Gannan 3–4 Day Small Loop

Starting from Lanzhou, counterclockwise. 1️⃣ Lanzhou—Ganjia Secret Land—Labrang Monastery 2️⃣ Sangke Grassland—Zhagana 3️⃣ Zhagana—Rock's Trail—Milarepa Buddha Pavilion 4️⃣ Linxia—Lanzhou—Return 🚗 DAY 1: Lanzhou Fly directly from Nanyang to Lanzhou. Upon arrival, head to the "Carb Heaven Crossroads" to try Guoyi Beef Noodles. The noodles are spicy and flavorful, with chili generously added. Lamb skewers cost 2 yuan each, and a bowl of noodles is 8 yuan! Right next to Guoyi is Lanzhou's must-try "Fangha" sweet fermented milk tea. In the afternoon, visit Zhongshan Bridge, sit by the Yellow River, and enjoy a cup of Sanpao tea. For dinner, there are many barbecue restaurants near Zhongshan Bridge. We randomly chose one called "Lingtouyang." Their lamb skewers and meat tendons were excellent, grilled over an open flame. The lamb skewers were tender and not gamey. The hand-held lamb looked plain but was aromatic and tender. They even gave us three bowls of lamb soup, which was incredibly delicious. The total bill was only 130 yuan! Accommodation: Lanzhou Qingji Hotel, Price: 307 yuan 🚗 DAY 2: Lanzhou—Xiahe County—Ganjia Secret Land—Labrang Monastery We drove from Lanzhou to Xiahe County, a journey of about 3 hours. On the way to Ganjia Secret Land, the scenery started resembling "Windows" desktop wallpapers. We were so glad we came! Despite the cloudy weather, we saw vast grasslands, distant white stone cliffs, and villages inhabited by Tibetan locals. It was stunning! We even encountered fearless marmots that stood up to beg for food. However, avoid touching them to prevent the spread of plague. Dinner: Kangzhuo Tibetan Cuisine Accommodation: Xiahe County Yazhuo Homestay, Price: 117 yuan 🚗 DAY 3: Labrang Monastery—Sangke Grassland—Zhagana Since we missed Labrang Monastery the previous day, we started the morning by dressing in traditional Tibetan attire and taking photos around the monastery. Labrang Monastery is enormous, serving as a place for monks to study and live, akin to our Tsinghua or Peking University. Be sure to hire a guide for a 3-hour tour. Due to time constraints, we headed directly to Zhagana. On the way, we passed Sangke Grassland, which is more primitive and beautiful compared to Inner Mongolia's grasslands. There are many horseback riding options, and you can stop to experience it. The drive from Xiahe County to Zhagana takes about 5 hours. We had pre-booked a homestay in Zhagana and checked in upon arrival. (Staying inside the village is essential for viewing the sunrise and morning mist the next day. Make sure to book a room with a view; you can enjoy the scenery right from your room.) Accommodation: Zhagana Yeri Village Dongmei Rural Guesthouse, Price: 233 yuan 🚗 DAY 4: Zhagana—Rock's Trail—Milarepa Buddha Pavilion—Linxia County It rained in the morning, so we missed the sunrise but saw the dreamy and beautiful morning mist! Due to mild altitude sickness, we canceled our hiking plans as even slight movement made us breathless. After packing up, we set off for Rock's Trail. Contrary to expectations, the trail wasn't as daunting. We rented a Tank 300 SUV, which handled the route effortlessly. We saw many sedans on the road, but an SUV is still recommended. The scenery was breathtaking, especially a section at the mountain top where you can overlook the entire valley. The drive to Hezuo City also offered great views. We arrived at Milarepa Buddha Pavilion late, so we only explored the exterior. We saw many Tibetan locals prostrating in devotion, which was deeply moving. Accommodation: Linxia County, Return trip the next day.