaks are running happily on the hillside. At this scene, I can't help but marvel that the height of the yaks here has exceeded 99.99% of the world's living beings (including all the people on the Mila Pass).
Mira Pass, multicolored prayer flags, flying in the wind
Mira Pass
Cattle herds at Mira Pass
Coming to the yakou, the five-colored prayer flag fluttered in the wind, and in the distance, the three sacred cow statues stood on the hill, and the horns of the cow were wrapped with white Hada. Coming to the square at Yakou, there is a huge stone on the side of the square, on which are engraved "Mira Pass, 5013 meters above sea level" several large red characters.
Mira Pass, 5013 meters above sea level
Lean your bike against the stones and take a photo while looking at the surrounding peaks. In the square, tourists continue to arrive, and the stalls sell a variety of souvenirs.
Overlook the statue of the sacred cow in the distance
Walking around the square, I came to the statue of the sacred cow and carefully examined the statue of the sacred cow in front of me. Unexpectedly, the statue here is exactly the same as the one on the sacred cow map in the hall of the Yangmen Inn, and it turned out that the sacred cow statue had been seen unconsciously.
Take a photo in front of the statue of the sacred cow
When staring at the statue of the sacred cow, there is a "Sacred Cow Endowment" inscribed on the side, praising and praising the sacred cow. Just when I was able to see it, a tourist with a prayer flag came over and asked to take a picture of their family with the statue of the sacred cow.
Take group photos of tourists
After gladly agreeing, he crouched down and took a few photos of them. After taking the photo, when I stood up, I suddenly felt a dizziness, a feeling of falling, and it was not clear whether it was low blood sugar or triggered altitude sickness.
Rido: Taste steam beef ramen
Stayed at the Mira Pass for an hour, at 1:30 p.m., leaving the pass. Descending from the pass, it sped downhill, stopped at a gentle bend, and looked back at Mount Mira again. At an altitude of nearly 5,000 meters, there are no trees, the mountains are full of meadows, and cattle and sheep are eating grass.
Look back at the Mira Pass
The 25-kilometer-long downhill slope, the altitude dropped rapidly, and by the time we reached Nitta Township, it was already 2:30 p.m. According to the riding strategy tips, there is a checkpoint in Rido Township that will confirm the identity information, but when it passed on the same day, there was no inspection, which was a bit unexpected.
Cattle and sheep in the mountains
As you ride, keep an eye on the location of the checkpoint. I set off early in the morning and ate some dry food and drank some drinks. It was past lunchtime and I was a little hungry. When passing by a "Snow Peak Steam Beef Ramen", I felt a little special when I saw the words "Steam Ramen".
Steam ramen
Entering the shop, I ordered a steam beef ramen. After eating noodles and resting for a while, the symptoms of dizziness disappeared and the whole person regained his spirits.
In Hida Township, the streets are being built
Trolleys on the side of the road
Encounter with hail: Race against wind and rain
Leave Rido Township and set off towards Tashigang Township. After Passing Tashigang Township, the sky becomes gloomy, a large thick cloud floats in the air, according to the experience of several rains along the way, plateau cycling, "ten miles of different days", the weather forecast is not accurate, there will be rain or hail in the clouds, as long as you ride out of the cloud rain area, it is another world.
Thick clouds in the sky
While riding, the sound of hail falling is heard, but fortunately wearing a helmet, the hail just falls on the body and the back seat of the car. At this time, the outer periphery of the cloud system has just come, the raindrops of the beans have flown down, and the prelude to the heavy rain has unconsciously accelerated the pace of cycling and raced with the wind and rain. After riding for half an hour, in the end, I still managed to win the wind and rain and enter a vast new world.
A new world
4500KM, only 80 km from Potala Palace
Continuing to ride forward, we got closer and closer to the Ink Bamboo Gongka and came to the 4500KM road monument in Taduo Village. When you stop to check the Baidu map, the navigation shows that there are still 80 kilometers away from the Potala Palace.
At 4500KM
On one side of the national highway are houses, on the other side is vast farmland, and a stream flows through the field. Sitting on the grass on the side of the road, eating a small bag of Oreo chocolate sandwich cookies, drinking a can of Red Bull, and resting for a while.
In the direction of Thapa Temple
cornfield
Songtsam Gampo birthplace, traffic signs
Kama: Songtsen Gampo's birthplace, watch time and space change
After passing through Tado Village, the traffic sign of "Songtsen Gampo Birthplace" on the roadside attracted attention, and it rode forward a few kilometers to the entrance of songtsen Gampo Birthplace Scenic Area.
Songtsan Gampo birthplace at the entrance of the scenic spot
At this time, it was almost 6 p.m., standing at the entrance of the scenic spot, looking around, the two mountains were like two wings of openness, a river flowed next to the village, and on the other side of the national highway, there were open fields and distant mountains.
Around the birthplace of Songtsen Gampo
Although the past is more than a thousand years, time flies, mountains and rivers may change greatly, and mountains and rivers may not change. Looking at the clear water and green mountains in front of him, imagining the environment in which this great Tibetan king was once born, imagining the scene of Princess Wencheng living here.
The grass clings to it, and the Linla Highway passes through
Dazi District: Potala Palace, one step away
Leaving Songtsen Gampo's birthplace, it's getting late and continuing along the G318 National Highway, circling the Lhasa River, and the Linla Highway. At 8:30 PM, arrive in Lhasa Daz District. At this time, there is still a step away from the Potala Palace, and the journey of a thousand miles is about to come to a successful end. In anticipation of the upcoming moment, it was decided to eat a full meal before setting off.
At night in the Dazi District
Tranquil Daz
After dinner at a restaurant on the street in Dazi District, I came to the G318 national highway. Although it is a night ride, the national highway is brightly lit. Before entering the downtown area of Lhasa, I passed through the checkpoint and verified my identity information. After passing the checkpoint, on the banks of the Lhasa River, under the night, I saw the Potala Palace on the Red Mountain in the distance. At 11:00 p.m., I finally came to the foot of the Potala Palace.
At night, by the Lhasa River, overlooking the Potala Palace
At this point, Dali's trip from the Yunnan-Tibet Line to Lhasa was successfully concluded.
At night, Beijing Road
At 10:30 p.m., ride to the Potala Palace Square
Cycling summary
- Date: September 2, 2020
- Weather: sunny - rain - hail, temperature 6-18 °C, east wind level 1
- Altitude: between 4281.4 meters - 5030.2 meters - 3647.6 meters
- Time: 11.5 hours of riding, 8:00AM-11:21PM
- Food & Beverage: Bring your own dry food and water
- Overnight: Near Lhasa -Feideng Inn
- Route: Songdo - Lhasa - Potala Palace - Inn, 192KM
Colorful Mira Mountains
[Songdo to Lhasa (Potala Palace), a total distance of 181.9 kilometers, along the way to cross the second highest peak on the Yunnan-Tibet Line, Mira Mountain (5013 meters above sea level). 12 km uphill undulating road to the foot of Mira Mountain, 17 km continuous uphill, altitude from Songduo Town about 4300 meters, all the way up to Mira Mountain Pass 5013 meters; after passing the Mira Mountain Pass, 25 km downhill to The Rido Township Checkpoint; 57 km downhill undulating road to Mozhu Gongka; 48 km undulating road to Zi District, 26 km flat road to The Potala Palace Square in Lhasa City; the last few kilometers to the inn]