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How to get to Deqin, on the Tibetan border? Tibet trekking
Deqin is the last town before Tibet, in Northern Yunnan Province and is well worth a visit. Deqin town, is different from “Diqing” which is the name of the airport in Zhongdian/Shangri-la.
You can visit Deqin at anytime of the year. It can be cold in the evenings, especially in the winter, but this is easily compensated by the stunning, clear, crisp days and the breathtaking views of the mountains.
Deqin is a five hour bus ride from Zhongdian. You can also catch sleeper buses to Deqin from Kunming and Dali.
Leaving Deqin
There are numerous buses leaving Deqin everyday including:
- Several buses to Zhongdian
- Buses to Cizong
- A straight through bus to Lijiang or Tiger Leaping Gorge Town
- Sleeper buses to Dali and Kunming.
There are no buses leaving Deqin after midday.
Many travellers make the mistake of spending lots of time in other, well known places, and leave just a few days to explore Deqin, to their regret. The Tibetan border area is one of the most spectacular areas you will visit on your travels, so please allow enough time to explore.
Can I get to Deqin in the Winter?
The road from Zhongdian to Deqin crosses a 4100m pass and can often be covered in snow at winter time, however the high temperatures, during the day, plus the heavy traffic volume, means that the road never stays blocked for long.
Landslides
In the rainy season, July to September, the roads around Deqin can be cut by landslides, however, the roads rarely stay closed for long, so a little patience is all that is needed. Landslides can also be caused by the wind in the spring, when the shifting hot and cold air masses create strong gusts, that whip up the valleys and dis-lodge rocks.