Qinghai-Tibet Highway

Qinghai – Tibet Highway is one of the highest highways in the world. Starting from Xining of Qinghai Province, the highway crosses four mountains including Kunlun Mountains (4700 meters), Fenghuo Mountain (4800 meters), Tanghuo Mountain (5150 meters) and Nyainqentanglha Mountain. The highway stretches over three rivers including Tangtian River, Tuotuo River and Chuma’er River. 544 kilometers of the highways is located within the region of Tibet and traverses the Changtang Plain in the north and converges with the Sichuan – Tibet Highway in Lhasa.
Firstly constructed in year 1950, Qinghai – Tibet Highway was purposed for Chinese People’s Liberation Army to be able to march into Tibet peacefully. The 1160 kilometers long and 10 meters wide highway is now the main secondary state road of Tibet. The speed limit on the highway is 60 kilometer/hour.
In case for travelers to enter Tibet from Qinghai, it is highly recommended to take bus from Xining to Golmud where you may adapt to the plateau climate. Basically, most of the vehicles start from Golmud from Lhasa. Anyway, for those who wish to stop at anyway in order to have a better look of the plateau, you should better rent a vehicle of your own for the Tibet tour.

Highway Route
2412km
Lhasa – (87km) – Yangbajain – (75km) – Damxung – (164km) – Nagqu – (138km) – Amdo – (89km) – Tangula Mountain – (100km) – Yanshiping – (91km) – Tuotuo Riverside – (150km) – Wudaoliang – (269km) – Golmud – (484km) – Caka – (196km) – Daotang River – (103km) – Garze

Scenic spots along the route
Golmud
Kunlun Mountain Pass
Tuotuo River
Tangula Mountain Pass
Nagqu
Damxung