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

✨7 Days & 6 Nights in Yushu｜Awakening the Wild Soul of Three-River-Source! Sacred Mountains & Holy Lakes + Ultimate Kham Culture Guide✨ "Circumambulating Gaduo Juewu Mountain in tears, drunk on Tongtian River's starry sky—this journey rebirthed me as a Khampa at 4,700m altitude"🏔️ 📅 Core: Sacred Pilgrimage + Turquoise Lakes + Ancient Tang-Tibet Road + Khampa Spirit ✅ Essence: Morning prayers·Noon grasslands·Starry nights｜Daily spiritual encounters + wilderness dialogues Day1: Xining→Jiegu Town (Altitude acclimation) 🛕 First glimpse of Jiegu Monastery ▫️ 9AM Thousand-Buddha Wall: Touch centuries-old cliff carvings! Crimson-robed monks stream into morning prayer halls, butter lamps flickering like stars ▫️ Culture shock: Dash to King Gesar Plaza! Sour yak yogurt with "dog-piss pancakes" shatters altitude sickness 🌌 Night ritual: ▫️ Tibetan homestay rooftop! At 23:00 witness Milky Way arching over Mani Stone City, meteors outnumbering chanting Day2: Jiegu→Leba Valley→Princess Wencheng Temple (Stay in Changu Village) 🌿 Decoding Tang-Tibet Ancient Road: ▫️ Leba Valley petroglyphs: Trace 1,300-year-old Buddha carvings! Hanfu photoshoot where Princess Wencheng once stood ▫️ Tearjerker moment: Temple keeper gifts khata scarf! Touch ancient Tang-dynasty cypress—legend says it echoes with Chang'an's bells🔔 🔥 Khampa feast: ▫️ Squeeze into nomad tents for grilled ribs! Pass barley wine like Olympic torch during Guozhuang dance Day3: Changu→Batang Grassland→Chenduo (Nomad homestay) 🐎 Becoming wilderness riders: ▫️ Batang horseback games: Learn sheep-tossing from Khampa men! Silver scabbards flash like lightning during scarf-catching stunts ▫️ White tent lunch: Hand-shred lamb! Grease-stained sleeves proudly worn as "grassland perfume" 🌠 Starry pastoral: ▫️ Lie in flowers watching Milky Way dive into Yalong River! Pre-dawn star trails around prayer flags whisper King Gesar's epic Day4: Chenduo→Gaduo Juewu Pilgrimage (Light version) ⛰️ Sacred mountain initiation: ▫️ Zhumuqi Village start: Hang prayer flags! Guides chant mantra: "Om Ah Hum Benza Guru Pema Siddhi Hum" ▫️ First pass (4,700m): Wind-horse flags snap! Summit resembles silver-helmeted general🗻 ⚠️ Survival rules: Glucose + ibuprofen! Rest 10sec every 50 steps Yield to blue sheep—never point at sacred peaks (palm-up gesture only) Day5: Pilgrimage→Jiana Mani Stones→Jiegu 🪦 World's largest mani heap: ▫️ Ocean of mantras: Touch 2.5 billion carved stones! Hunt "living stones" with turquoise—"each has past lives" say lamas ▫️ Dark experience: Learn carving "Om"! Rock chips down your neck can't stop devotion 🍵 Healing moment: ▫️ Tibetan herbal bath! Old grandma chuckles: "Washes pilgrimage fatigue away" Day6: Jiegu→Longbao Wetland→Tongtian River (Glamping) 🦢 Black-necked crane paradise: ▫️ Longbao dawn: Cranes dance in mist! Telephoto shots rival National Geographic ▫️ Tongtian sunset: Stand where Xuanzang dried scriptures! Toss wish stones into gold-plated river 🌌 Three-River-Source stars: ▫️ Wetland glamping! -0℃ under yak blankets capturing star trails, frost crystallizing on lashes Day7: Tongtian→Jiegu→Xining 📿 Final rituals: ▫️ Custom-carve mantra stones at Xinzhai! Complete karmic cycle at mani piles ▫️ Jiegu Monastery teahouse: Feed pigeons with jerky! Auntie scolds: "Sparrow army attacks crumbs!" 📸 Pro photography tips: 1️⃣ Leba Valley reflections: Shoot petroglyphs + prayer flags mirrored! Hanfu + oil-paper umbrella = instant Tang dynasty 2️⃣ Gaduo Juewu Pass: Capture wind-whipped prayer flags! Red robes against silver peaks 3️⃣ Longbao cranes: Compress misty wetlands! Crane wings freeze-frame as ink painting 📜 Yushu survival manual: 🔸 Altitude: No hair-wash first 3 days! Glucose + oximeter for pilgrimage 🔸 Border permit: List "Yushu + Chenduo" (mandatory for sacred peaks) 🔸 Outfit checklist: Fluoro jackets for snowscapes! Borrow Khampa robes + silver daggers for warrior portraits 🔸 Cultural codes: ❌ Never take mani stones! No shorts/hats in temples ✅ School supplies > candy for nomad kids (notebooks scarce) 🔸 Eco-rules: Pack out trash! Wetland plastics kill cranes "Umbrella toilets" preferred "When I released prayer papers at Gaduo Juewu Pass, the last wind-horse flag vanished in gales— The sacred mountain whispered: Go child, your soul now belongs to Three-River-Source."🌊

