Nanzheng Pass

3774, went up tired, Chouchou had no strength and could only sit there in a daze, but Chouchou's mother was very happy.

Xidang is the highest point on the way to Yubeng. After passing the pass, the road to Yubeng is all downhill.

Nanzong Pass, also known as the First Pass of Nanzheng, is 3,700 meters above sea level. It is the highest point on the hiking trail into Yubeng. Facing the Mencimu Peak at 6,054 meters above sea level and the Wufoguan Peak at 6,470 meters above sea level, it is a good place to take panoramic photos of the Meili Snow Mountain.

The road to Xidang Village is uphill and muddy. Just when you are about to despair, you see prayer flags. This is the pass! The flat road and the downhill road to Yubeng Upper Village begin!

As soon as we reached Nanzong Pass, the scenery ahead suddenly opened up. Jiangjun Peak, Wuguan Peak, and the surrounding snow-capped mountains were all in sight. The Fanfo snow-capped mountains were all open to welcome every hiker.

This is a place on the way to Yubeng Village. It is a combination of altitude (3,700 meters) and religious beliefs. There is nothing special about the scenery, but being able to hike here is a sign that you are close to succeeding in the challenge of entering Yubeng Village.

After 5 hours of hiking from Xidang to Nanzong Pass, I finally felt a great sense of relaxation both mentally and physically when I arrived at the prayer flags.

The altitude is 3729 meters. Starting from Xidang in the morning, you can reach Nanzong Pass around lunch time. The 6.1-kilometer uphill road to Yubeng is completed. The next step is a 3.3-kilometer downhill road to Shangyubeng.

Nanzong Pass is the first pass you pass when hiking to Yubeng Village. This section of the mountain road is quite tiring because the altitude keeps rising.

There are prayer flags on both sides, which is very touching.

It is just a very ordinary pass. In Xinjiang, it is called Daban, and the professional term is Anbu.

What I saw when I climbed up there myself was naturally of special significance.

After getting here, it was a downhill road. It was not difficult. I was carrying a bag on my back and there was a bag hanging in front of me that a passerby shared with me.

I feel like I conquered the universe. 😂

Nazongla Pass is the only way to go from Xidang Village to Yubeng.

The road conditions along the way were pretty good. The forest floor was covered with moss, which made it quite soft to walk on. Even in the rainy season, it didn't feel muddy.

Or maybe because it has been developed into a scenic spot, there are trash cans along the way, so you won’t get lost.

After several hours of arduous ascent, the Zongla Pass was finally within reach, but the first thing that caught our eyes was a legendary wall of instant noodles.

This instant noodle wall is an extension of a small shop. Due to the large number of tourists coming and going, the empty shells of the instant noodle bowls have accumulated over time to form a wall, which is truly amazing.

This restaurant's location is also incredibly well-chosen. Most hikers arriving here in the morning arrive around 10:00 PM. After a long hike, everyone is exhausted, and their bellies are empty. This small, strategically located restaurant becomes the only option for a break and lunch. We were no exception, and instant noodles were our first choice.

Like other passes, the Najong La Pass is also hung with prayer flags.

But because the road is too flat,

Pedestrians, mules, and other vehicles must pass through it, and when it rains, the road becomes very muddy.

But soon, the muddy road ended.

What follows is a 6 or 7 kilometer downhill road.

After crossing the pass, you can see the magnificent snow-capped mountains and glaciers. There is a rest stop at the pass where you can drink a bowl of butter tea.

From Xidang Hot Springs, we've already walked 6 kilometers uphill, which took about 3 hours and 20 minutes. The next 3.29 kilometers to Yubeng Shangcun, 3,228 meters above sea level, is downhill all the way, so there's no need to struggle up anymore.

The scenery on the way down was completely different from the way up. After crossing the Nanzheng Pass, you could theoretically see the Goddess Peak and the Five Buddha Peaks, but at that time, all you could see were clouds wrapped around the sacred mountains. There are also several viewing platforms along the way, from which you can see the toy-sized Yubengxia Village.

With beautiful scenery and no uphill effort, this road is like a walk in the countryside.

There are many rest spots on the way up, and I rewarded myself with a pot of butter tea, which tasted good.

