Tibet Travel Guide by Lonely Planet

Author:Lonely Planet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lonely Planet Pty, Ltd

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

At the time of research, foreigners were not allowed to travel on public transport in Tibet. Basic information is included here in case the situation changes.

Markham སྨར་ཁམས་ 芒康

0895

It’s possible to make it all the way to Pomda from Bathang in one long day’s drive (about eight hours), but stopping in Markham (pronounced Mángkāng in Chinese) makes some sense. Markham has for centuries been a strategic crossroads town on the salt and tea trade routes between Tibet and China. The road leading south from here goes to the remote but fascinating riverside salt-mining town of Tsakalho ( 盐井 ; Yánjǐng), which still produces salt from its open salt pans beside the Mekong River, before continuing across the border into Yúnnán province. Foreigners haven’t been allowed to use this border for some time now, although, as always, getting out of Tibet is considerably easier than getting in.

These days Markham has a largely Han Chinese feel to it, plus a strong police presence, so make sure you have your papers in order before showing up.

Xuěyù Bīnguǎn ( 雪域宾馆 ; 454 3399; tw Y110) is a reliable backpacker-friendly guesthouse with OK rooms. Private bathrooms have sit-down loos. It’s on the southbound road, about 200m from the T-junction with Hwy 318.

Between Xuěyù Bīnguǎn and the Hwy 318 junction is a cluster of decent Sichuanese restaurants, some of which are open round the clock.

It takes about three hours to drive here from Bathang. Public buses passing through Markham tend to stop at the hotel Jiāotōng Bīnguǎn ( 交通宾馆 ) to fill up any spare seats they may have.

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