It’s no problem to travel through mountains and rivers. A hot mom born in the 1970s drove a Jetta VA3 to the plateau to visit Western Sichuan!
###Super Test Driver###
For a long time, this mysterious place in western Sichuan has attracted many car enthusiasts to drive there. The mountains, grasslands, forests, The snow-capped mountains and lakes are all intoxicating. During the journey, you can not only enjoy the charming natural scenery, but also the unique ethnic customs. And although I have been to Chengdu several times, I have never been able to set foot in Western Sichuan. This time, because my wife has been staying at home for too long, she came up with the idea of going out to relax as the epidemic gradually subsided. In this case, take advantage of the spring season and go to Sichuan, known as the "Land of Abundance", and travel deep into the mountains. This can not only reduce the contact with the dense crowds of people in the city, but also enjoy the beauty of the mountains. Cultivation of sentiment, why not do it.
Initially, I planned to drive directly from Shanghai to Sichuan, but considering that I needed to pass through Hubei, I finally decided to start this journey by renting a car in another place. The car rented for this trip is a 2019 Jetta VA3 compact car recommended by a friend in Chengdu. Reasons for recommendation: classic car, durable leather, good passability...
For Jetta This model must be familiar to everyone. In its nearly 30 years of traveling across the country, it has inherited extraordinary German technology and Volkswagen ingenuity, creating its reliable quality and creating one miracle after another in the Chinese car industry. In terms of technological innovation, Jetta has created 18 firsts in the Chinese auto market; in terms of performance, it has also set a record of one million kilometers without major repairs, traveled 60,000 kilometers in Europe without rescue, and challenged thousands of miles of uninhabited land. Its solid and durable features have written one myth after another and also won the title of "National Sacred Car". Today's Jetta no longer appears in front of us as a single model, but stands proudly in the industry as a brand-new brand.
No, as the epidemic gradually subsides, a heart that is ready to move can no longer bear the loneliness. Taking advantage of the spring season, we came to Chengdu, known as the "Land of Abundance". You will drive this Jetta VA3 sedan, which continues the high-quality German exterior design and has rich internal configurations, to embark on a journey to enjoy the intoxicating scenery of Western Sichuan. Let me give you a preview of the infinite scenery along the way [heehee].
★G350 Siguniang Mountain Viewing Platform
★Zangzhai Scenery on Danba Middle Road
★G50 Balang Mountain Viewing Platform
★Scenery in Shuangqiaogou Scenic Area
★Scenery along Tagong Grassland
★Scenery along Siguniang Mountain
★Scenery in Shuangqiaogou Scenic Area
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★Scenery outside Tagong Temple
★Zheduo Mountain Viewing Platform
★Scenery along Tagong Grassland
★Zheduo Mountain View Scenic Platform
Siguniang Mountain Scenic Area is located in Siguniang Mountain Town, Xiaojin County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It belongs to the Qionglai Mountains of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, 220 kilometers away from Chengdu. This is also the first place on our trip. destination. At noon on April 17, I met Guanghan's brother "Tibetan Wild Donkey 2012" and rushed to his place to pick up the car.
Before embarking on this journey to the west, let’s first take a look and appreciate the charm of this new Jetta VA3 sedan.
With LED daytime running lights, the entire front face also adds elements of youth and vitality.
Practicality is the last word. The Jetta VA3 uses 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels, which look beautiful and grand.
I made a simple itinerary plan before, that is, on the way to Siguniang Mountain, I will pass through Wenchuan, Wolong and other places. I thought I could stop by and check in if conditions permit.
We took the Duwen Expressway directly from Chengdu to Wenchuan. After turning on the fixed speed cruise at 80 km/h, we found that the fuel consumption performance of the Jetta VA3 in actual use was surprising.
When we arrived at the exit of Wenchuan Expressway, the inspection work for epidemic prevention and control was still extremely strict, and it took a lot of time just to register information and compare health codes.