The King Gesar Square is located about 50 meters east of the intersection of Jiegu Avenue and Gesar Road, Yushu City, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province.  Basic Information - Investment and Area: The total investment is CNY 18,526,300, and the total area is 600 square meters. It was completed in July 2007. - Location and Surroundings: It is adjacent to Shengli Road, the main road in Jiegu Town, in the west, Zaxike Road, the secondary road in the city, in the south, Batang River in the east, and Zaxike River in the north. There is Kangba Style Street and many specialty snack bars nearby. Main Attractions - King Gesar Statue: A 21-meter-high King Gesar statue made of brass stands in the center of the square, which is very magnificent. - Buildings and Facilities: There are flagpoles, Jiulong Hall, eight totem poles, sunken squares, and other buildings. Cultural Activities - Daily Activities: It is the central square for citizens' activities and city celebrations, where people dance the enthusiastic Guozhuang Dance. - Large-scale Activities: It has held the Lancang-Mekong International Image Week and other activities, as well as special evening parties for the Sanjiangyuan Ecological Culture and Tourism Festival. Cultural Significance It is a concentrated display area of King Gesar culture, highlighting the regional cultural characteristics and traditional cultural characteristics of the Tibetan people. People can appreciate King Gesar culture and experience Kangba Tibetan culture here. The King Gesar Square is open to the public for free.

For the first two days, we went to the wildlife viewing areas around Yushu, setting off at 6 am. Today, we are going to the wildlife viewing area in Nangqian, setting off from Yushu County at 8:30 am. The show is about to begin. . 🕘Time: The third day of the trip, around 9 am, when the animals are active . Location: Batang Grassland . 🐺Findings: 6 herds of Tibetan antelopes, 9 wolves, a dead yak, a mixed flock of bearded vultures, vultures, and Himalayan vultures . 🕵️Crime scene inference In the dark night, under the faint moonlight, a pack of wolves sneaked up to the yaks and bit the tendons of a yak's hind leg, rendering it immobile. After cautiously ensuring the surrounding area was safe, the wolves began to eat. But the good times didn't last long. A local found that one of his yaks was missing and immediately came to look for it. After driving the wolves away, the local wrapped the dead yak in cloth with a human scent to prevent the wolves from continuing to eat. However, the birds of prey that feed on carrion also found the delicacy and gathered around, bringing us to this morning. We first found the dead yak and the flock of birds. We thought that was it, but Renqing immediately spotted the pack of wolves on the other side of the river, from 6 to 9. The wolves on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have been fighting wits with the herders for hundreds of years. The wolves will first drive the cattle away from the road to a place that is more favorable for them to attack, and then launch an attack. The locals usually let the bulls graze freely on the grassland, but the cows and calves must return home every day. They know their yaks very well, so if a yak doesn't come home at night, they will immediately know and go to look for it. If they stay out overnight, the probability of survival is very low. ———————————————————— 💯Why choose Banma? 1. Strategic partner and licensed access provider of China's national parks 2. Provide global outdoor travel products and private customization 3. Provide domestic and international outdoor and nature field leader protection 4. Incentive travel & team building comprehensive solution provider Qinghai, China Nangqian, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture

Today the journey was shorter, only 160km, but because the road was bad and bumpy, it took us 3.5 hours. We still went through the old road, through the temple of the princess, and saw the paintings painted on the rocks. After reaching the turn to the monastery, we started on a bumpy road. The driver didn't know where the monastery was, so he had to stop and ask the locals. The monastery is located around a stream. There was really nothing to see when entering the monastery because it was so old. In this area, it must have been covered in snow in winter, so I felt damp inside the monastery. It was quite deserted, only us here, there were very few people passing by, and flowers and grass grew on both sides of the road. Today was another beautiful sunny day, so it felt like life here was separate from the outside world, peaceful and quiet, but suddenly a group of people came in and broke the space here, the sound of the stream flowing, the sound of birds, the sound of the wind...

