Maoya Grassland Viewpoint
▲ 4,050 mJust west of Litang the Maoya Grassland rolls all the way to the horizon at around 4,050 m, with yaks scattered across it like chess pieces — a wide, easy place to stop and breathe.
Day 9 of 20 · Act 2 · Onto the Roof
Sister Lakes · the Long Drop to Batang
Litang → Batang
4,685 m High point Mirror lakes · long drop
Past the twin Sister Lakes mirroring the sky below Haizi Mountain (4,685 m), then a huge descent of nearly two vertical kilometres down to warm, low Batang.
Landmarks
Sister Lakes
姊妹湖 · 4,353 m
Two still alpine lakes side by side, mirroring the sky at about 4,350 m.
Haizi Pass
海子山垭口 · 4,685 m
A 4,685 m pass on a vast plateau of glacial boulders.
Batang
巴塘 · 2,580 m
A warm river town near 2,580 m — the last stop in Sichuan.
Stops along the way
6 scenic check-in spots on this stage — pull over at any of them for a postcard.
Heni Township Viewpoint
▲ 4,006 mHeni Township sits deep in the Maoya Grassland at about 4,006 m — its riders' rest stop has lawns, grazing yaks and roadside hot springs. A cozy halfway pause on the high plain.
Haizi Mountain Stone Sea
▲ 4,601 mOn Haizi Mountain an ancient ice cap left behind a sea of stone — glacial boulders stretching to the skyline near 4,600 m. One of the strangest, most lunar sights on 318.
Haizi Pass
▲ 4,677 mHaizi Pass crowns the ancient ice cap at about 4,685 m, with the Sister Lakes behind you and the stone sea spilling toward the horizon — a high, wind-swept top of the world.
Sister Lakes Viewpoint
▲ 4,501 mThree kilometres past Haizi Pass, look back at two pools of mirror-still turquoise around 4,350 m — the Sister Lakes below Haizi Mountain, the most famous pair of eyes on the whole Sichuan–Tibet road.
Lana Mountain Tunnel Mouth
▲ 3,448 mBeyond the Lana Mountain tunnel at about 3,448 m the road keeps dropping toward Batang, and the warmth of the Jinsha River valley creeps closer with every switchback.
Questions about this day
What are the Sister Lakes on the G318?
Two still alpine lakes side by side below Haizi Mountain, mirroring the sky at about 4,350 m — one of the most photographed spots on the road, and a check-in viewpoint in the game.
How big is the descent to Batang?
Huge — after Haizi Pass at 4,685 m the road drops nearly two vertical kilometres down to warm, low Batang at about 2,580 m, the last town in Sichuan.
How do I handle a long descent in the game?
Let it run, but stay in control: tilt to steer through the bends and feather the brakes rather than holding them. Long drops are the reward for the climb — and a great chance to grab a postcard at the Sister Lakes on the way down.
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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