Then we turned to the statue of Dayu to control the floods, but road construction blocked our trip.
I have no choice but to clock in.
After leaving Wenchuan, we walked along the G350 Panda Avenue.
The entire road condition from Wenchuan to Balang Mountain is relatively easy to walk, and the scenery along the way is also good.
When approaching the Balang Mountain section, gravel roads began to appear at the foot of the mountain, and the driving speed began to slow down.
The Jetta VA3 is equipped with a small, lightweight engine newly developed by Volkswagen, with a maximum power (kW/rpm) of 82/6100. The characteristic of this engine is its excellent low-speed torque, which can burst out 145N m of torque at 4000 rpm. It can handle such bad roads in the mountains and forests with ease.
There is a saying that "there is no road after mountains and rivers, and there is another village with bright willows and flowers." After turning over a mountain top, the snow-capped mountains are displayed in front of us.
The Balang Mountains and Siguniang Mountains in the distance are magnificent with their snow-capped mountains and protruding peaks.
This transmission is matched with the EA211 engine and has smooth power output. It has D-normal mode and S-sport mode for switching. When encountering continuous climbing sections, the sport mode can provide more powerful power. , like the caring protection of a strong man.
The altitude of Balang Mountain is generally over 4,000 meters. Due to its high altitude and steep slopes, the original up and down mountain roads and pass areas are no longer suitable for cars after the opening of the tunnel. Therefore, there is no chance to cross Balang again this time. Go to the mountain pass to get a bird's eye view of the beautiful scenery of the plateau and experience the fun of self-driving on the winding roads between the mountain ridges.
After passing through the Balangshan Tunnel, the holy mountain Siguniang Mountain is right in front of you.
This is the best viewing platform for viewing Mount Siguniang.
Go down to the viewing platform and continue walking on a short mountain road to reach today’s destination, Siguniang Mountain Town.
When you enter a Tibetan area, you cannot do without Tibetan food. I found a Tibetan hotpot restaurant on Dianping to try the Laozao hotpot there.
The layout of the store is a typical collector’s dining style.
But to be honest, dining close to scenic spots has always been "expensive". No, a hot pot costs 198 yuan. The taste is okay, but I feel not full.
It seems that Tibetans don’t like spicy food? The chili sauce that was served was not spicy at all [naughty].
[Laughing] 55 yuan plus a portion of beef, and another 55 yuan plus a portion of sausage, which are about ten or twenty thin slices, and they were all eaten with three chopsticks and two chopsticks.
However, the soup at the bottom of this pot is indeed delicious. It is all stewed with mushrooms and herbal extracts. At first, we did not expect to drink the soup. Later, the enthusiastic Tibetans told us that the soup tasted delicious. , tasted it, the taste is indeed extraordinary [strong].
The next morning we arrived at Shuangqiaogou Scenic Area in Siguniang Mountain. Siguniang Mountain Scenic Area is a world natural heritage, a national scenic spot, a national geological park, a national nature reserve, etc. The core attractions are Shuangqiao Valley, Changping Valley, Haizigou, and Yaomei Peak. , Sanguniang Mountain, Erguniang Mountain, Dagangang Mountain, etc.
What we are going to visit on this trip is Shuangqiaogou Scenic Area in Siguniang Mountain.
Shuangqiaogou Scenic Area plus transportation ticket costs 150 yuan per person. Personally, I think this price is acceptable.
Get on the scenic minibus and head to Shuangqiaogou Scenic Area, which is located in the northwest of Siguniang Mountain Scenic Area and has a total length of 34.8 kilometers. The mountains here are steep and modern glaciers are well developed. Among them, there are dozens of peaks with an altitude above 5,000 meters that are covered with snow all year round.
This is one of the areas with the highest concentration of extreme scenery in China, where mountains and canyons are connected, and clear springs and torrents meet.
