Ganzi Activities
Contrary to popular belief, the plateaus can be just as vibrant as the major cities in China. For example, in Qinghai Province, Xining, which is the its capital and located in the Tibetan Plateau, is a progressive city peppered with small clubs and bars that operate from late afternoon to early morning. However, Ganzi is quite different. It doesn’t have the same modernism found in Xining. Instead, it offers a completely different entertainment lifestyle for the guests.
Shopping
One of the things you will probably learn to love in Ganzi Prefecture is shopping. There is no huge shopping mall in the region, but surely there are a lot of small shops selling a variety of products, mostly Tibetan. These include old items, clothing, even swords, which are double edged and with handles that are made from the horns of cows. You can also find some that tare selling jewelry pieces, especially made of gold and silver. On the other hand, if you’re looking for some fantastic souvenirs, you can try the opera costumes and masks. You can also see a lot of items that are related to Buddhism including figures, from large to small. Some of the well-known shopping areas are Litang, Tagong, and Kangding.
Just like when you’re in the most modern districts of China, it’s perfectly all right to negotiate the prices of these items, and if you’re good at it, then you can reduce the cost to almost 50 percent. Make sure too that you can check the quality of the product, particularly jewelry pieces. Some of them can be of poor quality that you can’t get the most out of the gold and silver.
Festivals
One of the best times to visit the Ganzi Prefecture is during the summer since most of the festivals are held around this season—and there are plenty of them that you can participate in. You can attend the Kangba Festival, which is celebrated in the entire region for three days. It features carnival night and various live performances such as folk songs and dances. The venue changes every year since the counties have to bid for it. The dates are also flexible.
Kangding, the capital of the prefecture, also hosts a number of local festivals. These include the Love Song Festival, which is held in the Paoma Mountain for three days, and Kanding Mountain Top Gathering, which is more regular. It happens every fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar, around the eighth day. Also lasting for three days, the festival is more Tibetan in nature since it involves the typical bathing of Buddha and dramas that are very popular among their population.
You can also catch a variety of horse racing festivals such as in Tagong, Longdeng, and Yuke County. This is expected since the horse has always been a reliable mode of transport for the people since the olden days. Aside from the traditional horse races, the participants also perform their local dances and songs. Overall, the festivals can last for at least 3 to 10 days, and some depend on the lunar calendar.
Bars and Recreation Rooms
The Chinese and Tibetans love to sing—as mentioned, performances are staples in their festivals—so it’s no longer surprising you can find some karaoke rooms or centers even in Garzi. Some of the places you can visit are Paoma Mountain Karaoke at Xinshi Front Street in Kangding and Xuedian Karaoke Music Town in Yanhe West Road. You can also find some recreation rooms and leisure clubs such as Happy Recreation Room in 318 National Road, Shenglang Recreation Club in Lucheng South Road, Paradise Cipher Recreation Club in Qingge Avenue, and Xinnan Yuelou in West Street.
Most of the people prefer to retire once the sun goes down, but if you’re looking for other great places to hang out, you can try the cafes and restaurants that are found inside accommodation options such as hostels. They normally serve two general types of dishes: Sichuan and Tibetan. When it’s Tibetan, you can see on the menu burgers and soups that are made from yak meat and their entrails. They are then paired with either a local beer or yak butter tea, which has a hint of saltiness. If you can eat only one dish, try the tsampa, which is the ultimate food of the Tibetans. You can also get some fresh coffee in the Himalayan Coffee found in Historical Walking Street in the old town of Kangding. They also serve Western-style pastries like cheesecakes and pies. The menu options can be around RMB 50.
Trekking and Camping
When you’re in Ganzi, it’s advisable not to stay too long from the center but move out into the rural areas because that’s where most of the magic happens. Indeed, trekking and camping are some of the most favorite activities of tourists in the region. Fortunately, lately transport has become more convenient, and many camp sites have been developed in some of the national parks.
There are different places you can go to for your trek. Usually, though, the trip begins at Chengdu, and it lasts for a couple of days, even more than a week. An example of a trek is Konka Hiking, which begins at Chengdu, followed by a bus trip to Kangding. The entire trip can last for about 7 hours. From there, you can choose to ride a bus or charter a private vehicle toward Laoyulin Village. It should take you less than 30 minutes.
One of the best places to camp is Hailuogou National Glacier Park, which can be reached by passing through the old town of Moxi. You can then choose among the camp sites available. You can’t really go near the glaciers since they are quite dangerous, but there is a virgin forest and several hot springs all around the area.
Take Note
Tibet has been experiencing political tension for many years, and since Ganzi is near it and is home to a lot of Tibetans, the issue can also reach the area. Sometimes travel restrictions are being applied, and some areas may be closed. When meeting the Tibetans over beers or food, don’t mention anything about politics.