- 5/30/2025
The Sichuan Tibet Highway is the road of longing for many. It leads through fascinating landscapes and remote areas up to the Himalayan Mountains. We accompany truck driver Ren Taiping on his trip to the Tibetan capital city of Lhasa, encountering pilgrims, mountain bikers and nomads on this dangerous journey.
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00:00:00The Sichuan-Tibet Highway is the most important traffic route from China to the Himalayas.
00:00:152200 kilometers across steep passes and deep valleys up to the roof of the world.
00:00:31The journey leads through remote villages and fascinating landscapes, but unforeseen dangers lure at every corner.
00:00:48At 5,000 meters altitude, the infinity of the sky seems as close as never before, at the end of the road of longing for truck drivers, travelers and pilgrims.
00:01:00The Sichuan-Tibet Highway leads from Chengdu in the Sichuan province,
00:01:15situated in the south-east of China.
00:01:19It crosses the Himalayas to Tibet's capital city, Lhasa.
00:01:24The Sichuan-Tibet Highway leads from Chengdu in the Sichuan province,
00:01:28situated in the south-east of China.
00:01:31It crosses the Himalayas to Tibet's capital city, Lhasa.
00:01:35Ren Taiping and his colleague Shun are checking the wheels and brakes of their truck.
00:01:48They have to bring cement to a place near the Tibetan border, about 800 kilometers away.
00:01:53They calculate it three days for their trip.
00:01:56They take turns driving at frequent intervals, because the ascent up the Himalayas takes full concentration.
00:02:11The road section between Tuanyuan and the Erlang Mountains is very difficult to drive because of the many roadworks.
00:02:25Landslides cause road accidents time and time again.
00:02:30The road conditions are a disaster, especially in heavy rain.
00:02:47Through steep valleys, the road ascends higher and higher.
00:02:50Because there was a lot of rain, whole mountain slopes start moving.
00:02:59The road needs repairing all the time.
00:03:02Again and again, vehicles crash and fall into the deep canyons.
00:03:05Nearly all drivers we meet are Tibetans.
00:03:21They are bad drivers.
00:03:23If we encounter them on the road, it's better to let them pass.
00:03:26Only yesterday, further down the road, the stubborn behavior of two drivers caused deaths.
00:03:41The ascent to the first pass is especially dangerous, since it's hardly paved at all.
00:03:47Ren Taiping prefers to let his more experienced colleague Shun do the driving.
00:03:56The road winds itself ever higher through a subtropical mountain jungle.
00:04:03The clouds floating from the Pacific Ocean to the Himalayas cause heavy rains here.
00:04:14Traffic is bad here because of only single lane traffic on account of the roadworks.
00:04:19Look, the whole street leading up here is only one single traffic jam.
00:04:23You have to be very careful.
00:04:26You have to be careful.
00:04:31Shortly before the pass, once again a landslide blocks the road.
00:04:35Everyone has to be prepared for many hours of waiting time.
00:04:38The first stage of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway leads from Sichuan's capital city Chengdu across the foothills of the Himalayas to Kangding.
00:04:48The first ascent to the Erlang Mountain is one of the most dangerous stages of the whole world.
00:04:49The first stage of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway leads from Sichuan's capital city Chengdu across the foothills of the Himalayas to Kangding.
00:05:01The first ascent to the Erlang Mountain is one of the most dangerous stages of the whole route.
00:05:18A farmer woman is logging bamboo in the underbrush above the street.
00:05:29Gao Kai-si does not even let heavy rain keep her from working.
00:05:33What do we use the bamboo for?
00:05:37We use it to build a protective cover.
00:05:40Our old temple is being demolished.
00:05:42Now our Buddha needs a new provisional roof.
00:05:52Gao Kai-si and some of the farmers from the close-by village want to finish building the makeshift temple on the slope above the highly frequented road.
00:05:59It's supposed to safeguard not only the villagers but also passing travelers against accidents.
00:06:19People here are used to working in the rain.
00:06:22The sun hardly ever shines in this foggy region.
00:06:29This is Budo Guanin, and here we have the patron of the street.
00:06:37Over there is General Bai, and this is Bai Ma with his white horse.
00:06:44To ask for protection from up above, is very common.
00:06:54That is his white horse.
00:06:56To ask for protection from up above is very common.
00:06:59To ask for protection from up above is very common.
00:07:04Still know if приходs in the river.
00:07:05He has the same kind of right foot in the river.
00:07:06To ask for protection from up above is very common in this area.
00:07:15Maybe because there are dangers everywhere.
00:07:18Just a few years ago tens of thousands of people died at a disastrous earthquake
00:07:23which devastated this area in Sichuan.
00:07:36Soon we will build a new temple.
00:07:39Now is the peak harvest time for the rice, so we have no time at all.
00:07:48We'll only have time to build a permanent temple after everything has been harvested.
00:07:53The temple is inaugurated with small fireworks.
00:08:16Beware of falling rocks, it says a few kilometers further on.
00:08:20The rain has destabilized the slope.
00:08:23The climbers are trying to loosen branches and debris to prevent the worst.
00:08:41Sometimes the road patrol manages to alleviate dangerous sites,
00:08:45but most of the time they arrive too late.
00:08:50It's just a few years ago.
00:08:57Shu Veng Sing is one of the thousands of cyclists
00:09:00who try to surmount the passes of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway between spring and fall.
00:09:05I feel free when I'm on the road.
00:09:17I can cycle fast or slow, whichever I want.
00:09:20I meet people on the way and make friends.
00:09:24We cyclists are like-minded.
00:09:26Everyone is on vacation.
00:09:27I'm so happy.
00:09:28We're cycling to Lhasa.
00:09:29It'll take us three to four weeks to get there.
00:09:30In between, we'll rest for two or three days.
00:09:34Through rain and fog, even in snow and ice, the cyclists struggle for days across four to five thousand meter high passes to reach their destination, Lhasa.
00:09:49Because of the enormous differences in altitude, the endlessly long passages and the many dangers, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is a sort of baptism of fire for many members of the new Chinese middle class.
00:10:04Ren Taiping and his colleague have left the traffic jam behind. Finally, they can move on.
00:10:32If a car breaks down and blocks the road, the traffic jam lasts for at least half a day.
00:10:48Dangerous situations occur very often. One has to be very careful. But most drivers are aware of the dangers.
00:11:01Not only landslides, falling rocks or unpaved roads are challenging. The greatest danger arises from drivers who risk too much.
