Highway Transport in Chamdo
In the 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 10th 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.