Niyang River Scenic Belt
▲ 3,185 mThe Niyang River Scenic Belt around 3,185 m follows the clear blue-green Niyang as it slips past Genzhang along old Route 318, cattle and sheep grazing easy on the midstream sandbars.
Day 18 of 20 · Act 5 · The Home Stretch
The Niyang River · Gongbo’gyamda
Nyingchi → Gongbo’gyamda
3,413 m High point Following the gentle river
A gentle day up the clear blue-green Niyang River to Gongbo’gyamda — easy, beautiful riding as the road eases toward Lhasa.
Landmarks
Niyang River
尼洋河
A clear blue-green river the road follows for two restful days.
Gongbo’gyamda
工布江达 · 3,360 m
A riverside town at about 3,360 m.
Stops along the way
2 scenic check-in spots on this stage — pull over at any of them for a postcard.
Xiuba Ancient Watchtowers & the Niyang River
▲ 3,229 mAt about 3,229 m, the millennium-old Xiuba stone watchtowers stand on the bank of the Niyang River, with old Route 318 passing right beneath them.
Questions about this day
What is the Niyang River?
A clear blue-green river the road follows for two restful days toward Lhasa. Day 18 is a gentle ride up it from Nyingchi to Gongbo’gyamda at about 3,360 m.
Is day 18 an easy day?
Yes — one of the prettiest, easiest days on the route, a soft uphill along the river. After the giant passes, it’s a calm stretch to enjoy the scenery and let your stamina coast.
Where is the Niyang River valley?
In Nyingchi prefecture, the low, green, mild corner of Tibet. The road eases toward Lhasa here, following the clear blue-green water through warm valleys.
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.
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