The only county in China that you can enter only by buying a ticket
Have you ever heard that you need to buy a ticket to enter a scenic spot, but have you ever thought that you also need a voucher to enter the county? Today, Luisito would like to share with you the mysterious county seat—Medog County.
Please see, this is Medog, located in the embrace of Linzhi City, Tibet Autonomous Region, and it is the only shining pearl in China embedded in the southern slope of the Himalayas.
This is the last untouched and uncontaminated pure land in China. Due to its remote geographical location, Medog has been able to retain its most primitive natural features and cultural customs, making it seem like an independent wonderland.
In the past, Medog used a ticket system to maintain its tourism operations. However, since last year, Medog has opened its arms and canceled the charging policy. This mysterious county has finally opened its doors to the world, welcoming tourists from all over the world to visit.
This move will surely inject new vitality into Medog’s tourism industry and promote its vigorous development, which is indeed a matter to which everyone is happy. Now, Medog has opened its arms and looks forward to going on this mysterious journey with you and feeling the originality and purity.
The last county in China open to traffic
Before 2013, the land of Medog was like a secret and independent place in the world, and was known as “the most difficult place to reach in China”.
This place is not only inaccessible by planes and trains, but also inaccessible by car. This is all due to the unpredictable climate in Medog, with frequent earthquakes, landslides, landslides and mudslides becoming the norm. The complexity of the terrain is even more breathtaking. The mountains are steep into the clouds and the rocks are as hard as iron.
Therefore, building roads in Medog does not face a single difficulty, but a series of huge problems that are difficult to overcome.
However, the country’s determination to build the Medog Highway is firm and has never wavered. After 52 years, from 1961 to 2013, the 117.28-kilometer-long Zhamo Highway was finally completed.
Behind this first highway in Medog is the heroic sacrifice of more than 200 workers, and the glorious achievements achieved by thousands of people after half a century and countless attempts and failures.
Mysterious “Plateau Island”
Once upon a time, Medog seemed isolated from the world, like an isolated “plateau island” with few human traces.
However, with the opening of the road to traffic, this hidden island finally unveiled its mysterious veil, revealing its astonishing beauty.
It is like a bright pearl inlaid in the southern foothills of the Himalayas. It is like a fairyland on earth and is breathtaking.
Medog means “flower” in Tibetan. When you walk into this land, you will deeply understand why people often say: “There is only one Medog in the world, and Medog owns the whole world.”
Although it is located on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, its altitude is only 900 meters, which seems to be a special blessing from nature to this land.
Here, you don’t have to worry about lack of oxygen, you can breathe the fresh air and feel the gentleness and tranquility of this wonderland.
Medog is a natural landscape painting.
There are continuous snow-capped mountains here, as well as green mountains and green waters surrounding them.
Whether it’s majestic snow peaks, vast meadows, waterfalls, springs, or tropical rainforests, you can find traces of them here.
In addition, there are a variety of wild animals roaming in the forest. The tea gardens in the mountains exude a faint fragrance of tea, and are dotted with pineapples, bananas and other tropical fruits, adding a unique style to this land. .
Walking into Medog is like walking into a poem or a painting. The magnificent scenery here is unforgettable. Only by experiencing it in person can you truly appreciate the indescribable beauty.
Standing on the edge of the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon, you will be shocked by the bottomless canyon;
Standing on the top of Duoxionla Mountain, you will be intoxicated by the mist-shrouded peaks;
Standing at the foot of Namjagbarwa Peak, you will be impressed by the majestic and domineering peak.
In addition, Medog also has natural wonders that make people forget to leave. Guoguotang Big Bend is named after its shape that resembles a lollipop. The rapid river water forms a 360-degree bend here, which is amazing.
And those large and small waterfalls connect a primitive, simple and mysterious area, making people feel like they are in a paradise.
Medog’s food is also a major feature here. Most of the ingredients here are taken from nature, and the cooking methods are simple yet delicious. Medog specialties such as stone pot chicken and stone pot beef are even more memorable.
Medog is a place that makes people sigh with admiration. It has both heavenly beautiful scenery and hellish dangerous roads.
It is this kind of experience of heaven and hell that makes Medog an unforgettable place.
If you ask Luisito, where else in the world can you be so amazed? Then, Medog must be on the list.
【The most important】
Since Medog is a sensitive area, you need to apply for a border defense permit in advance.
【best time】
The best time to travel to Medog is from April to May and from September to November each year. During this period, the climate in Medog is suitable. However, from December to March of the following year, due to heavy snowfall and road closures, vehicles cannot enter and exit Medog. June to August is the rainy season, with heavy rainfall, prone to landslides and mudslides, and leech locusts. There are many, so it is not recommended to go there.
【About access】
Self-driving: Although there are two highways, the Zamo Highway and the Paimo Highway, that lead to Medog, the Paimo Highway is currently inaccessible, so if you want to come, you can only take the Zamo Highway from Bomi, which takes about 7-9 hours from Nyingchi. The distance is double-entry and single-exit. You have to choose even-numbered days to enter Medog. You can only choose to return the same way when going out. Pay attention to planning your time.
Shuttle bus: Currently there is only one shuttle bus from Linzhi to Medog. You need to go to Bayi Town, the capital of Linzhi, to take the bus. It costs 182 yuan per person and leaves at 8:00.
【About prices】
It will be higher than Linzhi, so you can prepare some food in advance.
【About daily life】
There may be power outages and water outages from time to time, and the network signal is somewhat poor. It is best to prepare some bottled water and do not travel alone.