Outdoor travel: Things to note when hiking along the Sichuan-Tibet line

Hiking is a good outdoor exercise, and now many young people like to hike across the Sichuan-Tibet line. When hiking on the Sichuan-Tibet line, you need to pay attention to some precautions and be sure to be adequately prepared. After all, hiking is not a gamble with your life, so you still have to do what you should do.

The entire journey from Chengdu to Lhasa along National Highway 318 is 2,166 kilometers, and requires crossing two mountains with an altitude of more than 5,000 meters and 10 mountains with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters.

The Sichuan-Tibet Highway starts in Chengdu, Sichuan, passes through Ya'an and Kangding, and is divided into two lines, north and south, at Xinduqiao: the northern line passes through Ganzi and Derge, and enters Qamdo and Bangda in Tibet; the southern line passes through Yajiang, Litang, and Batang, and enters Mangkam in Tibet, then meets the northern line in Bangda, and then passes through Basu, Bomi, and Nyingchi to Lhasa.

On the southern route, from east to west, we crossed 12 steep mountains with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters, including Zheduo Mountain, Haizi Mountain, Sejila Mountain, Mila Mountain, and the most treacherous Jueba Mountain with an altitude of 3,930 meters. After the trip, we felt that Erlang Mountain (2,170 meters above sea level) could not even be called a mountain. Crossing the turbulent rivers such as the Dadu River, Jinsha River, Lancang River, Nu River, and Parlung Zangbo River, the journey is difficult and dangerous, but the scenery along the way is magnificent, with snow-capped mountains, virgin forests, grasslands, glaciers, canyons, and large rivers.

Hiking route of Sichuan-Tibet Highway: South Line of Sichuan-Tibet Highway (National Highway 318): Chengdu-Ya'an-Luding-Kangding-Xinduqiao-Yajiang-Litang-Batang-Mangkang-Zuogong-Bangda-Basu-Bomi-Nyingchi-Lhasa

Equipment for hiking along the Sichuan-Tibet line:

[Important documents] ID card, border pass (remember to bring it if you are going to the border area of ​​Tibet, you can also apply for it in Lhasa). Bank card: There are many postal cash withdrawal points along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. It is recommended to bring a postal card. You don’t need to carry so much cash with you.

[Daily necessities] Toothpaste, toothbrush, face towel (preferably easy to dry), etc.

[Commonly used medicines] Commonly used medicines such as bruises medicine, wind-relieving oil, antipyretic medicine, anti-inflammatory medicine, cold medicine, antidiarrhea medicine, and antipyretic medicine.

[Backup Food] Bring some high-calorie foods such as chocolate, beef jerky, compressed biscuits, some vitamin lozenges and chewing gum...

[Clothing preparation] It is recommended to bring a jacket (windproof and warm); for hiking, you can choose high-top hiking shoes or Jiefang shoes (good anti-slip effect); pure cotton underwear, so that sweat will not be very sticky during hiking.

[Hiking Equipment] It is important to choose a comfortable and load-bearing backpack when hiking. It is better to choose a tent that is sturdy and easy to carry (you don’t have to bring a tent, as you can arrange accommodation along the way, so you will feel more at ease if you bring it with you). You can choose a regular down sleeping bag; the moisture-proof mat is not only warm but also comfortable to sleep on; waterproof cover, raincoat, hat, etc.

[Others] Waterproof matches, Sichuan-Tibet line map, rope, flashlight, kettle, sunscreen, GPS, lighter, knife, compass, etc.

Things to note when hiking on the Sichuan-Tibet route:

1. If the journey is long, you must get up early and leave early, and arrive at the destination before dark. It is better to get up early than late (walking at night is a terrible thing, especially when you are alone). Generally, get up no later than 6:30;

2. Be low-key and don’t shout “Tashi Delek” to everyone you meet. Generally, do not greet Tibetans proactively, and try to decline an invitation as much as possible. However, in response to their wave, a smile and a wave is the best answer;

3. When you encounter a village or a place with people, try to pass through it as quickly as possible, and try not to stop to rest in these places (this may depend on the actual situation. I believe that there are still many good people in the world. If you don't offend others, others won't offend you);

4. Be friendly to others. How you treat others is how they will treat you. (But if you meet a child who asks for something, it is best not to give it to him.)

5. If you are bitten by a dog, don't panic: just speed up on the downhill road, get off the car quickly on the uphill road, pick up stones on the road, and hit the dog directly! Tibetan brothers' dogs are basically tied up, only Han people's dogs are left loose;

6. Don’t take shortcuts when you encounter a zigzag turning line, as it will not be worth it. If you take shortcuts or use the small roads, you may regret it later.

7. Please prepare your China Post Green Card in advance. The post office working hours are generally from 9:00 to 16:30. Other banks are not as numerous as post offices. However, UnionPay cards can also be used in most towns. Please withdraw no more than 200 to 300 yuan each time, and withdraw only after you have used up your money. Do not carry too much cash with you;

8. Wear a sun hat on your head, a magic scarf on your face, long-sleeved clothes, and long pants.

Sichuan-Tibet Highway Hiking Tips:

1. It is recommended to hike in groups on the Sichuan-Tibet line so that you can look after each other on the road, which is safer.

