Bayi (八一; also known as Bayizhen (八一镇, "Bayi Town")) is the capital city of Nyingchi Prefecture in southwestern Tibet.

Get in

Bayi can be accessed via public and private transportation from Lhasa's public bus station. Large buses will make the trip in nine hours for around ¥80, whereas private cars will do the trip in six hours for around ¥150. Both buses and cars do not run on a set schedule, but rather leave when full. Technically, an Alien Travel Permit is required to visit the region, but there are no checkpoints on Highway 319 to Bayi or in Bayi itself.

Get around

Taxis will take one around the city for a flat ¥10, to the World Cypress King Park for ¥20, and to the Yalung Zangbo Canyon for ¥300 roundtrip.

See

There are three main sightseeing attractions in Bayi and surrounding regions:

• Yalung Zangbo Canyon and Mt. Nanjiabawa. The world's deepest canyon, can be accessed without a permit via a boat tour up the Yalung Zangbo River and a land tour to Mt. Nanjiabawa base, which costs ¥590. 

• Linzhi Forest Sea. On a clear day the peak of Mt. Nanjiabawa can be seen from here. 

• The World Cypress King Park (13 km from Bayi). Home of a 2,600 year old cypress tree. 

Sleep

• Linzhi Dukou Youth Hostel (林芝渡口青年旅舍), 西藏林芝地区八一镇八一大街人民保险公司对面 (opposite to the People's Insurance Company), ☏ +86 894 5831567. YHA hostel. Jump off point to trekking the Yalung Zangbo Canyon.