Travel Notes | Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles, Realizing Dreams 318 (Twenty-Four)

On June 15th, we set off to Lhasa, the destination of 318. Two things happened by coincidence. One is to depart from Emei on May 16 and arrive in Lhasa on June 15. You can read the month and day backwards; secondly, after riding for a month, it almost never rained when I went out, but today when I woke up, it was raining outside! Although the rain affected our riding, from another perspective, could this unexpected rain help us arrive in Lhasa to catch the wind and wash away the dust?

Considering that the trip was only about 60 kilometers and it was raining, we got up at 7 o'clock, had dinner at 8:30, and put on our rain gear at 9 o'clock before setting off in the rain without any hurry. About 10 kilometers out of the city, you will see the birthplace of Songtsen Gampo - I don't want to miss this kind of attractions. I urged cows and hippos to go in, but I was disappointed after entering! Except for a gate archway, the scenic spot is somewhat decent, and then only the exhibition hall charges 100 yuan! Besides, it was empty inside, just an ordinary village. I really can’t figure this out! Songtsen Gampo is the most proud historical figure of the Tibetan nation. Why should he be treated as a commodity and a rare commodity? Why not let more Han and Tibetan people know more about it and know more about it for free? Why use 100 yuan to build a high wall between him and the people? Because we couldn't figure out the 100 yuan charge, we left angrily.

▲This archway is quite impressive, but apart from charging, the scenic spot managers probably don’t know what to do anymore.

With regrets and dissatisfaction, I continued to drive in the rain. After passing three, there were bad roads everywhere, as if caused by some kind of construction. The road was slippery and slippery, so I had to slow down and pass slowly.

▲The Lhasa River is smooth and calm

▲With no big industry involved, the ecology here is primitive

All the way along the road on the left side of the Lhasa River, the river surface is sometimes blocked by mounds along the way, and sometimes the wide river surface is exposed. After passing Zhangduo and Tajie, the rain finally stopped, and the scenery on both sides of the road was completely different from the plateau scenery before - looking around, there are thousands of miles of fertile fields and thousands of acres of fertile farmland, making people completely forget about riding on the Tibetan Plateau. But the snow on the mountain tops in the distance from a fertile field reminded us that we were really riding in Tibet.

▲The scenery along the way is no longer plateau desert, replaced by rich river valleys and plains.

▲In the distance among the lush crops, there are still snow peaks on the tops of low mountain peaks. Only this reminds us that this is Tibet.

After riding for more than 40 kilometers, we arrived at Dazzhade Town, the last Tibetan county town on the 318 Sichuan-Tibet Line. Seeing that the time was close to 1 noon, we ate Dongpo pork elbows at a small restaurant opened by people from Yimeishan. Cows and hippos had always wanted to try this famous dish before. Thinking of Su Dongpo Meishan people, the dishes cooked by Meishan people should be authentic. , so I decided to dine here, the price was 68 yuan per serving. After eating, I felt it was okay, but the pig skin was not colored in the shuttlecock. I questioned the boss.

▲Dongpo elbow still feels like that. We all took out our cameras and took pictures.

▲The small People’s Government of Tajie Township in Daze County still has a lot of grandeur.

After dinner, we hit the road and observed while riding. A major feature of Dazi County is the very good greening! There are many and neat green trees on both sides of the road, making it very clean and pleasant. Compared with Gongbu Jiangda and Mozhu Gongka, it is obviously better. After passing Dazi, it felt almost like a flat plain. Lhasa was getting closer to us step by step, and 318 was constantly waving goodbye to us. My mood became complicated because of this. I didn't have the slightest eagerness to see Lhasa as in the guide. On the contrary, I was reluctant to leave! Therefore, I unconsciously slowed down my riding speed, letting the cows, hippos and others go ahead.

▲Approaching Lhasa, the streets are straight and the trees on the roadside are lush.

▲In the suburbs of Lhasa, there are many roads in development zones like this.

Think about it, for 31 days, I spent 31 days with 318 day and night, accompanying me day and night. Humans are not grass and trees, how can we be ruthless? Seeing Lhasa approaching step by step, the hard work, fatigue, persistence, passion, longing, etc. will all come to an end with the arrival of Lhasa, drawing a complete end. 318, goodbye! 318, farewell! I don’t know what my mood was at this time, but I felt a little heavy, a little confused, and a little lost. When will we meet 318 again? When and how will we be intimate with 318 again? All of this will be vague and uncertain.

▲This place is already close to Lhasa, and there are many fruit stalls on both sides of the road.