Before coming here we had very little information about this place. This place is very mountainous and borders Tibet. A place where Tibetan culture is still evident through the clothes people wear and speak. I really like this place.

✨You can see it at a glance in Yushu City 🔥Landmark/Landmark--Jiegu Temple Looking up at Jiegu Temple in Yushu City 🌈It was exactly 9 a.m. when we arrived. There were fewer tourists and it was relatively quiet. Local believers are gradually entering the entrance of the hall, and the monks are cleaning the ground and will start morning classes soon. 🌟The location of Jiegu Temple overlooks the whole city of Yushu. The scenery is quite good, and you can see the river flowing like a jade belt. 💫Aerial photography tip: You can take off in the open space with few people in the temple. The signal is strong throughout the whole process and the connection is stable! Shooting and sharing: 💫Panorama of Jiegu Temple: Panorama of Yushu City 🌟Create with Jiegu Temple as the main body and the city/mountain as the background

The New Village Mani Stone Pile is located in Xinzhai Village, Jiegu Town, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, at an altitude of over 3,600 meters, and has a history of 300 years. The Mani pile is magnificent and is known as the largest in the world. It is also known as the "world's largest place for making wishes and praying for blessings", with billions of Mani stones. Jiana Mani Stone was once known as a Buddhist holy land comparable to the holy land of Lhasa, and is famous in the "Han, Tibetan, and Hor regions". The New Village Jiana Mani Stone Pile was founded by the first generation of Jiana Living Buddha Dodson Chupa Wang, a Tibetan Buddhist monk. It is now a stone scripture wonder city with a length of 300 meters from east to west, a width of 80 meters from north to south, a height of 4 meters, an area of 24,000 square meters, and 2.5 billion Mani stones. Mani stones are made by Tibetan people carving scriptures, various Buddha statues and auspicious patterns on ordinary white stones, and decorated with colors. Devout monks and believers continue to pile up stone scriptures, and their scale continues to expand over time. The biggest difference in the New Village Jiana Mani Stone Pile is that it is completely formed by spontaneous folk behavior, that is, every time a believer prays for blessings and makes a wish, they add a few Mani stones to it, resulting in a huge Buddhist scripture "ocean" covering an area of 24,000 square meters and a height of about three meters. What power has prompted the formation of this folk frenzy? The reason is a magical place for making wishes and praying for blessings. Mani stone is a product of Tibetan Buddhist culture. It integrates religion and folk art, is an extension of nature worship, a re-creation of megalithic culture, and a product of the integration of this religion and Buddhist culture. In Tibet, various Mani stones and Mani stone piles of different sizes can be seen everywhere. However, there are not many Mani stone cities like Xinzhai with a large scale and a long history. The large area of Jiana Mani Stone Pile and the large number of Mani stones were reviewed by the Shanghai World Guinness Headquarters in January 2005 as the "largest Mani stone pile" and won the Guinness Certificate. The title of "World's First Mani Stone Pile" originated from this.

Yushu King Gesar Square 📍--The section from Nangqian to Yushu of the Tang-Tibetan ancient road. King Gesar in Tibet According to the legend, he is the incarnation of Master Padmasambhava. He served as a soldier throughout his life, promoted good and suppressed evil, promoted Buddhism, spread culture, and became an unparalleled hero that the Tibetan people are proud of. King Gesar was born in 1038 AD He died in 1119 AD. Throughout his life, he subdued demons, eradicated violence, conquered the north and south, and unified more than 150 tribes, large and small, and the territory of the Ling Kingdom was unified. ✅It is widely spread among the people in the Tibetan Plateau, known as the snowy land of our country, the beautiful Qinghai Lake, under the majestic Riyue Mountain, the mainland where we share the ancient Silk Road, the Sichuan Basin in the Land of Abundance, and the beautiful Yunnan, the land of peacocks, and has been widely spread to this day. People still remember and praise this national hero.

🏕️The scale of Jiana Mani was certified by China's "Big World Guinness" in 2005. The certificate states that "the largest Mani stone pile, Xinzha Jiana Mani stone pile, is 240 meters long in the north, 247 meters long in the south, 61 meters wide in the west, and 73.6 meters wide in the east. The highest point is 6 meters. There are 2.5 billion scriptures carved on the stones. These scriptures are of different sizes and shapes. The large ones are like desktops, and the small ones are only like eggs. They are all engraved with Buddha statues or scriptures. ✅The scale of the Mani pile is rare in the world. It is known as the "world's first stone carving library". The scriptures carved on it have nearly 20 billion characters. ✅There is no concept of numbers. Some people describe it as equivalent to two football fields. This was 20 years ago. Now why is it called the Stone Scripture City? I think when you are in it, you will feel like you are turning a city when you turn around these Mani piles that can no longer be measured by numbers. 📍Qinghai Yushu Xinzha Village Yushu Batang Airport✈️You can stay in the city. The stone pile is very close to the city. No tickets are required. You can buy scriptures and put them on the stone wall to make a wish and pray for blessings. 🎈 (Yushu is the only place in the country where all scenic spots do not require tickets to thank the people of the country for their help during the earthquake)