Starting from Xidang, we slowly ascended 1,000 meters over 12 kilometers. As we approached the Nazongla Pass, the road began to show signs of snow. Upon reaching the pass, the moment the sacred mountain appeared before our eyes, the world fell silent. Men lined up on tree stumps by the roadside, silently pulling out cigarettes and lighting them, continuing to gaze at the snow-capped mountains. Women climbed up to the roadside viewing platform, wanting to see farther and more clearly. The feeling of this moment can only be experienced firsthand, and words cannot express it...

When you reach Nanzong Pass (3,900 meters above sea level), you can see snow-capped mountains in the distance, and your vision suddenly becomes broader.

The scenery is average at the beginning of the hike, but it gets better towards the end, and your mood will naturally improve, and your body will feel more comfortable.

The pass is a rest area, where I rewarded myself with a pot of butter tea.

The Xidang line is quite boring. It is basically a mountain with trees all over it. It is just like climbing a mountain. After passing a small prayer flag, you will reach the pass. This is when it becomes unique. It is also the most essential part of the Xidang line. The snow-capped mountains in the distance are very clear. Unfortunately, there were clouds at that time, so the area we can see is not very large. Moreover, the clouds are always floating, but there are many clouds, so we can only see part of it. In addition to being able to see the beautiful snow-capped mountains behind, you can also overlook the upper Yubeng Village, which is equivalent to seeing the appearance of Yubeng Village, a paradise, in advance.

When I climbed to the Zongla Pass, I was very impressed with myself. For me, who doesn't exercise often, the 12km uphill road... to be honest, I wanted to hit my head against a tree.

From the Xidang parking lot, it's a 12km uphill hike to the Nazong La Pass, followed by another 4km of descent to Shangyubeng Village. It's a truly arduous journey. The muddy road is a real challenge, physically. When I finally reached the Nazong La Pass, I was incredibly impressed. For someone like me who rarely exercises, the 12km uphill hike... honestly, I felt like banging my head against a tree.

Nanzong Pass is a watershed. After passing it, it's all downhill, getting closer and closer to Yubeng. There is a post station here with a stove. People sit around the stove to keep warm. Don't rest for too long, it will be cold and the wind is a bit strong, so keep warm.

Finally arrived at the Zongla Pass. From here, it is the Xiaonong Base Camp. There is no post station at this pass. It is simple and plain.

Nanzong Pass, at an altitude of 3,700 meters, is the only way to Yubeng. From here, the road to Yubeng is all downhill. We dismounted our mules here and walked to Yubeng Village.

If you see colorful flags fluttering (golden sails), congratulations! You've reached Nanzong Pass, which means the downhill section has begun. But your excitement is premature. Do you think the downhill section will be easy? Naive! The descent is so steep that you have to walk diagonally. And because of the dry dirt and ash, it's slippery and dusty. Fortunately, it's still much easier than the ascent...

Finally we reached the pass, not far from Yubeng Village. Next up was a downhill road. My physical strength was almost exhausted after walking here, and all that was left was my willpower.

Nanzong La Pass is 3,800 meters above sea level and is a relatively large resting point.

The road below the pass is all downhill.

Haha, you have to pass this place when you enter from Xidang. Everyone will breathe a sigh of relief, after all, you will be going down the mountain soon.

Crossing the pass is victory, a scene that has captured countless heroes. The ascent took about four and a half hours, and I realized the mules carrying the backpacks hadn't arrived yet. It wasn't as tiring as I'd imagined. I'd have carried a backpack, but seeing a tiny girl ascend with a backpack made me feel a little ashamed of my ancestors. Later, a mule, fond of burying its head in a trash can for food, used its daily exercise to collect 235 yuan from us. Its owner, clutching a stack of hundred-yuan bills several fingers thick, counted them with his mouth wet with saliva, fearing he'd missed a single one. Then, fearing the wind might blow one away, he carried one on his back.

PS: It seems that one horse can carry 3 backpacks, so you can save a little.

After a three-hour trek, we finally arrived at Nanzong Pass, which is about 3,800 meters above sea level.

Nazongla Pass, at an altitude of 3,800 meters, offers stunning views of Mount Mencimu and Mount Jiajia on clear days. The 12-kilometer journey from Xidang to Nazongla Pass is primarily uphill, marking the first hurdle to reach Yubeng Village.