Shuangqiaogou is located in the northwest of Siguniang Mountain Scenic Area. Shuangqiaogou has a total length of 34.8 kilometers and an area of 216.6 square kilometers.
Siguniang Mountain has beautiful scenery and is unanimously recognized as the second highest peak in Sichuan, so it is known as the "Queen of Shushan".
There are peaks on both sides of the ditch. In Shuangqiao Valley, which is nearly 4,000 meters above sea level, there are tracts of birch forests and alpine seabuckthorn that are common in low mountain areas. There are also spruce, fir, redwood, larch and shrubland. There, colorful spring scenery, green pine forests, and white clouds float mistyly on the top of the mountains, seeming to be far away in the clouds and smoke.
Take a photo of the hot mom and record some of her embarrassments when she gets high.
The altitude here is close to 3900 meters. There is no problem in walking normally, but if you want to jump, you will be out of breath [laughing].
On a dreamlike spring day, walking on the snow in the snow-capped mountains and jungles will make you forget to leave.
This peak is named Potala Palace, but at first glance it does look a bit like it. The uncanny workmanship of nature is indeed impressive.
The barrier lake formed after the plateau canyons were blocked. The colorful lake water reflects the reflection of the mountains, which is so beautiful.
After leaving Siguniang Mountain Scenic Area, we continued westward along the G350 National Highway. Our next destination was Zhonglu Zangzhai in Zhonglu Township, Danba County. This section of the G350 National Highway can only be described in one word. Description: "bad". I don’t know whether it is due to the geological structure or the disadvantages of ecological protection. The most common occurrences on this section of the mountain road are rockfalls and landslides.
The best way to kill boredom while parking and waiting is not to eat hot pot and sing songs, but to sit in the car and listen to songs with the air conditioner blowing.
This 8-inch color touch screen integrates 3D navigation, Bluetooth, RVC and other forms of mobile phone interconnection functions, making the journey no longer lonely.
On the short 110-kilometer road, there were five temporary stops for emergency road repairs caused by landslides.
Such a road is a challenge for an ordinary car to pass through. Fortunately, Jetta VA3 comes standard with ESP vehicle electronic stability control system, EBD electronic brake force distribution system, HHC hill start assist system, ASR traction control system and other driving safety assistance systems, which can monitor the driver's driving intentions and actual driving conditions at any time. Greatly improves driving safety.
The excellent wrapping of the sports seats not only provides good protection to the drivers and passengers during frequent turns and bumps in the vehicle, but also improves the comfort of the drivers and passengers.
The car we drove is the automatic Honor version of the Jetta VA3, which is equipped with leather-textured sports seats with side airbags.
Such seats coupled with a flat-bottomed leather steering wheel give off a stylish and sporty atmosphere.
Climbing mountains and wading through mountains and rivers, I didn’t expect that these words commonly used by off-road people were also applied to our trip to western Sichuan. Fortunately, the Jetta VA3 has excellent passability. Although there are difficulties from time to time along the way, it can always be overcome one by one without any danger.
It wasn’t until we entered Danba that the bumpy road came to an end.
When walking in Tibetan areas, you must always be careful of big and small animals wandering on the road, because there is only one reason, and that is "cannot afford to hurt" [naughty].
I finally made it to Zhonglu Township, but I ran into problems when looking for a hotel. There was only one Joy Secret Hotel there, and the cheapest standard room cost more than 1,000. The only remaining options were B&Bs. But the vast majority of B&Bs told us that they have no plans to open until the epidemic is over.
It is said that Zhonglu Zangzhai has ancient watchtowers with a long history, simple and grand adult ceremonies, various forms of Guozhuang dance, solemn ancient Tibetan opera, etc.
After we arrived, we couldn’t find a suitable hotel to stay in. We originally planned to stay on the mountain and go to the No. 1 Observation Deck to enjoy the sunset, but now we can give up.
Settled into the hotel in Danba County that night. Danba is a county town known as the "No. 1 City on the Dadu River" and is quite lively at night.
