Archive for the ‘Zhangmu Travel’ Category

Drive from Tingri to Mt.Everest Base Camp (Tips, Photos & Map)

Tuesday, April 11th, 2023
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On August 25, together with other 24 group members on a 35-seat bus, after 5 hours’ bumpy driving for 108km, we successfully reached the Mt.Everest Base North Camp in Tibet ( Qomolangma Base Camp) and saw the unparalleled beauty of the snow-covered peak of Mt.Everest under a clear sky.

I’d like to make a trip report on our exciting trip, which may be helpful for those who have the same dream to view the highest mountain in the world at a shortest distance as a common tourist.

Pelbar (Baibacun) in Tingri is a launch pad for driving to EBC

Basically Tingri County is your starting point to go on with your road trip to Mt.Everest North Base Camp in Tibet. You either drive from Lhasa to Tingri ( via Shigatse ) or from Zhangmu (via Nepal).

We drive all all the way from from Lhasa to Yamdroke Lake, Nagarze, Gyantse, Shigatse and finally Tingri. Of course, Tingri County’s jurisdiction is large and you need to choose a specific place to recharge and prepare for the adventure road trip to Mr.Everest Base Camp.

Pelbar (Baibacun) in Tingri is a launch pad for the Mt.Everest North Base Camp (Google)

We choose the small township by the side of National Highway G318 known as Pelbar ( Baibacun, or Baiba Township). From the township at the National Highway 318 to the Mt. Everest Base Camp it would take 5 or 6 hours by bus for a 108km mountain road mainly due to the poor and bumpy dirt road, but 3 and half hours for a land cruiser.

Prepare for the adventure road trip

Yesterday (on August 24), we had a very easy schedule starting from Shigatse at 11:00am and arriving at Pelbar (Baiba Township) of Shegar Town in Tingri at 3:00pm. Later in the afternoon we either took a break at our lodging hotel – Qomolangma Hotel or wandered on the only street in the Baiba Township, grabbing some snacks and water, or bottled oxygen for the next day’s expedition.

Pelbar ( Baibacun) Township is a one-horse street.

We all agreed to get up early due to the long road trip the next day. To our pleasant surprise, Qomolangma Hotel was very cooperative and ready to provide breakfast or dinner at any time clients demanded. We planned to get up at 4:00am and set the breakfast at 4:30am the next day.

Though in August, in the early morning we all felt a little bit cold because of the day and night temperature difference on the plateau. Some of the tourists had bought bottled oxygen from the shops on the street in the township just in case. Sunglass, sunscreen, sun hats and water were basic for the long and hard road trip at an average sea-level of over 4000m.

Lugongong Police Checkpost in Pelbar

We set off at 5:30am from Qomolangma Hotel in Pelbar Township ( Baiba or Baibacun) in Tingri and it was still a little dark outside.

We left Baiba Township and drove along the National Highway 318 down to the south, then we had to stop for the security check at Lugonggong Police checkpoint. Everybody on the bus must get off and wait in line inside the check building for check one by one.

Lugongong Police Checkpost

After we came back from Mt.Everest Base Camp to Baiba Township, we would have to do the same check again. As a foreigner, you must have two permits – Travel Tibet Permit and Alien Travel Permit.

After finishing the security check and we all got on the bus again, and continued to drive about 7km along the National Highway 318, then we saw a signboard pointing to the special road forking from the main asphalt road to Mt.Everest. Now we knew we were about to be on the bumpy road to fulfil our dream.

Embarking on the road to the Mt.Everest North Base Camp

A signboard pointing to the special road forking from the main asphalt road to Mt.Everest Base Camp. Also a huge signboard stands there welcomging all travelers.

The moment we drove on the mountain road, we realized that why the 100km Everest Base Camp Road would take 5 or 6 hours for a bus trip. The dirt road condition was terrible, tough, harsh, bumpy like a washing board with a corrugated surface and some full of dirt holes!

Embarking on the road to the Mt.Everest Base Camp

Bumpy like a washing board with a corrugated surface and the road condtions are not good.

