Markam

The first Tibetan county on the Yunnan–Tibet Highway, where Yanjing's thousand-year-old salt terraces line the Mekong, next to Tibet's only Catholic church and the Hongla Mountain reserve for Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys.

Markam County lies in Chamdo, in the southeastern corner of Tibet. It faces Batang in Sichuan across the Jinsha River to the east and borders Dêqên in Yunnan to the south. As the meeting point of the southern Sichuan–Tibet route G318 and the Yunnan–Tibet Highway G214, it is known as the "Eastern Gateway to Tibet". The county seat, Gartog, sits at about 3,870 m, roughly 220 km from Dêqên and 110 km from Batang; most visitors pass through by self-drive or hired car. The main draw is Yanjing Naxi Ethnic Township in the Mekong gorge to the south: thousand-year-old salt terraces are built along the river, Tibet's only Catholic church stands in Upper Yanjing Village, and there are natural hot springs at nearby Quzika. Hongla Mountain, between Yanjing and the county seat, is part of a national nature reserve for the Yunnan snub-nosed monkey. West of the county seat, the G318 climbs over Lawu Mountain, then descends to Rumei on the Mekong and crosses the Zhuka Bridge — one of the sections with the greatest elevation change on the Sichuan–Tibet Highway. Mar–May (salt-harvesting season) and Sep–Nov (autumn) are the best times; the gorges are prone to landslides in the Jul–Aug rainy season, and the passes are snowbound in winter. Spend 1–2 nights in Yanjing and 1 night in the county seat. Elevations vary widely across the county, so watch for altitude sickness and drive mountain roads with care; entering Tibet requires the necessary permits and registration.

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Itineraries