Altitude Sickness: Practical Responses in Tibet, Jiuzhaigou, and Qinghai Lake

First, clarify "what counts as a plateau."

• Lhasa 3650 m: Most people experience mild headaches and poor sleep on the same day
• Namtso 4718m, Everest Base Camp 5200m: You must get used to Lhasa for 2–3 days before going
• Jiuzhaigou 2000–3100 m: Goukou 2000 m, Changhai 3100 m. Most people feel nothing, but they get out of breath when climbing the boardwalk
• Huanglong 3200–3600 m: More obvious than Jiuzhaigou and requires climbing; it is recommended to place after Jiuzhaigou
• Qinghai Lake 3200 m, Chaka 3059 m: The loop route is long, which can easily cause fatigue and worsen reactions
• Daocheng Yading 3700–4600 m: One of China's most physically demanding mature scenic spots
• Jade Dragon Snow Mountain 4506 m (Grand Cableway): The cable car is straight up and has a steep elevation, making many people feel dizzy after climbing it

Advanced principle: Gradually increase height

1. On the first day, avoid bathing or strenuous activities, just eating and sleeping. Hot showers accelerate blood circulation and trigger reactions
2. On the second day, only light tours (Temple Phut exterior, Barkhor Street) were scheduled, and the climbing tours (Drepung Wat and Sera Monastery's back mountain) were postponed
3. On the third day, we started climbing to higher altitudes; Targets like Namtso and Everest at 4500 were set after the fourth day
4. Sleep altitude should be lower than the day's highest elevation: this is the core rule for all high-altitude itinerary designs

Medicine and preparation

• Rhodiola: Taking it 7–10 days in advance is effective; taking it the same day is ineffective
• On-site: Ibuprofen (headache), glucose oral solution (quick energy replenishment), cold medicine
• Portable oxygen tanks: Available everywhere in Lhasa, Jiuzhaigou, and Daocheng, priced at 20–40 NTD per canister. If you feel uncomfortable, just inhale; don't force yourself to overdo it
• Pulse oximeter: costs tens of yuan each, can be quantified and judged—if blood oxygen drops below 85% and does not rise after resting, it needs to be lowered

Who Should Avoid Going to High Altitudes

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, severe arrhythmia.
• History of upper respiratory infection or pneumonia in the past month.
• Late stages of pregnancy.
• Infants and young children under 6 years old (unable to express discomfort).

Age itself is not a contraindication: Our site has hosted 78-year-old travelers completing an 8-day Lhasa—Nyingchi trip. The key is to ascend slowly, be monitored, and be ready to descend at any time.

Signals Indicating the Need to Descend

• Severe headache and persistent vomiting even after rest.
• Shortness of breath on flat ground, lips and nails turning blue (cyanosis).
• Confusion, coughing up pink frothy sputum (sign of pulmonary edema, seek immediate medical attention).

Hospitals in Lhasa, Nyingchi, and Shigatse have high-altitude emergency treatment capabilities. When hiring a private car, always confirm that the driver knows the location of the nearest hospital.