📍Changu Temple/temple in Jiegu Town, Yushu, Qinghai ✅Changu Temple is an ancient building in Changu Village, Jiegu Town, Yushu County, Qinghai Province, China. It is one of the largest temples of the White Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The temple was built in the 12th century AD and is famous for building and maintaining the Princess Wencheng Temple. ✅Changu Temple is divided into two temples, about 70 meters apart. The lower temple was built first, and then the upper temple was built. The lower temple is the mother temple. Changu Temple is more than 3,700 meters above sea level and 16 kilometers away from the Princess Wencheng Temple. Changu Temple was announced as the eighth batch of cultural relics protection units in Qinghai Province on April 10, 2008, and its type is ancient architecture. The historical age of Changu Temple is Ming. Earthquake building. ✅Changu Temple was severely damaged in this earthquake, and there were casualties among the monks in the temple. The scriptures, thangkas and other cultural relics were pressed under the ruins. ✅Changu Temple mainly has two main buildings. These two buildings are actually three sutra halls. Now one building has completely collapsed. The blue and yellow roof is directly buckled on a piece of ruins. The other building has collapsed half. The crimson sutra hall is still faintly discernible. This is the most conspicuous "half-pull" building in the green hills. The residences of the living Buddhas and monks on both sides have been completely leveled. The small courtyard where the monks closed the door was left with only white brick walls. There is only one complete building in Changu Temple, which is still standing there. This yellow three-story building was a place where little lamas about 6 years old went to class before the earthquake. ✅Monk There were 260 monks in Changu Temple before the earthquake, but 31 monks were killed in the earthquake, 27 monks were seriously injured, some were transferred for treatment, and some were resettled in other nearby temples. The medical team from Darlag County, Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province is treating these monks with minor injuries. In addition, 5 monks are missing.

🌈Scenic Spot Features: The Princess Wencheng Memorial Hall is a state-owned museum of cultural relics located in Beina Valley, Yushu City, Qinghai Province. It was established on March 16, 2021. The memorial hall aims to commemorate Princess Wencheng of the Tang Dynasty, who married into Tibet and promoted Han-Tibetan friendship. The establishment date of the memorial hall is March 16, 2021, and its geographical location is in Beina Valley, Yushu City. It belongs to the category of state-owned museums of cultural relics. The exhibition hall area of the memorial hall is 4062 square meters, and it is open to the public for 210 days a year, free of charge. The total number of collections is 106 pieces (sets), mainly exhibiting historical relics and materials related to Princess Wencheng. Through exhibitions and educational activities, it conveys the concept of ethnic friendship and harmonious coexistence. In addition, the architectural style and interior layout of the memorial hall also reflect the integration of Tang and Tibetan cultures, making it an important place to understand the history of Han-Tibetan friendship. 🚗Transportation: Self-driving 👍️Must-visit Attraction: Princess Wencheng Memorial Hall 🚩Queueing Tips: No need to queue 💗Other Tips: The altitude is more than three thousand meters, which is not too high, but you must bring sunscreen. Personal information needs to be registered to enter the memorial hall, and remember to take off your hat.

Surrounded by mountains and white clouds, the lotus platform is born; The red courtyard wall, the golden top, and the prayer flags are flying; The architecture is magnificent, there are many monks, and the cultural relics are rich; This is where the ninth Panchen Lama, who has maintained the unity of the motherland throughout his life, passed away; This is the Sakya Monastery in Yushu, Qinghai. Jiegu Monastery, with its unique religious atmosphere and long history, has become a spiritual land in Yushu travel. It is not only an important place for religious beliefs, but also an excellent place to experience Tibetan culture and scenery. Jiegu Monastery, Tibetan called "Jiegu Dunzhu Luo", means "Jiegu Yichengzhou", located on the Dongmuta Meima Mountain in Jiegu Town, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, at an altitude of 3700 meters, is the Sakya Monastery of the local original Zawu tribe. Jiegu Monastery is famous for its magnificent architecture, many monks, rich cultural relics, and many famous monks in Tibetan areas of our country. The main buildings of Jiegu Monastery include: Dajing Hall, Lecture Hall, Dazhao Hall, Maitreya Hall, Jiana and Wenbao Living Buddha Courtyard, Monk House, etc. The main offerings in the Sutra Hall and the Hall are Sakyamuni Buddha, Lotus Master, Auspicious Goddess, Baozhang Hu Master, Sandalwood Carved Mother and Tibetan Sakya Five Ancestors and other types of copper and gold and high-quality wood carvings. There are more than 3,400 Buddha statues. There are nearly 10,000 volumes of classics such as "Ganzhuer" and "Danzhuer". There are also many precious cultural relics such as the Sakyamuni Thangka donated by Basiba, the Sandalwood Mother Statue, and the Zawu Baihu Ancestral Treasure Knife.

