RECENTLY a travel review about western Sichuan was published on Mafengwo, a leading Chinese independent online travel platform, and attracted thousands of views online. What endows this place with such an attractive magic? Basically all you can think of and even cannot think of: its lofty snow mountains like that of the Himalaya, its crystal-clear lakes which appear in Jiuzhaigou Valley, its splendid views which will remind you of the Dolomites in Italy, its extraterrestrial surface which may give an illusion of entering “Interstellar,” and its daily experience of watching the golden sunlight shining on the snow mountain… The stunning views along the way are sure to leave you in awe of the power of nature. Let’s hit the road and embrace this splendid place. Sea of clouds at Zheduo Mountain Located in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Southwest China’s Sichuan Province, Zheduo Mountain is known as the first pass of the Kamba Area. The mountain is at an elevation of 4,298 meters. Zheduo means “winding” in the Tibetan dialect and means “a lot of winds” in Chinese, hence the name. Zheduo Mountain is not only the watershed of the Dadu River and Yalong River drainage basin, but is also the boundary line between Tibetan and Han cultures. Due to its special geographical environment, standing at the peak of Zheduo Mountain you can always appreciate a sea of clouds. To the east of the mountain is a mountainous area while to the west is the Tibetan Plateau, the real Tibetan area. As a must-pass place on National Highway 318, the Sichuan-Tibet Road, Zheduo Mountain is also called the first pass to the Tibetan area. In the past, people did not know how dangerous it was to drive on the Sichuan-Tibet Road until they got to the stretch on Zheduo Mountain. At the top of the mountain, you can look around at the snow-capped Mount Gongga, also known as Minya Konka, the highest mountain in Sichuan Province. With the sea of mists and clouds under your feet and looking at sunlight shadowing through white clouds on a snowy road, you will definitely be stunned by the grandeur of nature. Litang Monastery The Litang Monastery is also known as Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling Monastery, meaning Happy Buddha Dharma, symbolizing the way one’s moral dharma is always transforming and at the same time one’s true essence holds forever. Lying at the north of Litang town, the Litang Monastery was built by the Dalai Lama III in 1580. The monastery is the biggest Gelukpa monastery in the Kham region which makes it important to Tibetan Buddhists. Before reaching the temple, from the distance you can see the golden roof top of the temple. Golden roof tops form an important part of Tibetan palaces, temples, and pagodas. It’s a unique architectural ornament of Tibetan architecture. With its palatial architecture, wide variety of multi-piled structures, various statues, exquisite sculptures and an extensive literature collection, the monastery has become a treasure trove of modern Tibetan religion, culture and art. The monastery covers an area of 500 mu (333,000 sqm). At the highest point of the monastery there is parking space. You can reach it driving to the temple and can enjoy the panorama of the whole town along the way. Xingyicuo Lake More than 100 lakes are spread around the Daocheng Yading scenic area, and Xingyicuo Lake seems to stand apart from the rest of them. Drive along Provincial Highway 217 and turn off onto Xianggelila Sheng Road, keep driving and then you will come to a frozen lake, which is Xing-yicuo Lake. The name Xingyicuo may sound unfamiliar to most people. But in the area of Haizi Mountain, most people know about it. There are thousands of lakes of different sizes around Haizi Mountain. Xingyicuo Lake is the biggest one which is regarded as a sacred lake by the local Tibetan people. The altitude in this area is more than 4,000 meters above sea level. (Chen Xiaochun) | 