Dinner is still a Sichuan specialty - hot pot, but this pot also has a barbecue grill on the outside, so the variety of dinner is much richer [color].
Sauerkraut and fish hot pot plus roast beef, pork belly, and oysters. After this meal, the old disease of gout may come back [bad laugh].
After eating so many high-purine foods, for the purpose of prevention, I went back to the hotel in the evening and took a handful of uric acid-lowering medicine to protect myself from the subsequent journey [laughing].
On the morning of the third day, after leaving Danba County, we headed south along the G248 National Highway. The road conditions were getting better and better. Today we will pass through Tagong Grassland and Xindu, known as a photography paradise. Bridge, cross Zheduo Mountain, and finally reach Kangding, the whole journey is about 300 kilometers.
At this time, open the 8-inch color touch screen on the center console and pair the mobile phone's Bluetooth with the car's central control screen. The car phone function is successfully activated. To make and answer calls, just tap on the multi-function steering wheel. One click.
The 8-inch central control screen of the Jetta VA3 seems relatively simple, without any fancy gimmicks. As a family car, simplicity and practicality are the key.
I got off the car for a short break and turned on the heating function of the front seats in advance. When I sat back in the car after enjoying the natural scenery, a warm current spread throughout my body along with the seats.
The front seat heating function of Jetta VA3 can select between high and low temperatures according to the local temperature.
After two days, Hot Mom has become obsessed with the feeling of driving Jetta VA3 on the mountain road.
As you enter Bamei territory, you gradually begin to enter the grassland area. At this time, groups of cattle and sheep can be seen everywhere.
At noon, the ultraviolet rays on the plateau are extremely strong. After opening the electric sunroof, a slight cool breeze sweeps through the vehicle, which can alleviate the discomfort of being exposed to ultraviolet rays.
The vehicle slowly drove into Tagong Town, which is located on a plateau at an altitude of 3,730 meters, and the Sichuan-Tibet Highway passes through it.
The pastures, forests, temples and Tibetan houses along the line create a strong Tibetan style. Here is the most famous grassland in Garze Prefecture - Tagong Grassland.
However, this fenced-off area known as "Tagong Grassland" is actually just a corner of the entire grassland. Tibetans guard the gate here and charge 15 yuan/person for sanitation fees from entering tourists.
However, the grass on the current grassland has just sprouted, so the mountains and fields are still yellow and dry. I wonder if there are Cordyceps growing in the grass here? If you can dig out a few roots, you will make a fortune [heehee].
The Muya Golden Pagoda below has not been reopened since it was closed since the beginning of epidemic prevention and control.
While hot mom is buying roasted mutton/beef, let’s take a closer look at the appearance details of this Jetta VA3.
The exclusive leather seats have smooth lines, comfortable feel and excellent wrapping properties.
On the other side of the grassland is the famous Tagong Temple. It is a famous Sakya (Flower Sect) temple in Ganzi Prefecture. Its full name is "The Temple of Liberation at the First Sight" and it is also the Sakya Temple of Tibetan Buddhism. It is one of the famous temples with a history of more than a thousand years and is one of the holy places of worship for the Tibetan people in the Kham region.
However, Tagong Temple is still not open to the public, so we can only walk around the outside.
After checking in, continue towards Kangding.
There is a photographer’s paradise on the G318 National Highway, that is Xinduqiao. We were in a hurry, so even if we passed by, we would have missed it [laughing].
On National Highway 318, you have to climb over 4,300 meters of Zheduo Mountain to enter Kangding City. No, if you switch the driving mode to sport mode immediately after starting to climb, the power output can still meet the needs of daily driving in plateau climate conditions.
Climbing up to the nearly 4,300-meter-high Zheduo Mountain viewing platform, I had no symptoms of altitude sickness, and the car didn’t feel any loss of power.
