Zhiduo County

Zhiduo County: Gateway to the Source of the Yangtze River

Zhiduo County, also called Drito or Zhidoi, refers to the area around the southern source of the Yangtze River. It is a county located in southwest Qinghai Province on the Tibetan Plateau,  bordering the Tibet Autonomous Region to the west and Xinjiang to the northwest. Drito is under the administration of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and the county capital is located at Gyelje Podrang. This is a typical nomadic town with one main street lined with buildings housing guesthouses, shops, and restaurants. The average altitude of this county is 4,500m above sea level, and the population is 29,000, most of whom are ethnic Tibetan.

Geographic Location and River Source

From Drito, there are roads leading west toward the southern source of the Yangtze in the Tangla Range. The source of the Yangtze is located in the far west of Drito town, which is hardly accessible during the summer months. If you are holding a foreign passport, you are not allowed to visit this source (as of June 2020 when this article was written).

Monastic Heritage

Drito has a Geluk monastery called Gansar Monastery, which currently houses 150 monks. The assembly hall contains 10-meter-high images of Tsongkhapa and his foremost students, representing the founder of the Gelug school and his principal disciples.

Transportation and Access

Similar to most counties in Yushu Tibetan Prefecture, you have two ways to reach Drito:

Option 1: Take a flight to Yushu from Xining or Chengdu, then drive 190km northwest of Yushu to reach Zhiduo.

Option 2: Drive from Xining to Yushu (800km) and then continue on the road to Zhiduo, another 190km northwest.

Wildlife and Natural Environment

The remote location of Zhiduo County provides excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and observation. The high-altitude environment supports various endemic species adapted to the harsh conditions of the Tibetan Plateau, making it an important area for conservation and research.

Accommodation

Accommodation in Drito is rather basic, reflecting the remote nature of this frontier county. Here are the main options available in Drito:

Zhiduo Hotel
Zhiduo Tashi Guesthouse (Budongquan)
Zhiduo Jujia Hotel
A Remote High-Altitude Destination

Zhiduo County represents one of the most remote and highest-altitude destinations in Qinghai Province, where traditional Tibetan nomadic culture thrives amidst some of the most challenging yet spectacular terrain on the Tibetan Plateau. For travelers interested in experiencing authentic nomadic life and witnessing the source region of one of Asia’s greatest rivers, Zhiduo offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the true wilderness of the “Roof of the World.”

The county’s position near the source of the Yangtze River underscores Tibet’s crucial role as the “Water Tower of Asia,” where the great rivers that sustain much of the continent begin their epic journeys from the world’s highest plateau.