Not long we had to stop again to have our entrance tickets checked for Qomolangma (Mt.Everest) Nature Reserve at the checkpoint in the first village on our 100km road trip.

Entrance tickets checked for Qomolangma (Mt.Everest) Nature Reserve: 180 yuan per person.

Two hours’ ascent  drive to the Gyawula Pass 5210m

Now we began to have about two hours’ ascent drive along the rugged dirt road up to the pass – Gyawula Pass (加乌拉山口). Some crazy climbers would get up in small hours and get to the Pass to catch the sunrise over Mt.Everest! We were very lucky that the sky was clear with a fine day.

We had to endure endless twists and turns, and hairpin bends.

All of us expected to be on the platform on the Gyawula Pass to see Mt.Everest and other high peaks. For this, we had to endure endless twists and turns, and hairpin bends which elevated us little by little towards the azure sky and the pass.

The Gyawula Pass 5210m

Just over the Gywula Pass 5210m, there is an open platform for people to park and view the magnificent Mt.Everest and other peaks. All of us were amazed by the view unfolding before us and couldn’t belive the beautiful views of the snow mountains were real! It was so beautiful!

View Mt.Everest from Gyawula Pass 5210m

At Gyawula Pass (5210m), the entrance of Himalaya, on a find and clear day, you can view the panorama of Himalaya range and see 4 mountains which are over 8000m high, namely Mt. Lhotse (8516m), Mt. Everest (8848m), Mt. Qowowuyag (8201m) and Mt. Mayalu (8463m).

Gyawula Pass is the most luxuary platform to see the 4 over 8000m high peaks.

We were busy taking pictures of the fantastic beauty of highest mountains in the world. On a find day, people can clearly see Mt.Everest, and other three over 8000m high peaks, 4 of total 14 over 8000m high peaks in the world.

People can clearly see Mt.Everest from the platform on Gyawula Pass.

Drive from Gywula Pass 5210m to Mt.Everest North Base Camp

Now still excited, we started to drive down the pass toward the base. “Hiking up is easy, but hiking down is difficult”. We had to drive slowly along the zigzag roads. The scenery was magnificent with solemn Himalayan hillsides framing here and there on the way.

The magnificent view of Great Himalaya Range

We passed small Tibetan settlements, nomadic herdsmen wandering across the wide arid plains, yaks, wild rabbits, wild sheep, dzopkyos (yak-cow hybrids),  and awe-inspiring mountain peaks – a paradise on earth!

We are passing through Pagsum Hamlet

Checkpoint at the last Village

The checkpoint at the last Village – Quzong Hamlet (Quzong Village) before we reached Mt.Everest Base Camp, we again had to go through the border check at the checkpost at Quzhong Village, the last village on the way to the base.

The border check at the checkpoint at Quzhong Village, the last village on the way to the base.

Rongbuk Monastery 5154m

After Quzong Village, we drove along the valley leading to Rongbuk Monastery. On the way, we saw some travelers rode bikes to the camp. Rongbuk Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Nyingma sect. Now there are some nuns and monks living in the temple. The monastery is located by the foot of the Rongbuk Glacier at 5,154m.

Biking to Mt.Everest Base Camp
The four-wheel driving to EBC

It is the highest religious building in the world. Now it provides some basic accommodations for climbers. Rongbuk Monastery is considered as a gateway to Mt. Everest. From this good location you get breathtaking views of the magnificent Mt.Everest.

We are driving past Rongbuk Monastery 8km north of EBC
We continue to drive and the huge chunk of Mt.Everest is looming over us.

Tent community (Za-Rombuk)

The Mt.Everrest Base Camp is about 8km south of Rongbuk Monastery. In the middle of the way between the Camp and the Monastery, there is a “Tent Community”, also known in the tourist book as “Za-Rombuk”. The “tent community” is set up by locals for 6 months of each year.

