Medog County is located in the southeast of the Tibet Autonomous Region, in the middle and lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River. It is known as the "Secret Lotus Land". Medog has a typical three-dimensional climate zone with tropical, subtropical, temperate and frigid zones coexisting, and is extremely rich in wild animal and plant resources.
If you take the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, Medog is about 1,500 kilometers away from Chengdu, Sichuan, and 730 kilometers away from Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. In addition, the Zhamo Highway implements a "double-in, one-out" traffic policy. To this day, it is still difficult to reach the "secret land" of Medog. It's not easy.
The sunset scenery of Medog County, the "Secret Land of Lotus".
In winter, the Medog alpine coniferous forest is covered with snow, the Yarlung Zangbo River is churning in the sea of clouds, the banana groves along the Zhamo Highway are green, and "wild waterfalls" appear in front of you from time to time... Follow Xiaoxin's lens to see the "Secret Lotus Land" in winter "What is the scene in Medog?"
Zhamo Highway: Beautiful scenery and thrills at the same time
In October 2013, after decades of repeated destruction and construction, the 117-kilometer Zhamu Highway from Zhamu Town in Bomi County to Medog County was opened to traffic, ending the history of "no roads" in Medog.
On December 18, 2023, the Bomi section of the Zhamo Highway in Linzhi, Tibet was covered with snow and ice.
The Galongla Tunnel on the Zhamo Highway, the Galongla Snow Mountain above the tunnel is a natural hazard, and was once the biggest "stumbling block" to entering Medog.
The Zhamo Highway starts from Zhamu Town, Bomi County, Linzhi City. On the day Xiaoxin drove into Medog, the high-altitude road sections such as Galongla Mountain were covered with snow and ice. Many drivers along the way installed anti-skid chains on their vehicles to ensure smooth operation. pass.
After passing through the Galongla Tunnel, the snow is deeper. The winding road down the mountain consists of multiple turns, so you can only pass through it carefully. The scenery along the way changes constantly with the sudden drop in altitude.
On December 18, 2023, a vehicle passed through the Galongla Tunnel on the Zhamo Highway and wound down the mountain.
The maintenance equipment along the Zhamo Highway is used to ensure that landslides, avalanches and other situations that may occur at any time are cleared.
The Zhamo Highway and the surrounding virgin forest in heavy snow.
On the Zhamo Highway, a car drove towards Medog County in the snow.
Banana groves along the Zhamo Highway.
On December 20, 2023, the scenery of Lianhua Lake in Medog County.
Medog people: Changes brought about by roads
In the ten years since the Zhamo Highway was opened to traffic, Medog County has undergone tremendous changes. Official data provided by Medog County shows that the urban area of Medog has expanded from 0.93 square kilometers to 2.18 square kilometers. The service capabilities of municipal facilities have been continuously enhanced, urban functions have been increasingly improved, and the living environment has continued to improve.
On December 20, 2023, the scenery of Lianhua Lake in Medog County.
Panoramic view of Medog County, Linzhi, Tibet in winter.
The life of Medog people has also become diversified: imported food, various fruits and vegetables are available in supermarkets, the newly put into use library by the Lotus Lake is the largest county-level library in Tibet, and people of the Monba and Lhoba ethnic groups set up stalls on both sides of the road. Selling bananas, lemons, sugar cane and other specialties to add income to the family, the Lhoba female taxi driver has a capable style...
On the evening of December 22, 2023, a child looked through books in the children's area of the new library in Medog County.
On December 19, 2023, Tsering Wangjia of the Monba ethnic group in Medog County stacked bananas at a roadside stall at the entrance of the village. These Medog specialties are mainly sold to passing tourists.
On December 19, 2023, while guarding a stall in Madi Village, Medog County, villagers used bamboo knives to break bamboo for weaving bamboo utensils.
On December 21, 2023, Nyima Dolma, the only Lhoba female taxi driver in Medog County, prepared to drive out.
In Medog County, two old men took a nap under a cypress tree.
Medog winter: sea of clouds, waterfalls and endless scenery
Medog can be said to be a sight to behold, with the Brahmaputra River flowing through one side of the county. In winter, every morning the Yarlung Zangbo River is filled with clouds, and the clouds and mist drift to the county town from time to time, making it like a fairyland. About 2 kilometers northeast of the county, there is the "Mirage" viewing platform, which overlooks the county scenery and the rushing Brahmaputra River. It is worth mentioning that there is a waterfall on the way to the observation deck, pouring down from the mountains and forests.
On December 22, 2023, the scenery of the Yarlung Zangbo River and the sea of clouds.
In winter, Medog County is surrounded by clouds and fog.
Scenery of clouds and mist on the Brahmaputra River.
Waterfall landscape near Medog County.
In the evening, you can overlook the canyons and snow-capped mountains in the distance from the county seat. At sunset, Medog people can see the scene of "Golden Mountains Shining on the Sun" when they look up.
When traveling to villages around the county, waterfalls appear on both sides of the road from time to time. The Guoguotang Big Bend of the Yarlung Zangbo River is the "check-in" point for tourists to go to Medog for sightseeing (the bridge from Medog County to the Guoguotang Big Bend is currently under construction, so you need to cross the bridge on foot and transfer to the bus).
On December 21, 2023, Medog County in the sunset.
In the evening, you can see the "Rizhao Jinshan" landscape from Medog County.
On December 21, 2023, the scenery of Dongsa Walking Waterfall in Yarang Village, Medog County.
The scenery of walking waterfalls in Dongsa, Yarang Village, Medog County.
The big bend in the fruit pond of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Medog County.
Panoramic scenery of Medog County on December 19, 2023, with the Brahmaputra River on the right side of the screen.
AI also went to Medog
Let’s take a look at Medog in the eyes of AI
Tips for traveling to Medog in winter:
1. The total length of the road from Zhamu Town in Bomi County to Zhamu in Medog County is 117 kilometers. The road conditions are complex and dangerous. If you are driving in winter, a four-wheel drive SUV is recommended. You also need to carry anti-skid chains. The driver must have plateau driving experience;
2. Zhamo Highway currently implements the "double entry, single exit" traffic policy, that is, only vehicles from Bomi to Medog with even numbers are allowed, and only vehicles from Medog to Bomi with odd numbers are released;
3. Medog is a border county, so you need to apply for a border pass in advance for inspection by relevant departments. In addition, when operating aerial photography drones in border areas, you need to learn about relevant policies from the competent authorities.
Text and photos: Reporter Jiang Feibo
Vision: Song Xiaoyu
Mapping: Sino-Singapore AI Laboratory