Sichuan-Tibet Highway Self-Driving Tour (24) Sichuan-Tibet Highway - "Nujiang 72 Turns".

Sichuan-Tibet Highway Self-Driving Tour (24) Sichuan-Tibet Highway - "Nujiang 72 Turns" Chamdo, Tibet September 22, 2024 The weather in Basu is cloudy, with a temperature of 7-19 degrees. The highest altitude today is 4658 meters, National Highway 318. "Nujiang 72 Turns" (Figure 1) is a famous mountain road between Basu County and Bangda Town on National Highway 318, crossing the Nujiang River, with steep slopes and dangerous roads, about 12 kilometers long. From the lowest point of 3100 meters above sea level, it climbs all the way to the highest point of Yela Mountain Pass at 4658 meters above sea level, and then spirals down to 4100 meters above sea level, with a drop of nearly 1500 meters. A section of the cliff-hanging road intuitively presents what is a sky road (Figure 2). There is a naturally formed "Tianmen Cave" at Yela Mountain Pass (Figure 3). The road builders are considerate and set up a viewing platform (Figure 4) above the "Nujiang 72 Turns". Under the national flag, there is still that familiar inspirational saying (Figure 5). From here, you can overlook the beautiful curves of the "Nujiang 72 Turns" carved between the mountains and rivers (Figure 6). It is said that the country has begun to build tunnels and pave roads here, and it is expected that the "Nujiang 72 Turns" will become a permanent memory of people from afar in the near future (Figure 7). National Highway 318 is not only a scenic road, but also the main road of Sichuan-Tibet, with many types of vehicles, among which the westward traffic flow is much higher than the eastward traffic flow; it is also a pilgrimage road, and you can see male and female believers walking on this road every day. , Some even kowtow all the way. They have different starting points, but they all go west with the same goal. Looking at their tired figures and persistent steps, we can't bear to disturb, and silently bless them all the way. This morning, I set off from Ranwu Town at 8:15 and headed to Zogang County along National Highway 318. On the way, I encountered a road repair and staggered traffic at 3700 kilometers, which was blocked for half an hour; the first section of the Nujiang 72 Turns was blocked for an hour and a half due to the breakdown of a long truck (Figures 8-9); there are about 30 kilometers before and after Zogang County. It is under repair, closed at night and open during the day. The distance of 287 kilometers, including rest and sightseeing, took a full 10 hours. Every car that has passed this dusty and muddy road looks very "vicissitudes of life". Stay in Zogang County tonight (altitude 3810 meters), and will bid farewell to Tibet and return to Sichuan via Mangkang tomorrow, planning to arrive in Batang.