We made it! Despite the worryingly high chance of getting snowed in en route, we got all the way from Chengdu to Lhasa – 3,000 kilometres – with only two tyre changes, one mild case of altitude sickness and one lost-and-later-found passport. I leave Lhasa today, heading back to the oxygen-rich fug of Chengdu to defrost (with the help of some mapo tofu), and thence to Hong Kong on Tuesday.

I’m due at the airport shortly, so a full report will need to wait for a day or two, but for now, here is a photographic taster of the last fortnight’s travels…

Enjoy!

xx

Autumn in progress, between Danba and Bamei

Snowclouds, en route to Serqu

A traffic jam inside a long tunnel damaged in the 2008 Sichuan Earthquake

Mani stones, Nam-tso

The roof of Ramoche Temple, Lhasa

Snack time, Serxu

A mile of prayer stones, Bagemani, Serxu

Moonrise over the Four SIsters’ Mountains, Sichuan

Lake Yilhun La-tso, Manigango

Waiting, TIbet

Frosty morning in Tagong, Mt Yala in the background

Upper reaches of the Yangtze, outside Qumarleg

Sunset over the Trola Mountains, outside Ganzi

Boy band material, Yushu

Road yaks, Serqu

Frozen reservoir at dusk, Serqu

Yak butter lamps, Yushu

Behind the Potala Palace, Lhasa

We crash a wedding near Danba

Mani stones for sale, Yushu

Earthquake damage, Yushu

Night, Tuotuohe

Day 1: Our first 4,000 metre mountain pass

Sera Monastery, Lhasa

Sunset, Nagchu, Tibet

Flower seller, Jana Mani, Yushu

Noodle action, Qumarleg

A young tulku (‘living buddha’), Serxu

Potala Palace and reflection, Lhasa

Wolf, Serqu

The frosty road to Nam-tso

Amdo nomad style, Yushu

A Gyarong Castle, Wori

A yak! Luhuo

Girl, Jana Mani, Yushu