Zheduo La Pass — G318 High-Altitude Gateway to the Tibetan Plateau

Zheduo La (折多山垭口) sits at roughly 4,298 meters and marks the dramatic transition from the forested Kangding River valley into the open, windswept Tibetan plateau. Standing at the prayer-flag-draped summit, you get a clear sightline across rolling grasslands toward Xinduqiao and the ranges beyond. This is a well-known photo stop and a genuine milestone on G318 — most overlanders pull over here to soak it in and check tire pressures before descending the long western switchbacks. Altitude sickness is real at this elevation; if you’re coming straight from Chengdu, your body hasn’t had time to adjust.

The road to the summit is fully paved as of recent years, though winter brings black ice and occasional closures. The pass can be socked in with cloud or snow any month of the year. No services at the top — fuel in Kangding before you climb. Cell signal is Spotty at the summit. Best window is May through October, though even summer mornings can be below freezing.

First big pass west of Kangding — 4,298m