Because this viewing platform lacks staff to take care of it, there is snow and garbage on the walking boardwalk. I wanted to go to the top to have a look, but I really couldn’t bear to turn my sneakers into rain boots, so I walked He stepped back while walking [silly laugh].
Leave Zheduo Mountain and continue to Kangding.
It is said that it is easier to go up a mountain than it is to go down a mountain. However, the automatic Honor version of the Jetta VA3 has front and rear disc brakes with excellent ventilation. When going down a long slope, even if you rest on the brakes for a long time to slow down, you will not notice any problems caused by the brakes. Disc overheating may result in poor braking efficiency.
“On the horse-running mountain, a floating cloud ~ shining brightly, Kangding’s floating city~” I moved to Kangding, and this Kangding love song made the world know about Kangding. This place, I also long for one day to experience this mysterious place in the song.
Kangding Love Song (Mugecuo) Scenic Area is about 15 kilometers away from Kangding City, and it takes about 20 minutes to drive.
In fact, the evaluation of Kangding Love Song (Mugecuo) Scenic Spot on the Internet has not been very good, especially the ticket price of 195 yuan/person has deceived countless tourists who go there.
Of course, just because we wanted to make peace with what we have come, we just drove for 7 to 8 hours and spent 390 yuan on the ticket to the scenic spot and drove to Mu. Take the bus to Gecuo Holy Lake and stay at the edge of the holy lake at an altitude of 3,780 meters for about ten minutes.
From the information introduction, Kangding Love Song (Mugecuo) Scenic Area is a world natural heritage nominated site and a national key scenic spot. The scenic area covers an area of about 350 square kilometers and consists of six scenic spots: Dujuan Gorge, Fangcaoping, Seven Color Sea, Medicine Pond Boiling Spring, Mugecuo (Savage Sea) and Red Sea Grassland. There are also many other mountain lakes, hot springs and virgin forests nearby. , grassland and snow-capped mountain landscape blend into each other.
However, due to the weather, there were very few tourists in the park when we went there. There was no tour guide on the bus to explain the scenic spots along the way. The driver dropped the tourists on the edge of the holy lake and then left. Those who watch the flowers can just take a stroll and finish.
No, after looking at the Holy Lake for a while, and a few minutes after arriving at Love Beach, it started to rain and then snow.
All the excitement was swept away by the pattering rain and snow. No wonder some netizens complain: Mugecuo is specially designed for outsiders, and its feature is "a 60-minute drive, 10 minutes of attractions" [laughing].
When we left Mugecuo, the rain gradually increased.
The Jetta VA3 automatic wipers equipped with rain-sensing wipers are also actively participating in the escort. The rain sensor can adjust the wiper frequency according to the intensity of the rain to ensure that the driver has a clear view.
Considering that we had to rush back to Shanghai in the afternoon of the last day, we decided to stay in Luding County in the evening.
The morning in the mountain city was unusually peaceful. After getting up early, I walked to the Dadu River and breathed in the fresh air between the mountains.
Luding County is rich in tourism resources. The tourist attractions in the county are divided into two different landscape combinations in the east and west with the Dadu River as the boundary. The classic tourist spots include: Erlang Mountain, Yanzigou, Hailuogou, and Luding Bridge wait.
And due to the time limit of our return trip, we could only enjoy the majestic Luding Bridge on the last day.
The 10-yuan ticket for Luding Bridge is relatively close to the people. In fact, as a red attraction, wouldn’t it be more friendly to the people if they don’t charge the 10-yuan ticket [laughing].
The Luding Bridge is an iron cable bridge suspended over the Dadu River. In 1935, the Red Army passed here during its Long March and was blocked by the enemy. After two hours of fierce fighting, the "Twenty-Two Warriors" flew to capture the Luding Bridge. Therefore, it is famous both at home and abroad.
According to historical records, Luding Bridge was built in September 1705 and put into use in April 1706.
With a total length of 103.67 meters and a width of 3 meters, it is composed of 13 chains. It is an ancient bridge with a long history.