00:11:10A poultry truck has fallen over. Hundreds of chickens have died.
00:11:25A car approached me on my lane.
00:11:35I came from below and had to yield quickly.
00:11:42The driver's wife is trying to save what can be saved. It has taken the family a whole year to rear the chickens. Now the family's existence is at stake.
00:11:57The route leads ever higher up in the Himalayas. Behind the first 4000 meter pass, Ren Taiping and his colleagues suffer damage too.
00:12:20The driver's door is damaged, but they are not even halfway there.
00:12:27My colleague, Mr. Ksun, stopped to replenish the water when a truck came towards us.
00:12:42We shouted and waved at him to make him stop. But he didn't see us in time and crashed into the open door. That's how it got broken.
00:12:57Ren Taiping suspects this unnecessary accident will cost him at least half a day because normally it takes the police a few hours to arrive at the scene.
00:13:12The other driver does not accept the blame, so the police will have to file a report.
00:13:17Further down in the valley, the cyclists stop off at a hostel before darkness sets in.
00:13:35Zhu Veng Xing has also completed his daily leg. The increasing bicycle tourism is a welcome line of business for the villagers.
00:13:44A one-night stay costs five euros per person. That's affordable even by Chinese standards.
00:13:57The cyclists arrive from all across China. The highway on top of the world is en vogue.
00:14:03But whoever cycles here must be prepared for all kinds of weather.
00:14:07The road was bumpy and full of potholes and totally wet.
00:14:14Yes, I got wet too.
00:14:19It's very slippery, especially downhill.
00:14:22The overtaking car splashed dirt in my face. That's a real problem.
00:14:26If a truck approaches you, you have to stop. Otherwise, no one can pass.
00:14:32I must be careful because the truck would hardly notice if it ran over me.
00:14:37It's still raining the next morning. The villagers don't seem to mind. Here, at 2,000 meters above sea level, the people are used to the forest.
00:14:55This moist and damp weather.
00:14:56It's still raining the next morning. The villagers don't seem to mind. Here, at 2,000 meters above sea level, the people are used to this moist and damp weather.
00:15:12Things at the hostel are starting to stir, too.
00:15:24Shortly before 10 a.m., later than usual, Zhu Veng Xing sets off on his trip again.
00:15:31Look over. Bye-bye.
00:15:46Ren Tai Ping and his colleague are back on the road as well.
00:15:49They waited five hours for the police to arrive.
00:15:52They flattened the driver's door and tied it to the truck as best as they could.
00:15:57The Sichuan-Tibet Highway winds itself ever higher.
00:16:09The next pass is 4,500 meters high.
00:16:12The truckers stay on the inner lane as much as they can because of the broken door and the dust.
00:16:18Up here, the air is noticeably thinner and it has become colder.
00:16:33The temperatures now lie at barely above zero degrees.
00:16:37It is so tough to drive, and the next passage will be uncomfortable, too.
00:16:47We try to stay close to the mountain with our broken door, which means that sometimes we're driving on the wrong side of the road.
00:16:54This can be dangerous, especially if big vehicles are approaching.
00:16:58From the city of Kung Ding, the road leads across various passes to Litang, near the Tibetan border.
00:17:13Close by the road, at nearly 5,000 meters, the Tibetan monastery, Gao'e Shan.
00:17:30About 2,000 meters further down, the climate becomes mild again.
00:17:34This is the Tibetan part of Sichuan, easily recognizable by the splendid Tibetan houses.
00:17:47The family Sang belongs to the Kampa people.
00:17:50They are building a new house for their son.
00:17:53The old one stood too close to the road and was demolished.
00:17:56Luo Sang is 24 years old.
00:17:59The house is supposed to be ready when he gets married.
00:18:05When they expanded the Sichuan-Tibet highway a little while ago, our house was affected as well.
00:18:11Even though we weren't happy with the compensation payment,
00:18:16we're now building a new house a bit further away from the street now.
00:18:20Everybody working here is related to me.
00:18:26We ourselves dug up the stones and the clay and brought it here from far away.
00:18:37It will take three months to build the house.
00:18:41Life for the Kampa people has its own rhythm,
00:18:45but the highway is a foreboding of changing times.
00:18:55Every day, new faces appear.
00:18:57Who are these strangers that struggle to climb up here?
00:19:02What do they want here?
00:19:03The locals ask themselves.
00:19:05It won't take long before the Chinese bustle will change life up here too.
00:19:35The commander will change.
00:19:49Sang Yong drinks up his energy drink before hitting the road again.
00:19:53He is actually always in a hurry.
00:19:56He is expected to pick up tourists from Lhasa for a tour across the Himalayas.
00:19:59He aims to arrive within five days, but Lhasa is not only 1,700 kilometers away.
00:20:06He also has to overcome a total of 25,000 meters in altitude, downhill and uphill.
00:20:16Zhang Yong always drives as fast as the road allows, sometimes even faster.
00:20:22He is 25 years young, quick to react and ambitious.
00:20:27The tour is not only a job for him, but also a challenge.
00:20:35Driving uphill, it's sometimes really difficult to overtake the others.
00:20:38For example, if there's a traffic jam, overtaking can get very dangerous.
00:20:43That means I won't be able to meet my schedule.
00:20:47There are days when I only manage to drive 200 kilometers because of all the time I'm losing.
00:20:57There are days when I'm losing my schedule.
00:21:01Zeng Yong just barely missed getting involved in this crash.
00:21:11Zhang Yong just barely missed getting involved in this crash.
00:21:24The brakes failed, didn't work anymore.
00:21:27I went downhill and the truck went faster and faster.
00:21:34I had to steer into the ditch or else we would have come off the road.
00:21:41The driver realizes immediately the truck is only good enough for its spare parts.
00:21:48Maybe the engine and the gearbox still work, but the whole right-hand side is a pile of junk.
00:21:57At least the load, containing construction material, isn't damaged.
00:22:01He wants to be able to give a detailed account of the damage when he calls his boss.
00:22:06After the first shock, the driver reacts surprisingly relaxed and cool.
00:22:15The danger is always greatest going downhill when the brakes are strained.
00:22:19I was petrified when I hit the brakes and absolutely nothing happened.
00:22:31To the left, there were a couple of small cars approaching.
00:22:36He would have definitely run into them if he hadn't driven into the mountain.
00:22:53There would have been casualties.
00:22:55He would have pushed the two little cars down the slope.
00:22:58And then there would have been another traffic jam.