Tent community (Za-Rombuk), 4 km north of EBC

You can choose a bed, take some blankets, or use blanket yourself and go to sleep. There is no running tape water, but each tent usually takes water from the local snow-melt stream sand has a barrel in the tent. The toilets are the standard squat over a hole in the ground.

Rows of Tents in the valley of Tent Community

The tents in Za-Rombuk seems cozy and warmer, and friendly. Trekkers and leisure travelers share their temporary home. The tents are windproof, spacious. Heating comes from the stove in the middle of the room which burns yak and goat dung.

The tents in Za-Rombuk seems cozy and warmer, and friendly.

A glympse of one of the tents in the Tent Community

The Tent community is also a parking lot as well a leisure place for relaxation. We parked our bus in the tent community area. From the “Tent Community”, we had to take the local  shuttle bus (environment protection bus ) to the real Camp, about 4km south of the Tent Community.

Change for the local shuttle bus for the last 4 km getting to Qomolangma North Base Camp
We are approaching Mt.Everest North Base Camp

Mt.Everest North Base Camp 5200m

When we reached the Mt.Everest Base camp, everybody again had to go through security check lining up at the small room by the entrance to the base camp. Once inside the compound of the base, people were allowed to ascend a hill to have a clear view of the magnificent Mt.Everest.

Again going through another security check at the Base Camp

Normal tourists were not allowed to go down the hill to climb Mt.Everest. It was not the best time for Mt.Everest climbing, so there were no tents here in the base camp. Now it is in August, not a perfect time for Mt.Everest climbers, so there are no tents in the Qomolangma North Base Camp.

This is the Mt.Everest North Base Camp Site ( No tents due to the non-climbing season)

March to Mary, September and October are the best season for Mt.Everest climbing. The Rongbuk river flows through the valley, constituting an amazing view of water, peaks, blue sky…

Mt.Qomolangma (Mt.Everest) 8844.43
People were crazy about Mt.Everest.

Tingri Overland to Mt.Everest North Base Camp Travel Tips:

1. Better for a small group using a land cruiser instead of bus tour
2. Ready for Bottled oxygen if you are not confident about your health
3. Water and snacks
4. Sunglass, sunscreen, altitude sickness medicine
5. Good sleep the day before
6. Suggested to stay in Tingri for overnight
7. Alien Travel Permit for Mt.Everest Base Camp
8. Clothes for temperature difference

9. Best time: March, May, September and October

Hassle-free Lhasa & Tibet Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Lhasa and Tibet:

Lhasa Tour
Tibet Travel
Lhasa Tibet Group Tour
Lhasa Tibet Private Tour
Beijing Lhasa Tour
Lhasa China Tour

Further Readings

Best Time to Visit Lhasa
Top 10 Attractions in Lhasa
Lhasa Tourist Traps, Tourist Scams Lhasa
Where to stay in Lhasa
Makye Ame Lhasa Restaurant – Your Kitchen in Lhasa
Lhasa Airport, Lhasa Gonggar Airport
Xian Lhasa Flight Experience, Xian Lhasa Flight
Lhasa Railway Station Transportation, Taxi, Public Bus
Get around in Lhasa with Pedicab or Trishaw
lhasa Taxi
Best Places to Take Picture of Potala Palace Lhasa

4-Wheel Drive Trip from Lhasa to Ranwu
Tips for Visiting Drak Yerpa (Tips, Photos & Map)
The Pilgrim Kora in Lhasa, Lhasa Pilgrim circuits
How to Visit Sera Monastery in Lhasa
Beijing Road in Lhasa
Lhasa River in the City of Lhasa (Tips, Photos & Map)
Lhasa Great Mosque, the Mosques in Lhasa
Lhasa Yamdrok-Tso Lake Road Trip

Qushui Bridge in Qushui County, Tibet (Tips, Photos & Map)
Nagarzê County and Scenic Road Trip to Gyantse
Gyantse County and Road Trip to Shigatse
Shigatse Trip (Tips, Photos & Map)
Shigatse Lhatse Tingri Road Trip
Drive from Tingri to Mt.Everest Base Camp
Gangkar Town ( Gangga Town ), Tingri County
Tingri County (Tips, Photos & Maps)
Nyalam Town & Nyalam County (Tips, Photos & Maps)
Zhangmu Port & Zhangmu Town (Tips, Photos & Maps)

Any questions, just drop a line.

