Batang

The last western Sichuan county town on the G318 Sichuan–Tibet route before Tibet, in a mild Jinsha River valley; its calling cards are the sacred Tsopu Lake, the Sister Lakes and Batang xianzi dance.

Batang County lies in western Garzê Prefecture, Sichuan, facing Markam in Tibet across the Jinsha River, and is the last county town in western Sichuan on National Highway 318 before it enters Tibet. The town sits at about 2,500 m in the Ba River valley; its mild climate and abundant fruit have earned it the nickname "Jiangnan of the plateau", and it is the home of Batang xianzi, a national intangible cultural heritage. Main things to do: drive about 2 hours north to Tsopu Valley to see Tsopu Lake, called the "most sacred lake in Kham", Tsopu Monastery and the holy mountain Zhajin Jiabo; head east on G318 to Haizi Mountain and stop at the Sister Lakes and other plateau lakes; go about 30 km southwest to the Jinsha River Bridge at Zhubalong, the Sichuan–Tibet border and a classic photo stop; in town, visit Kangning Monastery and the Tea Horse Road rock inscriptions at Yinggezui, and watch xianzi dancing in the square in the evening. Best seasons: Mar–Apr when peach and pear trees blossom in the valley, Jun–Sep when Tsopu's lakes are at their most beautiful, and autumn for colorful forests. Getting there: 1–2 days by road from Chengdu via Kangding and Litang; the nearest airports are Daocheng Yading and Kangding, both several hours' drive away. Plan on 1–2 days. Note: Tsopu Valley and Haizi Mountain are above 4,000 m, so take precautions against altitude sickness; IDs are checked at the Zhubalong checkpoint when entering or leaving Tibet; landslides are common along the Jinsha River in the rainy season, so check road conditions.

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Itineraries