00:23:01He made the right decision.
00:23:03Ren Taiping and his colleague have now been on the road for three days.
00:23:16They want to arrive at their destination, Li Tang, tomorrow morning.
00:23:33Another problem arises.
00:23:35That doesn't sound good.
00:23:44I had a funny feeling right at the beginning of our trip.
00:23:50I'll check the cooling system of the brakes.
00:23:52Is the brake cooling blocked?
00:24:11The valve is shut.
00:24:12The cooling is blocked.
00:24:14That's not good.
00:24:19The cooling shouldn't be blocked.
00:24:34It's very dangerous if the cooling system for the brakes fails and you're going downhill.
00:24:39And the brakes will fail and you have a real big problem.
00:24:42You either drive against the buffer walls, into the ditch or you go down the slope.
00:24:49Or you cause a bad accident.
00:24:52Something that frequently happens here.
00:24:59At 4,000 meters altitude, right next to the road,
00:25:02a Tibetan family of nomads are tending their flock of yaks.
00:25:07Zuo Ma, her husband and the two sons live off the milk, the furs and the meat of the animals.
00:25:12They own 70 yaks.
00:25:18Zuo's eldest son, Dawa, is 13 years old.
00:25:22It took him ages to accustom his favorite yak to be ridden.
00:25:26Now he is proud that the animal lets him sit on its back.
00:25:29I tend to the yaks and call them if they stroll off too far.
00:25:39After milking them, I bring them to the pasture and bring them back in the afternoon.
00:25:43Dawa wants to become a cowboy, own a horse and ride through the prairie.
00:25:59Soon the family will leave the summer pasture and move on to the village below.
00:26:03Our village has a school, but I don't go there anymore.
00:26:09I left two or three years ago.
00:26:12Yes, I miss school.
00:26:15I miss school.
00:26:26Because the first snow has already fallen, his dad has borrowed a truck to transport the tents and yaks down to the village.
00:26:33Tomorrow they will start moving, but today the yaks are allowed to graze one last time.
00:26:39I don't have much to say.
00:26:51Just tell them what you do every day.
00:26:54I herd yaks every day.
00:26:56No.
00:26:57There's two bombs.
00:26:59No.
00:27:05You have water.
00:27:07Zou Ma has milked about 30 litres of milk today.
00:27:10It's their most important income.
00:27:19In order to produce yak butter, she heats up the milk a little bit.
00:27:24She sells the butter to a salesman who comes around every day, five kilos each day, they live off it.
00:27:38Without this machine we wouldn't have butter.
00:27:42The whey comes in here and the butter over there.
00:27:48The fact that their pastures lie directly at the road makes life simpler for the family.
00:27:54It's easier to sell the butter and the transport of the tents and the herd the next day will take place much faster.
00:28:25Shortly before the next pass, a car from Shanghai has broken down on the mountain road.
00:28:33Shuting has a problem with her clutch.
00:28:43Shuting still needs practice starting the car at the foot of a hill.
00:28:46It's her first time to start the car at the foot of a hill.
00:28:49It's her first time in the mountains.
00:28:50She came to conquer the Himalayas all on her own, all the way from Shanghai.
00:28:56Shuting still needs practice starting the car at the foot of a hill.
00:28:59It's her first time in the mountains.
00:29:04She came to conquer the Himalayas all on her own, all the way from Shanghai.
00:29:17Shuting still needs practice starting the car at the foot of a hill.
00:29:22I just want to drive to Tibet.
00:29:30I've been wanting to go there for three years now, but there were too many things that kept me from doing so.
00:29:36Now the time has come.
00:29:38I've done some research and have been preparing for this trip for the past three years.
00:29:44I want to see Tibet with my own eyes.
00:29:47And it should be possible even with such a small car.
00:29:55Shuting has already driven 2,500 kilometers, 500 in the mountains.
00:30:01Because her car is lightweight and has a lot of chassis clearance, she masters even difficult passages.
00:30:07Sometimes impatient fellow drivers give Shuting a harder time than the road conditions.
00:30:14Go back.
00:30:17Why do you keep going ahead? You're blocking the road.
00:30:20Can't the truck get past?
00:30:21Whenever the drivers encounter traffic jams at Roadworks, they get nervous.
00:30:39Ren Taiping and his colleague have almost reached their destination.
00:30:59Between them and Li Tang remains only a last ascent.
00:31:02They arrive a day too late because of the accident and the many traffic jams.
00:31:08Still, they are in a good mood because up here the road is free of potholes.
00:31:13There used to be lots of thieves here.
00:31:19I never used to dare driving here at night.
00:31:23And in the old days it was impossible to make rapid progress.
00:31:29You used to have to drive much more carefully than today.
00:31:32Ren Taiping particularly enjoys this part of the journey, especially if the sun is shining.
00:31:47The lofty beauty of the landscape at 4,500 meters altitude gives him a feeling of freedom.
00:31:52.
00:32:22They arrive at Litang in the afternoon. It's one of the highest cities of the world, situated
00:32:34at 4,000 meters altitude on a high plateau. One of the most famous Tibetan Buddhist monasteries
00:32:46is in Litang. Ren Taiping and his colleague have now delivered the cement. Not only construction
00:32:54material but also most of the food for the inhabitants of Litang comes from the lowlands.
00:33:03They have mastered this adventurous trip once again. They won't rest for long at this restaurant.
00:33:15Already in the afternoon, they'll be heading back home.
00:33:45The monastery of Litang was built in the 16th century. The 3rd and 10th Dalai were educated
00:33:52here. Even today, the monastery is one of the most important schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
00:33:57More than a thousand monks live behind these ancient walls. The 10-meter-high statue of Buddha
00:34:04on the inside is famous as well. Splendid ornaments bear witness to the ingenuity of Tibetan artisanship.
00:34:13Tibetan artisanship.
00:34:34Zhang Yong has been on the road for 3 days now. He is happy about the improvement of the road
00:34:39conditions up here in the mountains. The Sichuan-Tibet Highway runs from Litang at the Tibetan border
00:34:48across eastern Tibet all the way to Lhasa.
00:34:58At the Tibetan border, Zhang Yong crosses the legendary Yangtze River, which enters the Pacific Ocean near Shanghai.
00:35:06A bit further west, the road follows the valley of the river Mekong, which sometimes carves 2 kilometers deep into the mountains.
00:35:15Finally, it reaches the 72 turns, which lead down to the river Saluen.
00:35:21It's not easy driving down these serpentines. The bends are extremely narrow.