After a short stay in Xining for one night, I went to Yushu non-stop today. This is my second time to Qinghai and my first time to Yushu. When you want to fully understand a city for the first time, then the museum is definitely the best choice! After arriving in Yushu for a while, we headed to the Yushu Prefecture Museum to visit ~ As soon as we entered, we were attracted by the design like a prayer wheel. In addition to the rich historical and cultural displays, there is also a natural ecological exhibition area, which vividly reproduces the unique geographical features of the Yushu area. And biodiversity! It’s really worth visiting~

🌈Scenic Features: A gathering place for Tibetan believers. In 2004, Jiana Mani Stone Scripture City was listed in the Guinness World Records and was hailed as the "world's largest Mani stone pile" and the "world's largest prayer and wish place!! 🚗Scenic Transportation: Self-driving 👍️Must-visit Attraction: Mani Stone Pile 🚩Queue Strategy: No need to queue, follow the crowd to turn the prayer wheels, passing by more than 300 large and small prayer wheels. 💗Other Tips: Yushu Stone Scripture City is not only famous for its large scale but also respected for its rich religious cultural connotation. The city contains a large number of stones engraved with the six-syllable mantra, an important practice in Tibetan Buddhism. People believe that by piling and engraving Mani stones, they can accumulate merit and pray for peace, which is an important manifestation of the religious beliefs of the Tibetan people. In addition, there may be some religious ceremonies and activities around the Stone Scripture City. For believers, this is a place of special religious significance and also an embodiment of religious art.

At this moment, the King Gesar Square in Yushu is bustling with people! The songs are melodious, the dances are passionate, and countless glow sticks reflect the moon in the sky! Diplomats from the six Lancang-Mekong countries, representatives of mainstream media, photographers, cultural and tourism enthusiasts, and travel agency representatives are all tracing the origins of the Lancang-Mekong River. Through the 2024 Lancang-Mekong International Image Week launch ceremony, tent tea talks, Gen Z dialogues, starry sky concerts, and field trips, they experience the sentiment of 'drinking from the same river, our destinies are closely linked.'

Images, as recorders of time, have gathered the attention of countries in the Lancang-Mekong Basin during this special week. Every photo and every video carries people's deep love and respect for this land. In the world of images, we see the scenery of the six Lancang-Mekong countries. Although they have different languages, customs and histories, our hearts are closely connected on the bridge of images. Strolling through the exhibition halls of Image Week, you feel like you are in a world without borders. As night falls, music echoes in the night sky, echoing the stars. Every note seems to have life. They break away from the shackles of the instrument and fly freely in the vast world of Yushu. In this concert under the Meilan starry sky, we forget the hustle and bustle of the world, immerse ourselves in this pure and beautiful world of music, and feel the pulse and warmth of life.

Sanjiangyuan—Yushu Due to the high altitude and proximity to the sky, the weather is changeable, and everywhere is a scenic spot; due to the rich landforms and species, it has created a diverse ecosystem, and everywhere is a nature reserve. To understand Yushu, start with the Yushu Prefecture Museum, from the preface hall to the natural exhibition area, and then to the cultural exhibition area, to fully understand the source of life, the paradise of wild animals, the harmonious land, and the colorful cultural charm. Travel Tips: 1. The altitude of Yushu Prefecture is about 3600 meters. Do not engage in strenuous exercise when you first arrive to avoid altitude sickness. 2. Open daily from 10:30 to 16:00, closed on Mondays, free of charge and no reservation required. 3. Yushu Prefecture Museum is located next to Gesar King Square and is one of the top ten iconic buildings rebuilt after the Yushu earthquake. It is divided into four parts: the preface hall, the natural exhibition area, the cultural exhibition area, and the temporary exhibition hall.

Because of the Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve and the earthquake, I came to know Yushu. Later, I went to Yushu via Shiqu County in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan. Here, I not only saw the earthquake ruins from 12 years ago but also saw the Tongtian River. Reflecting on 'Journey to the West,' I wondered how Wu Cheng'en knew there was really a turtle-shaped hill by the Tongtian River. The Sutra Stone also sparks imagination. The Tongtian River flows into Sichuan and becomes the Jinsha River. In summer, due to mudslides, the river turns into a raging Yellow River, highlighting the difficulty Tang Sanzang and his disciples faced crossing the river back then. Thanks to nationwide post-disaster reconstruction, Yushu's overall cityscape is quite impressive!

