Can I take the Sichuan-Tibet line when going to Tibet in winter?

Can I go on a self-driving tour on the Sichuan-Tibet Line in winter? Let an experienced driver tell you. The Sichuan-Tibet Line is a road that people both love and hate. People often describe it as "eyes in heaven, body in hell". In particular, the altitude in many places is above 3,000 meters. For people who enter the hypoxic environment at high altitude for the first time, it is very easy to suffer from altitude sickness and even death.

Let me tell you that self-driving tours are not allowed on the Sichuan-Tibet Line in winter! After asking professional Tianjiangxing Sichuan-Tibet cross-country drivers, we learned that very few people travel on the Sichuan-Tibet line by car in winter and the risk is too high, so it is recommended that everyone not choose to go there in winter. Then let’s take a closer look.

Introduction to the environment of the Sichuan-Tibet Line:

The Sichuan-Tibet Highway is one of the most arduous highways in the history of road construction in China. It is the first road connecting cars between Chengdu, Sichuan and Lhasa, Tibet. a highway. The Sichuan-Tibet Line has steep terrain and complicated road conditions. After passing Kangding City, you have to drive on roads with an altitude of more than 2,500 meters every day, including 10 snow-capped mountains with an altitude of more than 4,000 meters and two snow-capped mountains with an altitude of more than 5,000 meters. It has to cross more than 7 large rivers and countless unknown small rivers.

Why can’t you go on a self-driving trip on the Sichuan-Tibet Line in winter?

There is a lot of ice and snow on the plateau in winter, and there is often dark ice in the shaded corners of the mountains. Even places that seem to have no snow may freeze because of the large amount of water. If you find that a certain section of road suddenly becomes darker in color, it is most likely dark ice. Sudden braking, high-speed driving, and sharp turns are all very dangerous. In fact, even if you prepare anti-skid chains, engineering shovels, etc., the road is foggy and snowy, and the road is covered with snow and dark ice. These are all obstacles to traveling on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway in winter. So if this is your first time driving the Sichuan-Tibet Line, don’t choose winter. If you must choose to travel in winter, it is best to let an experienced driver drive for you. They have driven on the Sichuan-Tibet Line all year round, have much better experience, and are more familiar with the road conditions, which makes them safer.

It is highly dangerous to go to the Sichuan-Tibet Line in winter:

You may be attracted by some beautiful pictures and articles about the Sichuan-Tibet Line in winter on the Internet, but you must not act impulsively. There are few cars and few people on the Sichuan-Tibet Line in winter. If you encounter any crisis on the way, you will just cry. For example, if you suffer from altitude sickness on the Sichuan-Tibet Line, it may even cause pulmonary edema. It is very dangerous to be unable to get to the hospital for emergency treatment for 2 hours.

If you are heading for the winter snow scenery on the Sichuan-Tibet Line, then the editor tells you that it is not necessary. Because it can snow all year round on the Sichuan-Tibet Line, and high-altitude mountains have snow all year round, and the weather in mountains above 5,000 meters above sea level is not affected by the seasons, so why are you still insisting on going there in winter? What about adventure?

The Sichuan-Tibet Line is basically covered with ice and snow from November to February of the following year. After March, many people will start to enter Tibet one after another. You can wait until March or after Then set off for a self-driving tour of the Sichuan-Tibet line. Life is precious, don't put yourself in danger just because of impulse.