Luding Bridge is a suspended iron cable bridge. The whole bridge is composed of three parts: the bridge body, the bridge abutment and the bridge pavilion.
Look at the bridge deck. The bridge deck on the Luding Bridge is fixed with just a few wires and seems to be too thin. The turbulent Dadu River below makes people shudder. I thought to myself, if I miss the mark, I can’t imagine the consequences [horror].
The bridge body is composed of multiple parallel iron chains as thick as a bowl. The bridge rails are directly erected by the iron chains. The iron chains underneath are laid side by side with wooden boards to form the bridge deck. Small iron chains are used between the handrails and the bottom chain. Connected to each other, each iron chain interlocks with each other.
To think that the 22 Red Army warriors were crawling forward on this iron cable bridge without wooden planks. You can imagine the difficulty of this.
The abutments are located at both ends of the bridge body. Iron piles are fixed in the abutments, and iron chains are fixed in the iron piles on both sides of the bridge abutments.
The Guanyin Pavilion at the west end of the bridge has not yet been opened due to the need for epidemic prevention and control. It is reported that there are calligraphy treasures left by Emperor Kangxi when he visited. But it doesn’t matter. Every time I travel, there are always flaws, leaving a small regret to find some excuse to travel again.
Finally, every time I travel, I have to bring some souvenirs back to reward my colleagues in the unit who are still struggling.
The quality of Sichuan’s air-dried beef has always been good, and Luding County is rich in loquats and cherries, and now is the time, so taste it first before buying it [laughing].
The loquat kernels here are a bit big, and they are not as sweet as the white sand loquats produced in Xishan, Suzhou, Jiangnan, so this is not recommended.
Finally, I bought a few kilograms of air-dried yak jerky. Speaking of yak meat, when chatting with a friend in Chengdu before, she once said: I have lived in Sichuan for more than 40 years and have never eaten authentic yak meat. I thought, even if it’s selling dog meat on a sheep’s head, if it’s not yak meat, at least it’s still beef. This can’t be fake, right [silly laugh].
It is nearly 250 kilometers from Luding back to Chengdu. The entire journey is on a high speed. After driving on the highway, turn on the cruise control function. After setting the cruise speed, you only need to grasp the direction and it will automatically drive at a constant speed. Enjoy the modern Comfort and safety brought by technology.
Written at the end: 1. After this four-day self-driving tour in Western Sichuan, I had close contact with the new Jetta VA3, experienced climbing mountains and wading through mountains and rivers, and I have a deep understanding of this Volkswagen that meets the National VI b emission regulations. I am satisfied with the excellent shifting comfort and power performance of the EA211 1.5L naturally aspirated engine and the matching Aisin fourth-generation AQ160 six-speed automatic transmission, which provides a smooth and smooth driving throughout the entire use process. Feeling experience. 2. In terms of comfort, Jetta VA3 adopts exclusive leather seats, multi-function leather steering wheel, front seat heating and other comfort configurations in the interior materials, combined with Volkswagen’s mature chassis tuning technology. When driving on the landslide sections in western Sichuan, it can still provide drivers and passengers with a more comfortable driving experience. 3. In terms of fuel consumption, after driving 1,200 kilometers around the West Sichuan Small Ring Road, the fuel consumption under comprehensive road conditions was calculated, and the fuel cost per kilometer was only 0.3 yuan, which is consistent with the comprehensive fuel consumption of 5.6 liters given by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. /100 kilometers is basically consistent, and further proves the extraordinary strength of the Jetta VA3, a German classic A-class sedan that adopts internationally leading technology and integrates a sophisticated appearance, comfortable interior, smart safety and an affordable price. . 4. Finally, I believe that this ingenious work brought by the Jetta brand to the A-class car market will definitely bring more benefits to users by inheriting the technology and advantages of the Volkswagen brand, as well as a younger design and richer configurations. High-quality driving experience.