Self-driving tour of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (22) Midui Glacier at low latitude and low temperature.

Self-driving tour of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway (22) Midui Glacier at low latitude and low temperature Nyingchi-Chamdo, Tibet September 20, 2024 The weather in Bomi is cloudy to overcast with occasional light rain, with a temperature of 13-26°C and an altitude of 3,820 meters, National Highway 318. The hotel we stayed in last night was a young local Tibetan chain brand hotel "Pingcuo Kangsang" (Tibetan means warm house). As soon as we arrived at the hotel, we received enthusiastic and considerate service from the staff, which made us feel tired from the journey. As an ordinary traveler, I really feel "at home". Today we drove from Bomi to Basu. There are three construction sites on the 3865-3842 km section of National Highway 318 (Bomi boundary), and half of them are alternately open to traffic. On the way, our car was sandwiched in the military vehicle column and enjoyed the right of way. Even so, it was blocked for about half an hour. Visit Midui Glacier in the morning (Figure 1). Midui Glacier is located in Yupu Township, Bomi County. The entrance of the scenic spot is on the side of National Highway 318, which is convenient to enter. After buying a ticket, you can take a scenic bus for nearly 10 minutes and then walk 1,720 meters. The initial section has a long uphill, and the middle and later sections need to climb 282 stone steps to reach the viewing platform at the deepest part of the scenic spot (Figure 2, 3,820 meters above sea level). Midui Glacier is a typical representative of marine glaciers in southeastern Tibet. The main peak of the glacier is 6,800 meters above sea level, and the snow line is only 4,600 meters above sea level, and it shines all year round (Figure 3). Affected by the climate of the eastern section of the Himalayas, although the glacier is located at 29° north latitude, the temperature at the end of the glacier is lower than that of the glacier in Bogda Mountain at 44° north latitude, which is a special phenomenon in modern glaciers in China (Figure 4). There are hundreds of meters long ice tongues (Figure 5). Here, glaciers, lakes, farmland, pastures, villages, forests, etc. are integrated, and it is a model of harmonious coexistence between man and nature. The mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest at the foot of the glacier has shown colorful autumn colors (Figure 6), In the afternoon, continue east along National Highway 318 and return to Chamdo. There is no road construction in the Chamdo-Basu section, and the road conditions are good. I want to go to Laigu Glacier to take a look. Due to the bad weather and tight time, I plan to go tomorrow and walk around Ranwu Lake by the way (Figure 7). Ranwu Lake is not hidden in the deep mountains and is not easy to reach, but it stretches along the side of National Highway 318 and extends to the foot of Laigu Glacier. It is fully open and free of charge. Ranwu Lake was formed more than 200 years ago. A landslide occurred in the downstream area of ​​Ranwu Lake today. The huge collapsed stone dam blocked the Parlung Zangbo and formed a huge plateau barrier lake, which is today's Ranwu Lake (Figure 8). There are green grasslands and green crops by the lake; there are vast forests on the hillside by the lake, and there are many rocks and small islands dotted around the lake (Figure 9). The lake water here should be blue or green. Due to the previous rainy season, there was more silt brought down from the mountain. The two lakes today are yellow and the viewing is not good. Stay in the nearby Ranwu Town (altitude 3890 meters) tonight, the weather tomorrow is to be observed, and strive to complete the tour of Laigu Glacier.