The Problems You May Encounter
Oxygen Short --Traveling through Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai-Tibet plateau, most areas you will pass are 3,000 meters above sea level, the highest place near to 5,000 meters. The percentage of oxygen in air is 60%-70% of that in plain ground under this height. At the same time, the consumption of oxygen is much more than that of plain ground when you do activities. This condition of lacking oxygen might become a big problem for all travelers.
Temperature Difference -- In high altitude areas, temperature difference between day and night could be more than ten centigrade degrees. In day time, it is burning sun and too strong ultraviolet radiation, which is wrecking your skins at any time. You will feel pain and your skins will drop down. While during night, the howling strong wind with snow and nipping low temperature reduce your body-surface temperature.
Diseases -- Because of different body conditions, great energy off during journey, comparatively inferior food condition, allergy to skin caused by all kinds of plants, unexpected changing climate and temperature difference, various diseases are easily coming up to you. If you had heavy cold, fever and bronchitis sufferings and have not yet recovered before journey, we suggest that you had better cancel this journey plan. It is only a small economy losing but your life will not be hazard.
Physical Force Down -- Physical force may be down caused by reasons including low nourishment renewing, everyday activities, bad sleep, falling sick, willpower collapsing etc.
Must-take drugs, clothes and other necessities
Drug: Daily medicine: orally-take liquid for anti altitude striss, godal capsule, multivitamins, liver oil and other drugs for cold and diarrhea. You will feel headache, depressed chest, hurry breath, naupathia, vomit, insomnia when you enter the area of altiplano. 1-2 days later, these symptoms will gradually lighten or disappear. Anyone who suffers heart-attack, pulmonary disease, and hypertension is not suggested to enter altiplano.
Food: vegetables, fruits and fresh water are preferable to have when you just enter altiplano. Sufficient water-drinking before activities in the morning, less but frequent water-drinking during activities, no smoking and alcohol drinking, no cold and dressed with sauce and raw meat eating are all requested. A few chocolates, beef jerky, and other high calorie food are suggested to take. (Condensation food, soda pop etc. are out of choice because they will definitely blow out when it is low press or oxygen)
Clothes: winter clothing, rain coat, travel shoes, sunglasses, gloves, sunproof cream etc.
Other necessities: small back bag, camera, several batteries, film, memory card for digital camera.
1. Remember telephone contact numbers of travel agency and driver as well as drivers name. Follow driver or leaders advice and report any unusual situation of car or road to driver, being aware of things around you. No acute activities and good sleep is essential. Keep taking multivitamins and tell driver or go to nearest hospital when serious uncomfortable feel appears.
2. Protect environments. No littering. No plant picking. No wild animal harm.
3. Respect local custom and religious belief. Speak and act cautiously. Please ask help from driver or local police (110 is an option to dial) when any argument or accident happens.
4. No single driving is recommended during the journey. Serious accident may happen because most period of road is along alp and valley. However, you can talk with driver while car is driving on grassland. He may agree you to have a drive on plain grassland.
5. Traveling through Pan Tibet by 4WD, you will meet quite a few mountain passes that are 4,000 kilometers above sea level. These passes are good places of watching fantastic sceneies while it is low temperature and strong wind blowing. Usually, the driver will stop at these passes where you can have a glimpse of beautiful scenes. Please be away from edge of dangerous roads in case of accident happening and keep warm.
(The altitude chart of the main road passes)
Additional explanation
Except Chengdu, Kunming several big cities, you will go across the most underdeveloped area of China during this cross-travel by 4WD. Therefore, tour compounded establishes and service standards along itinerary are comparatively low. 4 stars hotel is very few only in some places, of which service standards is still low. Except in Chengdu, Kunming and Lhasa, decent western eatery is rare. You have to try local Chinese food, of which is a nice experience of travel. We know that the tourism service standard of China West is far behind that of developed countries and we kindly require youd better understand the real situation before you decide to go. All in all: natural scenery and human civilization of China West are first class but simple and crude travel conditions.