Finally reached the pass, I thought happiness had arrived.

I didn’t expect that the next 6 kilometers of downhill road would also be painful.

After counting the telephone poles one by one, we finally reached the pass. However, this Nanzong Pass was completely different from the famous majestic passes that one man could block and ten thousand men could not pass. In fact, it was just a long and flat mountain road covered with prayer flags.

That's it. It looks like a pass where one man can stand guard over the enemy. It's just an ordinary mountain road. It goes downhill after you walk past it.

Ding ding, blocking the pass! Why do I suddenly feel... so desolate... so miserable~~

But the good news is... it's all downhill from here!

Nanzong Laya Pass, 3720 meters above sea level. It is said that this is the best place to see the snow-capped mountains, but unfortunately, God did not give us face...

Finally we reached Nanzong Pass. The altitude of 3,800 meters is not low, but we did not have any altitude sickness at all. The weather was particularly good. The view of Shennv Peak from the pass can only be described as holy. The white snow peak and the blue sky behind it are all so sacred. From here you can overlook the upper and lower Yubeng villages below. The smoke from cooking fires is like a fairyland on earth.

When we got to the pass, the scenery started to be amazing.

Afterwards we followed some other Tibetans and took a shortcut to the mountain pass. The slope was very steep in this section, so we were a little out of breath. Fortunately, we arrived at Nanzong Pass quite easily.

Let me briefly talk about my feelings on the 4-hour mountain road. I was breathing heavily when going uphill, and it felt like there was not enough air. I had to open my mouth wide and breathe in quickly. The road condition was relatively easy to walk on, a hard dirt road, and it was quite comfortable to walk on. I often had to avoid horses and mules coming from the opposite direction, so remember to stand on the inside of the road!

Nanzongla (Mianya) Pass (3720 meters) overlooking Yubeng. The road behind the pass is all downhill (5 kilometers)

About forty minutes later, we reached the pass. There was a ten-minute flat section, and I found myself feeling a bit uncomfortable with the flat road. It was a blessing, though. Arriving at Nanzong Pass, we were greeted by a sea of prayer flags. This is a Tibetan custom, as the pass is always covered in prayer flags. Because the winds are strong, each flutter of a flag represents a complete recitation of prayers. Standing at Nanzong Pass, the Meili Snow Mountain seemed right before our eyes.

After four or five hours of climbing, we finally reached the Nanzongla Pass. At the 101st electric pole, the 20-pound bag on my back felt heavier and heavier. Even after taking it off, I still felt my shoulders were heavy. But when I crossed the pass and saw the snow-capped mountains getting closer and closer, I knew that Yubeng Village was about to arrive. This was undoubtedly a shot in the arm, supporting me to pick up the bag and keep going.

Arrived at the pass,

The mules are unloaded here. If you go further into the village, you will have to pay extra.

We reached the Nazongla Pass at an altitude of nearly 4,000 meters, and had no altitude sickness at all. (Hasselblad)

102nd shot, reached the pass.

3739 meters above sea level.

Finally reached the pass, and the next step is downhill.

After 4 pm, we finally reached the Nanzong Pass at an altitude of 3,800 meters. The 12-kilometer uphill climb was finally completed. The view in front of us became much wider and the sky was bluer. The remaining 6 kilometers were all downhill. I thought it would be easy now.

The pass from Xidang to Yubeng, where the uphill road has ended and the downhill road begins. At this time, it is time to take out the knee pads.

We kept walking and walking until we reached the turning point for the downhill climb—Yubeng Pass! Yay! It was all downhill from then on! But now, the sky was snowing like fluffy little snowballs… The road along the pass was entwined with colorful prayer flags… They fluttered in the wind, so beautiful!!!

The Nazongla Pass is 3,680 meters above sea level. You don’t need to buy oxygen when hiking in Yubeng. The vegetation here is dense and there is plenty of oxygen. Don’t be scared by your own psychological effects.

There are always many prayer flags at the passes in Tibetan areas, and Nazong Pass is no exception. The prayer flags also have a nice name - wind horse flags.

Finally, around 4pm we arrived at Nanzong Pass and took a short break to replenish our energy and take some photos.

