Tiantuo · Yuqu River Bend
▲ 3,930 mThe Yuqu River curls past the village of Tiantuo around 3,930 m, with an old monastery and grazing herds gathered along the water — a quiet, gentle riverside scene.
Day 12 of 20 · Act 3 · Into Tibet
The Yuqu River · Bangda Grassland
Zogong → Bangda
4,592 m High point Wide open grassland
Follow the Yuqu River out onto the immense Bangda grassland — a flat, wind-scoured plain above 4,000 m that feels like the top of the world.
Landmarks
Yuqu River
玉曲河
A braided river meandering across the high plain.
Bangda Grassland
邦达草原 · 4,300 m
A vast high plain near 4,300 m, home to one of the highest airfields in the world.
Stops along the way
2 scenic check-in spots on this stage — pull over at any of them for a postcard.
Bangda Grassland Viewpoint
▲ 4,050 mPast the village of Asi the Bangda Grassland opens out of the valley near 4,050 m, with cattle, sheep and tents scattered to the horizon — a vast, wind-scoured high plain.
Questions about this day
What is the Bangda grassland?
A vast, flat, wind-scoured high plain near 4,300 m, reached along the Yuqu River. It’s home to one of the highest airfields in the world and feels like standing on the top of the world.
Is day 12 an easier day?
Relatively — after the 5,130 m roof the day before, the Bangda grassland is open and gently graded. It’s a chance to spin easy, enjoy the wide views, and let your stamina recover before the 72 Bends.
What does the grassland look like across the seasons?
Summer turns it deep green, autumn bleaches it gold, and winter scours it pale under a huge sky. The four seasons reskin the grassland in the game, so the same plain reads very differently depending on when you ride it.
A shared postcard from Cycling 318
Ride your own 318
Cycling 318 turns the road to Lhasa into a daily, cozy ride. Check in at the landmarks, collect a postcard from each, and fill your 318 passport.
Coming soon to the App Store