Autumn in Gansu · Gannan 3 Days 2 Nights Tour

🌄 Itinerary Overview Destination: Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu (mainly covering Hezuo City + Xiahe County) Duration: 3 days 2 nights (recommended departure on Friday, return on Sunday) Season: Late September to mid-October (peak autumn colors) Total Budget: About 1480 RMB/person Keywords: Tibetan Autumn Charm｜Labrang Monastery｜Grassland Sunset｜Monastery Chanting｜Highland Barley Fields｜Butter Tea｜Slow Life ✅ Day 1: Departure → Hezuo City (First encounter with the snowy land town) 🚄 Transportation: Recommended departure from Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport / Lanzhou West Station High-speed train / bullet train to Xiahe Station (about 1.5 hours, ticket around 60 RMB) Or take a bus from Lanzhou South Bus Station to Hezuo City (about 3 hours, ticket 70 RMB) 💡 Tips: Currently, flights to Xiahe Airport are few and expensive, so it is recommended to prioritize the high-speed train + carpool combination. Our destination on the first day is Hezuo City—the capital of Gannan Prefecture, a quiet and sacred small town surrounded by mountains, with the Bailong River flowing through the city. 📍 Afternoon itinerary: Milarepa Buddha Pavilion + Dangzhou Grassland Walk Milarepa Buddha Pavilion (ticket 40 RMB) An important building of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, a majestic nine-story tower Exquisite interior murals, overlooking the cityscape of Hezuo Recommended photo spot: red walls and golden roofs backlit at dusk, full of religious atmosphere Dangzhou Grassland (free) Located on the edge of the city, within walking distance The autumn meadow glows golden, with snow-capped mountains faintly visible in the distance Capture the unique scene of "city and grassland coexisting" 🍜 Dinner recommendation: Jixiang Tibetan Restaurant or Yangzong Snack Shop Must-try: yak meat buns, butter tea, highland barley wine, Tibetan yogurt Average cost: about 35 RMB per person 🛏️ Accommodation suggestion: Hezuo Youth Hostel or Home Inn Select Hotel (Hezuo City Government branch) Standard room shared bed/bed space: 80–120 RMB/person Clean and tidy, some offer oxygen supply service (for mild altitude sickness) 📌 Day 1 total cost: Transportation (Lanzhou → Hezuo) 70 RMB + Food 40 RMB + Accommodation 100 RMB + Ticket 40 RMB = 250 RMB ✅ Day 2: Hezuo → Labrang Monastery → Sangke Grassland → Overnight in Xiahe Today is the core day of the trip, directly hitting Gannan’s soul landmark—Labrang Monastery! 🚐 Morning: Hezuo City → Labrang Monastery (carpool about 1.5 hours, cost about 60 RMB/person) 🕍 Recommended activity: immersive pilgrimage Labrang Monastery (ticket 40 RMB, half price for students) The world’s longest prayer wheel corridor (3.5 km), with over 1,700 prayer wheels Recommended to visit early morning, capture monks returning from morning prayers Suggested route: Great Sutra Hall → Institute of Buddhist Dialectics → Long corridor of thousands of prayer wheels → White Pagoda Square 📸 Photography Tips: - Arrive before 8:00 AM, soft light and fewer people - Wear dark clothes to blend into the background and highlight emotions - Use a wide-angle lens to capture the stunning array of prayer wheels 🍞 Lunch: Tibetan restaurant outside the monastery Recommended: Deji Tibetan Restaurant or Amangcang Tibetan Restaurant Yak noodle soup + tsampa + cheese buns, about 30 RMB per person is enough 🌿 Afternoon: Light hiking & sunset cycling at Sangke Grassland Taxi/carpool to Sangke Grassland scenic entrance (about 20 minutes, taxi 30 RMB/car) Purchase grassland pass (including horse riding experience): 50 RMB/person (off-season can often bargain to 40 RMB) Recommended activities: Horse riding around the grassland (10 minutes basic experience is enough) Hiking along the stream, looking for the silhouette of a solitary shepherd Wait for a plateau sunset, the sky changes from orange to purple, breathtakingly beautiful 📷 Classic composition: prayer flags in the distance + withered grass nearby + shadows lengthened by the slanting sun 🌃 Evening: Return to Xiahe County for accommodation Xiahe County is small, clean, and orderly, very quiet at night Recommended stay: Xiahe Tibetan Impression Inn or GreenTree Inn Xiahe Shared double room: about 100 RMB/person Some guesthouses offer free Tibetan costume photo services! 