👉 This is a spiritual sanctuary for believers, an incredible miracle. Jiana Stone Scripture City, with various styles of Mani stones, totaling up to 3 billion pieces, is simply a vast ocean of Buddhist scriptures. 👉 Since the first Jiana Living Buddha began its construction, it has been continuously contributed by believers for over 300 years. Crowds of people come here to turn the scriptures every day, and it is known as the world's largest place for blessings and wishes. 📍 Address: Jiana Mani Stone Scripture City, Xinzai Village, Jiegu Town, Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai 🚘 Transportation: Self-driving or chartered car, this place is at an altitude of 4500 meters, 850 kilometers from Xining, located 6km east of Jiegu Town, the seat of Yushu Prefecture ❤️ Features: Huge scale, long history! Jiana Mani Stone Scripture City was listed in the Guinness World Records in 2002. 👉 Activities 1️⃣ The Stone Scripture City covers a rectangular area, about the size of three football fields, all piled with Mani stones engraved with scriptures and Buddha images, and a circle around it is about 3 kilometers. 2️⃣ In addition to the Mani stone piles, there is a large scripture hall, a Buddha hall, 10 large scripture cylinders, more than 300 small scripture cylinders, and dozens of Buddha towers, together forming the grand layout of the Stone Scripture City. Xinzai Jiana Mani Stone Scripture City

One of the iconic buildings rebuilt after the disaster, it is not small in size, but the preciousness of the exhibits, hardware facilities, and exhibition levels are quite average. Most of the displays are in the form of pictures and texts. The opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday, 10:30 to 16:30. The reason for the late opening and early closing is officially explained: because we don't rest at noon . The first floor focuses on natural ecology, divided into the Sanjiangyuan Natural Ecology Exhibition and the Hoh Xil Exhibition Center, which centrally display the landforms, protection status, and rare flora and fauna of this area. The typical plant and animal specimens of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and large-scale landform models are very worth seeing. There is also a large screen that continuously plays documentaries about the Hoh Xil area, which is very helpful for understanding the ecological situation of the region. The temporary exhibition hall currently exhibits rock paintings, um 😓, all pictures. The second floor focuses on humanities, divided into the History Hall, Folk Customs Hall, and Religious Art and Culture Hall. The History Hall mainly features murals and text introductions, mainly describing the life stories of major historical figures in the Yushu area. The Folk Customs and Religious Halls have some artifacts with local characteristics, which are still worth seeing. The entire visit takes about two hours, so don't have too high expectations .

The New Zhaigai Mani stone pile is said to have been created by the high monk of Jiegu Monastery, the first generation Jiana Living Buddha Dodé Songqu Pawan, and now it has formed a magnificent city with a length of 300 meters from east to west, a width of 80 meters from north to south, a height of 4 meters, covering an area of 24,000 square meters, and containing 2.5 billion Mani stones. Moreover, as time goes on, this scale is still expanding. The stone pile is mostly composed of red and white stones, engraved with scriptures or Buddha images on them. Each stone represents faith and devotion. The Tibetans here walk around the Mani pile, chanting prayers, seeking blessings from the heavens and protection from the gods and Buddhas. In the Tibetan areas, various Mani stones and Mani piles of different sizes can be seen everywhere. However, it is rare to see one as large and with such a long history as the New Zhaigai Mani Stone City. On both sides of the street, there are stalls selling various types of stones, and according to the requests of the guests, they choose the appropriate category to place in different locations. On the side close to the Mani stone pile, there is a long row of prayer wheels, with bustling believers shuttling through them to pray for blessings. This is a very primitive place with few tourists. For friends who want to understand the local customs, ethnic beliefs, it is definitely not to be missed

