The Closest Paradise on Earth to Heaven

📍Detailed Address: • Ali, Tibet: Located in western Tibet Autonomous Region, northern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (Changtang Plateau), bordering Hotan Prefecture and Bayingolin Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the north, Nagqu City to the east, Shigatse City to the southeast, and Nepal, India, and Kashmir to the southwest and west. 🚗Transportation Guide: • By Air: Direct flights from Lhasa to Ali take approximately 2 hours. Though more expensive, this option saves considerable time. • By Bus: Depart from Lhasa North Bus Station and purchase tickets to Mount Kailash. The journey takes about 26 hours and costs around ¥650, which is relatively economical. • Carpooling or Private Car Rental: You can find drivers for carpooling on platforms, typically using 7-seater business vans. It's advisable to contact drivers in advance and reserve front or middle seats for a more comfortable journey. Carpooling takes about 24 hours with an overnight rest stop, costing between ¥650-700. 🕙Opening Hours: • As Ali has numerous attractions with varying opening hours, there is no unified schedule. Opening times for each attraction need to be checked individually. For example, the Ali Museum (Library) is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and closed on Mondays. 💰Ticket Prices: • Ticket prices for attractions in Ali vary. Some well-known sites have tickets ranging from ¥100 to ¥200. For instance, Everest Base Camp costs ¥160 for admission, ¥120 for shuttle bus, and entrance fees of ¥320 per vehicle (5-15 seats) or ¥480 per vehicle (17-29 seats); Mount Kailash (Sacred Mountain) costs ¥150 for admission and ¥60 per person for the 8km shuttle bus (not required if not circumambulating the mountain); Lake Manasarovar costs ¥120 for admission. 🌟Highlights: • Natural Landscapes: Ali boasts magnificent natural scenery, including Mount Kailash, Mount Naimona'nyi, Lake Manasarovar, and Lake Rakshastal, which together form Ali's unique landscape cluster. • Cultural Heritage: Ali is the birthplace of Zhangzhung civilization and Guge culture, rich with cultural heritage sites such as the Guge Kingdom Ruins, Toling Monastery, and Khorzhak Monastery. • Wildlife: Covering the core area of the Changtang Plateau, Ali is home to 80% of the world's Tibetan antelopes and serves as a habitat for large and medium-sized carnivores such as snow leopards, brown bears, and wolves. 📌Tips: • Clothing: Ali is quite warm during the day (T-shirts are sufficient), but nights can be cold, dropping to around freezing even in summer. Bring a down jacket (or thick windbreaker) and a thin sweater (or fleece). • Outdoor Gear: Camping equipment is generally unnecessary as passing vehicles can help if your car breaks down. However, a sleeping bag is essential for hygiene and moisture/odor prevention. Hiking boots are highly recommended, especially for circumambulating the mountain, as they provide good ankle protection. Flashlights or headlamps are a must, as areas west of Shigatse typically have no electricity at night. • Medications: Be sure to bring sufficient supplies of cold medicine, anti-diarrheal medication, high-efficiency anti-inflammatory drugs, and altitude sickness medication (you can buy "Gaoyuan'an" in Lhasa). • Border Permit: Due to Ali's special geographical location, many areas require a Border Permit for entry. Travelers should obtain this permit in their place of departure or in Lhasa.