00:35:27If you drive too fast, the car might roll over. You always have to keep an eye on the approaching traffic in the curves.
00:35:35If a big truck shows up, you have to wait in front of the curve. That's the only way to pass.
00:35:41This is a good car, but you shouldn't drive it too fast. An SUV is big and high, but that means it can easily overturn.
00:35:48In spite of its high center of gravity, Zhang Yong pushes the vehicle to its limits.
00:36:01Next to the road, three young Tibetans are sorting pieces of aluminum. They are a kind of vanguard of civilization.
00:36:14Hu Kai is in charge of the brigade.
00:36:15Hu Kai is in charge of the brigade.
00:36:17He has invested all his money in five mules in order to be able to offer his services to the electricity
00:36:19board.
00:36:20He has invested all his money in five mules in order to be able to offer his services to the
00:36:21board.
00:36:22He wants to help put up power poles until he has made enough money to fulfill his dream of
00:36:23buying his own car.
00:36:24He has invested all his money in five mules in order to be able to offer his services to
00:36:28the electricity board.
00:36:29And then he has to make power poles until he has made enough money to fulfill his dream
00:36:34to become a loan specialebuffin.
00:36:35Once it presents oreasins to new dogs, you might wonder if they need some commercial
00:36:38준비 GPU or to produces electric odd food.
00:36:39One day, before he lets you drive into any car he's in chargeaval.
00:36:41He has invested all his money in five mules in order to be able to offer his services to
00:36:43the electricity board.
00:36:44He wants to help put up power poles until he has made enough money to fulfill his dream
00:36:50of buying his own car.
00:36:52One day, he wants to be a taxi driver.
00:36:54At the moment, we don't have any power supply lines.
00:37:02There's no electricity.
00:37:06Depending on the whereabouts, it'll take up different amounts of time.
00:37:11In this sector, it'll take another month.
00:37:19Hukai is only responsible for this area next to the road.
00:37:23Higher up, there is another brigade putting up the power poles
00:37:27to also supply this Tibetan region with electricity.
00:37:33The stronger mules can carry 400 to 450 kilos.
00:37:38This one here, only 250.
00:37:47We have to be careful.
00:37:49If the parts fall on the mules' legs, we have a big problem.
00:38:07Highly focused, Zeng Yong heads west.
00:38:11He enjoys being able to drive as fast as he wants to in this remote area.
00:38:19A long way to drive a small bridge.
00:38:20That's the way I can drive a small bridge.
00:38:21We have to be careful.
00:38:22We have to be careful.
00:38:28These bikers are also heading towards Lhasa.
00:38:31They are from the Guangdong province and have been on the road for 26 days already and driven
00:38:364,000 kilometers.
00:38:39Huang Xingtao has come up with the plan.
00:38:41I'm 66 years old. He's 62 and this gentleman here is 61. We're all retired.
00:38:55I'd already planned to drive to Tibet on a motorcycle for eight years, but it never happened.
00:39:01I did go to Lhasa with a group of tourists, but to find people to go there on a motorbike tour isn't easy at all.
00:39:07But now, finally, my dream comes true.
00:39:18Lhasa holds a mysterious attraction for many people. Some are searching for freedom and adventure on their trip across the mountains,
00:39:26while others have religious and spiritual reasons to explore the heart of Tibet.
00:39:37For these Tibetan travelers, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is a pilgrim trail.
00:39:43We're going to Lhasa, to the prayer mills.
00:39:49We're going to Lhasa, to the prayer mills.
00:39:53We're going to Lhasa.
00:39:55We're going to Lhasa.
00:39:56We're going to Lhasa.
00:39:57We're going to Lhasa.
00:39:58We're going to Lhasa.
00:39:59We're going to Lhasa.
00:40:00To the prayer mills.
00:40:02We've been traveling for a month now.
00:40:04We carry all we need.
00:40:05Our food, too.
00:40:06Tsanpa.
00:40:07We've been traveling for a month now.
00:40:15We carry all we need.
00:40:17Our food, too.
00:40:18Tsampa.
00:40:30They eat pure barley flour, without additives.
00:40:33They're only sustenance for many weeks.
00:40:37The Pilgrim Trail leads them on, uphill and downhill through ice and snow.
00:40:46Only those prepared to suffer hardships will endure.
00:41:07For the professional driver Zhang Yong, the Sichuan-Tibet highway is just part of his job.
00:41:22He doesn't care much for the discovery of slowness.
00:41:24The earlier he arrives, the more content he is.
00:41:27But shortly before reaching Lhasa, he encounters a traffic jam for the first time in days.
00:41:35There are various hazards on the trip.
00:41:38Landslides, deep snow on the high mountains, slippery and icy streets.
00:41:41It may be difficult for someone who never drove here before.
00:41:44For me it's no problem to drive down this road.
00:41:45I know it well.
00:41:46For me it's no problem to drive down this road.
00:41:47I know it well.
00:41:48I know it well.
00:41:49Zhang Yong has reached his destination, Lhasa.
00:41:50Zhang Yong has reached his destination, Lhasa.
00:41:52It's not a problem to drive down this road.
00:41:53It's not a problem to drive down this road.
00:41:58It is a great way.
00:41:59I know it well.
00:42:14Zhang Yong has reached his destination, Lhasa.
00:42:19The pilgrims also arrive after their long journey to the Botala palace, the Dalai Lama's residence
00:42:25for centuries.
00:42:26They believe that by spinning the prayer mills, they can remove the harm of all living creatures
00:42:32and dissolve bad karma.
00:42:34Now, at the end of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, everyone has fulfilled their goal.
00:42:56The Great Norse of the Chilomba Empire
00:43:02In a video, theenfant coast will be selected by the Fire-Chorpe.
00:43:12The Great Norse of the Chilomba
00:43:18The Great Norse of the Chilomba Empire
00:43:24The Sichuan-Tibet Highway is the most important traffic route from China to the Himalayas.
00:43:372200 kilometers across steep passes and deep valleys up to the roof of the world.
00:43:49The journey leads through remote villages and fascinating landscapes, but unforeseen dangers lure at every corner.
00:44:10At 5,000 meters altitude, the infinity of the sky seems as close as never before.
00:44:17At the end of the road of longing for truck drivers, travelers and pilgrims.
00:44:24The Sichuan-Tibet Highway leads from Chengdu in the Sichuan province, situated in the southeast of China.