Jiegu Monastery is located on Jiegu Mountain in the northeast of Yushu. The monastery is built along the mountain, with temples and monk quarters arranged in an orderly manner. From a distance, it looks like a multi-story pavilion. Historically, it has always been the main monastery of the Sakya sect in the Yushu area. Before the disaster that shocked the world, Yushu was not very well-known. It was the earthquake in 2010 that brought national grief and imprinted this name in the hearts of the people. Today, Yushu has swept away the shadows of the past and rebuilt a beautiful homeland with the support of people across the country. Standing in this grand, majestic, and solemn monastery, with its red walls, golden roofs, white towers, and colorful prayer flags, you can hardly find any traces of the disaster. From the platform, you can overlook the entire city of Yushu, with blue skies, white clouds, surrounding mountains, meandering rivers, houses, villages, and bustling crowds. The magnificent scenery is all in view, and the quiet and peaceful atmosphere is enchanting. Speaking of the Sakya sect, one must mention the Liangzhou Alliance. It is an important turning point in Tibetan history, providing a legal basis for sovereignty and laying the foundation for the Sakya sect to be ranked among the four major sects. The two most famous masters of the sect, Sakya Pandita and Phagpa, made indelible contributions to the alliance and the completion of unification. As an important temple of the Sakya sect, Jiegu Monastery houses the Thangka of Shakyamuni and the sandalwood statue of Tara given by Phagpa. It is also the place where the Ninth Panchen Lama, who dedicated his life to maintaining national unity, passed away. The most famous monk of this monastery is the first Gana Rinpoche, the founder of the "World's Largest Mani Pile" ☞ Xinzhai Mani City. We visited Jiegu Monastery in mid-June. Unfortunately, the main hall was not open. We don't know if it was due to the summer retreat or some other reason. We could only wander around the monastery and soak up some Buddhist atmosphere.

Qinghai Journey 32 2024.06.28 Beijing time 09:20, the exploration of the Hoh Xil journey has reached today's second stop: the Leba Gorge Petroglyph Scenic Area. Leba Gorge: in Tibetan, it means 'Beautiful Gorge'. The natural scenery here is magical and enchanting, with the historical and cultural relic Wen Cheng Princess Temple at the mouth of the gorge, and more than a dozen petroglyphs inside the gorge. The main subjects of the Leba Gorge petroglyphs are Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, pilgrims, and auspicious beasts. The Leba Gorge petroglyphs are located on the banks of the Tongtian River in Yushu Prefecture. Walking along a mountain path by the Tongtian River to get here, one will experience two completely different emotions: the noise and grandeur of the Tongtian River, and the tranquility and sanctity of the Leba Gorge petroglyphs. The petroglyphs of Leba Gorge are carved facing the river, situated at the mouth of the gorge. The lush vegetation within the gorge can hardly conceal the mysterious atmosphere emanating from the petroglyphs and the countless Mani stone carvings scattered throughout the gorge. From the Buddha image at the mouth of the gorge from the end of the Tang Dynasty to the Mani stones made today, you can witness the entire history of Tibetan religious stone carvings. Admiring the scenery here is reminiscent of the petroglyphs in the Helan Mountains and the rock art in the Ikma Valley of Dedan, Saudi Arabia, with a touch of genius in their similarities. Northwest China Travel Guide

Jiegu Monastery is located to the east of Jiegu Town, known far and wide in the Tibetan areas of China for its magnificent architecture, numerous monks, rich cultural relics, and many eminent disciples. In Tibetan, it is called 'Jiegu Dondrub Lha', which means 'Jiegu Righteous Island'. Situated on the north of Mita Memar Mountain in Jiegu Town, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, it is a Sakya sect monastery of the local original Zhabu tribe. Located on Jiegu Mountain to the east of Jiegu Town in Yushu, its Tibetan name 'Jiegu Dondrub Leng' also means 'Jiegu Righteous Island'. It is the main monastery of the Sakya sect in Qinghai Province. The main buildings include: 2 scripture halls, 220 monk cells, and the main structure 'Duwen Zhou Jiacuo' can accommodate 100 monks chanting scriptures. The lecture hall, Dazhao Hall, Maitreya Hall, and the Jiana and Wenbao Living Buddha Institutes each have their own characteristics. Here lies the 'World's Largest Mani Stone Mound', made of mani stones engraved with the six-syllable mantra 'Om Mani Padme Hum', translated into Chinese as 'Ah! Holy Buddha on the Lotus Throne! Oh!'. Some mani stones are also engraved with scriptures or Buddha images, and countless 'mani stones' are arranged to form a wall of scripture stones. There are already 260 million mani stones, forming a city of mani stones. The stone walls and alleys are hung with colorful prayer flags printed with scriptures and Buddha images, and a red stupa stands in the center of the stone city. Jiegu Monastery is located to the east of Jiegu Town, famous for its magnificent architecture, numerous monks, rich cultural relics, and many eminent disciples in the Tibetan areas of our country. The halls and monk cells are scattered and stand tall on the hillside. The mani stone mounds of Jiegu Monastery are world-renowned. The first Jiana Living Buddha settled in the village of Xinzhai to the east of the town in his later years and built the mani mound here, known as 'Jiana Mani Mound' or 'Xinzhai Mani Mound'. As time passed, the volume of the mani stone mounds here grew larger and larger. Over 200 years, more than 2.5 billion mani stones have been accumulated, making it the 'World's Largest Mani Stone Mound', and an outstanding representative of Tibetan religious culture.

