2025 Nangqian Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

🌟 Dana Monastery, at an altitude of 4,500 meters, is the world's most complete existing Gesar stupa monastery. "Dana Sengge Nanzong" means "Lion Fortress with Horse Ears," named after the mountain that resembles a lion and rocks that look like horse ears (top of image 3). Dana Monastery (image 3) was first built in the 3rd or 4th century AD as a Bon monastery, and was converted to the Yeba Kagyu sect during the Southern Song dynasty. It is the only Yeba Kagyu monastery among the eight sub-sects of the White Sect. The monastery houses the swords, armor, and clothes used by King Gesar and his generals. 🌟 Near Dana Monastery are the stupas of the 30 generals of the Kingdom of Ling in the Epic of King Gesar. The stupas are all in the Ganden style, the largest "group stupas" in the Tibetan style in the Qinghai-Tibet region. They are built in the late Tang dynasty Tibetan style and architectural art, and are listed as a national key cultural relic protection unit. The stupas are located halfway up the Ma'er Mountain, with steep and difficult roads and high altitude. You can only use a drone to capture the surrounding natural scenery, which is refreshing and pleasant. The streams at the foot of the mountain are clear, and wild animals play freely. The area maintains the oldest way of life, peaceful and serene.

🌟 Yushu Nangqian Ayuwang Pagoda, also known as Gerong Pagoda, is the site of Ayuwang Pagoda. According to historical records, King Ashoka of ancient India built 84,000 pagodas around the world to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Buddha's nirvana, with the Buddha's relics as the inner collection. 🌟 Nineteen of them are located in China, and the Xiangda Gerong Pagoda in Nangqian, Qinghai is one of them. Gerong Pagoda has five floors in total. The first floor in the Mandala is the site of the Buddha's relic pagoda built during the Ashoka period 2,200 years ago, which has never been opened. 🌟 It is said that the stone tablet unearthed here contains the records of the pagoda and confirms that the pagoda site in Nangqian is the Ayuwang Pagoda. Now, about 500 small pagodas, 5 million Buddha statues, 160,000 sacred stones of the Tripitaka, and countless Mani stones have been built around the pagoda site. Songtsen Gampo, the king of Tubo, once built a temple next to the pagoda, which is the predecessor of the current Changdu Temple in Tibet.

Driving on the road in Nangqian, Yushu, feels like traveling through a moving painting. The afterglow of the setting sun weaves into brilliant colors, reflecting on the vast plateau. Outside the car window, the undulating mountains resemble sleeping dragons, guarding this sacred land. Occasionally, herds of yaks leisurely stroll on the grassland, their silhouettes contrasting with the distant peaks, creating a tranquil yet vivid scene. At this moment, all the noise and troubles have faded away, leaving only inner peace and tranquility, finding a sense of belonging in this distant and mysterious place.

I hovered over the braided river system of the Zhaqu River, I traversed the ancient Baizha Salt Field, The wind blows, the clouds wander, the grass sways with the light, and the herdsmen drive the yaks home at sunset. ❤ Jiangyuan Yushu · Secret Realm Nangqian, so beautiful that you don't want to go home! The Zhaqu River is one of the main tributaries in the upper reaches of the Lancang River. The crisscrossing rivers meander through the mountains, forming a unique highland river landscape - a braided river system. The Baizha Salt Field, located in Baizha Township, Nangqian County, is called 'Baizha Tsaka' in Tibetan, meaning the monkey's salt field. It is the earliest established salt field in Nangqian County, with the highest quality brine and the most representative. Salt is mainly produced in spring and autumn each year, and the salt produced is divided into two types: white salt and red salt. Travel Tips: 1. The dream network of Nangqian, the braided river system viewing platform is about 3-5 kilometers ahead of Nangqian County. You can also go down to the grassland to take photos, and aerial time-lapse photography is very spectacular. 2. The Baizha Salt Field requires about 40 minutes of driving along the highway. There is a wooden plank road in the Baizha Salt Field for close-up viewing, and there is also a newly built Red Salt Museum nearby. 3. The average altitude of Nangqian is over 3000 meters. Compared to other high-altitude reactions, it may be weaker, but it is still recommended not to engage in strenuous exercise. And be sure to take sun protection measures.

