Job Discussion Forums

[mdovell]

I have to ask did you need any "special permit" to be in tibet? I oveheard a conversation on this years ago. Also how are the roads..I met a women from China that is driving to Lhasa...

[kukiv]

Zhongdian (Shangrila) today isn't in Tibet proper but located in Yunnan - there are no problems for foreign tourists to enter this area. We have driven from Sichuan via Kangding, Yajiang, Litang and Yading a very scenic route that goes over high mountain passes and Tibetan grasslands. In these areas a lot of Tibetan culture has survived - most notably in the form of architecture and traditional dress - but there are still reminders of the riots of 2008. On the Litang grasslands the traditional horse-race festival has been banned and shops and businesses in the town are not allowed to play Tibetan music.

Arriving at Zhongdian was a whole different experience - a massive eyesore of a skiing complex carved out of a mountain side about 20km out of town, a motorway under construction that makes the drive into this area pure hell, a brand new airport that has just opened this weekend and concrete monsters of hotel after hotel are the dominant features of the town. Not much sign of quaint Tibet here - it's construction equipment, 4x4's and $$$$$ that seem to rule the roost.

As for driving into Tibet - we drove from Chengdu to Lhasa 4 years ago - the roads were fine - but the big problem now is that many are under construction which makes the going very difficult and sometimes reduces the scenic value to zero. They are also building a motorway from Chengdu to Lhasa.

the questionof permits - well to enter Tibet proper we need permits - the most normal is the Lhasa permit but to drive as an independent tourist through the areas outside you need other pieces of paper and an official Chinese guide - but in Eastern Tibet (the Kham) within Yunnan and Sichuan travel is permit free.

[Midge]

[Midge]