00:44:31The Sichuan-Tibet Highway leads from Chengdu in the Sichuan province, situated in the southeast of China.
00:44:38It crosses the Himalayas to Tibet's capital city, Lhasa.
00:44:45The Sichuan-Tibet Highway leads from Chengdu in the Sichuan province, situated in the southeast of China.
00:44:52It crosses the Himalayas to Tibet's capital city, Lhasa.
00:44:57Ren Taiping and his colleague Shun are checking the wheels and brakes of their truck.
00:45:10They have to bring cement to a place near the Tibetan border, about 800 kilometers away.
00:45:16They calculated three days for their trip.
00:45:27They take turns driving at frequent intervals, because the ascent up the Himalayas takes full concentration.
00:45:34The road section between Tuanyuan and the Erlang Mountains is very difficult to drive because of the many roadworks.
00:45:49Landslides cause road accidents time and time again.
00:45:54The road conditions are a disaster, especially in heavy rain.
00:45:59The road conditions are a disaster.
00:46:00The road conditions are a disaster.
00:46:01The road conditions are a disaster.
00:46:02Through steep valleys, the road ascends higher and higher.
00:46:17Because there was a lot of rain, whole mountain slopes start moving.
00:46:21The road needs repairing all the time.
00:46:24Again and again, vehicles crash and fall into the deep canyons.
00:46:28Nearly all drivers we meet are Tibetans.
00:46:43They are bad drivers.
00:46:45If we encounter them on the road, it's better to let them pass.
00:46:49Only yesterday, further down the road, the stubborn behavior of two drivers
00:46:57cause deaths.
00:47:04The ascent to the first pass is especially dangerous, since it's hardly paved at all.
00:47:10Ren Taiping prefers to let his more experienced colleague Shun do the driving.
00:47:16The road winds itself ever higher through a subtropical mountain jungle.
00:47:26The clouds floating from the Pacific Ocean to the Himalayas cause heavy rains here.
00:47:31The traffic is bad here because of only single lane traffic on account of the road works.
00:47:41Look, the whole street leading up here is only one single traffic jam.
00:47:45You have to be very careful.
00:47:46Shortly before the pass, once again a landslide blocks the road.
00:47:57Everyone has to be prepared for many hours of waiting time.
00:48:01The first stage of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway leads from Sichuan's capital city, Chengdu,
00:48:21across the foothills of the Himalayas to Kangding.
00:48:36The first ascent to the Erlang mountain is one of the most dangerous stages of the whole route.
00:48:41A farmer woman is logging bamboo in the underbrush above the street.
00:48:52Gao Kai-si does not even let heavy rain keep her from working.
00:48:56What do we use the bamboo for?
00:49:00We use it to build a protective cover.
00:49:02Our old temple is being demolished.
00:49:04Now our Buddha needs a new provisional roof.
00:49:11Ga-au Kai-si and some of the farmers from the close-by village
00:49:18want to finish building the makeshift temple on the slope above the highly frequented road.
00:49:23It's supposed to safeguard not only the villagers,
00:49:26but also passing travelers against accidents.
00:49:34There is a pen!
00:49:35There is a pen!
00:49:38People here are used to working in the rain.
00:49:45The sun hardly ever shines in this foggy region.
00:49:52This is Budo Guanin, and here we have the patron of the street.
00:50:03Over there is General Bai, and this is Bai Ma with his white horse.
00:50:08And here we are.
00:50:11Let's go.
00:50:12Here we go.
00:50:15Here we go.
00:50:17Here we go.
00:50:19Here we go.
00:50:22Here we go.
00:50:24Here we go.
00:50:25Here we go.
00:50:28Here we go.
00:50:30Here we go.
00:50:32To ask for protection from up above is very common in this area.
00:50:38Maybe because there are dangers everywhere.
00:50:40Just a few years ago, tens of thousands of people died
00:50:44at a disastrous earthquake which devastated this area in Sichuan.
00:50:59Soon we will build a new temple.
00:51:02Now is the peak harvest time for the rice,
00:51:05so we have no time at all.
00:51:08We will only have time to build a permanent temple
00:51:13after everything has been harvested.
00:51:28The temple is inaugurated with small fireworks.
00:51:39Beware of falling rocks, it says a few kilometers further on.
00:51:43The rain has destabilized the slope.
00:51:45The climbers are trying to loosen branches and debris to prevent the worst.
00:51:49Sometimes the road patrol manages to alleviate dangerous sites, but most of the time they arrive too late.
00:51:58Shuveng Sing is one of the thousands of cyclists who try to surmount the passes of the Sichuan-Tibet highway between spring and spring.
00:52:05fall.
00:52:06fall.
00:52:07fall.
00:52:08fall.
00:52:09fall.
00:52:10fall.
00:52:11I feel free when I am on the road.
00:52:12fall.
00:52:13I can cycle.
00:52:14I feel free when I am on the road.
00:52:15I can cycle.
00:52:16I can cycle.
00:52:17fast or slow, whichever I want.
00:52:18I meet people on the way and make friends.
00:52:20Then, they feel free when I run a few years after doing flight.
00:52:26And, while you have no other trips in front of all hours, I would automatically decide to bring brought up the flag because it is долго, if I are only on the lived bean��.
00:52:30In the next couple of days, I will happen to try to become great a better path for a drive without wanting to attend.
00:52:33I feel free when I'm on the road.
00:52:41I can cycle fast or slow, whichever I want.
00:52:45I meet people on the way and make friends.
00:52:49We cyclists are like-minded.
00:52:50Everyone is on vacation.
00:52:52I'm so happy.
00:52:57We're cycling to Lhasa.
00:52:59It'll take us three to four weeks to get there.
00:53:01In between, we'll rest for two or three days.
00:53:17Through rain and fog, even in snow and ice,
00:53:20the cyclists struggle for days across 4,000 to 5,000-meter-high passes
00:53:24to reach their destination, Lhasa.
00:53:26Because of the enormous differences in altitude,
00:53:32the endlessly long passages and the many dangers,
00:53:35the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is a sort of baptism of fire
00:53:38for many members of the new Chinese middle class.
00:53:48Ren Taiping and his colleague have left the traffic jam behind.
00:53:51If a car breaks down and blocks the road,
00:54:05the traffic jam lasts for at least half a day.
00:54:10Dangerous situations occur very often.
00:54:13One has to be very careful.
00:54:15But most drivers are aware of the dangers.
00:54:24Not only landslides, falling rocks,
00:54:27or unpaved roads are challenging.
