Laos – China – Pakistan Overland Road Trip

Route: Laos – China – Pakistan

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China/Pakistan border is open for tourists from April 1st to November 30th.

Duration: 23 Days

Highlights

China’s megacities and rural areas, world natural and cultural heritage sites, national parks of china, giant panda, tibetan areas, tibetan buddhist monasteries, xinjiang uygur region…

Itinerary

Day 1: Mohan – Mengla, 50KM

Entering China from Laos This Morning. It is recommended to gather one day in advance at a place not far from border of Laos and China.

Finish immigration and customs formalities, Buy China SIM Card.

Day 2: Menla – Pu’er, 240kms

Vehicle and drivers’ formalities, drive to Pu’er after all formalities are completed.

Day 3: Pu’er – An Agricultural town after kunming, 470km, 6 hours

Visit opportunity:

Day 4: Kunming – Yibin, 550km, 7 hours

Keep driving to Yibin, a city located at the junction of the Min and Yangtze Rivers. Yibin, the city of bridges, the city of liquor(Baijiu).

Day 5: Yibin – Leshan, 160km

Visit opportunity: Leshan Giant Buddha, a 71-metre (233 ft) tall stone statue, built between 713 and 803 during the Tang dynasty, UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 6: Leshan – Chengdu, 150km, 2 hours

Chengdu, with a permanent population of 21.192 million has a unique food culture, the picy and tongue-numbing Sichuan cuisine and hot pot are full of praise. Remember to visit the Chengdu Panda Base, home to more than 200 giant pandas.

Day 7: Chengdu

Visit opportunity: Giant Panda & take a rest.

Day 8: Chengdu – Songpan ancient town, 320km, 7 hours

This is one of the most popular travel routes in China. Today we gradually entered the Tibetan area, the altitude gradually increased, and the altitude of the destination was 2800m.

Visit opportunity: Songpan ancient town

Day 9: Songpan – Huanglong National Park – Chuanzhusi

Today we use enough time to explore Huanglong National Park.Huanglong was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992 because of its outstanding travertine formations, waterfalls and limestone formations as well as its travertine terraces and lakes rating among the three most outstanding examples in the world. This park is suitable for both adults and children.

Day 10: Chuanzhusi – Labrang Monastery, 400km, 7 hours

Leaving Sichuan Province and entering Gansu Province, Labrang is located in the traditional Tibetan area of Amdo. Labrang Monastery is home to the largest number of monks outside the Tibet Autonomous Region. In the early part of the 20th century, Labrang was by far the largest and most influential monastery in Amdo. It is located on the Daxia River, a tributary of the Yellow River

Day 11: Labrang Monastery – Rebkong (Tongren), 110kms

This area is definitely the center of Tibetan Buddhist culture and art. Labrang monastery,  then drive to Rebkong(Tongren), surrounding monasteries include Rongwo Monastery, Gomar Monastery (located in a fortress), Nianduhu Si(Nyendug Gompa, Gelugpa monastery), and the Upper and Lower  Wutun monasteries in Wutun village.

Rebkong (Tongren) area is not yet a tourist-developed place, it is highly recommended to stay in this area for one night, people here including Tibetans and the various Muslim peoples are friendly and hospitable.

Day 12: Rebkong – Qilian, 440km, 6 hours

Driving through Hui Muslim Areas we arrive Qilian, a County in the middle part of the Qilian Mountains, the average altitude of 3169m.

Day 13: Qilian – Sunan – Jiayuguan, 344km, 8 hours

Qilian Mountain Hinterland

Day 14: Jiayuguan – Dunhuang, 370km, 4 hours

Visit opportunity:

Jiayu Pass or Jiayuguan: The first frontier fortress at the west end of the Ming dynasty Great Wall;

Overhanging Great Wall: Running north from Jiayuguan Fort, this section of the Great Wall is believed to have been first constructed in 1539, though it was reconstructed in 1987.

Day 15: Dunhuang

Visit opportunity:

Mogao caves: The ‘Caves of the Thousand Buddhas’ (Qianfodong), also known as Mogao, are a magnificent treasure trove of Buddhist art. They are located in the desert, about 15 miles south-east of the town of Dunhuang in north western China. By the late fourth century, the area had become a busy desert crossroads on the caravan routes of the Silk Road linking China and the West. Traders, pilgrims, and other travelers stopped at the oasis town to secure provisions, pray for the journey ahead or give thanks for their survival. Records state that in 366 monks carved the first caves into the cliff stretching about 1 mile along the Daquan River. The Mogao Caves became one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987.

Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring: Legendary desert peak featuring an ancient crescent-shaped lake & traditional-style building.

Day 16: Dunhuang – Shanshan, 730km, 8-9 hours

Today we enter the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, long drives on the highway all day.

Day 17: Shanshan – Turpan, 90km, 2 hours

Turpan is the most original city near Urumqi with Uyghur ethnicity. It is highly recommended to leave the highway, take some country trails, and drive through Uighur towns and villages, where you can buy naan and various melons and fruits on the road.

Visit opportunity: Gaochang Old City, Baizikli Cave of Thousand Buddhas, Flaming Mountain

Day 18: Turpan – Urumqi, 200km, 3 hours

Visit opportunity: Turpan’s karez water system, Jiaohe ancient city

Day 19: Urumqi

Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the far northwest of China. Ürümqi developed its reputation as a leading cultural and commercial center during the Qing dynasty in the 19th century. With a census population of 4 million in 2020, Ürümqi is the second-largest city in China’s northwestern interior after Xi’an as well as the largest in Central Asia in terms of population.We think it’s worth staying for a day here.

Visit opportunity: Xinjiang Museum, Hongshan, International Grand Bazaar,

Day 20-Day21: Urumqi – Kashgar

drive 2 days 1479km from Urumqi to Kashgar

Day 22: Kashgar – KKH Karakoram Highway – Tashkurgan, 300km, 6 hours

Visit opportunity: White Sand Lake, Kala Kule Lake, Muztagata, Pamir Mountains View

Day 23:Tashkurgan – Khunjerab Pass – Pakistan

Completion of customs and border inspection exit procedures. Bye China, Hello Pakistan.