3:30 Seeing the prayer flags brings hope. The pass is right in front of us, and beyond it, it's all downhill. After a 12-kilometer uphill hike, I'm finally downhill. At first, I'm excited. Finally, it's downhill. Then, why is it still downhill? I'd rather go uphill!

At the pass, the Meili Snow Mountain's Goddess Peak loomed large, marking the end of our ascent. The mule team behind us had caught up. Everyone took photos with the snow-capped mountains, and Sister Min also took the opportunity to take a photo with the mule team members. She had already made up her mind—the next two days of Yubeng would be spent traveling with mules, and getting to know them well was essential.

When we counted to 102, we had reached the Zong Pass and it was time to go down. Yaya and I both smiled happily!

After another hard climb, we finally reached Nanzong Pass, which meant it was all downhill from there! By this time, the clock struck 5:00. The situation was not optimistic; we had to get to the village before dark. After everyone put on knee pads and rested for a while, we began our descent... (Two girls rode mules down first...)

I knew Yubeng was tough, but I didn't expect it to be so painful! It took me nearly five hours and 12 kilometers to finally reach the pass.

We’re here, we’ve reached the 3,700-meter pass, which also means that the most painful part of our day has been completed!

It must be high-end.

After this point, the hike becomes much easier, with a 6km downhill slope. By the way, it's crucial to have durable, non-slip hiking shoes and trekking poles. Trekking poles can help reduce the strain on your knees, while hiking shoes help you walk more smoothly. Knee pads are also great for protecting your knees during the descent.

The legendary Nanzong Pass is very beautiful and sacred

I started to go down the mountain, and I felt a lot more relaxed instantly. . . Going up the mountain was really painful. .

The 12-kilometer climb ended at the pass. For me, it was the end of the ordeal. I could finally descend.

After hiking 12 kilometers uphill, we finally arrived at Nanzong Pass (3,700 meters above sea level). There are still 6 kilometers of downhill road to go. As the saying goes, "It's easy to go up the mountain, but difficult to go down the mountain." I wonder if I will have to crawl down the mountain!

Ha Chu and I walked along the flat road for a while and met up with the group of five people in front of us. After crossing the end of the flat road, we finally arrived at the highest point of today's trip - Nanzong Pass. When we got here, I couldn't help but feel relieved: I thought the most difficult moment was finally over.

During my trip to Yunnan in 2012, the highest altitude I encountered was over 4,000 meters, but I just looked at it...

After more than ten kilometers of uphill climbing, you will reach the top of the Zongla Pass, and then a 4-kilometer downhill descent will lead you to Yubeng.

It was my first time to climb a mountain at high altitude. I was very nervous before coming, but maybe it was because I didn’t have altitude sickness and I usually climb mountains, so it didn’t feel that hard.

We finally reached Nanzong Pass at 2 p.m. After four hours of walking through dense forest, feeling a bit depressed, the view suddenly brightened up. The sun shone brightly, the snow-capped mountains, and Yubeng Village lay before us, and the travelers began to cheer. My first sight of Yubeng: blue sky, white clouds, snow-capped mountains, and the village—a harmonious and beautiful sight.

For hikers, reaching Dayakou is something worth celebrating, as it means the most difficult part is over and they can start walking downhill. However, their physical strength has been basically exhausted. The slope from Shang Yubeng to Xia Yubeng is called the Slope of Despair, and it lives up to its name!

Fortunately, I got up here on horseback, otherwise I would have lost my life!

The only way to get in and out of Yubeng Village. Standing at the pass, you can enjoy the breathtaking view of Meili Snow Mountain.

When entering Yubeng, it was so exciting to climb the Zongla Pass. I could see the beautiful Meili Snow Mountain in front of me. More importantly, it was downhill from here.

The pass is hung with colorful prayer flags, as if to welcome us, the guests from afar.

Arriving at the pass, we saw the fluttering prayer flags

Finally, we reached the Nazongla Pass, the highest point of the entire journey, at 3,700 meters above sea level. After crossing the pass, the road began to descend. We rested for 20 minutes, had a bowl of fragrant yak beef fried rice, a large pancake, and a bowl of butter tea, and then continued on our way.

Nanzong Pass. It's a 16km walk from Xidang Hot Spring to here. It's all uphill.

Altitude 3700M.

Many people come here and feel liberated.