Cho La (Sichuan)

Cho La, also transliterated as Tro La, is a mountain pass across the Chola Mountains in Dege County, Garze Prefecture, Sichuan, China. In Mandarin Chinese, it is known as Qu'er Pass (Chinese: 雀儿山口; pinyin: Què'ér Shānkǒu). The pass reaches a height of 4,916 metres (16,129 ft) and may be snow covered year-round. The pass is an important link between the town of Derge and the rest of Sichuan Province. Historically, it was part of a trade route between Tibet and China through the Kingdom of Derge in Kham.^[1] The western flank of the pass is drained by the Zhil Chu (Chinese: 色曲; pinyin: Sè Qū) and the eastern flank is drained by the Tro Chu (Chinese: 朝曲; pinyin: Zhāo Qū). Yihun Lhatso, a glacial-fed lake, is located to the east of the pass.^[2]

Photo of the road leading to Cho La from 1965

Cho La
View from the west
Elevation	4,916 metres (16,129 ft)
Traversed by	G317
Location	Sichuan near border with Tibet in China
Range	Chola Mountains
Coordinates	31°26′55″N 98°55′26″E

A tunnel constructed under the Chola Mountains now bypasses the mountain pass and is the world's highest vehicular tunnel.^[3] Construction of the tunnel was completed in 2016.^[4]