Zheduo Mountain Pass
折多山垭口
The first pass above 4,000 m on the Sichuan–Tibet Highway (4,298 m), known as the “First Gate of Kham” marking the cultural divide. Its viewing platform is hung with prayer flags, and on clear days you can see Mount Gongga and Mount Yala.
Zheduo Mountain is the first high pass that National Highway 318 (the Sichuan–Tibet Highway) climbs after leaving Kangding to the west. It marks the geographic divide between Han and Tibetan cultures: Han areas lie to the east, and Kham Tibetan areas to the west. The pass sits at 4,298 m and is known as the “First Gate of Kham.” The Tibetan word “Zheduo” means “winding.” The road from Kangding (2,500 m) to the pass covers about 40 km, climbing nearly 1,800 m through countless switchbacks, making it one of the famous “Ninety-Nine Bends” on the Sichuan–Tibet Highway. A viewing platform at the pass is hung with prayer flags and mani stone piles. On clear days, you can see the main peak of Mount Gongga (7,556 m) to the southeast and the Yala Snow Mountain (5,820 m) to the north, and look down on the winding highway and high-altitude meadows. The meadows are green in summer and golden in autumn, and turn into snowfields in winter and spring. A short boardwalk beside the pass leads to a higher viewpoint.
How to visit: by car or hired vehicle, stop for 20–40 minutes to take photos on the way from Kangding to Xinduqiao. Entry is free. The pass has a parking area and basic toilets, but no food. Light is best in the early morning and evening, and clouds often build up in the afternoon.
Getting there: about 1–1.5 hours from central Kangding, and about 1 hour in the direction of Xinduqiao. Buses on National Highway 318 pass by but do not stop.
Notes: At an altitude of nearly 4,300 m, climbing quickly from Kangding can cause dizziness. Do not exert yourself or stay too long at the pass, and bring oxygen. Winds at the pass are very strong, and temperatures are often below zero, so bring a warm jacket and hat. In winter and spring, the road can ice over and snow chains are needed. During heavy snowfall the road may be closed, and traffic police will control traffic from Kangding. The road on both sides of the pass has many bends and heavy trucks, so drive carefully. Do not step on the prayer flags.
Opening hours
Open all day (may be closed in winter and spring due to snow)
Nearby sights
- Mugecuo Lake (Kangding Love Song Scenic Area)
- Erdaoqiao Hot Spring
- Nanwu Monastery
- Anjue Monastery
- Jingang Monastery
- Kangding Love Song Square
- Paoma Mountain
- Red Stone Beach (Yajiageng Red Stone Park)