Things to do in Xihe
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Top 10 attractions in Xihe
Yunhua Mountain Scenic Area
Mount Yunhua features Danxia landform with steep and elegant peaks, where the main summit towers into the clouds. It was once a sacred site where Emperor Qin Shi Huang worshiped his ancestors and has been a renowned Taoist mountain in Longshang for millennia.Xihe · 11.1 km from downtown
Wanxia Lake Scenic Area
The Wanxia Lake Scenic Area is located about 5 kilometers west of the county seat of Xihe County, Longnan City, Gansu Province. It used to be a reservoir, but now it has been transformed into a natural scenic area with elegant scenery. The scenic area is mainly composed of Wanxia Lake, and many sightseeing and entertainment attractions have been built. Here, you can stroll around the lake to experience the beautiful scenery, watch the lotus pond, visit ancient buildings, etc., and you can also play water entertainment projects to experience the fun of playing in the water. It is a tourist attraction in Longnan. a good place to go. The area of the Wanxia Lake area is not too large, with a length and width of about a few hundred meters. You can walk in the scenic area or take a sightseeing battery car to visit. The scenic area has built antique pavilions and corridors around the lake, which can be strolled and watched. There are a lot of lotus flowers planted in the lake area. It is very good to come to view the flowers every summer. In other seasons, there are also beautiful reeds for sightseeing and photography. There are also several lake islands on the lake, you can take a speedboat to play on the islands.Xihe · 4.9 km from downtown
Jiuzhaigou National Park
Jiuzhaigou National Park is located in Jiuzhaigou County of Ngawa Prefecture. With its towering snow-capped peaks, dense forests, and vibrantly colored pools and shoals, crystal-clear streams meander through the forests and shallows. Combined with Tibetan wooden houses, prayer flags, and the unique traditional customs of the Tibetan and Qiang ethnic groups, Jiuzhaigou National Park is often referred to as a "beautiful fairyland". Jiuzhaigou National Park features a Y-shaped layout, consisting of three main valleys: Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, and Jiuzhaigou-Zechawa Valley, with a total length of over 50 km.The attraction is equipped with eco-friendly sightseeing vehicles that stop at designated stations. Visitors can wait at each station and conveniently tour various attractions within the site by taking the sightseeing vehicles.China · Jiuzhaigou
Huanglong National Scenic Area
Huanglong National Scenic Area is a Attraction famous for its fantastic and beautiful calcified pools. The water in the numerous calcified pools in the Attraction is crystal clear and colorful and very beautiful. There are also many natural landscapes such as forests, canyons, snow-capped mountains and waterfalls in the Attraction. It is known as the "Fairyland on Earth". Huanglong National Scenic Area is mainly divided into two parts, Huanglong Headquarters and Munigou. Huanglong Main Gou in Huanglong Headquarters is the main Attraction of Huanglong National Scenic Area, and is also the place generally referred to when talking about Attraction. The Attraction is located in Songpan County. The best time to visit here is in summer and autumn, when the lake is in its flood season, with a large pool area and beautiful scenery. In winter and early spring, the water volume is smaller, but the scenery is still good.China · Songpan
Qiuchi Mountain
Xihe · 32.7 km from downtown
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park is a key cultural tourism project in Gansu Province and a comprehensive cultural tourism initiative prioritized by the Lanzhou Municipal Committee and Government. Located by the Yellow River, the park is just 13 km from downtown Lanzhou and 30 km from Lanzhou Zhongchuan International Airport, making it one of the closest Danxia landform clusters to a major urban center in China. With a total planned area of 400 sq km and a core visiting area of 25 sq km in its first phase, it ranks among the largest discovered landscapes of its kind in the country. The park primarily features red mountain bay formations, along with spectacular Danxia cliffs, isolated peaks, secluded valleys, narrow gorges, and balancing rocks. Its colorful mountains set against winding waterways create a masterpiece of Danxia landform scenery. The attraction features seven viewing platforms showcasing the Danxia landforms: Silk Road Glow, Silk Road Eagle, Flying Apsaras Exploration, Nine-Colored Danxia, Danxia Reflecting Sky, Emerald Peaks Rippling Sky, and Danxia Summit Scenic View. It also includes the Ancient Silk Road Gateway, Shajing Tribe Cultural Square, Desert Bells Scenic Boulevard, and a 2,550m Danxia boardwalk viewing area. As a key cultural tourism project in the province, Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park adheres to the principles of "ecological protection, green development, preserving original features, and moderate development." Leveraging Lanzhou's unique resource advantages and focusing on the domestic tourism market, it aims to cultivate new growth drivers for Lanzhou's cultural tourism industry and establish a new highland for cultural tourism in the city.China · Yongdeng
Jianmen Pass
The Jianmen Pass is located in Jiange County between Dajian Mountain and Xiaojian Mountain. It has been famous throughout history, holding an important position militarily due to its precipitous topography and ease of defense. Visitors to the scenic area can take the easier “Bird Path” of the mountain, or the “Ape Route,” which requires renting professional mountain climbing equipment.China · Jiange
Bafeng Cliff