📌 Day 2 total cost: Transportation (Hezuo → Xiahe + local travel) 90 RMB + Food 40 RMB + Accommodation 100 RMB + Tickets + Grassland pass 90 RMB = 320 RMB ✅ Day 3: Debating voices in the morning mist → Return to Lanzhou ⏰ Early morning 6:30 AM: Visit the debate courtyard at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (free admission) This is the most worthwhile early morning moment of the entire trip! Debate time: Monday to Saturday 7:00–9:00 AM (closed on Sunday) Location: Debate courtyard on the west side of Labrang Monastery’s Institute of Buddhist Dialectics No loud noises, no flash photography, maintain reverence Watching young lamas clapping and jumping while debating passionately, their dedication to truth is moving. At this moment, you will understand the meaning of "the power of faith." 📷 Shooting suggestions: Use a telephoto lens to capture facial expressions from a distance Black background highlights the visual impact of red robes Record a video of the debate sounds, which will become the most profound BGM of your journey memories 🍞 Breakfast: street-side steaming sweet fermented barley drink + fried oil cake Local specialty breakfast, 5 RMB, warms both stomach and heart 🚄 Morning: Xiahe Station → Lanzhou (bullet train 1.5 hours, ticket 60 RMB) Recommended to choose around 10:30 AM departure, arriving in Lanzhou by noon If time allows, you can have a bowl of beef noodles at Lanzhou Zhengning Road Night Market to end the trip (not included in this budget) 📌 Day 3 total cost: Transportation (Xiahe → Lanzhou) 60 RMB + Food 15 RMB = 75 RMB 💰 Overall Budget Summary (per person) Item Cost ------ ------ Round-trip transportation (Lanzhou ↔ Gannan) 70 + 60 = 130 RMB Local transportation (carpool + taxi) 90 RMB Accommodation (2 nights, shared standard room) 100 × 2 = 200 RMB Food (about 40 RMB/day × 3 days) 120 RMB Tickets and scenic expenses 40 (Buddha Pavilion) + 40 (Labrang) + 50 (Grassland) = 130 RMB Emergency reserve 100 RMB Total About 1475 RMB ✅ Fully controlled within 1500 RMB, extremely cost-effective! 🧳 Travel Preparation Checklist (must-bring items) Clothing and gear: Fleece jacket with windproof shell (big temperature difference morning and night, can drop to 0℃ at night) Scarf/hat (windproof and warm, also good for photos) Comfortable hiking shoes (many stone paths) Documents: ID card (required for monastery registration) Student ID (some attractions offer half-price discounts) Other essentials: Thermos cup (to drink hot water and relieve altitude sickness) Sunscreen + sunglasses (strong UV rays) Small amount of cash (some areas have poor signal, no mobile payment) Respect customs reminders: No photographing faces of Buddha statues inside temples Do not touch scriptures or ritual objects casually Prayer wheels turn clockwise, do not go against the direction 🍁 Why visit Gannan in autumn? Rich color layers: yellow grass, red walls, blue sky, white snow-capped peaks blend like an oil painting Fewer tourists: avoid summer peak, better for peaceful experience Stable climate: less rain, more sunny days, ideal for photography and outdoor activities Strong cultural atmosphere: Tibetans are more relaxed after autumn harvest, easier to encounter authentic life scenes 🌟 Insider blogger tips Best photography times: Half an hour before and after sunrise (6:30–7:30): morning mist shrouds the monastery, like a fairyland One hour before sunset (18:00–19:00): golden sunlight bathes grassland and prayer flags Hidden photo spots: Top terrace of Milarepa Buddha Pavilion: panoramic view of Hezuo City North hillside of Labrang Monastery: aerial view of the entire monastery layout Beside a small cabin deep in Sangke Grassland: perfect for lonely-themed shots How to save money? Share carpool costs with more people Choose hostel beds instead of private rooms Bring your own snacks for lunch (bread, chocolate) Altitude sickness coping strategies: Avoid strenuous exercise upon arrival Drink plenty of water, drink less alcohol Take Rhodiola in advance (effects vary by person) ❤️ Final words Autumn in Gannan is not for "checking in," but for "feeling." Here, time seems to slow down. You can wake up to chanting, walk on fallen leaves toward the grassland, hold a cup of hot butter tea watching the sunset sink behind the mountains. This is a short spiritual retreat and a deep dialogue with nature and faith. For less than the price of a plane ticket, you get a three-day two-night soul cleansing—this kind of trip is truly worth it. 📍 Route summary in one sentence: Depart from Lanzhou, explore Hezuo + Xiahe in two days, stay in Tibetan-style small towns, walk the thousand-year prayer wheel corridor, watch grassland sunsets, listen to debate voices, spend 1500 RMB for a 5000 RMB quality experience. 📌 Suitable for: Busy city workers with limited time Students and budget travelers Photography & cultural content creators Beginner travelers wanting to experience Tibetan culture