00:54:29The greatest danger arises from drivers who risk too much.
00:54:33A poultry truck has fallen over.
00:54:50Hundreds of chickens have died.
00:54:56A car approached me on my lane.
00:54:58I came from below and had to yield quickly.
00:55:11The driver's wife is trying to save what can be saved.
00:55:16It has taken the family a whole year to rear the chickens.
00:55:20Now the family's existence is at stake.
00:55:22The route leads ever higher up in the Himalayas.
00:55:40Behind the first 4,000-meter pass,
00:55:43Ren Taiping and his colleagues suffer damage too.
00:55:46The driver's door is damaged,
00:55:48but they are not even halfway there.
00:55:50My colleague Mr. Ksun stopped to replenish the water
00:56:03when a truck came towards us.
00:56:09We shouted and waved at him to make him stop.
00:56:13But he didn't see us in time and crashed into the open door.
00:56:17That's how it got broken.
00:56:20Ren Taiping suspects this unnecessary accident
00:56:28will cost him at least half a day
00:56:30because normally it takes the police a few hours
00:56:32to arrive at the scene.
00:56:34The other driver does not accept the blame,
00:56:38so the police will have to file a report.
00:56:40Further down in the valley,
00:56:50the cyclists stop off at a hostel before darkness sets in.
00:56:58Zhu Veng Xing has also completed his daily leg.
00:57:02The increasing bicycle tourism
00:57:03is a welcome line of business for the villagers.
00:57:06A one-night stay costs 5 euros per person.
00:57:10That's affordable even by Chinese standards.
00:57:20The cyclists arrive from all across China.
00:57:23The highway on top of the world is en vogue.
00:57:26But whoever cycles here
00:57:27must be prepared for all kinds of weather.
00:57:30The road was bumpy and full of potholes
00:57:36and totally wet.
00:57:40Yes, I got wet too.
00:57:42It's very slippery, especially downhill.
00:57:45The overtaking car splashed dirt in my face.
00:57:48That's a real problem.
00:57:49If a truck approaches you,
00:57:53you have to stop.
00:57:54Otherwise, no one can pass.
00:57:57I must be careful
00:57:58because the truck would hardly notice
00:58:00if it ran over me.
00:58:00It's still raining the next morning.
00:58:23The villagers don't seem to mind.
00:58:26Here at 2,000 meters above sea level,
00:58:28the people are used
00:58:29to this moist and damp weather.
00:58:40Things at the hostel
00:58:41are starting to stir too.
00:58:47Shortly before 10 a.m.,
00:58:48later than usual,
00:58:50Zhu Ving Xing sets off on his trip again.
00:58:52Ren Taiping and his colleague
00:59:10are back on the road as well.
00:59:12They waited five hours
00:59:14for the police to arrive.
00:59:16They flattened the driver's door
00:59:17and tied it to the truck
00:59:19as best as they could.
00:59:20The Sichuan-Tibet Highway
00:59:30winds itself ever higher.
00:59:32The next pass is 4,500 meters high.
00:59:36The truckers stay on the inner lane
00:59:37as much as they can
00:59:38because of the broken door
00:59:40and the dust.
00:59:41Up here, the air is noticeably thinner
00:59:53and it has become colder.
00:59:56The temperatures now lie
00:59:57at barely above zero degrees.
00:59:59It is so tough to drive
01:00:06and the next passage
01:00:08will be uncomfortable too.
01:00:10We try to stay close to the mountain
01:00:12with our broken door,
01:00:13which means that sometimes
01:00:14we're driving on the wrong side
01:00:16of the road.
01:00:17This can be dangerous,
01:00:18especially if big vehicles
01:00:19are approaching.
01:00:20From the city of Kung Ding,
01:00:32the road leads across various passes
01:00:34to Litang,
01:00:35near the Tibetan border.
01:00:36Close by the road
01:00:46at nearly 5,000 meters,
01:00:47the Tibetan monastery,
01:00:50Gao'e Shan.
01:00:52About 2,000 meters further down,
01:00:55the climate becomes mild again.
01:00:57This is the Tibetan part of Sichuan,
01:01:00easily recognizable
01:01:01by the splendid Tibetan houses.
01:01:03The family Sang belongs
01:01:12to the Kampa people.
01:01:14They are building a new house
01:01:15for their son.
01:01:16The old one stood too close
01:01:17to the road
01:01:18and was demolished.
01:01:20Luo Sang is 24 years old.
01:01:23The house is supposed to be ready
01:01:24when he gets married.
01:01:29When they expanded
01:01:30the Sichuan-Tibet highway
01:01:31a little while ago,
01:01:32our house was affected as well.
01:01:37Even though we weren't happy
01:01:38with the compensation payment,
01:01:40we're now building a new house
01:01:41a bit further away
01:01:42from the street now.
01:01:48Everybody working here
01:01:49is related to me.
01:01:50We ourselves dug up the stones
01:01:52and the clay
01:01:52and brought it here
01:01:53from far away.
01:01:54It will take three months
01:02:02to build the house.
01:02:06Life for the Kampa people
01:02:07has its own rhythm,
01:02:09but the highway
01:02:10is a foreboding
01:02:11of changing times.
01:02:18Every day,
01:02:19new faces appear.
01:02:21Who are these strangers
01:02:22that struggle
01:02:22to climb up here?
01:02:25What do they want here?
01:02:26The locals ask themselves.
01:02:30It won't take long
01:02:38before the Chinese bustle
01:02:40will change life up here too.
01:02:42The altura of the Kampa people
01:02:45is a great source of
01:02:46a former Kampa people
01:02:47and the animals
01:02:47are not still
01:02:47as a countryble.
01:02:47And do theheaded
01:02:48and the subjects
01:02:49are always
01:02:50that we don't have to
01:02:51be prepared.
01:02:51Also,
01:02:52we have to do
01:02:53to be prepared
01:02:53for the Kampa people
01:02:54to blend out
01:02:54and to be prepared
01:02:56as well.
01:02:56Zhang Yong drinks up his energy drink before hitting the road again.
01:03:15He is actually always in a hurry.
01:03:18He is expected to pick up tourists from Lhasa for a tour across the Himalayas.
01:03:23He aims to arrive within five days, but Lhasa is not only 1,700 kilometers away.
01:03:30He also has to overcome a total of 25,000 meters in altitude, downhill and uphill.
01:03:40Zhang Yong always drives as fast as the road allows, sometimes even faster.
