# Mount Kailash (冈仁波齐)

Ngari, Tibet Autonomous Region · Southwest, China · Guidebook rating: 5/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/mount-kailash
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** ¥150
- **Time needed:** 1–2 days
- **Good for:** Temples, Photography, Mountains & Adventure, Nature

## About Mount Kailash

The highlight of a trip to Ali is Mount Kailash, the most sacred of mountains, and its companion holy lake, Lake Manasarovar.
Mount Kailash rises to 6,638 m and is the main peak of the Gangdise Mountains. Its snowy peak is symmetrical on all four sides, resembling a pyramid, which adds to its sense of mystery. Kailash is regarded as the centre of the world by Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism and Bön alike, so pilgrims arrive in an unbroken stream. To this day, no one has climbed it, as its sacred status in people’s hearts cannot tolerate being trodden by ordinary mortals.

## Tips from the guidebook

- Routes to the Mountain
- Route 1: Heading south. From Kashgar, travel south along the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway. From Yecheng it takes about 3 days to reach Shiquanhe, then change to another vehicle for Mount Kailash. There is no public transport on the Xinjiang-Tibet Highway. You can catch a lift at the Mountain Guesthouse or at Kilometre Zero, or wait by the roadside for military vehicles heading to Tibet. Shiquanhe is 480 km from the sacred mountain; with luck, it can be reached in one day.
- Route 2: Heading west. From Lhasa, travel west to Lhazê, passing Yamdrok Lake, and spend a night in Lhazê or Shigatse. Beyond Lhazê there are few places to eat or stay. At 53 km you reach Kaga Town, and 65 km further on is Sangsang, where you can also find lodging. 122 km beyond Sangsang is Road Maintenance Station No. 22, which has a sign pointing to Ali and splits into northern and southern routes.
- Northern Route: From Station 22, the northern route takes 6 days. The road is very bumpy, but the scenery is good. At 242 km you reach Coqen County, where highland guesthouses are available. 117 km north of Coqen is Dong Co, a fork in the road where trucks come to carry salt to Lhasa or Shigatse. 90 km west of the fork is Gerze, which has several Sichuanese restaurants and places to stay. Beyond Gerze is Ge’gyai, where you can stay at the county guesthouse. From Ge’gyai to Shiquanhe town is 112 km. From Shiquanhe town, Mount Kailash can be reached in one day.
- Southern Route: Shorter than the northern route, taking about 4 days. There are no lifts, so you must charter a vehicle. The southern route is very dangerous, so it is advisable to avoid it if possible.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 590. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.