The Eight Peaks Cliff is adjacent to the West High Mountains in the south, Tianziping in the north, the Eight Peaks is connected to the sky, and the grass grows in front of the cliff. Among the eight peaks is a mountain with a relative height of more than 200 meters. There is a natural cave on the mountainside, where statues of the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties are preserved. There are 14 niches in the Bafengya Grottoes, which are divided into upper and lower floors, with 10 niches on the upper floor and 4 niches on the lower floor. There are statues of Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties preserved. In particular, the Maitreya Buddha in the 10th niche, which is about 4 meters high, has fine statues, vivid expressions, realistic expressions, and is well preserved, which is comparable to the works of Maijishan in Zhou Dynasty.Xihe · 28.9 km from downtown
Zha Ga Na
Zhagana, also known as Zhagala, is located in Diebu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is a small Tibetan village surrounded by a circle of pretty cliffs. It has beautiful and magical scenery and is one of the most beautiful places in the entire Gannan Tibetan area. The ancient wooden Tibetan houses in the village are built along the mountain, and the locals work quietly and simply between the hillsides and rivers, forming a beautiful pastoral scenery. Whether you want to sightsee, take photos, or visit the traditional life of the simple Tibetan people, this is a wonderful place that you cannot miss. Zhagana is located in the valley of Yiwa Township, Diebu County. It takes about 1 hour to drive from Diebu County and about 2 hours from Langmusi. Zhagana is suitable for visiting in July and August, when the grassland is green and the scenery is beautiful. Most tourists come from Langmusi when they take the Gannan-Sichuanbei route. The usual time to visit is to arrive in the afternoon of the same day and take a leisurely stroll in the village to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Stay in a Tibetan homestay for one night, and leave the next morning after taking pictures of the early morning clouds and sunrise. In addition, there is a two-day hiking route in the back mountain of Zhagana, where you can rent a horse in the village or walk there. Zhagana Village is divided into four small villages, from bottom to top, they are Dongwa Village, Yeri Village, Dari Village and Daiba Village. Dongwa Village and Daiba Village are about 5 kilometers apart, and there is a winding road connecting the four villages. You can walk or drive to visit and take photos one by one. It takes about 1 hour to walk from the bottom to the top. Driving in from the entrance of the village, the first place you arrive at is Dongwa Village at the foot of the mountain. There is a big stone here called Dashimen. The small hillside next to Dashimen is a good place for taking photos. Here you can look up and take pictures of the beautiful scenery of the village built along the mountain. The back of the village is wrapped by cliffs, and there is a Tibetan Buddhist temple on the top of the village. The scenery is fantastic and beautiful. Dongwa Village has a large population and is also a good place to stay. You can book a stay at a farmhouse here, and then walk or drive to several higher villages to play. It takes about 1 hour to walk to the higher place. Going up the mountain along the road, you will reach Yeri Village. Next to Yeri Village is a vast barley field where you can often see Tibetans busy in the fields. The scene is peaceful and simple. In addition, there is a house in Yeri Village where the famous traveler Joseph Locke once lived for more than a year, but now it can only be visited from the outside. Continue to go up, after passing Dari Village, there is a viewing platform with a wide view, suitable for taking bird's-eye views of the whole village. You can see the whole village and the fantastic rock wall behind. All the houses are old wooden roofs and earthen walls, which look simple and peaceful. Under the cliff, they form a beautiful picture scroll, which is also a wonderful place to take good photos. After taking the panoramic view, you can go back to Dongwa Village for accommodation. Daiba Village is relatively remote and there are fewer scenery to see, so you can skip it. In addition to taking photos in the afternoon, there are many other things to look forward to in Zhagana. Every morning, there are almost clouds and mists between the rock walls on the mountain, and the starry sky is beautiful and brilliant at night when the lights are off, which are good opportunities for taking photos. If you have enough time, you can also take 1-2 hours to climb the back mountain of Dongwa Village to see the temple on the top of the mountain. The houses you pass by along the way are all ancient buildings, and the wooden wedge-rivet structure is even more ancient and peculiar. If you are lucky, you can meet kind locals and be invited to their homes to taste traditional food such as tsampa butter tea and experience the simple enthusiasm of the locals. In addition, there is a two-day hiking route behind the village, which leads to the rarely visited lakes and stone forests with pristine and beautiful scenery. However, this route is only suitable for outdoor enthusiasts and requires camping for one night. When walking this route, you can rent a horse in the village and find a horseman to lead the way. Generally, a horse costs about 150 yuan a day.China · Diebu
Maijishan Cave-Temple Complex