Zhangmu Port & Zhangmu Town (Tips, Photos & Maps)

Wednesday, September 8th, 2021
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Plan your Tibet travel? If you want to visit Tibet from Nepal or visit Nepal from Tibet, Zhangmu Town, the Chinese border town between Tibet and Nepal, is the port of entry you must pass through.

Zhangmu Tow is located 120km from Kathmandu, 817km from Lhasa. (Google)

Zhangmu Town is under the administration of Nyalam County of Shigatse in Tibet. Zhangmu Town is situated along a single narrow zigzag mountain road at the sea level of 2300m. It is about 120km from Kathmandu Nepal, 736km from Lhasa and 30km from Nyalam Town.

Nyalam Town – Zhangmu Town 30km

We drove from Nyalam Towm at the altitude of 3500m down to Zhangmu town at 2300m. So in the short distance of 30km, we had to descend over 1000m at the sea level. The 30km National Highway 318 driving took us one hour.

We drove from Nyalam Town at the sea level of 3500m down to Zhangmu town at 2300m.

The road was very steep and zigzag. The views of the mountains on both sides of the road are amazing, tall and ancient trees, campher trees, water falls downpouring from the high mountains. It is an unforgetable road trip in our Tibet tour.

Zhangmu Town

Actually the town of Zhangmu is built on the hillsides with the single zigzag street ( aka Highway G318) . Viewed from a distance, the town looks like a fairly big mountain town.

Viewed from a distance, Zhangmu Town looks like a fairly big mountain town.

The long, narrow and zigzag street is very busy and packed with street front houses, apartments, restaurants, stores, inns, hotels and trucks loading and downloading.

We were all shocked by the crowded trucks, mainly from Nepal for transportation service loading and downloading, and waiting for the checkpoint or customs.

The downtown of Zhangmu Town

The long queue makes the narrow street even much narrower. We had a little worry about the traffic since our tour group would have to pass throug the port and enter Nepal before 6:00pm.

Not soon our worry seemed unnecessary. All the drivers, taxis, trucks, tourist buses, vans, and cars have the tacit understanding on how to give way for the traffic at the highest efficiency without a traffic policeman!

Zhangmu Town – Zhangmu Port (樟木口岸)10km

Now we left the downtown of Zhangmu Town and continued to drive from Zhangmu Town to Zhangmu Port (樟木口岸). The 10km road was a drive test for our driver who also came here for fist time. The Nepalese trucks lined up by the side the road, making the narrow road a single way! Again most of the drivers here had the skill and patience to move the traffic.

Zhangmu Port (樟木口岸 )

Zhangmu Port was very busy and teemed with all kinds of people, tourists, businessmen, vendors and Currency exchange scalpers.

The Nepalese houses down below viewed from Zhangmu Port

Nepal is just a bridge away across the friendship bridge. We could clearly see the houses on the mountain side below us.

Zhangmu Travel Tips

1. Be ready for the worse traffic at Zhangmu
2. Having enough time for the transfer at Zhangmu
3. There are some nice hotels and inns at Zhangmu Town
4. You also can stay overnight at Nyalam Town, 30km from Zhangmu
5. Get ready for passports, visa, Tibet Travel Permit and Alien Travel Permit
6. Zhangmu taxi: RMB10
7. No shuttle bus from Zhangmu to Lhasa
8. Hitchhike a return bus or van to Shigatse or Lhasa

Hassle-free Lhasa & Tibet Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Lhasa and Tibet:

Lhasa Tour
Tibet Travel
Lhasa Tibet Group Tour
Lhasa Tibet Private Tour
Beijing Lhasa Tour
Lhasa China Tour