👉Summer cooling plan, if Nangqian County in Yushu Prefecture is the secret of Kham, then Gadeng Monastery embraced by the Lancang River is the secret within the secret. 👉Gadeng Monastery, an ancient temple by the Lancang River, has a history of over 500 years. The temple on the small island is isolated from the world, surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, with a very unique geographical location. 👉This travel route offers cool and comfortable weather in summer, not only with picturesque scenery but also rich in culture, the most beautiful S-bend of the Lancang River, and the magical Maozhuang Daughter Kingdom village beside the monastery. 📍Address: Maozhuang Township, Nangqian County, Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai Province 🚗Transportation: Self-drive to Gadeng Monastery in Maozhuang Township, 170 kilometers from Yushu, 120 kilometers from Nangqian County, at an altitude of about 3720 meters, located in the Ziqu River Basin, with excellent natural scenery along the way. 🚘Travel Route: 👉Route 1: Depart from Nangqian County through Kanda Canyon——Yala Sacred Mountain——Sacred Lake Wengcuo Lake——Suman Monastery, an ancient temple combining politics and religion——Gadeng Monastery big turn (rest at reception point)——Hometown of Nangqian King Zhewenduo (Statue of Princess Supi)——Quiet Ziqu River——Zirong Ancient City (Monkey God overlooking)——Jiangxi Forest Farm——Gadeng Monastery reception point 👉Route 2: Depart from Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture——Quiet Ziqu River——Zirong Ancient City——Jiangxi Forest Farm——Gadeng Monastery reception point (rest)——Hometown of Nangqian King Zhewenduo (Statue of Princess Supi)——Suman Monastery, an ancient temple combining politics and religion——Sacred Lake Wengcuo Lake——Yala Sacred Mountain——Kanda Grand Canyon——Return to county town. 👉Play: 1️⃣In summer, wildflowers bloom here, and the grass is fresh and beautiful. Cars can drive to the entrance of the monastery. 2️⃣In addition to the main hall, there are some yellow or white houses on the back mountain of the monastery, which are said to be places where monks retreat for practice. 3️⃣Climbing the hillside on one side of the monastery, you can overlook the full view of the S-bend, with smoke curling outside the river and Buddhist scriptures leisurely inside the river. 4️⃣On the hillside on the other side of the monastery is the Daughter Kingdom Maozhuang Township, with primitive Tibetan houses and beautiful pastoral scenery. Gadeng Monastery

👉Ga'er Monastery features a unique geographical environment. It is the largest monastery of the Tibetan Bon religion, situated on a mountain at an altitude of around 3700 meters. 👉The monastery is divided into an upper and a lower temple. The upper temple is where monks practice their religion, with temples embedded in the cliffs. The lower temple is where laypeople live, spread across the hillside like a village. 👉The area encompasses high mountain pastures, primeval forests, and streams among the woods. It's a collection not only of temple culture but also of the tranquil and pleasant nature between heaven and earth. 📍Address: Bamai Village, Baizha Township, Nangqian County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province 🚗Transportation: Self-driving or chartered car, at the border of Qinghai and Tibet, 76 kilometers from Nangqian County town, 250 kilometers from Yushu Prefecture's capital, Jiegu Town. ➡️Route: Turn south at the 1024-kilometer point of National Highway 214 into the gravel road leading to Baizha Forest Farm, continue for about 25 kilometers, then head west into Balong Gully (also known as Ga'er Monastery Canyon), and drive about 15 kilometers to the end of the canyon to reach Ga'er Monastery. ❤️Features: ✔️Legend has it that over 700 years ago, the great master Padmasambhava practiced here. ✔️The treasures of the monastery are a pair of unique prayer wheels, said to be part of the dowry Princess Wencheng brought when she married Songtsen Gampo. 🏞️Sightseeing: 1. At the foot of the monastery's mountain, there is a highland meadow surrounded by a lake. 2. Cars can drive along the mountain road all the way to the top of the monastery, where there is a parking lot. 3. The lower temple is halfway up the mountain, said to be where lay practitioners practice, resembling a village on the hillside. 4. Driving all the way to the top, the upper temple is embedded in the cliffs, with the sound of chanting and grand temples. 5. After visiting the upper temple, you can go to the back mountain. In summer, the area is lush with trees, covered with wildflowers, colorful prayer flags, and you can overlook the entire monastery. Ga'er Monastery Grand Canyon Ecotourism Area

