Things to do in Xiahe
Explore top experiences
Top 10 attractions in Xiahe
Ganga Secret Scenic Spot
The "Gangjia Secret Realm" is located in Gangjia Town, Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, with a total area of 131.23 square kilometers. The altitude difference between the north and south of the Attraction is 1,300 meters. The unique geological structure contains a variety of geological resources such as cliffs, grasslands, plateau lakes, stone forests, canyons, prehistoric caves, and rivers. The Bajiao Ancient City, Zuohai Temple, Baishiya Temple, and the Denisovan Site Cave have become the imprints of the Attraction profound historical and cultural heritage. Academic masters and eminent monks such as Guru Padmasambhava, Tsongkhapa, Gongtang Cang, and Gendun Gumpel have successively studied, practiced, and preached in the Gangjia area.Xiahe · 26.8 km from downtown
Ganjia Grassland
Ganjia Grassland is an open alpine meadow and a traditional pasture where herders have grazed their livestock for generations. In midsummer, the grassland is lush green, with wildflowers spreading along the gentle slopes and herds of cattle and sheep scattered throughout. Compared to Sangke Grassland near the county seat, it receives fewer tourists and retains the more primitive and tranquil appearance of an alpine pasture. The grassland's distinctiveness largely comes from the Baishiya stretching across the end of the pasture — a gray-white cliff stretching over 10 km that stands like a screen above the greenery, with Baishiya Temple located at its foot. The Yangqu River and Yangla River meander across the grassland. The Bajiao Ancient City, built on the terrace where the Yangqu and Yangla rivers meet, is named for its eight corners. Ascend the viewing platform to take in the panoramic view of the ancient city, surrounding highland barley fields, and pastures. The grassland covers a large area with scattered attractions. Baishiya, Bajiao Ancient City, and Zuohai Temple are located in different directions, making it suitable for a self-drive or car charter tour along the route.Xiahe · 22 km from downtown
Labrang Monastery
Located in Gannan District's Xiahe County, Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug (Yellow) Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is large in scale and high in status. A representative example of the monasteries and temples throughout Gannan, it is a must-see for visitors to the area. It is a majestic temple complex. It offers spectacular sights while walking through and also when taking in a panoramic bird's-eye view from its highest point. The monastery is full of giant Buddha statues and various exquisite sculptures, murals and countless musical instruments. Furthermore, the long corridor of the Labrang Monastery is a sight rarely seen anywhere else in the world. This is a place where pilgrims come to accumulate merit and to pray for friends and relatives.Xiahe · 1.5 km from downtown
Sangke Grassland
Sangke Grassland is a meadow grassland on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an average altitude of over 3,000m and a grassland area of approx. 70 sq km. The grassland is surrounded by mountains, and the Daxia River winds its way from south to north. It is part of the Dajiutan Grassland in Sangke Town. "Dajiutan" means "horse-racing beach" in Tibetan and has traditionally been a natural pasture for Tibetan herders to graze livestock and race horses. The grassland is lush with green grass, wildflowers cover the gentle slopes, and white tents are scattered throughout. Horseback riding is a common experience here, usually with a groom leading the horse at a slow pace. Walking up the hillside behind the grassland, the grass is denser, wildflowers grow in patches, and the view is even more expansive. The pasture guesthouses on the grassland offer Tibetan food and tent stays. The plateau sky is clear at night, making it perfect for stargazing. The local Tibetan people have a tradition of the Xianglang Festival around the sixth lunar month, when herders set up tents on the grassland with their families to have picnics, sing, and dance the Guozhuang.Xiahe · 13.3 km from downtown
Norden Camp
Norden Camp is located near Sangke Grassland in Xiahe County, Gannan, Gansu. It is a highland camp that combines grassland views, Tibetan culture, and ecological features. Far from the hustle and bustle of the city, it is surrounded by open grasslands, clear skies, and a quiet pastoral atmosphere. Being here, you can truly feel the vastness and tranquility of the highland scenery. You can experience activities such as herding, horseback riding, picnics, grassland dinners, bonfires, and Tibetan music, with some programs offering a deeper look into the lives of herdsmen. It is not just a place for sightseeing, but a place that integrates dining, recreation, and culture, making it easier to understand the lifestyle of the Gannan grasslands. The camp also features cabins and tents. The overall design strives to preserve the natural landscape while offering well-equipped facilities, allowing visitors to experience authentic grassland life without sacrificing basic comfort. It is an ideal destination for slow travel, photography, and cultural experiences.Xiahe · 9.1 km from downtown
Baishi Cliff