Further Readings

Best Time to Visit Lhasa
Top 10 Attractions in Lhasa
Lhasa Tourist Traps, Tourist Scams Lhasa
Where to stay in Lhasa
Makye Ame Lhasa Restaurant – Your Kitchen in Lhasa
Lhasa Airport, Lhasa Gonggar Airport
Xian Lhasa Flight Experience, Xian Lhasa Flight
Lhasa Railway Station Transportation, Taxi, Public Bus
Get around in Lhasa with Pedicab or Trishaw
lhasa Taxi
Best Places to Take Picture of Potala Palace Lhasa

4-Wheel Drive Trip from Lhasa to Ranwu
Tips for Visiting Drak Yerpa (Tips, Photos & Map)
The Pilgrim Kora in Lhasa, Lhasa Pilgrim circuits
How to Visit Sera Monastery in Lhasa
Beijing Road in Lhasa
Lhasa River in the City of Lhasa (Tips, Photos & Map)
Lhasa Great Mosque, the Mosques in Lhasa
Lhasa Yamdrok-Tso Lake Road Trip

Qushui Bridge in Qushui County, Tibet (Tips, Photos & Map)
Nagarzê County and Scenic Road Trip to Gyantse
Gyantse County and Road Trip to Shigatse
Shigatse Trip (Tips, Photos & Map)
Shigatse Lhatse Tingri Road Trip
Drive from Tingri to Mt.Everest Base Camp
Gangkar Town ( Gangga Town ), Tingri County
Tingri County (Tips, Photos & Maps)
Nyalam Town & Nyalam County (Tips, Photos & Maps)
Zhangmu Port & Zhangmu Town (Tips, Photos & Maps)

Any questions, just drop a line.

Nyalam Town & Nyalam County (Tips, Photos & Maps)

Wednesday, September 8th, 2021
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Nyalam refers both to Nyalam Town (聂拉木镇) and Nyalam County (聂拉木县). Nyalam Town is the seat of Nyalam County in Shigatse of Tibet. Nyalam County administrates two towns – Nyalam Town and Zhangmu Town as well as five Townships including Yalai (亚来), Suozuo (琐作), Nailong (乃龙), Menbu (门布) and Borong (波绒).

The jurisdiction of Nyalam County in Shigatse, Tibet. (Google)

ABC of Nyalam County

Nyalam County occupies an area of 8684.39 square km with a population of over 12,000. Among them, there are 5,000 Sherpa people. Nyalam County is located between the Himalayan Mountains and Laguigangri Mountains.

Nyalam County is within the Qomalangma Natural Preseve Zone with two core zones – Shishabangma Peak 8012 and Xuebugang core area. Nyalam County has one peak over 8,000 meters – Shishabangma Peak 8012 and 8 peaks over 7,000 meters with stunning views. So Nyalam county is a wholesaler of high snow mountains.

ABC of Nyalam Town

Nyalam Town is the seat of Nyalam County in the Shigatse Prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, near the Nepal border.

It is 30km drive from Nyalam Town to Zhangmu town in the same county, which is the point of entry to Nepal. Nyalam Town is situated at 3,750 metres above sea level.

Drive from Tingri to Nyalam Town 211km

On August 26, we started for Zhangmu Fort ( entry to Nepal) from our Qomolamgma Hotel at Pelbar ( Baibacun ) of Shelgar ( New Tingri) in Tingri County at 5:00am. Today we had to reach Zhangmu port of entry and see off my group members who would enter Nepal through the Zhangmu Fort.

To get to Zhangmu Fort of Entry, we first drove through Nyalam County via highway G318. The 211m drive from Tingri (Baibacun, or Pelbar ) to Naylam Town was quite exciting with stunning views.

Drive from Tingri to Nyalam Town 211km (Google)

We drove on the Highway G318 with the company of the Shishapangma Peak 8012 bathing in the sunrise, the 14th higheast peak in the world.

We were lucky to see the clouds-shrouded Shishapangma Peak in the sunrise glow.

