Hiking Through History at the Silver Palace of Garuda Valley

#chinatravel Exploring the ruins of Khyung-lung Dngul-mkhar (aka 穹窿银城) in western Tibet was like stepping straight into a real life legend. This place was once the capital of the ancient Zhangzhung kingdom, yeah, the one that existed before Tibetan civilization as we know it. Super remote, super mysterious, and honestly, super awesome. The name means “Silver Palace of Garuda Valley,” which already sounds epic, and the actual ruins totally live up to it. You hike through this dry, rugged valley surrounded by crazy rock formations, and then ancient stone walls, crumbled buildings, and secret little corners hiding in the landscape. It’s quiet, powerful, and kinda humbling. There aren’t many signs or crowds, so it really feels like you're discovering something ancient and sacred. Bring water, good hiking shoes, and a curious mind, because this is one of those off the beaten path places that sticks with you. If you're in Tibet and love lost kingdoms and deep history, this one’s a must.