Explore Xiahe in a Day: Spiritual and Scenic Wonders

Located in Gannan District's Xiahe County, Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug (Yellow) Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is large in scale and high in status. A representative example of the monasteries and temples throughout Gannan, it is a must-see for visitors to the area. It is a majestic temple complex. It offers spectacular sights while walking through and also when taking in a panoramic bird's-eye view from its highest point. The monastery is full of giant Buddha statues and various exquisite sculptures, murals and countless musical instruments. Furthermore, the long corridor of the Labrang Monastery is a sight rarely seen anywhere else in the world. This is a place where pilgrims come to accumulate merit and to pray for friends and relatives.

Sangke Grassland is located on the west side of Xiahe County, Gannan. There are hills and open fields on the grassland. Every summer, there are green grass and wild flowers, which are very beautiful. When you go to Sangke Grassland, you can also rent a horse and ride in the local area, and go to a Tibetan house to experience various traditional folk customs such as tsampa, butter tea, and Tiaoguozhuang. The grassland is only about 11 kilometers away from Xiahe County, where Labrang Monastery is located. You can visit here when you have free time to visit Labrang Monastery. To visit the Sangke Grassland, you usually have free time after visiting the Labrang Monastery. You can take a car in the county town or rent a bicycle to ride leisurely, and the transportation is more convenient. The regular play time is about 3-4 hours. After riding a horse and watching the flowers, you will return to Xiahe County for accommodation. If you feel better, you can also stay overnight on the grassland. The Mujiale on the Sangke Grassland also provides horse riding, Tibetan meals, and homestay services. The accommodation is generally tents or kang rooms in earthen houses. It costs about 50 yuan per person. The conditions are limited, but it has a Tibetan style. Shooting stars is also very beautiful. After arriving in the Sangke grassland, tourists will basically experience horseback riding. The price of horseback riding in the Sangke grassland is about 50 yuan per hour. The horseback riding here does not allow the horse to run on the grassland. Lead slowly. Go up the hillside behind the grassland to the herdsman's private pasture. Generally, these grasslands are well protected, the grass grows lush, and there are all kinds of wildflowers in them, and the scenery is very beautiful. The groom will wait for a while, allowing tourists to take pictures and play in the grassland, and then lead the tourists back on horseback. After returning to the shepherd's house, you can directly return to the county seat, or you can experience Tibetan food or stay in the local area. The main food here is tsampa, butter tea, etc. The price is relatively affordable, basically the same as the county seat. Shepherd can also provide services such as roasting whole lamb, but the price is more expensive, so you need to say hello in advance. You can watch the stars by staying on the grassland at night. In addition, there are festivals such as the Fragrant Wave Festival on the grassland every summer. The herdsmen often sing and dance together in the evening. Such activities are often held in the accommodation of the pastoral house. If you are lucky enough to catch up with such a scene, join in Let them experience the jubilant grassland style together!

Baishiya is located 30 kilometers north of Xiahe County. To travel to Ganga, you can't miss the wonderful Baishiya Karst Cave. Baishi is not pure white, it may be named because of its contrast with green. Baishiya runs from east to west and is about 15 kilometers long. From a distance, it looks like a white jade screen, lying in the air, shining under the blue sky and white clouds. Standing under the Baishi Cliff, you not only admire the majestic and majestic nature of nature, but also feel the softness and moistness of nature. In the west of the bottom of Baishi Cliff, there is a karst cave that can accommodate three or four people. The cave has gurgling water and winding paths. It is said that there are naturally formed Tibetan vowels and consonants on the stone walls in the cave, as well as stone shapes such as Ruyi Bao Niu, Ruyi Treasure Tree and Natural Rice. In 1982, the tenth Panchen Lama visited this cave during his inspection in Gannan. Baishiyan Karst Cave is said to stretch for hundreds of miles and can lead to Xunhua County, Qinghai Province.

Bajiao City is located on the platform where the Yangqu River and the Yangla River meet in the east of Gangjiatan, Xiahe County. It is named after the eight city corners. In ancient times, it used to be the hub of transportation between Gansu and Qinghai, and it was also a military center where the central government of all dynasties competed fiercely with Tuyuhun, Tubo, Xixia, and Suluo dynasties. The octagonal city outline is a hollow cross, with a moat, a moat, and an outer outline outside the city, and an outer city outside the south gate. This shape of the castle, unique in the history of our country, has high archaeological value and ornamental value. The city was built in the Han Dynasty, and the architectural form broke through the square pattern, which is very unique. Although the city is not small, the distance between the corners of the city is within the effective range of the bow and crossbow, and they can take care of each other, so it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. A large number of cultural relics have been unearthed in Bajiaocheng, such as metal currency, copper bulls, square bricks and strips, simple tiles and slabs of Tang and Song Dynasties. In addition, on the flats, hills, and terraces around the Bajiao City, there are layers of terraced fields abandoned in ancient times. In some places, the terraced fields have been repaired to the top of the mountain. In the past, the economy here was developed and densely populated.