I Took a Bus to Nepal from China (Almost No Foreigners Do This)

This is China, this is Nepal, and I've just passed here and finally made it to Nepal after several transportation changes. Nepal is an absolutely incredible travel destination, blessed with stunning landscapes and incredible people. If you want to enter Nepal as a foreign tourist, what's your first step? Head to the airport, right? But there's another way in, a route so rarely taken that most tourists don't even know it exists. It's a bus trip that started in Tibet, China, and runs overland into Nepal. The journey begins from the Tibetan Plateau, the roof of the world. Next, you'll cross the Himalayas, heading right through the highest peaks. Then the road snakes right along the edge of the cliffs, goes through some Nepali villages, and finally brings you into Kathmandu. You don't just fly over the mountains, you'll go through them. But here's the thing, this route isn't open to everyone. In fact, it's nearly impossible for foreign tourists to do this independently. China requires all foreigners to travel with an organized tour group with a fixed itinerary in Tibet. Even for Chinese citizens, special permits are required to reach the China-Nepal border. Luckily, I was able to make this journey, and it brought me to Nepal for the very first time. So come along with me, and let's get on the bus to Nepal. Our journey begins in Shikaze, the second largest city in Tibet. On the first morning, we will depart from the Shikaze bus station and make our way to Nianlamu, a small border town 456 kilometers away. Nianlamu is also one of the most remote towns in China. It's 8 15 a.m in the morning, but the sky is still very dark. Let's see later if I'm the only one, or I think we're leaving from Shikaze to Nianlamu. It's been quite a long time that I haven't taken a long-distance bus, because high-speed rail is very convenient in China. At this time, it's negative 12 Celsius degree here, so the bus just stopped by the Yinzhu Hotel. I know this. So there are many people getting in. There are two kids. This is a monastery. It's called Jashilunwu Monastery. It's the largest one in Shikaze city. Here is the entrance gate. So probably, if you want to leave from Shikaze city, this is a place for you to say goodbye, and this is why the bus passed by the monastery. The kids are looking at me again. I think I have arrived at a place for inspection, for border control, so I need to grab my stuff. My border license. So let's talk a little bit about permits. It's called the border pass. Special permits you need to visit remote areas of Tibet. They set it up for security reasons. It shows who you are, where you're going, and how long you'll be there. You will need to get this little paper from the police station before entering these places. Otherwise, you'll be stopped at a checkpoint and have to turn back. But it's very easy to apply for Chinese. He didn't check me. You saw me? And I've just also met a girl who said she will be going to Nepal tomorrow as well, and she saw me yesterday in the high-speed rail. I have no idea where she is right now. It's because I just went to look for a restroom. I think we'll have to stop for a break. Finally, I can take a break. I can finally go out. Let me talk to the girl who also wants to go to Nepal. All right, everybody's setting up again after lunch, and I've also talked to the girl, and she will go to Nepal tomorrow with me. And now I got a friend, but she just didn't want to be on camera because she wasn't wearing makeup. Now we're at a police station for border control inspection again. This is the second time. The ID was just taken, and then he was asking if I will leave the country, leave China to a foreign country. I said yes. Only Han Chinese would be asked this question. Usually Han Chinese would come to this place. We have just switched from G318 to G219. G219 is China's longest national road. Total length of the road is over 10,000 kilometers. Later we will return to G318. G318 is a road that everybody said it's a must-drive road in China. It connects Shanghai to Tibet. And tomorrow I'll be arriving at Zhangmu port. Zhangmu port is between Nepal and China. This is also the endpoint of G318. So tomorrow before entering Nepal, I'll be checking the endpoints of G318. Now the place has an elevation of 4,300 meters. As we get closer to the Himalayas, the altitude keeps rising and there's more and more snow on the ground. We're only 25 kilometers away from Shishapalma, an 8,027 meter peak. Once we cross through the Himalayas, we will immediately arrive in Nianlang. In Mandarin Chinese, we gotta describe it as I don't know how to properly translate it into English. Okay, I think we have arrived at Nianlangmu town. Nianlangmu is one of the most remote towns in China. Very few foreigners ever make it here. But this remote towns is quite different from what I imagined. Okay, we have arrived as the driver said. Finally! All right, after a quick dinner, it's time to go for a walk in this town, Nianlangmu. And actually, I have already visited parts of this town because I was looking for the restaurant. But I will bring you to visit this town again. Even though Nianlangmu is a very remote place, you can still find some entertainment here like this. There's a pool hall here and if you turn around, there's another pool hall. Nianlangmu is actually not very isolated. It's even much better than those towns we have passed by on the bus. Found the third pool hall in this town. Hi people, I have finally come to this place. Finally come to this place. Do you know where is in front of the snow mountains? We have reached the end point of national highway G318. From Shanghai, this is the start point. Shanghai, Wuzhou is Anhui province. Anqing is also Anhui. Wuhan, Hubei province. Chongqing is a city. Chengdu, Sichuan province. All the way to Lhasa. Right next to the square, there is a karaoke. There's another karaoke. So like I said, this town really has a lot of entertainment. Okay, I have come to a random place. I don't know, a random place again. There are so many trucks. So that's how all materials are transported to this small town. I know you guys prefer to see the landscape instead of me, but I still want to emphasize my presence. So peaceful, so chill. So we have wrapped up day one in Nyelamu. The next day, I will take a minivan for about an hour and a half to Zhangmu port, which connects China to Nepal. Later, I will catch a bus from Kodari, the Nepali border town, then ride 120 kilometers through winding mountain roads to Kathmandu. Okay, it's time to set off. This is the van. So there are other tourists who want to go to Nepal. A few minutes earlier, I will set off to Zhangmu port. Negative 10 celcius degree. Once we board the van to Zhangmu port, the landscape finally transforms. Granary appears. This is because the Himalayas broke the warm moist air coming from the Indian ocean. Therefore, only the southern side of the mountains stay humid, while the north is extremely dry. Three times of border control inspection, and we finally passed the inspection approaching to Zhangmu port. Look, a lot of villages on the hillside. Is it Nepal or China? I think it's Nepal. Villages in Nepal. So this is the friendship bridge, and later I'll just keep walking to that side to take the bus. They're Japanese, they're not Chinese. This is Zhangmu port's joint inspection. So we're finally here, Zhangmu port. All right guys, I've just passed the inspection, and this is China, this is Nepal, and this bridge is called a friendship bridge, and I've just passed here and finally made it to Nepal after several transportation changes, and later I'll be taking a bus with everybody. Look, finally made it to Nepal. Actually, I'm not in Nepal. I was doing a, I don't know, I'm in the middle, I'm in the middle. Zhangmu port is over there, and I officially passed the customs. Now we are going to take the bus. And there are a lot of people are trying to cut us off to take their cars, but they only want to take bus. To Kathmandu, right? Yeah. How much is one? 550. 550? Yeah. Is it for everyone? Oh, five persons. I would just, we use one ticket for five persons, right? I cannot distinguish the number at all. This is not Arabic numbers. We need to wait here at 12 Okay. The guy's sitting on the ground, so he allows us to stay in his place until the bus comes. He's very kind, although we don't have to buy anything. No pain, no gain.