01:03:45He is 25 years young, quick to react and ambitious.
01:03:50The tour is not only a job for him, but also a challenge.
01:03:57Driving uphill, it's sometimes really difficult to overtake the others.
01:04:01For example, if there's a traffic jam, overtaking can get very dangerous.
01:04:05That means I won't be able to meet my schedule.
01:04:09There are days when I only manage to drive 200 kilometers because of all the time I'm losing.
01:04:15There are days when I'm losing.
01:04:17There are days when I'm losing.
01:04:18There are days when I'm losing.
01:04:19There are days when I'm losing.
01:04:22Zhang Yong just barely missed getting involved in this crash.
01:04:38The brakes failed.
01:04:48It didn't work anymore.
01:04:50I went downhill and the truck went faster and faster.
01:04:53I had to steer into the ditch or else we would have come off the road.
01:05:05The driver realizes immediately the truck is only good enough for its spare parts.
01:05:11Maybe the engine and the gearbox still work, but the whole right-hand side is a pile of junk.
01:05:20At least the load, containing construction material, isn't damaged.
01:05:24He wants to be able to give a detailed account of the damage when he calls his boss.
01:05:29After the first shock, the driver reacts surprisingly relaxed and cool.
01:05:34The danger is always greatest going downhill when the brakes are strained.
01:05:50I was petrified when I hit the brakes and absolutely nothing happened.
01:05:55To the left, there were a couple of small cars approaching.
01:06:11He would have definitely run into them if he hadn't driven into the mountain.
01:06:16There would have been casualties.
01:06:19He would have pushed the two little cars down the slope.
01:06:22And then there would have been another traffic jam.
01:06:25He made the right decision.
01:06:47Ren Taiping and his colleague have now been on the road for three days.
01:06:51They want to arrive at their destination, Li Tang, tomorrow morning.
01:06:55Another problem arises.
01:07:05That doesn't sound good.
01:07:06I had a funny feeling right at the beginning of our trip.
01:07:12I'll check the cooling system of the brakes.
01:07:14Is the brake cooling blocked?
01:07:34The valve is shut.
01:07:35The cooling is blocked.
01:07:36That's not good.
01:07:37The cooling shouldn't be blocked.
01:07:43It's very dangerous if the cooling system for the brakes fails and you're going downhill.
01:07:49And the brakes will fail and you have a real big problem.
01:07:50You either drive against the buffer walls, into the ditch, or you go down the slope.
01:07:54Or you cause a bad accident.
01:07:55Something that frequently happens here.
01:07:56At 4,000 meters altitude, right next to the road, a Tibetan family of no one of the roads are at the top of the road.
01:07:57It's very dangerous if the cooling system for the brakes fails and you're going downhill.
01:08:02And the brakes will fail and you have a real big problem.
01:08:05You either drive against the buffer walls, into the ditch, or you go down the slope.
01:08:09Or you cause a bad accident, something that frequently happens here.
01:08:21At 4,000 meters altitude, right next to the road, a Tibetan family of nomads are tending their flock of yaks.
01:08:29Zuo Ma, her husband and the two sons live off the milk, the furs and the meat of the animals.
01:08:34They own 70 yaks.
01:08:40Zuo's eldest son, Dawa, is 13 years old.
01:08:44It took him ages to accustom his favorite yak to be ridden.
01:08:48Now he is proud that the animal lets him sit on its back.
01:08:55I tend to the yaks and call them if they stroll off too far.
01:09:00After milking them, I bring them to the pasture and bring them back in the afternoon.
01:09:13Dawa wants to become a cowboy, own a horse and ride through the prairie.
01:09:21Soon the family will leave the summer pasture and move on to the village below.
01:09:26Our village has a school, but I don't go there anymore.
01:09:32I left two or three years ago.
01:09:34Yes, I miss school.
01:09:37I miss school.
01:09:49Because the first snow has already fallen, his dad has borrowed a truck to transport the tents and yaks down to the village.
01:09:56Tomorrow they will start moving, but today the yaks are allowed to graze one last time.
01:10:01I don't have much to say.
01:10:11Just tell them what you do every day.
01:10:16I herd yaks every day.
01:10:18Zuma has milked about 30 liters of milk today.
01:10:33It's their most important income.
01:10:35In order to produce yak butter, she heats up the milk a little bit.
01:10:46She sells the butter to a salesman who comes around every day.
01:10:51Five kilos each day.
01:10:52They live off it.
01:10:53Without this machine, we wouldn't have butter.
01:11:03The whey comes in here and the butter over there.
01:11:07The fact that their pastures lie directly at the road makes life simpler for the family.
01:11:16It's easier to sell the butter.
01:11:18And the transport of the tents and the herd the next day will take place much faster.
01:11:37Shortly before the next pass, a car from Shanghai has broken down on the mountain road.
01:11:56Shuting has a problem with her clutch.
01:12:09Why?
01:12:21I can't do this when people are watching me.
01:12:26Shuting still needs practice starting the car at the foot of a hill.
01:12:34It's her first time in the mountains.
01:12:37She came to conquer the Himalayas all on her own, all the way from Shanghai.
01:12:50I just want to drive to Tibet.
01:12:52I've been wanting to go there for three years now, but there were too many things that kept me from doing so.
01:12:59Now the time has come.
01:13:01I've done some research and have been preparing for this trip for the past three years.
01:13:06I want to see Tibet with my own eyes.
01:13:09And it should be possible even with such a small car.
01:13:11Shuting has already driven 2,500 kilometers, 500 in the mountains.
01:13:22Because her car is lightweight and has a lot of chassis clearance, she masters even difficult passages.
01:13:28Sometimes impatient fellow drivers give Shuting a harder time than the road conditions.
01:13:36Go back.
01:13:38Why do you keep going ahead? You're blocking the road.
01:13:41Can't the truck get past?
01:13:42Whenever the drivers encounter traffic jams at Roadworks, they get nervous.
01:14:02Ren Taiping and his colleague have almost reached their destination.
01:14:22Between them and Li Tang remains only a last ascent.
01:14:25They arrive a day too late because of the accident and the many traffic jams.
01:14:30Still, they are in a good mood because up here the road is free of potholes.
01:14:36There used to be lots of thieves here.
01:14:42I never used to dare driving here at night.
01:14:45And in the old days it was impossible to make rapid progress.
01:14:52You used to have to drive much more carefully than today.
01:15:03Ren Taiping particularly enjoys this part of the journey, especially if the sun is shining.