💎✨ Today I want to reveal to you a hidden gem in China - Yushu, Qinghai! This place is praised as more mysterious than Tibet and more pristine than Xinjiang, and its sacredness and solemnity are no less than that of western Sichuan. But the most shocking thing is that it is the only place in the country where all scenic spots are permanently open to the public for free! 🚫🎫 💖🤝 Why is it free? The story behind it is heartwarming. In 2010, Yushu experienced a major earthquake, and people from all over the country extended a helping hand. In order to express gratitude for this great love, Yushu decided to open all scenic spots in the area to tourists free of charge permanently, so that everyone can enjoy the purity and beauty of this land. 🌍💕 🚀🛫 Transportation Guide: To Yushu, you can choose to fly to Yushu Batang Airport, or take a train to Xining and then depart for Yushu. 📅🌡️ Best time to travel: July to August, when the weather is pleasant and the scenery is most charming. 🏞️🌟🎈 Recommended attractions: - **🏞️ Hoh Xil**: A mysterious treasure of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "roof of the roof of the world". Tibetan antelopes run freely on the vast grassland, and the majestic snow-capped mountains and blue lakes complement each other, forming an intoxicating natural picture. - **🏞️ Sanjiangyuan National Park**: China's first national park, where mountains and the Yellow River interweave into a natural painting, and rare wild animals such as Tibetan antelopes and Tibetan wild donkeys can be seen everywhere. - **🌊 Chumar River**: The river water under the sun is like "blood of the earth", strange and spectacular. - **🏯 Jiegu Temple**: The temple monks' quarters on a towering hill overlook the panoramic view of the town and feel the tranquility of the soul. - **🏰 Gar Monastery**: An ancient temple on a cliff. The prayer wheel at a high altitude is said to be the dowry of Princess Wencheng, full of historical atmosphere. - **🧂 Baizagu Salt Field**: A place with more history than Chaka Salt Lake, with infinite scenery and picturesque views in summer. - **🙏Xinzhai Mani Stone City**: A place for praying and making wishes at an altitude of more than 3,600 meters, shocking the soul. 🎉🎊 Recommended activities: Every year from July 25th to August 1st, the largest Tibetan carnival in Qinghai is held on the Zaxi Grassland. It is a cultural feast not to be missed! 📚🌿 Dear travelers, Yushu is not just a place, it is a precious book, every page of which is filled with the harmonious coexistence of nature and humanity. Here, you can feel the most primitive breath of nature and hear the longest echo of history. 🏞️🌬️ 🔍🧭 Yushu, this beautiful and mysterious place, is waiting for everyone who loves adventure. Let’s witness together the scenery that is more moving than words, and experience the spiritual journey that is more shocking than imagination. 🏔️🌅

I was amazed by the countless Mani stones at the Jiana Mani pile in Yushu, Qinghai. Numerous devotees circled around the hundreds of thousands of Mani piles to chant scriptures, and I followed the crowd for a large loop. Among them, the old and the young, men and women, devoutly turned their prayer wheels and walked tirelessly, chanting sutras from their lips, a sincerity that touches the heart.

More mysterious than Lhasa, a completely underestimated plateau city 🌟This is the only city in the country with free admission. The name "Yushu" is a Tibetan transliteration, meaning "ruins". There are so many reputations for this place that you can't count them on one hand: "Ocean of song and dance", "Hometown of song and dance", "The ancestor of famous mountains", "Source of rivers", "Land of yaks", "The world closest to the sky"... 🌟Yushu occupies one-third of Qinghai's area, and also occupies one-third of Qinghai's beauty. The average altitude is above 4,000 meters. Although there is a lack of oxygen here, there is no lack of faith. This is not Tibet, but you can feel the power of faith more than in Tibet. ✅Three-day travel guide 1️⃣day 1 Yushu [Jiegu Temple] You can fly directly to Yushu Batang Airport from Chengdu or Xining. I flew from Chengdu and it took me one and a half hours to reach Yushu City. It takes half an hour by taxi to reach the downtown area of ​​Yushu. The average altitude here is about 4,000 meters. After arriving in the city, you can take a short rest and then visit the highest point in the city: Jiegu Temple Tourist Scenic Area. This is the highest temple in the city. The temple is built against the mountain, and the halls and monks' quarters are scattered around. Accommodation: You can stay at Gesar Palace Hotel, which is probably one of the best hotels in the city, with good accommodation conditions. 🏨 2️⃣day 2 Zhiduo County [First County of the Yangtze River] [Chumar River] You can set off for Zhiduo County in the morning, which is a two and a half hour drive from Yushu City. There are many beautiful views along the way. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

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'.