Zada is located in the southwest of the Ali area, with dry air and sparse vegetation. The "river-lake phasic" landform has formed a 2,464 square kilometer earth forest landscape here. The observation decks on the Zada Gully and Sanga Gully roadsides are recommended for photography enthusiasts to capture the earth forest during sunrise and sunset.
Ancient Kingdom of Guge ruins
The ruins of the kingdom of Guge are located about 18 kilometers from Zanda County, with its interior murals illuminated by natural light. It is advisable to visit early in order to have enough time. If the time is not enough on the same day, you can also visit the next morning. The ruins of the kingdom of Guge are located on a slope, forming a cluster of ancient buildings from top to bottom. The uppermost part is the ancient palace of the Guge Dynasty, which was built in the late 10th century and was abandoned after the fall of the Guge regime in 1635.
Torin Monastery is located in Zanda County, with the Xiangquan River flowing by. Built during the ancient Guge Dynasty, it is the oldest Buddhist monastery in the Ngari region. Visitors interested in Tibetan Buddhism can visit the monastery to see the pagodas and murals.
Xiangquan River
After turning onto G565 from Tolin Temple Road, you will pass the Xiangquan River Bridge. The Xiangquan River is one of the main rivers in the Ali region, named after its source valley resembling an elephant's trunk. Its basin is the birthplace of the Xiangxiong Kingdom and the Guge Kingdom.
Banchen Dzogchen
After arriving in Rituxian County, drive a few kilometers to see Bangong Co. Along the highway, it stretches vast like a sea. Bangong Co. means "long-necked swan" and its water surface is long and narrow, extending to the west of Kashmir. With an elevation of 4240 meters, the water of Bangong Co. is brackish in the west and fresh in the east. It is home to many fish and birds, and in summer, one can also see Mediterranean gulls.
Red Earth Grand Dune
Travel north along G219 for 3 hours, you will reach Hongtudaban, which has an altitude of 5278 meters and is the highest mountain pass on the Xin-Tibet Highway. The area near Hongtudaban features a red soil plateau landscape.
When reaching Jiashan Daban at an altitude of 5248 meters, you have reached the border between Tibet and Xinjiang. After a short walk of 20 minutes, you will arrive at the famous Quanshui Lake. Located in the depths of the Kunlun Mountains, Quanshui Lake is formed by the convergence of nearby mountain springs, and its water can be consumed directly.