👉These red salt fields are just too beautiful! The Baizha Salt Field in Nangqian, Qinghai, is located by the Dana River. Overlooking the square salt pans below the mountain, they resemble a palette, and the salt fields on the mountain follow the terrain like terraced fields. 👉Baizha Salt Field is one of the oldest salt fields in the Yushu area of Qinghai. With a thousand years of salt mining experience, it still uses ancient salt-making techniques to this day. 👉In summer, the scenery on the way to Baizha Salt Field is very beautiful, with mountains, grasslands, wheat fields, and ancient villages. Accompanied by beautiful scenery all the way, you will encounter this stunning red salt field. 📍Address: Baizha Village, Baizha Township, Nangqian County, Yushu, Qinghai 🚗Transportation: Self-driving or chartered car, Baizha Ancient Salt Field is 45 kilometers away from Nangqian County 🏞️Features: This boutique tourist route of Baizha Salt Field is cool and comfortable in summer. Along the way, there are alpine meadows, river canyons, sacred mountains and holy lakes, and many ancient villages and temples. From natural scenery to cultural features, it has everything. 🚘Route: Nangqian—Zhaqu River—Naijia Ma Sacred Mountain—Baizha Ancient Salt Field—Ga'er Temple Grand Canyon—Yixiantian—Ga'er Temple—Lacuo Lake ❤️Activities: Photographing villagers harvesting salt, experiencing salt harvesting, walking the ancient salt road, and the sky mirror of the salt fields, etc.

In 2010, a major earthquake occurred in Yushu, causing many people to die. People from all over the country gave great help to Yushu. Therefore, to thank the aid from the compatriots across the country, Yushu decided that all scenic spots in the area would be free of charge, permanently. This place is more mysterious than Tibet, more primitive than Xinjiang, and as sacred as Sichuan. It is even a paradise for travelers, ranking among the top in China. It is Qinghai Yushu. 🚉Travel Guide: ✈️You can choose to fly to Yushu Batang Airport 🚅You can choose to take a bullet train to Xining, and then depart from Xining to Yushu Recommended attractions: Hoh Xil This is a sacred place to witness life and faith, a paradise for rare wild animals. On the way, you can see snow-capped mountains and grasslands, lakes and wetlands, and groups of wild animals. △The core area is prohibited to enter, only for distant viewing, please pay attention to safety! Sanjiangyuan China's first national park, where the mountains stand tall, on both sides of the Yellow River, presenting a fascinating picture. Coming here is like walking into a huge natural zoo: Tibetan antelopes, wild donkeys, and wild yaks can be seen everywhere Chumar River Under the sun, the Chumar River looks like rocks washed by water, and also like the 'blood of the earth', which is really amazing Jiegu Temple The temple and the monks' houses are well-arranged, towering above the hill. Standing here, you can see the whole town, which is very spectacular and vast Gaer Temple This is an ancient temple hanging on a cliff, with an altitude of more than 3700 meters. It is the largest temple in the White Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. You can visit the treasure of the temple, a pair of peculiar prayer wheels. It is said that this pair of prayer wheels was the dowry brought by Princess Wencheng when she married Songtsen Gampo, and was later placed in Gaer Temple Baizha Ancient Salt Field An ancient salt field with a longer history than Chaka Salt Lake, still using the ancient salt-making process. The scenery is pleasant in summer, with mountains, grasslands, wheat fields, and ancient villages, forming a picture Xinzha Mani Stone Scripture City At an altitude of more than 3600 meters, the Mani pile is magnificent and is known as 'the largest place in the world for making wishes'. Although these characters are mysterious and difficult to understand, they are as elegant as artworks Yushu Horse Racing Festival The largest Tibetan carnival in Qinghai, held on the Zaxi Grassland from July 25 to August 1 every year. Those who are going to play recently can pay attention The name 'Yushu' is translated from Tibetan, meaning 'ruins'. There are countless praises for this place: 'Ocean of Song and Dance', 'Hometown of Song and Dance', 'Ancestor of Famous Mountains', 'Source of Rivers', 'Land of Yaks', 'The Closest Place to the Sky in the World'.