Ganzi's Top Attractions
Have you ever dreamed of seeing paradise? Of course, who wouldn’t want to, right? That might entail taking long hours of walk, riding a horse, and going through bumpy roads. But when you experience all these things in Ganzi (甘孜), you know the sacrifices and inconveniences are worth it.
Here are some of the best attractions in the area:
Yading
When you’re in an elevated land such as Yading (亚丁), the weather can get very unpredictable and harsh. The winters can bring in strong rains, snow, and sleet that visibility is definitely poor. However, if you come during the end days of October, you’ll find the surroundings more pleasant, and you’ll have a grand time on your visit.
There are a lot of things to see around Daocheng, such as the Red Glass Lake, called as such because of the growth of red bushes. You can also walk around four kilometers from the center of town until you reach the Rupuchaka Hot Springs. It may be not the most exciting experience, but a very interesting fixture of the bath is cockroaches in the restroom. Buddhists are forbidden to kill them, that’s why.
One of the highlights of the region is the Yading Nature Reserve, which is composed of three snow-peaked mountains, the highest of which is over 6,000 meters. These three land forms create a triangle, and in the middle of them is a stark contrast of whiteness: lots of greens contributed by forests, rich fertile valleys, and teeming wildlife.
Most of the visitors in Yading embark on a long walk that can last for over 5 days. The roads aren’t also very pretty, and they are often described as bumpy. However, this is one of the best ways to experience the majesty and natural beauty of the reserve. The most well-known trail is Kora. You can do the hike alone across all three mountains, or you can join a group. The sunrise is splendid here. You can take a hike for about two hours until you reach around 3,000 meters. You can then watch the sun slowly uncover the gorgeousness of the reserve.
Address: Yading Village, Riwa Country, Daocheng County
Admission Fee: RMB 150
Operating Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
How to Get There: You can co-ride with other travelers from Kunming to Yading.
Daocheng
Daocheng (稻城) is an experience, especially for someone who wants to truly get away from the modernity of life and simply likes to get back to the very basics. This county is famous for its amazing natural scenery as well as the deep-seated culture of the Tibetans. Most of the people here are living an almost-nomadic lifestyle, which basically explains why horses and mules are common in the area.
You could be situated far from the comforts, but you’ll enjoy fresh surroundings. Daocheng is deemed as the last frontier of Shangri-la, and that may hold true because it’s rich in stories and landscapes. One of the best tours you can make is through the different monasteries and temples, such as Chonggu Temple. It’s been around for so long nobody really knows how it got there. It is near the Xianniari Mountain, whose snow doesn’t let up even during spring. Around it is also a gorge that is crowded by colors from green grasses and lush vegetation.
The Milk Lake is a very interesting site. It derived its name from the source of the water, which is the glacier from the mountains of Jampelyang. It can be a challenge to get there since there are no clear trails, but there are also several Tibetan flags that serve as markers. If you can get here, hopefully you’ll be inspired to proceed to another close but beautiful lake called the Five-color Lake. You can stay in Longtong Ba where you can rent a horse or begin a hike. You can also make your trip to Daocheng more fulfilling by staying in one of the Tibetan homes. They can offer you free food and stay for a small fee.
Address: Daocheng County, Ganzi
Admission Fee: RMB 65 (Chonggu Temple)
How to Get There: You can begin a bus ride from either Xiangcheng or Litang.
Kangding County
Kangding County (康定县) could be one of the most beautiful places you’ll ever see in your life. Although it doesn’t have the pomp and pageantry offered by the glitzy cities of Beijing and Shanghai, it offers the more laid-back “bring yourself close to nature” way of living. It is also primarily uplifted by the many tourist attractions that are within the area.
The Gongga Mountain is located in Moxi Town. Passing by, you can catch a glimpse of the towering Wuse Mountain, which stands over 6,000 meters. You can begin the trip at the base camp, where you can prepare your gear and self for quite a long and challenging walk. There are different trails you can follow, though, so you can choose the one that makes you feel comfortable. Nevertheless, going to the top can be fueled by the fact the mountain is one of the highest around Tibet and China. Along the way, you can see interesting and unique vegetation and streambeds that feed clean water.