Baishiya is located 30 kilometers north of Xiahe County. To travel to Ganga, you can't miss the wonderful Baishiya Karst Cave. Baishi is not pure white, it may be named because of its contrast with green. Baishiya runs from east to west and is about 15 kilometers long. From a distance, it looks like a white jade screen, lying in the air, shining under the blue sky and white clouds. Standing under the Baishi Cliff, you not only admire the majestic and majestic nature of nature, but also feel the softness and moistness of nature. In the west of the bottom of Baishi Cliff, there is a karst cave that can accommodate three or four people. The cave has gurgling water and winding paths. It is said that there are naturally formed Tibetan vowels and consonants on the stone walls in the cave, as well as stone shapes such as Ruyi Bao Niu, Ruyi Treasure Tree and Natural Rice. In 1982, the tenth Panchen Lama visited this cave during his inspection in Gannan. Baishiyan Karst Cave is said to stretch for hundreds of miles and can lead to Xunhua County, Qinghai Province.Xiahe · 27.8 km from downtown
Norden Camp
The campsite is located on the winter pasture of the Sangke Grassland, at an altitude of 3,200 m, near Labrang Monastery. The campsite consists of 13 well-equipped cabins and tents, with every detail blending the ancient wisdom of nature from nomadic peoples with the pursuit of modern comfort. All guest rooms, including the tents, are fitted with wooden floors and soft, high-quality bedding, and are furnished with traditional-style furniture, local antiques, and textiles locally sourced and meticulously crafted by our sister company, Norlha.Xiahe · 21.8 km from downtown
Darzong Lake
Dalzong Lake is about 3,100 meters above sea level, in the shape of irregular gourds and vines. The lakeside is surrounded by mountains on three sides. The lake is full of fish, the lakeside is overgrown with wild grasses, hundreds of flowers are in full bloom, the mountains are densely covered with forests, and hundreds of birds are clustered in the forest. The lake and mountains are intoxicating. Dalzong Lake is a sacred lake in the hearts of Tibetans. Every year on the fourth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, Tibetans from all over the world come here to make pilgrimages to plant arrows and pray for good luck. At this time, the whole mountain was filled with smoke, and the sound of conch shells resounded through the sky. The believers turn the prayer wheel with their hands, recite the scriptures, and circle the lake three times in a clockwise direction.Xiahe · 19.1 km from downtown
The First Bend of the Yellow River
Xiahe · 32.6 km from downtown
Bajiao City Ruins
Bajiao City Ruins are located in Xiahe County, in the eastern part of Ganjia Grassland, on a terrace at the confluence of theYangqu Riverand the Yangla River. It is named for its eight corners. In ancient times, this was a vital transportation hub between Gansu and Qinghai, as well as a military stronghold fiercely contested by successive central regimes and the Tuyuhun, Tubo, Western Xia, and Xiluo dynasties. Thefortificationis in the shape of a hollow cross, with a moat, defensive walls, and an outer enclosure outside the city, as well as an additional outer city outside the south gate. This shape offortificationis rare in Chinese history and holds high archaeological and aesthetic value. Built during the Han Dynasty, the city broke away from the traditional square layout, making it quite unique. Although the city is not small, the distance between the corners is within the effective range of bows and crossbows, allowing them to cover each other, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. A large number of artifacts have been unearthed at the Bajiao City Ruins, such as metal coins, bronze oxen, square and rectangular bricks, and tube and flat tiles from the Tang and Song dynasties. In addition, abandoned terraced fields can be found everywhere on the surrounding plains, hills, and terraces, with some extending all the way to the mountaintops. The economic prosperity and dense population of the past are evident from this.Xiahe · 22.2 km from downtown
Experiences you can't miss in Xiahe
Featured Day tours in Xiahe
View all Day tours
5.0/5
· 2 reviewsFree cancellation
Instant confirmation
FromUS$59.58
5.0/5
· 2 reviewsFree cancellation
Instant confirmation
FromUS$88.51
![Gannan (private charter) 1-day tour [Labrang Monastery + Sangke Grassland + Ganga Secret Scenic Spot + genuine pure fun]](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0356612000so9rb873F5E_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
4.8/5
· 223 reviews· 1.1k bookedFree cancellation
Instant confirmation
27 consecutive positive reviews
FromUS$131.81
![[Lanzhou Departure] Labrang Monastery & Sangke Grassland & Ganga Mijing Day Tour](https://ak-d.tripcdn.com/images/0350z12000sh4egz48A29_C_568_320.jpg?_fr=wc)
Instant confirmation
FromUS$163.23
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
FromUS$74.55
Free cancellation
Book now for tomorrow
FromUS$253.61
FromUS$663.80
Free cancellation
Instant confirmation
FromUS$93.62
More things to do
Free things to do in Xiahe
What travelers say about Xiahe
M41***91October 3, 2026
4.0
As the first stop in Gannan from Linxia, it's a pretty good tourist attraction, with all three viewing platforms worth taking photos at. However, even during the off-season holidays, the shuttle buses are hard to find, so I can only imagine how ridiculous the queues will be during the summer peak season.
