75: Entering the Tibetan area

The further west one traveled, the more pronounced the delay in sunset became.

While this sense of time difference wasn't too strong in Garzê, the afterglow in the sky indeed lingered longer than in the inland regions.

The brabus, bathed in the evening glow, slowly passed under the tall archway bearing the characters "Garzê."

Its wheels rolled over the asphalt, officially entering this crucial town on the Northern Sichuan-Tibet route.

One step further, and it would be the true territory of Tibet.

Jiang Yuan planned to stay here tonight, rest up, and formally enter Tibet tomorrow.

After parking the car, he first went to a local large supermarket.

Pushing a shopping cart, Jiang Yuan didn't have the habit of checking price tags; he simply restocked supplies.

Mineral water, high-calorie beef jerky, self-heating meals, and some local specialty fruits quickly filled half of the cart.

Leaving the supermarket, night had just begun to fall.

Garzê County is situated in an open river valley, surrounded by mountains, boasting a unique geographical advantage.

It is known as the "Granary of Northern Kham" and is also the legendary hometown of King Gesar.

The Yalong River flowed quietly not far away.

Compared to the turbulent Dadu River he had seen earlier, this river appeared much clearer, shimmering faintly in the night.

Jiang Yuan drove back to the hotel he had booked in advance.

This was the highest-rated hotel in the county, with rooms featuring private hot springs.

After a simple dinner, Jiang Yuan filled the tub with hot water.

He leaned naked in the warm pool, looking out at the night scenery through the floor-to-ceiling window.

Although his physique was already as high as 80 and he wasn't afraid of so-called travel fatigue, he still enjoyed himself when he could.

The night passed uneventfully, and his sleep quality was excellent.

The next morning.

Jiang Yuan had breakfast, changed into a sleek softshell jacket, and walked out of the hotel feeling refreshed.

Not in a hurry to travel, he drove to King Gesar City.

This was a small landmark attraction in the area; it was still early, tourists were sparse, and it was a rare moment of peace.

The King City was backed by rolling snow-capped mountains, and under the morning light, the golden roofs on the peaks glittered.

Jiang Yuan strolled deeper inside.

Hidden within was a wetland park, the most striking feature being the body of water known as "Zhumu Holy Lake."

The lake water was purely blue, like a sapphire left on the grassland.

Legend has it that it was formed from the tears shed by Queen Zhumu when she was abducted, adding a touch of tragic beauty to this scenic spot.

Jiang Yuan raised his camera and casually pressed the shutter a few times, capturing the tranquility of the scene.

When he left the scenic area, he passed through the commercial street outside.

The shops on both sides were open, displaying a dazzling array of Tibetan handicrafts.

Jiang Yuan's gaze was drawn to several Tibetan daggers displayed in a counter.

The scabbards were inlaid with imitation gems and silver ornaments, with intricate patterns, exuding a rugged sense of refinement.

He picked them up and weighed them; they felt quite substantial.

"Boss, how much are these two?"

The boss quoted a price, two to three hundred per dagger.

It was indeed the price for handicrafts, not expensive, but the craftsmanship was pleasing to the eye.

"Okay, I'll take both."

Jiang Yuan promptly scanned the code to pay, casually tucking the two daggers away as small souvenirs.

Back in the car, he tossed the souvenirs into the glove compartment of the passenger seat.

With the low rumble of the engine, the white brabus rejoined the main road.

The navigation destination had been updated.

Since there was no need to stop much in other counties along the way, he might as well drive further.

Target: Qamdo.

The road conditions on National Highway G317 were much better than expected.

The paved road stretched smoothly, and with sparse traffic along the way, it gave the brabus g900 ample room to perform.

Jiang Yuan pressed the accelerator a little deeper than usual.

This heavily modified off-road vehicle displayed astonishing cruising capabilities on the plateau highway, with the speedometer consistently maintaining a high value.

Just past noon, the majestic Chola Mountains were already left behind.

Passing through the tunnel, the altitude fluctuated, and soon they approached the Jinsha River Bridge.

This was the boundary between Sichuan and Tibet, and also a mandatory checkpoint for entering Tibet.

Jiang Yuan rolled down his window and cooperated with the staff for the routine inspection.

Taking this opportunity, he also completed the border defense pass for the entire Tibetan area at the checkpoint.

Although with his current abilities he could go anywhere, completing all the formalities was to avoid unnecessary tedious checks when going to border areas in the future.

With the formalities done, the wheels rolled forward.

Crossing the muddy rapids of the Jinsha River, a huge landscape stone came into view by the roadside.

Two large, crimson characters were carved on it—"Tibet."

Jiang Yuan glanced at the stone, his mind peaceful.

From this moment on, he had truly set one foot on the snowy plateau.

The scenery for the rest of the journey began to become somewhat monotonous.

All that met the eye were desolate Gobi deserts and endless snow-capped mountains; impressive at first glance, but prolonged viewing inevitably led to visual fatigue.

Jiang Yuan didn't stop at every scenic spot like first-time visitors to Tibet.

He only occasionally raised his camera, capturing a few well-lit moments through the windshield, but his speed did not diminish in the slightest.

With the blessing of the [Driving Mastery] skill, he cut through winding mountain roads with surgical precision.

The destination, originally estimated to be reached by nine o'clock, was shortened by an hour thanks to him.

8 PM.

The sky hadn't completely darkened yet, but the lights of Qamdo City were already in sight.

Continuous high-intensity driving did not make Jiang Yuan feel the slightest bit of fatigue; the endurance advantage brought by his enhanced physique was fully demonstrated at this moment.

Tonight, he would rest in Qamdo.

Jiang Yuan looked at the shortened remaining mileage on the navigation, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Everything before this was just a prelude.

The main event was yet to come.

One more day's drive, and he would reach Mount Sap, known as the "Exquisite Secluded Land."

The morning in Qamdo carried a hint of dampness, and the Lancang River flowed quietly outside the window.

Jiang Yuan had an exceptionally sound sleep.

After a simple breakfast at the hotel and a can of Red Bull, he set off again.

Although today's goal was Mount Sap, he would pass through an absolutely unmissable place along the way—Dêngqên.

As the brabus left the urban area, the color of the surrounding mountains began to change dramatically.

The red Danxia landform unique to eastern Tibet gradually dominated the view.

That red, set against the pure blue sky of the plateau, was so vibrant it seemed to burn.

Around noon, the navigation indicated they were approaching the Dêngqên County border.

Jiang Yuan slowed down, looking up through the front windshield.

On a distant mountain peak, a cluster of buildings, like an eagle's nest hanging on a cliff, was faintly visible, appearing and disappearing in the clouds.

The Sky City—Tsekhog Monastery.

At an altitude of 4800 meters, it is one of the highest monasteries in Tibet and the oldest holy site of the Yungdrung Bön religion.

"Distance to destination is 15 kilometers, complex road ahead, recommended to drive with caution."

The navigation voice sounded at the right time.

The road to Tsekhog Monastery is notoriously difficult.

It was a dirt road carved directly into the cliffs, covered with loose stones, and full of hairpin turns with no guardrails.

At this time, the parking lot at the foot of the mountain already had many cars.

Many self-driving tourists looked at the winding dirt road disappearing into the clouds with trepidation, choosing to park and queue for the local off-road shuttle service.