A 1000 kilometer journey of ascension to the soaring heights of
Tibetan Altitude
Beginning at a humble 500 meter elevation above sea level at the modern capital city of the Sichuan province, Chengdu, and pressing ever upward into the wild Himalayan mountains of south western Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan province. Passing by the highest airport in the world in Daocheng county. Finally hiking to Milk Lake in the Yading Daocheng Nature Reserve gasping for air at 4480m (14,700 feet).
The Nature Reserve covers an area of 1344 square kilometers (520 square miles) with an average elevation of well over 4000 meters. It is home to the 3 holy mountains of Chenresig (Compassion), rising to 6032 meters (19,790 feet), Chana Dorje (Power) and Jampelyang (Wisdom), which both stand at 5958 meters (19,547 feet). The 3 snow-capped peaks sit in a triangle formation with forested valleys, clear rivers, glacier-fed lakes and abundant wildlife between them.