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the Degree Confluence Project
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China : Qīnghǎi Shěng

24.2 km (15.0 miles) S of Hor, Qīnghǎi, China
Approx. altitude: 4002 m (13129 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 35°S 79°W

Accuracy: 3 m (9 ft)
Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: View to the North #3: View to the East #4: View to the South #5: View to the West #6: GPS reading #7: Ground Zero #8: The Confluence Hunter #9: Unknown flower at the Confluence #10: The friendly Tibetan family

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  35°N 101°E  

#1: The Confluence from 20 m distance

(visited by Rainer Mautz)

21-Jul-2015 -- This is the 11th out of 17 reports of confluence visits while cycling from Kashgar (喀什) to Xī'ān (西安). I cycled through the Chinese provinces of Xīnjiāng, Qīnghǎi, Gānsù, and Shǎnxī, 3600 km in 25 days. The story starts from 39°N 76°E. The previous report is 36°N 100°E.

In the morning, I started cycling from Tóngdé (同德县), which is located about 50 km north-west of the confluence point. Tóngdé is about 1000 m lower than this confluence, so I had quite some climbs. The local population is mostly Tibetan and as soon as got above 3300 m altitude, the area consisted of grassland with yaks, cows, and sheep grazing almost everywhere. At a distance of 16 km, I left the main road S101 and turned into a gravel road leading to Zékù (泽库). At a distance of 4 km, I had again to turn into a smaller road. This time, it was more of a track than a road. Half way, the track ended for cars and only a small path for pedestrians or motor-cycles continued. At the highest point of the track, I met a nice Tibetan family, who enjoyed taking pictures of this crazy German cyclist. But after they had left, I had an awkward experience with a man, asking me what I am doing. He demanded that I should give him my GPS receiver. I quickly put it in my pocket and coasted down the hill. Thankfully, he didn’t follow me.

The confluence is located 700 m from that path. I parked my bicycle and walked along the ridge up to 150 m distance. Some yaks ahead of me got afraid when I approached them and they managed to jump over a huge fence! Finally, I located the confluence on hilly grassland. Edelweiss and other to me unknown flowers were growing around the point.

After the visit, I walked back to my bike and pondered quite long on which way I should continue. Going further westwards was a shortcut, but just grassland without any visible tracks. The option of going back eastward meant a detour and was fraught with the risk to meet the demanding man. I nevertheless opted to go back. To my relief, I didn’t bump into the man again and safely reached the town Zékù in the afternoon.

CP Visit Details:

  • Distance to the road: 4 km
  • Distance to a track: 700 m
  • Walking distance: 650 m
  • Distance of bicycle parking: 650 m
  • Time to reach the CP from the track: 10 min
  • Time at the CP: 12:34 noon
  • Measured height: 4007 m
  • Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
  • Position accuracy: 3 m
  • Topography: hilly
  • Vegetation: grass, edelweiss, various flowers
  • Weather: partly cloudy, 14° C (felt temperature)
  • Given Name: The Demanding Man Confluence

The story continues at 35°N 102°E.


 All pictures
#1: The Confluence from 20 m distance
#2: View to the North
#3: View to the East
#4: View to the South
#5: View to the West
#6: GPS reading
#7: Ground Zero
#8: The Confluence Hunter
#9: Unknown flower at the Confluence
#10: The friendly Tibetan family
ALL: All pictures on one page