2. Friends who are hiking along the Sichuan-Tibet line must plan their itinerary well and avoid walking at night, as it is very unsafe.

3. When hiking, the backpack must be loaded. If you can use the trekking poles correctly, you can save a lot of energy. Learn some hiking techniques, such as leaning slightly forward when going uphill and leaning slightly backward when going down a steep slope. When passing through a valley, do not shout loudly (to prevent debris from rolling down), and walk to the side, that is, do not walk on the other side of the mountain wall. When passing through a wading section, do not proceed rashly when you do not know the water depth.

4. There was once a fair beauty who hiked along the Sichuan-Tibet line. After she came back, she turned into an African black girl, so friends must take good sun protection measures.

5. Do not eat wild fruits on the roadside without knowing whether they are edible. Do not set up camp near lakes or streams at night. Rain or melting snow can easily cause water levels to rise, and animals will go to the lake to drink water at night, which is unsafe.

6. When hiking on the Sichuan-Tibet line, the difference in your itinerary for one day may be quite large. Don’t take off your clothes in a hurry when it gets hot, be careful not to catch a cold.

Robbery incidents on the Sichuan-Tibet line:

The probability of robbery occurring on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is relatively low. It can only be said that it is just an accidental incident. The public security along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is still acceptable. You have to believe that there are still many good people in the world. The so-called robbery incidents on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway are mostly caused by a group of children robbing passers-by, mainly for food. Most of the incidents occurred in the Haizi Mountain area (i.e. the section from Litang to Batang), which is relatively remote and poor.

What should you do if you are unlucky and really encounter a robber? Try to give him what he wants. After all, safety comes first. Please be sure to call the police afterwards. For the sake of future passers-by and for your future travel along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway. We will not tolerate such behavior. If you encounter a child who tries to snatch something, you can give him some food (not recommended as it will encourage bad habits), or you can scare him by saying, "Which school are you from? What's your name? Let me tell your teacher. Big brother, I've practiced this before." Children are usually afraid of these things. It is very important for us to have a sense of prevention.

It is recommended not to travel alone. It is safer to travel with friends and never walk at night. When traveling along the Sichuan-Tibet line, we have been bullied by dogs many times, right? First of all, we should not provoke them. When it provokes you, you can pick up a stick to defend yourself, or throw some food like sausage to bribe it, or call the dog's owner for help. Friends who ride bicycles can pass through quickly, and the most they will bite is the bag on the back seat of your bicycle.

Robbery incidents occasionally occur on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (it is relatively safer to travel in groups). I hope the relevant departments will strictly rectify this and remove obstacles for those who go to Tibet to pursue their dreams. Hikers should also be aware of the risks and it is recommended that they travel in groups. We should also pay attention to environmental protection on the road and not throw garbage casually, so that our road to dreams will be cleaner.

Tips for hitchhiking on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway:

1. If there are girls in the team, when you want to stop a ride on the side of the road, it is recommended to let girls, especially beautiful girls, to stop the ride. The chance of stopping a ride will be greatly increased because girls are more friendly than boys. Moreover, when the driver sees a woman stopping the ride, he will not be so defensive.

2. When you try to hitchhike, some drivers will stop. When you run over happily, the driver will ask you where you want to go and then tell you how much money you need to pay. At this time, you have to act poor, cute, and pitiful (it is recommended that girls do the "negotiating"). Whether you can impress the driver and give you a free ride depends on your eloquence.

3. Don't just stop a ride when you see one when you start hiking. Think about it, what will the drivers think if they see you want a ride after just walking a few meters? They will think you are lazy and not worthy of help. If you have walked for a few kilometers and hitchhike in a less populated area, the driver will feel sympathy for you and feel that it is not easy to hike in the wilderness. The success rate of stopping the car will also increase at this time.

4. Remember to communicate with more people at the accommodation. Perhaps you will get to know a driver going your way, and then it will be easy for you to get a ride.

5. Don't stop a car at a downhill or uphill area or at a corner. It is inconvenient for drivers to park at these areas. At a corner, you can't see the passing vehicles and the drivers will flash past you. You may not see the back of the car before you even raise your hand to stop it.

6. If there are too many people hiking together, it is best to split into several groups (one group should not exceed three people, and it would be even better if there are women in the group), so that it will be easier to stop a car. Generally, the cars entering and leaving Tibet are unlikely to be empty, and there are usually only one or two empty seats. If the driver sees a group of you trying to stop a car, he might not be able to help you even if he wants to.

7. You can put a note like "Seeking a ride" on your backpack. It should be noted that the note must be large and eye-catching, so that when you are walking, the vehicles behind you will see it, and some kind people will stop to ask if you need any help, so the chances of getting a ride will increase!

8. The essence of hitchhiking is: take a ride as long as you can, even if it's a bus, a motorcycle, a tractor or a police car. Anyway, you can stop any "car" you see that can move.