Chamdo Travel Guide

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Edition HistoryEdit Introduction

Highway transportation is the main way to link Chamdo with other parts of Tibet and Yunnan, Sichuan, and Qinghai provinces. There are also flights connecting Chamdo with some cities in China and Kathmandu, Nepal.

Edition HistoryEdit Air

Chamdo region is served by the Bangdag Airport. Bangdag Airport, with an altitude of 4,300 meters, is the highest airport in the world and can now handle jumbo jets. Flights to and from Chengdu, Lhasa and Bangdag airports have been opened.  The airport is 128 km away from the Chamdo town. All the flights are before noon, and the return flight to Chengdu departs one hour after the plane from Chengdu lands at Chamdo airport.

 Chamdo Civil Aviation Ticket Office: 0895-4821004.

Air tickets are sold at the No. 3 Hostel of the Tibetan Office in Ximianqiao Street, Chengdu (No. 3, Wuhouci Heng Street, Chengdu. Tel: 028-85062288). or Chamdo Hotel in Chamdo.

Edition HistoryEdit Bus

Across Chamdo area, there are three national highways: G317, which is the northern route of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, G318, the southern route, and G214, which is the Yunnan-Tibet Highway.

Chamdo is at the middle point of the highway from Chengdu to Lhasa. The east end of G318 and G317 is Kangding, the capital of Garze prefecture, Sichuan province. It is 1,357 kilometers to go from Chamdo to Chengdu by G318, 1121 kilometers to Chengdu by G317. It is 703 kilometers to go from Chamdo to Nyingzhi, the west end of G318, and 1,062 kilometers to Lhasa. It is 736 kilometers to go from Chamdo to Nagqu, the west end of G317, 1142 kilometers to Lhasa via Nyingzhi, 1,043 kilometers via Nagqu.

G214 connects Chamdo with Zhongdian, the capital of Deqen prefecture, Yunnan province, with a distance of 844 km; with Kunming, a distance of 1,627 km; and with Yushu, a distance of about 500 km. The Qinghai-Tibet railroad does not pass by Chamdo, but Nagqu prefecture, which is adjacent to Chamdo. The shortest distance from Chamdo to the Qinghai-Tibet railroad is 800 km.

The highways in Chamdo are mainly graveled. Natural disasters such as debris flows and coasts influence the transportation greatly. According to the transportation program of Chamdo prefecture, all the three national highways will have been completely renovated during the 10^th five-year plan period, which will improve to a large extent the highway system and benefit the tourism industry greatly.

There are two or three buses running between Chengdu and Lhasa via Chamdo. It takes about three days and two nights to cover the distance of 1,200 km from Chamdo to Chengdu. Buses from Chengdu to Chamdo depart from both the Xin Nanmen Bus Station (located in Xinnan Road, Chengdu. Tel: 028-85433609) and Chamdo Hotel (No. 3, Wuhouci Heng Street, Chengdu. Tel: 028-85062288). It takes four days and three nights to go from Chamdo to Lhasa because the distance is 1,000 km and the road condition is poor. The buses depart irregularly, which depends on the numbers of passengers and the road condition. If the number exceeds 20 and the road situation is good, tourists can contact the bus station to arrange for a bus.　　

Besides, there are buses running between Chamdo and Markam, Chamdo and Zayul. The inquiry telephone of the ticket office at Chamdo Bus Station is 0895-4822793. The local travel bureau occasionally arranges for tourist buses to Lhasa. For the passengers are mainly tourists, the buses don't run during nights. Passengers can have a rest at the hostels by the roadside or dine in the restaurants (all the hostels and the restaurants have been designated to offer accommodation and food service by the local travel bureaus). Thus the journey takes a longer time of five to six days. Price: RMB 280.　

If there aren't any appropriate coaches, it is advisable to hitchhike a ride, most of the time trucks. If you are lucky enough, you can find trucks running from Lhasa to Markam or Lhasa to Chengdu. Since most of these trucks call at the passenger transportation station, you can directly go to rest house where the drivers stay and talk to them about the fee. Generally, the fee from Chamdo to Lhasa varies from RMB 100 to 150; from Chamdo to Markam: RMB 60 to 80; from Chamdo to Chengdu: RMB 100 to 150.

Tips: Tourists should be ready physically and psychically for the poor road conditions and the harsh climate conditions. Altitude sickness may occur in the Chamdo-Jiangda section of the Sichuan-Tibet highway. The buses will pass through the mountain ridge with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters and pass four mountain passes.

Edition HistoryEdit Local Transport

Taxes in the city seat 4 people. Generally, it costs RMB 10 in the city. The pedicabs are quite suitable for viewing the city. They seat 2 people, costing RMB 3 to 4 within the city.