Things to do in Kangle

Zhuzigou in Luming Township, Kangle, Linxia is part of the Taizi Mountain series and is a great place to escape the summer heat. There is a gully sandwiched between two mountains. On one side is a meadow like a green carpet, on the other side is a pine forest, with a small river in the middle. You can camp and ride horses deep in the scenic area. It is truly a Feng Shui treasure land.

The Birch Forest Scenic Area is located in Kangle County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. There are large tracts of birch forests with dense trees, overlapping mountains and gurgling streams. Climbing up the stairs, you can see the Bald Qiang wooden house in Boonie Bears, as well as many amusement facilities. Children love it very much.

Jiuzhaigou's scenery is impeccable, with stunning lakes and mountains. During peak season, it's incredibly crowded, and waiting for transportation can be very time-consuming. A one-day pass is a bit short; having two days would allow you to relax, appreciate the scenery at your own pace, and have a much better experience.

The main scenic area is Huanglonggou, which is about 3.6 kilometers long. The valley is dotted with open-air travertine pools, which are layered like terraced fields and display blue, green and golden colors under the sunlight. You can also get a relatively close view of the snow-capped mountain scenery.

It's really a good place [scenery]

Shapotou Scenic Area is perfect for bringing kids! On the sheepskin rafts, boats number 22 and 23 were rowed smoothly, with the boatmen singing local folk songs for us. The food prices within the scenic area are surprisingly reasonable – delicious and affordable, a rare find indeed. A bowl of beef noodles was 18 yuan, and noodles with minced meat sauce were 12 yuan. Water and grilled sausages were also reasonably priced. I would definitely come back again.

It's definitely worth a visit; it's truly breathtaking. Every detail is meticulously crafted, completely contrary to online claims of shoddy workmanship. The 600-meter-long mural is said to have taken 27 years to paint. I didn't spend the entire fourth-floor Tibetan cultural mural exhibition, but I saw the other exhibits. The guided tours all use headphones, but the volume is extremely low, making it difficult to hear the explanations. If you're just rushing through, don't bother renting a guided tour. However, if you want to take your time and spend an afternoon at each exhibit, it's well worth it.

As the birthplace and memorial monastery of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, this historical and cultural site, over 600 years old, is a must-see. Photography of the stupa at the entrance is permitted, but not of the Buddha statues inside. The monastery currently houses over 1000 monks and more than a dozen Living Buddhas. While the throngs of worshippers are bustling, the atmosphere is peaceful and serene (perhaps the burning of large incense sticks is not part of the ritual). Many areas allow you to light lamps for blessings (20 yuan per person, depending on your conscience), and there are places to exchange change for prayers. Best of all, there are Chinese-language guided tours, and the guides are very professional; I learned more about Tibetan Buddhism than I did during my previous trip to Lhasa!

Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park is fabulous. One of the top three things I have done on this tour. I used Trip.com to get out to the park and that was very easy. Shuttle buses are necessary to get between the various vantage points. I would come for longer next time and do the zip line. I got an 8am bus from Xiaoxihu Subway Station and it leaves the Park at 12pm to return back to the city.