Ganga Secret Scenic Spot
晚霞风车August 24, 2023
5.0
Gangjia Grassland is located in Gangjia Township, Xiahe, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province, 33 kilometers north of Xiahe County, and is directly accessible by road. Gangjia Grassland is a meadow grassland, vast and boundless, with an average altitude of more than 3,000 meters. It is one of the main animal husbandry bases in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. There is a reception desk at the Muyun Tent Camp, which prepares fresh milk tea, tsampa, Tibetan buns, hand-pulled mutton and other Tibetan specialties for tourists. It also prepares grassland tourism programs such as horses, yaks, shooting bonfire parties, etc. for tourists. Visitors can fully experience the mysterious and simple Tibetan customs here.
Ganjia Grassland
Bolton ChenOctober 7, 2026
5.0
Labrang Monastery is truly a dream destination when the weather is perfect! The golden roofs gleam under the blue sky and white clouds, and the entire monastery appears exceptionally solemn and magnificent in the high-altitude sunshine. As a world-renowned center of Tibetan studies, its prayer wheel corridor stretches for 3.5 kilometers with over 2,000 prayer wheels. Walking clockwise with the pilgrims, the sunlight filters through the eaves, casting warm glow on the prayer wheels and red walls, creating an incredibly atmospheric experience. Climbing the Gongtang Pagoda offers a panoramic view of the golden roofs, white stupas, and brown-red monks' quarters layered upon each other, with rolling mountains and grasslands in the distance – a truly expansive vista. If you're lucky, you might even witness monks debating, their gestures and clapping adding to the captivating atmosphere.
Labrang Monastery
会飞的鱼zztSeptember 25, 2025
5.0
Located in Xiahe County, Gannan, Sangke Grassland sits at an altitude of over 3,000 meters. Surrounded by mountains, it lies a vast, flat alpine grassland. This grassland retains its pristine beauty and boasts breathtaking scenery. Every snap is a stunning sight!
Sangke Grassland
闻嘉流浪NoelAugust 24, 2026
5.0
Like other grand canyons, Baishiya Grand Canyon is scenic, with deep, secluded valleys, babbling brooks, and a cool, refreshing atmosphere. However, Baishiya also has its unique features. First, at the end of the canyon is a mysterious cave, said to connect to Qinghai province, but due to time constraints, I didn't explore it. Second, the canyon is home to some of the cutest creatures on earth: groundhogs. These little guys are not only unafraid of people, but they also constantly beg tourists for food. Come on, don't you see how fat you are? All you do is eat; don't you feel any guilt?
Baishi Cliff
悠然hotMarch 15, 2023
5.0
Located at an altitude of 3,200 meters, Xiahe Nordan Camp features Tibetan landscape and grassland culture. Covering an area of 44,000 square meters, it offers a business model focused on Tibetan localization and the protection of environmental systems and Tibetan Buddhism.
Xiahe Nordan Camp is a 20-minute drive from Labrang Monastery and a few steps from a winding river. The nearest airport is Gannan Xiahe Airport, 36 kilometers away.
The rooms at the wooden campsite have wonderful views and comfortable bedding. They provide 24-hour hot water, electric kettles, TVs and shower facilities.
Guests can go hiking or horseback riding with a few companions. Xiahe Nordan Camp also provides barbecue facilities for those who want to have a picnic. Camp staff speak Tibetan.
Norden Camp
贩卖快乐的贝儿July 14, 2025
5.0
沿着湖边的木栈道顺时针环湖而行是不错的选择，途中可以欣赏到清澈的湖水、巍峨的山峰倒影、湖边挂满的经幡和玛尼堆等。还可以留意周围的山林，有机会看到旱獭、小松鼠等野生动物。全程游玩下来大约需要1-2小时。
Darzong Lake
听爵士的流氓兔July 19, 2023
5.0
A large number of cultural relics have been excavated in Bajiaocheng, such as metal coins, bronze bulls, square bricks, simple tiles and flat tiles from the Tang and Song dynasties. In addition, in the plains, hills and terraces around Bajiaocheng, there are layers of terraces abandoned in ancient times. In some places, the terraces are built all the way to the top of the mountain, which shows how developed the economy and densely populated this place were in the past. Bajiaocheng is located 35 kilometers north of Xiahe County, on the river terrace of Gangjia Grassland.
Bajiao City Ruins