From the ancient city, you can proceed to Xinduqiao Town for some sense of modern civilization. There are more establishments here, where you can hang out with newfound friends, without having to be too far from the captivating views of Kangding such as the snow-capped mountains and the vast green lands. It’s also an area where you can find different types of accommodation. When you wake up, the town gives you a breathtaking visa of the Gongga Mountains.
Kangding is also populated by many temples, and a well-known choice is Tagong Temple, which has been improved, now with red walls. The highlight, however, shall be seeing the activities performed by the monks like walking around the temple while chanting. You can also see the fast movements of Tibetan prayer wheels.
If you want a more convenient choice for climbing mountains, you can go to Paoma where you can ride a cable car. If you want to save money, go by foot. Near the Paoma Mountain, mean while, is the ancient city of Kangding. Compared to other very old cities and villages in the country, this one still remains inhabited. A startling attraction shall be the flowing river right in the middle of the city. You can also dine in the many food shops that serve a true-blue Tibetan food and drink such as the yak yogurt. You can also try the yak tea with yak butter.
Address: Kangding County, Ganzi
Admission Fee: RMB 30 (Paoma Mountain cable car)
How to Get There: Take buses from Luding, Chengdu, Litang, and Tagong.
Hailuogou National Park
There are a lot of glacier parks all over the world, even in China, but Hailuogou National Park (海螺沟国家公园) found in Ganzi stands out for a lot of reasons. For one, it’s a vast land covered with ice; it spans around 200 kilometers and is made to look like a series of valleys. It has also one of the lowest altitudes at only less than 3,000 meters. Compared to other world-renowned glaciers, this one is a lot easier to access, giving plenty of tourists the opportunity to experience these for themselves without having to travel to other countries.
The glaciers, which are believed to have been formed more than a thousand years ago, now form part of a massive park. One of the best parts of the park is the Grand Glacier Cascade, which has a tongue that runs for 6 kilometers, extending into, interestingly, a virgin forest that’s is highly populated by both flora and fauna, a good number of which are endemic to the place.
As a virgin forest, it’s hardly ever visited by tourists, so you can enjoy the best that nature offers. The cascade itself is almost of perfect proportion; it has a width and height of a thousand meters. There is also a viewing deck where you can observe the spilling of glaciers—it’s an exciting and thrilling spectacle. To maximize your experience in the park, you can stay in the many campsites all over the park. If you’re looking for hot springs with water reaching as high as 90 degrees Centigrade, your best option is no. 2. You can also visit Shuihaizi, an ice lake that creates a myriad of images as natural foliage is reflected onto the icy waters.
Address: southeast portion of Luding County, Ganzi
Admission Fee: CNY 70
How to Get There: Take a bus in Xiananmen Bus Station from Chengdu. Ride a sightseeing bus around the park.
Horse Riding from Luorong Meadow to Niunaihai Lake and Xian Nairi
Normally when you’re thousands of meters above sea level, when the temperature is cold and the climate mild to harsh, the last thing you’re going to see are flowers—a lot of them. In fact, this is the reason why most of the Tibetans in the region are planting crops, not vegetables that are more prone to dying due to the cold temperatures. However, as you travel across the Luorong Meadow to Niunaihai Lake and Xian Nairi, the sight may simply debunk your thinking.
Horses have become modes of transport in the area, especially since Tibetans are known to move from place to place. You can hire a horse that takes you to the vast Luorong Meadow. This plain captivates many with its blooming yellow flowers that seem to carpet the entire earth. It truly reminds you of spring and summer even if you’re already too high in altitude. From the meadow, you can trek to the Niunaihai Lake. Compared to other lakes, this one is small in size, but it’s still majestic nonetheless particularly when you can see the snow-capped mountains around you and the clear dark skies above. The water is almost teal in color mainly because it’s not your typical lake. The water is fed by the glaciers that come from the surrounding mountains. You can also find a glimpse of Xian Nairi, which is claimed to be the real Shangri-la.
Almost always you’re not allowed to travel by yourself. A local can guide you during the journey and keep the horse in check as the animal can sometimes feel anxious in the presence of strangers. Make sure you can properly compensate the guide and inform him beforehand if the journey can take long since men don’t want to spend a long time away from their family.
Address: between Chanadorje and Chenresig
How to Get There: Begin the trek at Shuiluo Gongga toward Riwa found in Yading.