01:15:08The lofty beauty of the landscape at 4500 meters altitude gives him a feeling of freedom.
01:15:38They arrive at Li Tang in the afternoon.
01:15:54It's one of the highest cities of the world, situated at 4000 meters altitude on a high plateau.
01:15:59One of the most famous Tibetan Buddhist monasteries is in Li Tang.
01:16:10Ren Taiping and his colleague have now delivered the cement.
01:16:16Not only construction material, but also most of the food for the inhabitants of Li Tang comes from the lowlands.
01:16:21They have mastered this adventurous trip once again.
01:16:35They won't rest for long at this restaurant.
01:16:38Already in the afternoon, they'll be heading back home.
01:16:40The monastery of Li Tang came back home.
01:16:44The monastery of Li Tang was built in the 16th century.
01:17:09The monastery of Litang was built in the 16th century.
01:17:13The third and tenth Dalai were educated here.
01:17:17Even today the monastery is one of the most important schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
01:17:21More than a thousand monks live behind these ancient walls.
01:17:26The ten-meter-high statue of Buddha on the inside is famous as well.
01:17:34These ornaments bear witness to the ingenuity of Tibetan artisanship.
01:17:57Zang Yong has been on the road for three days now.
01:18:01He is happy about the improvement of the road conditions up here in the mountains.
01:18:08The Sichuan-Tibet Highway runs from Litang at the Tibetan border across eastern Tibet all
01:18:13the way to Lhasa.
01:18:22At the Tibetan border, Zang Yong crosses the legendary Yangtze River which enters the Pacific
01:18:28Ocean near Shanghai.
01:18:30A bit further west, the road follows the valley of the river Mekong which sometimes carves
01:18:36two kilometers deep into the mountains.
01:18:38Finally, it reaches the 72 turns which lead down to the river Saluen.
01:18:44It's not easy driving down these serpentines.
01:18:48The bends are extremely narrow.
01:18:51If you drive too fast, the car might roll over.
01:18:54And you always have to keep an eye on the approaching traffic and the curves.
01:18:59If a big truck shows up, you have to wait in front of the curve.
01:19:03That's the only way to pass.
01:19:04This is a good car, but you shouldn't drive it too fast.
01:19:07An SUV is big and high, but that means it can easily overturn.
01:19:20In spite of its high center of gravity, Zang Yong pushes the vehicle to its limits.
01:19:32Next to the road, three young Tibetans are sorting pieces of aluminum.
01:19:48They are a kind of vanguard of civilization.
01:19:51Hukai is in charge of the brigade.
01:20:01He has invested all his money in five mules in order to be able to offer his services to the electricity board.
01:20:07He wants to help put up power poles until he has made enough money to fulfill his dream of buying his own car.
01:20:14One day, he wants to be a taxi driver.
01:20:21At the moment, we don't have any power supply lines.
01:20:24There's no electricity.
01:20:26Depending on the whereabouts, it'll take up different amounts of time.
01:20:32In this sector, it'll take another month.
01:20:37Pukai is only responsible for this area next to the road.
01:20:45Higher up, there is another brigade putting up the power poles to also supply this Tibetan region with electricity.
01:20:52The stronger mules can carry 400 to 450 kilos.
01:21:00This one here, only 250.
01:21:10We have to be careful.
01:21:11If the parts fall on the mules' legs, we have a big problem.
01:21:30Highly focused, Zhang Yong heads west.
01:21:33He enjoys being able to drive as fast as he wants to in this remote area.
01:21:50These bikers are also heading towards Lhasa.
01:21:53They are from the Guangdong province and have been on the road for 26 days already and driven 4,000 kilometers.
01:22:00Huang Xingtao has come up with the plan.
01:22:04I'm 66 years old.
01:22:06He's 62 and this gentleman here is 61.
01:22:09We're all retired.
01:22:18I had already planned to drive to Tibet on a motorcycle for eight years, but it never happened.
01:22:23I did go to Lhasa with a group of tourists, but to find people to go there on a motorbike tour isn't easy at all.
01:22:31But now, finally, my dream comes true.
01:22:41Lhasa holds a mysterious attraction for many people.
01:22:45Some are searching for freedom and adventure on their trip across the mountains,
01:22:49while others have religious and spiritual reasons to explore the heart of Tibet.
01:22:54For these Tibetan travelers, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway is a pilgrim trail.
01:23:12We're going to Lhasa, to the prayer mills.
01:23:15We've been traveling for a month now.
01:23:18We carry all we need.
01:23:19Our food, too.
01:23:20Tsampa.
01:23:21Tsampa.
01:23:22Tsampa.
01:23:23Tsampa.
01:23:24Tsampa.
01:23:25Tsampa.
01:23:26Tsampa.
01:23:27Tsampa.
01:23:28Tsampa.
01:23:29Tsampa.
01:23:30Tsampa.
01:23:31Tsampa.
01:23:32Tsampa.
01:23:33Tsampa.
01:23:34Tsampa.
01:23:35Tsampa.
01:23:36They eat pure barley flour, without additives.
01:23:39They're only sustenance for many weeks.
01:23:40See you later.
01:23:41See you later.
01:23:42See you later.
01:23:43Yes.
01:23:44The Pilgrim Trail leads them on, uphill and downhill, through ice and snow.
01:23:45Only those prepared to suffer hardships will endure.
01:23:46The Pilgrim Trail leads them on, uphill and downhill, through ice and snow.
01:23:49Only those prepared to suffer hardships will endure.
01:24:19We didn't, we didn't, we didn't.
01:24:49For the professional driver Zhang Yong, the Sichuan-Tibet highway is just part of his job.
01:25:00He doesn't care much for the discovery of slowness.
01:25:03The earlier he arrives, the more content he is.
01:25:06But shortly before reaching Lhasa, he encounters a traffic jam for the first time in days.
01:25:19There are various hazards on the trip, landslides, deep snow in the high mountains, slippery and icy streets.
01:25:26It may be difficult for someone who never drove here before.
01:25:30For me it's no problem to drive down this road, I know it well.
01:25:38Zhang Yong has reached his destination, Lhasa.
01:25:42The pilgrims also arrive after their long journey at the Potala Palace, the Dalai Lama's residence for centuries.
01:25:49They believe that by spinning the prayer mills, they can remove the harm of all living creatures and dissolve bad karma.
01:25:57Now at the end of the Sichuan-Tibet highway, everyone has fulfilled their goal.
01:26:03Thank you very much.
01:26:33You
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