Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BĀYĪ TO TASHIGANG
The 70km stretch from Bāyī to Tashigang passes over the 4582m
Serkhym-la
(Sèqí Lā)
and is one of the most sublime sections of road in Kham. To start, the road winds around
the back of the forested holy mountain Bönri (4500m), passing the point at which the
Bönri kora meets the highway, marked by a flurry of prayer flags. You'll see numerous pil-
grims on the highway at any point.
The slow crawl up to the Serkhym-la pass takes you through a magical landscape of
rolling fields of azaleas, sharp distant peaks, and rushing streams cutting through deep
gullies. You'll want to stop often, especially in June when the flowers are in bloom.
As you head down from the pass, you'll see dramatic views of shark-toothed Namche
Barwa (7756m), Gyala Pelri (7151m) and Lunang Forest, the largest in Tibet. Be careful
where you pull over for a look on this section as any spot that looks officially like a rest
area will have an exorbitant fee.
The village of Lunang (Lǔlǎng), set in the valley of the Rong-chu River, makes for a good
rest stop, both for the high mountain views from the grasslands, and for the numerous
restaurants off the main road. The local dish is chicken served in a stone pot (shíguōjī; )
but there is also regular Sìchuān fare and Tibetan grub at a couple of teahouses.
At the time of writing, about 2km of land alongside the road from Lunang to Tashigang
was under construction as part of what is being called the Lunang International Tourism
Village. Change is coming to this area to prepare for mass tourism. How it will affect the
overall rural environment is difficult to say - with any luck most tourists will stay in the
new village, leaving the true homestays and countryside for the more intrepid.
Expect to take about two hours to drive this route without breaks for the scenery.
Tashigang
0894 / Elev 2530m
Sights & Activities
A visit to this tiny rural village, a couple of kilometres east of Lunang, is for many travel-
lers a highlight of a trip to eastern Tibet. For here you can stay with a Tibetan family in a
local house, eat home-cooked meals, and stroll through a dreamy landscape of green bar-
