Medog Highway
Two roads into Medog, the “Lotus Secret Land”: the Zha-Mo Highway climbs over Galong La from Bomi, and the Pai-Mo Highway crosses Dongxiong La from Pai Town. Together they form a through route across Medog.
Medog was once the last county in China without a road. In 2013 the Zha-Mo Highway opened from Zhamu Town in Bomi to Medog. The entire route crosses the Galong La Tunnel, with its portal at about 3,700 m, then descends from alpine conifer forests into subtropical rainforest. In 2021 the Pai-Mo Highway opened from Pai Town in Milin, crossing Dongxiong La and passing through the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon to Medog. The two roads total about 180 km. They can be combined, entering from Bomi and leaving from Pai Town, to form a route across Medog.
The Zha-Mo Highway descends from snowy passes to river valleys below 1,000 m. Well-known kilometer markers such as “80K” and “52K” are place names from the days when travelers walked this route. Around Medog county town are the Guoguotang Great Bend, Renqinpeng Monastery, Damu Lhoba Ethnic Township and Monpa villages. The Pai-Mo Highway passes through the Dongxiong La Tunnel and then follows the Yarlung Tsangpo River. Peaks such as Namcha Barwa and Gyala Peri come into view. On the Pai Town side is the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon scenic area.
Two to four days is suitable. Medog is a border area, so you need a border permit, and there are checkpoints along the route. The mountain roads are sharp-bent and run along cliffs. Landslides and falling rocks are frequent in the rainy season, and some sections are open only at certain times. Medog is hot and wet, with many leeches, so take precautions.