Looking back at the more than 2,000 kilometers of the Sichuan-Tibet Line, I look back at the past 31 days and nights, how many difficult climbs and how many unyielding moves forward. Looking back at the cities and mountains, those once unfamiliar place names - Yajiang, Litang, Batang, Mangkang, Zuogong, Basu, Bomi, Linzhi, Gongbujiangda, Mozhugongka, Dazi, because of our riding The footprints are familiar and kind, and are engraved in the depths of memory; those once mysterious and fearful mountain peaks - Zheduo Mountain, Gaoersi Mountain, Jianziwan Mountain, Kazila Mountain, Haizi Mountain, Zongbala Mountain, Lawu Mountain, Jue Mountain Bashan, Dongda Mountain, Yela Mountain, Anjiula Mountain, Sejila Mountain and Mila Mountain are no longer high and unfamiliar because of our tenacious climb.

▲Road sign: 4630. Sichuan-Tibet 318 reaches Lhasa sign. Hu Yuchao is the real name of Hippo.

As I rode slowly and thought about the road I had traveled and the time that had passed, those mountains and rivers, those characters and companions, and those houses and buildings all flashed through my mind like a movie. I can’t forget the torment of the mountain road before Xiang Kezong, the high and difficult climb of Dongda Mountain, the strange downhill slope of Anjiula Mountain, the beautiful and transcendent beauty of Ranwu Lake, the pastoral beauty of Lulang, the charming scenery of Medog, and the Tibetan The friendliness of the people, the mutual care of the companions, the help between the riders, etc... 318, a 318 that I will never forget! 318 will always be in my heart! ! !

▲This rich Lhasa Valley plain is so fascinating!

▲The golden cauliflower heralds the harvest season in Lhasa.

While daydreaming, while riding. During the more than 20 kilometers of road from Dazi to Lhasa, I didn’t feel tired at all. On the contrary, it was unprecedentedly relaxing. I am silently saying goodbye to 318, and I am waving to 318 silently. Gradually, the blue sky after the rain ahead becomes more pure, the trees on the roadside are leafy, and the new district is grand and spacious. Finally, we entered Lhasa city around 3:30 pm!

▲Enter the city and take pictures of buildings along the way.

▲Such ethnic architecture made me curious and fond of it.

First find the hotel, and then go to pay homage to the long-awaited Potala Palace. From a distance, you can see the towering Potala Palace on the horizon of the city, as if it is the majestic and mysterious king of the world. My heart was instantly shocked by the majesty and sanctity of the Potala Palace. We eagerly rushed to the Potala Palace. What we wanted most was to take photos in front of the Potala Palace.

▲I didn’t take any photos in the middle of Potala Palace Square, so I had to take photos in this corner of the street)

▲I took a photo with three cows and hippos on the left side of the square.

But after passing the Potala Palace Square, I was told that I couldn't stay, so I had to cross the square. By chance, I met the captain Shuaizi again here! At the same time, two female reporters from Lhasa TV station, holding microphones and cameras, interviewed the three of us one by one, asking us what was the biggest difficulty along the way. What power allowed us to overcome difficulties, and the impact of this trip on our future lives, etc.

Two female reporters interviewed the three of us separately. This is the hippopotamus talking and answering reporters’ questions.

The cows were also very chatty and answered reporters' questions one by one.

At night, we came to Potala Palace Square and greedily took pictures of the night scenery. The grandeur and solemnity of the Potala Palace once again shocked my heart. The Potala Palace Square is magnificently built and complements the Potala Palace. Standing in the square and looking up at the Potala Palace, one's whole soul seems to be lifted up, and all the distracting thoughts of the world seem to be banished.

▲The Potala Palace at dusk.

▲Taking photos in Potala Palace Square at night.

Rather than saying that the Potala Palace is a building, it is better to say that the Potala Palace is a spiritual purifier. Standing in front of her, you will unconsciously feel your own insignificance and humbleness, and you will have magical reverie. Tibet, this magical and pure land, it is precisely because of the power of religion that its folk customs and customs are as harmonious as those of Tibet. The mainland is completely different, and those spiritual opium sermons that clamor all day long that religion is paralyzing people must be so pale and ineffective. Compared with those gluttons who have no faith or religious feelings and only care about power and money, the Potala Palace is like a mirror, reflecting their inner weakness and emptiness.

▲The Potala Palace at night.

This is the end of the 318 ride of more than 2,000 kilometers. The destination of 318 is Lhasa. I pray silently in my heart: Hello, Tibet! Lhasa, Tashi Delek!

Exactly:

Thousands of miles of Sichuan and Tibet 318,

I have never been afraid of being in my sixties.

There is nowhere to go on the road,

Friendly riding companions all over the world.

No matter how hard or tiring the journey is,

All because of the strong inner strength.

Riding leisurely over mountains and ridges,

Smiling all the way to Lhasa.