The Sichuan mountains to the north and west of Chengdu rise above 5000 m with deep valleys and rapid rivers.
For me this was an opportunity to visit Tibet without actually crossing the official border.
Tibetans live here by herding yaks, sheep and goats.
When I arrived in Kangding, there was a tangible sense that I had reached the end of the Chinese world and reached the beginning of Tibetan.
Kangding is historically the capital of local Tibetan Kingdom of Chakla. Plenty of Khamba people shopping and selling + monks wondering around.
The sun is bright, blue sky and the nights are COLD.