We drove through Zhongla Pass at 5000m and entered the jurisdiction of Nyalam County.

We drove through Zhongla Pass at 5000m

The road between Tingri to Nyalam County was one of the most magnificent sightseeing drives in our 7 day trip in Tibet, high snow mountains, deep valleys, blue sky and white clouds…

The scenic drive from Tingri to Nyalam Town
Passing by a small Tibetan village
Encounter the Tibetan villagers in the early morning

We stopped at the checkpoint at Nyalam Town. So please get ready for your Alien Travel Permit.

We stopped at the checkpoint at Nyalam Town.

Drive from Nyalam Town to Zhangmu Town 32km

Nyalam Towm is situated in the valley at the altitude of 3500m. It is the seat of Nyalam County. We found some tourist group from India coming from Zhangmu and stayed overnight here in the town.

Drive from Nyalam Town to Zhangmu Town (Google)
We passed throguh Nyalam Town

We drove from Nyalam Town at the sea level of 3500m down to Zhangmu town at 2300m. So in the short distance of 30km, we had to drive down for over 1000m at the sea level. The 30km National Highway 318 driving took us one hour. The road was very steep and zigzag.

We drove from Nyalam Town at the sea level of 3500m down to Zhangmu town at 2300m.

The views of the mountains on both sides of the road are amazing, tall and ancient trees, water falls downpouring from the high mountains. It is a mesmerising road trip in our Tibet tour.

Drive from Zhangmu Town to Zhangmu Fort 10km

Actually the town of Zhangmu is built on the hillsides with a one major zigzag street. Viewed from a distance, the town looks like a fairly big mountain town.

Zhangmu Town is built on the hillsides with a one major zigzag street.

The long, narrow and zigzag street is very busy and packed with street front houses, apartments, restaurants, stores, inns, hotels and trucks loading and downloading.

The busy and narrow street in Zhangmu Town

The 250km from Tingri to Zhangmu port of entry ( to Nepal ) would take us about 5 hours due to the national highway G318 winding in the valleys of the high mountains with a deep gorge of the Matsang Tsangpo or Sun Kosi as it is known in Nepal.

Zhangmu port of entry ( to Nepal )

Hassle-free Lhasa & Tibet Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Lhasa and Tibet:

Lhasa Tour
Tibet Travel
Lhasa Tibet Group Tour
Lhasa Tibet Private Tour
Beijing Lhasa Tour
Lhasa China Tour

Further Readings

Best Time to Visit Lhasa
Top 10 Attractions in Lhasa
Lhasa Tourist Traps, Tourist Scams Lhasa
Where to stay in Lhasa
Makye Ame Lhasa Restaurant – Your Kitchen in Lhasa
Lhasa Airport, Lhasa Gonggar Airport
Xian Lhasa Flight Experience, Xian Lhasa Flight
Lhasa Railway Station Transportation, Taxi, Public Bus
Get around in Lhasa with Pedicab or Trishaw
lhasa Taxi
Best Places to Take Picture of Potala Palace Lhasa

4-Wheel Drive Trip from Lhasa to Ranwu
Tips for Visiting Drak Yerpa (Tips, Photos & Map)
The Pilgrim Kora in Lhasa, Lhasa Pilgrim circuits
How to Visit Sera Monastery in Lhasa
Beijing Road in Lhasa
Lhasa River in the City of Lhasa (Tips, Photos & Map)
Lhasa Great Mosque, the Mosques in Lhasa
Lhasa Yamdrok-Tso Lake Road Trip

Qushui Bridge in Qushui County, Tibet (Tips, Photos & Map)
Nagarzê County and Scenic Road Trip to Gyantse
Gyantse County and Road Trip to Shigatse
Shigatse Trip (Tips, Photos & Map)
Shigatse Lhatse Tingri Road Trip
Drive from Tingri to Mt.Everest Base Camp
Gangkar Town ( Gangga Town ), Tingri County
Tingri County (Tips, Photos & Maps)
Nyalam Town & Nyalam County (Tips, Photos & Maps)