Crossing the Earth's Third Pole

🌟 🌄 Ali · Tibet ❓ Why Ali? Ali, Tibet’s Tibet, the roof of the world’s roof! This is the gateway to the Qiangtang no-man’s land, featuring: ✅ Mount Kailash — recognized by Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism as the "Center of the Universe" ✅ Lake Manasarovar — one of Tibet’s three sacred lakes, whose waters can cleanse the soul ✅ Zanda Earth Forest — a millennium geological wonder resembling an alien landscape ✅ Dark Night Park — China’s best stargazing spot, where the Milky Way is within reach “No Ali, no Tibet” — only by coming here can you truly reach the soul of Tibet! 🗺️ Top 5 Must-Visit Places in Ali 1️⃣ Mount Kailash Kora (altitude 6,656m) The ultimate challenge for believers: a 52 km trek completed in 2-3 days, passing prayer flags, mani stone piles, and devotees prostrating. - 📍Tips: Non-believers are advised to take the outer route; the inner route requires a local guide; border permits must be obtained in advance during peak season (May-October). 2️⃣ Lake Manasarovar + Lake Rakshastal (Ghost Lake) - Sacred Lake Manasarovar is as blue and clear as a mirror, while Ghost Lake Rakshastal is dark and mysterious; the two lakes are adjacent but completely different. - 🚗 Around the lake: self-drive or charter a car, shoot the “Sacred Lake sunset golden mountain” in the evening. 3️⃣ Zanda Earth Forest + Guge Kingdom Ruins - Earth forest landscape like the surface of Mars, glowing golden at sunrise; the ruins of the Guge Kingdom hide an unsolved mystery of a sudden disappearance overnight. - 🎫 Tickets: Guge Kingdom 65 RMB, remember to bring a telephoto lens! 4️⃣ Pangong Lake — the “Swan Lake” on the China-India border - Half salty, half fresh water; take a boat to Bird Island to see black-necked cranes. 5️⃣ Dark Night Park (Ali Astronomical Observatory) - Altitude 5,100m, the Milky Way is clearly visible to the naked eye, star trails can be photographed in summer. 🚗 Classic Route Plan 🔥 Ali Grand Loop (13-15 days) D1-3 Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Shigatse (get border permit) → Everest Base Camp D4-7 Saga → Lake Manasarovar → Mount Kailash Kora → Tarchen D8-10 Zanda Earth Forest → Guge Kingdom → Shiquanhe D11-13 Pangong Lake → Qiangtang Grassland → Return to Lhasa ⏳ Short Essential Route (7 days): Lhasa → Yamdrok Lake → Everest → Lake Manasarovar → Mount Kailash → Zanda → Return ⚠️ High Altitude Survival Guide Altitude sickness prevention: take Rhodiola two weeks in advance, acclimate in Lhasa for 2 days before departure, carry glucose and oxygen bottles. Border permit: apply in your registered residence or Lhasa, fill in “Ali Prefecture, Shigatse.” Accommodation: Tarchen and Zanda have better conditions; stay in tents at Zhile Monastery during the kora. Transportation: recommend 4-person off-road vehicle charter (about 1500-2000 RMB/day); self-driving requires an experienced driver plus spare fuel tanks. 📸 Photography Tips Mount Kailash: shoot the golden mountain sunrise at Zhile Monastery early morning. Lake Manasarovar: wear bright clothes by the lakeside prayer flags and mani piles for striking contrast shots. Zanda Earth Forest: two hours before sunset, the earth forest turns crimson. Starry sky: use a wide-angle lens + tripod, set ISO above 1600. 🍵 Flavors of Ali Must-try: yak jerky, butter tea, tsampa, sweet tea (Shiquanhe’s “Shaanxi Noodle House” is a lifesaving supply station). Bring your own: chocolate, instant noodles, vitamins, as supplies are scarce in remote areas. 🎒 Pre-trip Checklist ▢ Border permit ▢ Outdoor jacket (big temperature difference day and night) ▢ Sunscreen + sunglasses ▢ Trekking poles (for kora) ▢ Sleeping bag (for hygiene-conscious) ▢ Power bank (no electricity in some areas) 💬 Travelers say “In Ali, you forget your phone signal but remember the name of every snow mountain.” “The cup of butter tea handed by a Tibetan mother during the kora is more healing than any chicken soup.” ✨ Ali is not just a trip, it’s a journey of awakening where hardship and awe coexist. 📌