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China Tour - Golmud to Lhasa
During the fourth stage of the tour the convoy climbed to the high plateaus and magical vistas of Tibet, destination; the very roof of the world.
The Ferrari 612 Scagliettis between Naqu and Lhasa
The fourth stage of the Ferrari 15,000 Red Miles Tour ended when the team arrived in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
The route featured snowy mountainous peaks along the central northern part of Tibet. The roads were largely traffic free with herds of yak and Tibetan goats dotting the terrain.
Tibet has always drawn great interest and curiosity in the European collective imagination. This comes from its air of mysticism, its world famous peaks, age-old history and Buddhist religion. It was yet another magical place that the 612 Scagliettis crossed. Lhasa was reached after the convoy made a stop in the city of Naqu.
The Ferrari 612 Scagliettis in front of the Potala in Lhasa
The red and silver 612 Scagliettis, with an F1 and manual gearbox respectively, continued climbing the Tibet mountains on the morning of 17 September 2005. The first day saw the vehicles arrive in Naqu, a city situated some 4500 metres above sea level. The high altitude caused some sickness among members of the team as they were not used to the rarefied air.
After driving a long stretch of the high plateau, the Scagliettis took on the Kunlun pass (4800 metres above sea level). It the afternoon an even higher pass was reached: Tanggulashan at 5231 metres. This was the entry point to Tibet. The area was rich in vegetation with rivers and lakes providing plentiful water sources.
The city of Naqu came into view to the Ferrari crews in the evening as rain and sleet greeted their arrival.
The next morning, 18 September 2005, saw the caravan take the road for Lhasa, the capital of this fascinating region. The average altitude along the route was 4000 metres. Again the roads were little used and progress was smooth for the Ferraris.
The only colour viewed from the windows came from the usual yak and goats, often found roaming close to the settlements of farmers built up along the road. In the early afternoon the Scagliettis arrived in Lhasa. The atmosphere in the city is enthused with Buddhist religious sentiment. The medieval constructions, the huge Jokhang temple, the Potala fortress, (once the seat of Tibetan government) and the burial place of the Dalai Lama give the city this air.
However, Lhasa is not just a religious centre but also a political, economic and cultural one. A stop of a few days allowed the cars to be admired and the crews enjoyed the spectacle of this incredible mountain capital.