Taking-off from the roof of the world on the Tibetan Plateau

Can you imagine being on a flight that takes off from the roof of the world?

The Nyingchi Mainling Airport is located at an altitude of nearly 3,000 meters in the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley in Tibet. It's said to be the most challenging airport in China for pilots, because it is situated in a winding valley surrounded by high mountains enveloped by cloud and fog throughout the year. But despite the challenges, there hasn't been a flight accident at the airport since it opened in 2006.

Today, many tourists arrive at Nyingchi Airport when they start their visit to Tibet. The city of Nyingchi has beautiful scenery to explore. And its relatively low altitude compared to other parts of Tibet makes it a good first stop for tourists, who need to adjust to the thinner atmosphere in the region in order to avoid altitude sickness.