Part of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road (the routes anciently taken by Chinese businessmen to bring tea from Sichuan and Yunnan to India and Nepal for exchanging horses), the Nyingchi region can also be accessed from the two provinces via the Chuanzang (Sichuan-Tibet) Highway and the Dianzang (Yunnan-Tibet) Highway. Except for Pemako , the last county in China that is not accessible through highways, other counties of the Nyingchi region are conveniently within reach of road networks. Moreover, Tibet's third airport, Nyingchi Airport has been launched since the September in 2006.
How to get into Nyingchi
By Air
Nyingchi Airport is located in Miling County, about 55 km. (34 miles) away from the administration center of Nyingchi, Bayi Town. At Present, only has flights between Nyingchi and Chengdu, and the Kunming - Nyingchi flight is expected to be opened recently. There are five flights a week, respectively on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The Schedule of the flights is as follows:
| Air Route | Departure Time | Arrival Time |
CA 4431 | Chengdu – Nyingchi | 07:30 | 09:15 |
CA 4432 | Nyingchi – Chengdu | 10:00 | 11:35 |
By Coach
The most acceptable route is to take a coach from Lhasa along the Chuanzang (Sichuan-Tibet) Highway, via Kongpo Gyamda County into Bayi Town. This section of Chuanzang Highway, which is frequently affected by landslides, is actually exceptionally safe and features exhilarating of the picturesque Nyang River and snow-capped mountains en route. Direct coaches to Bayi Town and Pome County of the Nyingchi region can also be taken from Chengdu, the journey taking approximately three days.
| Destination | Distance (km/mile) |
Lhasa East Suburb Coach Station | Bayi | 410/255 |
Cuqiao Coach Station, Chengdu | Bayi | 1,700/1,056 |
Cuqiao Coach Station, Chengdu | Pome | 1,500/932 |
Tsedang Coach Station, Shannan | Bayi | 475/295 |
However, for thrilling seekers there are two other routes to Nyingchi, which are more dangerous with natural obstacles and yet irresistibly attractive with breathtaking scenery en route.
Dianzang Highway Route: Kunming-Dali (Yunan)-Deqin (Yunan)-Markham (Chamdo)-Pome (Nyingchi)-Bayi, in total about 1,907km (1,185 miles).
Transportation: No direct coaches available. One can rent a 4WD or jeep or transfer en route.
Features: a combination of breathtaking natural scenery and the colorful culture of minorities such as Yi, Bai and Naxi. However, frequent mud avalanches and landslides may disrupt schedules.
Chuanzang Highway (South) Route: Chengdu-Litang (Sichuan)-Markham (Chamdo)-Bamda (Chamdo)-Pome (Nyingchi)-Bayi, in total about 1,739km (1,081 miles).
Transportation: Same as Route 1.
Features: the most beautiful as well as the most dangerous route. Rain, landslides, mud avalanches as well as poor road conditions are the main hazards.
Travel In Nyingchi
Coaches to Lhasa and counties such as Pome, Dzayul, Miling and Nang can be taken at Nyingchi Coach Station, which is located on Jianshe Lu, Bayi Town. Minibuses for short-distance travels to Nyingchi County can be found near the Grain Bureau (the Artificial Lake), for CNY 5 per person. It is also the place where individually-run coaches in the direction of Pome assemble. A jeep journey from Bayi to Pome costs around CNY 100 per person.
Distances from Bayi to other places in Nyingchi
Destination (County) | Distance (km/mile) |
Nyingchi | 18/11 |
Lunang | 85/53 |
Pome | 233/145 |
Dzayul | 446/277 |
Miling | 72/45 |
Nang | 241/150 |
Kongpo Gyamda | 128/80 |
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