Wrapped in a quilt at 5,200 meters altitude watching the golden sun hit the mountain, I cried right away
Sisters, I really want to thank you 😭 In July in Shigatse, it’s 22 degrees during the day in short sleeves, and at night wrapped in a down quilt watching Everest turn golden in the sunset. Who understands this contrast!
Here’s how to get there 👇
Take the Fuxing high-speed train from Lhasa to Shigatse. It takes 2.5 hours. Second-class seat costs 64 yuan. Yes, you read that right, 64 yuan. In the 2026 summer travel season, extra temporary trains are added, so you basically don’t have to worry about tickets. From Shigatse station, a 20-minute taxi ride gets you to the old town. Rest one night to acclimate to the altitude (3,800 meters, don’t push yourself).
Set off early the next morning toward Everest 🚗
Shigatse → Dingri → Everest base camp, about 6 hours total. On the way, you’ll pass the 5,000 km marker on National Highway 318 (in Lazi County). Starting from Shanghai People’s Square, it’s exactly 5,000 km. You have to get off and take a photo. Then continue to the Gyatso La Pass at 5,248 meters, the highest point on G318. Prayer flags flutter, snow-capped mountains line up in the distance, and every breath feels ceremonial.
The main event — Gaula Pass ‼️
At 5,210 meters, it’s the only place in the world where you can see five 8,000-meter peaks at once. Makalu, Lhotse, Everest, Cho Oyu, and Shishapangma line up like gods seated together. In 2025, the scenic area added the “Four Poles in One Heart” photo frame installation. Stand inside the giant frame with the mountains in the background for perfect shots. At sunset, when clouds swirl and golden light hits the peaks, my eyes welled up on the spot.
How to enter Everest base camp 👇
New rules for 2026: No private vehicles allowed to drive to the camp. You must transfer to a pure electric sightseeing vehicle at the environmental protection vehicle transfer center. Tickets are 160 yuan per person plus 120 yuan for the round-trip electric vehicle. Use your ID card plus electronic border pass to enter.
⚠️ Border pass major update in 2026: Fully electronic starting April 15! Open the “Immigration Bureau 12367” mini program, do a face scan, fill in the destination “Shigatse Dingri County,” done in 5 minutes. Valid for 3 months and free. No more running to the police station, sisters.
Base camp is at 5,200 meters, with half the oxygen of the plains. Summer days are around 10 degrees, but once the sun sets, it drops close to zero. July is the rainy season, so seeing Everest depends on luck. But! I waited two days, and on the second evening, the clouds suddenly parted, and the golden sun hit the mountain without warning. Everyone at the camp was screaming.
Where to rest at night 👇
Don’t tough it out in a tent (dorm room 80 yuan per room, so cold you question life). In May 2026, Everest Town opened a high-end oxygen hotel about 50 km from base camp. It offers whole-room oxygen diffusion plus smart temperature control, and the window faces the snow mountains. When I arrived, the front desk said “oxygen is abundant, and hygiene and service are excellent.” After checking in, my blood oxygen slowly rose from 85% to 93%, and I slept soundly until morning. At 2 AM, the housekeeper woke me to see the stars — the Milky Way stretched right over Everest’s peak. Even time-lapse photos on my phone looked like a blockbuster.
Cost reference (per person):
High-speed train 64 + Everest ticket 160 + electric vehicle 120 + oxygen room in town about 600–800 per night + meals 100 ≈ around 1,100 (excluding private car)
Some hard-earned tips 🩸
① Bring a shell jacket + fleece in July. Nighttime feels like -5℃ at base camp, not a joke
② Start with SPF 50+ sunscreen. UV rays are insanely strong
③ Acclimate in Lhasa for 2 days before going above 5,000 meters. Don’t rush to base camp on day one
④ Get the electronic border pass in advance. There are at least 2 checks along the way. No pass means being turned back
⑤ During peak season (July–August), rooms in town are tight. Book at least 3 days ahead
The biggest feeling from this trip: your body is in hell, your eyes are in heaven, and your soul is glowing. When the wind at 5,200 meters brushes your cheek, you’ll feel life is worth it.