Xinjiang-Tibet Highway (Yecheng-Zhongba-Lhasa)

Xinjiang-Tibet Highway (Yecheng-Zhongba-Lhasa)

Xinjiang-Tibet Highway, which is also known as G219, is the world’s highest road and has very tough condition, such as lack of oxygen, no man’s land, desert, landslide, heavy snow and etc. Xinjiang-Tibet Highway is the third built highway after Sichuan-Tibet Highway and Qinghai-Tibet Highway. The average elevation is above 4,500 meters and average annual temperature is -9 degrees centigrade. It starts from Yecheng in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to Lhatse in the Tibet Autonomous Region. The total length is 2,086 kilometers (1,296 miles). Along the road, the highway climb over 5 huge mountains which are above 5,000 meters. Among them, Kunlun Goddess Mt. is the highest, with the height of 5248 meters.

As the most dangerous road in the five entering Tibet highways, we strongly do not suggest you take the risk of taking it instead full preparation. Each year, there are many people who drive to Tibet via Sichuan-Tibet Highway and Qinghai-Tibet Highway, but for Xinjiang-Tibet Highway, there are rare people who dare to challenge themselves despite someone who has very good physical condition and rich self-driving experience. Some accidents happen and people die for not accustomed to the tough climate. 

Best Time to Go

If you want to challenge yourself and make complete preparation, the best time to go is May because in spring the weather is relatively comfortable and every year at the beginning of May the road will be flattened again by an imported special maintenance vehicle send by Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. 

Xinjiang-Tibet Highway Route

 Yecheng- 705 km -Border between Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region- 231 km – Rutog- 127 km – Gar – 577 km – Zhongba- 154 km – Saga – 450 km –Shigatse-280 km-Lhasa