Major city · China
Qamdo昌都 / ཆབ་མདོ།
Stop for one night if you are crossing Tibet on the G317 or G214 highway; the city itself is a half-day walk along the Mekong, not a destination.
Qamdo (Chamdo) sits on the Mekong River in eastern Tibet and was the capital of the historic Kham region. The city is a practical break on the road between Chengdu and Lhasa or between Yunnan and Qinghai. Its sights — the Qamdo Monastery and the old town — fill a relaxed afternoon. Most travellers use it as a one-night stop, not a base.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- May–Oct
- avoid Nov–Mar (cold, some roads closed by snow)
- Airport
- BPX
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Qamdo110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Qamdo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyQamdo is safe for tourists; the main risks are altitude sickness, cold weather and road conditions.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportBPX Qamdo Bamda Airport (One of the world's highest airports (4,334 m); flights from Chengdu and Lhasa; bus to Qamdo about 2 h).
- Getting aroundWalkable centre; taxis and minibuses for longer trips.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealNoodle soup (beef or mutton)¥15–25 (≈ US$3–4)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi within city centre¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3)
- Budget bedDorm bed in guesthouse, a night, per personCN¥60 (≈ US$9)
- Mid-range bedDouble room in guesthouse, a night, per roomCN¥300 (≈ US$45)
- High-end bedDouble room in guesthouse, a night, per roomCN¥500 (≈ US$70)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥200 (≈ US$30) · Mid CN¥400 (≈ US$60) · High CN¥800 (≈ US$120)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- BPX Qamdo Bamda Airport (One of the world's highest airports (4,334 m); flights from Chengdu and Lhasa; bus to Qamdo about 2 h)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
Feb
Avoid
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
Mar
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Apr
not flagged
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
May
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Jun
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jul
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Sep
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Oct
Best
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Nov
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Dec
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)), coolest Jan (−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C) low), wettest Jul (16 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Qamdo: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
−10°C (14°F)14°F (−10°C)
1 rd
Feb
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
2 rd
Mar
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
3 rd
Apr
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
5 rd
May
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
8 rd
Jun
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
13 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
16 rd
Aug
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
14 rd
Sep
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
11 rd
Oct
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
5 rd
Nov
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
−4°C (25°F)25°F (−4°C)
2 rd
Dec
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−9°C (16°F)16°F (−9°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walkable centre; taxis and minibuses for longer trips. The main street runs parallel to the Mekong.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Neydo Tashi Choeling Monastery
goDoor to door: About 6–7 h
Private car or minibus from Qamdo, about 3 h each way
Main monastery of the Neydo Kagyu lineage; scenery near Ngom village. Check road conditions.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
City centre (near the monastery)
Most guesthouses and hotels; walkable to the Mekong and main street.
Along the G317 highway
Convenient if you are driving through; fewer eating options.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥200–350 (≈ US$30–50) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥350–600 (≈ US$50–85) excl. bed
- High
- ¥600 (≈ US$85)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room in guesthouse1 × 1 night × CN¥300 | CN¥300 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × CN¥400 | CN¥800 |
| Bus from Bamda Airport to Qamdo2 × CN¥50 · check | CN¥100 |
| Taxi across town1 × CN¥20 | CN¥20 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week2 × CN¥80 | CN¥160 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥138 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥759 per person per day, bed included | CN¥1,518≈ US$250 |
2026 estimate in yuan; flights and permits excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Noodle soup (beef or mutton) | ¥15–25 (≈ US$3–4) |
| Momo (dumplings), 10 pieces | ¥15–30 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Bottled water (500 ml) | ¥2–3 (≈ under US$1) |
| Taxi within city centre | ¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Bus from Bamda Airport to Qamdo | ¥50 (≈ US$7) (check) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Altitude: Qamdo is about 3,200 m; take it easy on arrival.
- Foreigners need a Tibet Travel Permit (TTP) plus a PSB Alien Travel Permit for Qamdo; arrange through a tour operator.
- Road conditions on the G317 and G214 vary; check for closures in winter and monsoon (Jul–Aug).
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
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Qamdo昌都 / ཆབ་མདོ།
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bamda Airport → Qamdo (bus): about ¥50 (≈ US$7), about 2 h (check)
- Taxi across town: ¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xiè)
- 多少钱？ — How much? (duō shǎo qián?)
- 我不懂 — I don't understand (wǒ bù dǒng)
- 厕所在哪里？ — Where is the toilet? (cè suǒ zài nǎ lǐ?)
Mandarin is widely understood; Tibetan is spoken locally. Have your hotel name written in Chinese.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Qamdo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, some roads closed by snow) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Qamdo Monastery and the Mekong walk with verified opening hours.
- Eat pages with last orders and altitude-friendly dishes.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures for the bus station and airport.
Sources
Ask about Qamdo
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