I got up a bit earlier to check on the weather after it was raining last night, only to get greeted by sunshine. It is looking like a promising day. While it is only 300 km or so on national roads, the navigation system predicts a 6 hour drive. So better I get on the bike early and make my way up to another 3,800 pass and then down to Xining.
This was the longest day so far and really a bit of a mix bag of roads. From nice national roads, to single lane off-road detours. But all good
Here is what the road book assistant generated in the morning:
🌅 MORNING UPDATE — C1-16 | Thursday, 18 June 2026
📍 TODAY: Xiahe → Kanbula Geopark → Guide → Xining (409 km)
⛰ Max altitude: ~3,800m (La Ji Pass / 拉脊山)
☀️ WEATHER NOW
Xiahe (departure): 4°C, feels like 4°C, partly cloudy ☁️ → high ~18°C
Guide (midday stop): 14°C, patchy rain possible 🌦️
Xining (arrival): 14°C, patchy rain clearing → high ~22°C
⛰ La Ji Pass summit (~3,800m): ~0-2°C with wind — possible light snow flurries above 3,500m
⚠️ ALERT: Pass temps near freezing this morning. Dress in full plateau gear — cold crosswinds likely at the summit.
🚧 ROAD CONDITIONS
✅ G213 / provincial roads Xiahe → Guide: open, paved
✅ G227 Guide → Xining: open (use G227, no expressways — motorbikes restricted on expressways)
⛰ La Ji Pass: standard high-altitude pass conditions for June. No closure reports. Watch for loose gravel and temperature drop above 3,500m.
Depart: 05:54 drive. 🏍️ Big day — 409 km over the pass. Layer up, take it steady on the descent into the Yellow River valley. Go get it! 💪
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