The Maijishan Cave-Temple Complex is carved into the cliff face of an isolated peak resembling a farmer's wheat stack in the Xiaolong Mountains. Alongside the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, the Yungang Grottoes, and the Longmen Grottoes, it is renowned as one of China's four great cave-temple complexes and serves as the core attraction of the Maijishan scenic area. The caves were first excavated during the Later Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms and underwent continuous construction for over 1,600 years through the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, and up to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The site preserves over 200 caves and niches, more than 10,000 clay and stone sculptures, and nearly 1,000 square meters of murals. Featuring predominantly clay sculptures with an unbroken lineage across dynasties, the complex showcases a complete and clear stylistic evolution, earning it the title "Oriental Sculpture Gallery." In 2014, it was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor." Maiji Mountain stands alone amidst surrounding peaks, with most of its grottoes carved into sheer cliffs dozens of meters above ground, connected solely by tiered aerial walkways spanning over ten levels. The visit itself becomes a cliffside adventure: at the base, gaze up at the exposed rock face and the colossal cliff-carved Buddha over ten meters tall, then ascend via winding walkways suspended dozens of meters high—both thrilling and offering panoramic views of lush forests. Grottoes along the path vary in size, with smaller ones protected by nets, while larger ones dominate the upper sections. The upper eastern cliff's Sanhua Tower (Upper Seven-Buddha Pavilion) is an unmissable highlight. This seven-bay, eight-pillared hall with a single-eaved hip roof replicates wooden architecture carved directly into the cliff, featuring a grand front corridor and rear chamber. Its ceiling showcases the unique "thin relief" flying apsaras—faces and limbs rendered in shallow sculpture while flowing robes are painted, creating a distinctive fusion of painting and sculpture unparalleled in ancient Chinese murals. As you walk and observe, the stylistic evolution of clay sculptures becomes distinctly visible: the elegant and slender figures of the late Northern Wei, the refined and serene style of the Western Wei, the plump and graceful forms of the Northern Zhou, and the full and rounded shapes of the Sui and Tang dynasties—like flipping through a three-dimensional history of sculpture. On overcast or freshly cleared days after rain, when mist swirls around the peaks and drizzle veils the landscape, the solitary haystack-shaped peaks emerge and fade in the clouds, creating the famous "Maji misty rain" scenery. The plank road is narrow, and visitors may need to queue and proceed slowly when crowded. Travelers with acrophobia should proceed with caution. Flash photography is prohibited in the grotto area, and touching the statues is not allowed. A few classic grottoes are designated as special grottoes and are not included in the regular tour route, such as Cave 133, famous for the "Oriental Smile" novice monk, and Cave 127, known for its large-scale sutra illustration murals. Travelers with a strong interest in statue art can check the special grotto visiting arrangements in advance. Most of the other caves and niches can be viewed in sequence along the plank road.Tianshui · 75.2 km from Xihe
Experiences you can't miss in Xihe
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Free things to do in Xihe
Wanxia Lake Scenic Area
Xihe · 4.9 km from downtownBafeng Cliff
Xihe · 28.9 km from downtown
Gansu Provincial Museum
China · Lanzhou
Langzhong Ancient City
China · Langzhong
Qingmuchuan Ancient Town
China · Ningqiang
Gansu Qin Culture Museum
Li County · 21.8 km from Xihe
Lanzhou Old Street
China · Lanzhou
Zhongshan Bridge
China · Lanzhou
Baoji Bronze Ware Museum
China · Baoji
What travelers say about Xihe
M99***72September 20, 2026
5.0
The scenic area should strengthen its management; cigarette butts and litter are everywhere on the trails.
Yunhua Mountain Scenic Area
不见不念October 4, 2021
4.0
I stayed in Xihe for one night on my way to Yangba. I was amazed by this 4A-level scenic spot in Xihe. It is five kilometers away from Xihe. The scenery is beautiful in the early morning after the rain. I drove around the lake. The air was very fresh and there were farmhouses all around. Attractions worth visiting
Wanxia Lake Scenic Area
Bunjaley BOctober 27, 2026
5.0
Great experience! The line runs so fast ! Luckily once we visited there were not too many people and no rain! Perfect weather and absolutely unseen views
Jiuzhaigou National Park
M63***80October 27, 2026
5.0
Huanglong deters many from visiting due to its altitude, but compared to the bustling Jiuzhaigou, I highly recommend Huanglong's smaller, more exquisite charm. Huanglong allows you to leisurely enjoy the scenery at your own pace. Take the cable car up, then the sightseeing bus, and slowly make your way to the Five-Colored Pools. Because this is the highest and most uphill section, taking your time minimizes the risk of altitude sickness. Although there are tourists along the way, it's not crowded, and you can easily take some great photos. Then, the descent continues, and surprises await you every time. The travertine pools, bathed in sunlight, beautifully complement the mountains, water, and golden autumn forests, creating breathtaking scenery at every turn – truly a fairyland on earth.
Huanglong National Scenic Area
Patrick Woodbourne ClarkeOctober 22, 2026
5.0
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.
Lanzhou Danxia Geological Park
_We***46October 26, 2026
4.0
Overall it was good, but there were a lot of flying insects that looked like wild bees 🐝 along the way. Several people were stung, and I got stung too! Luckily, I had some ointment with me, so it was just slight redness and swelling. But the initial sting was really painful, like being electrocuted. Flying thousands of kilometers to get stung, now the trip is perfect! 🤣🤣🤣
Jianmen Pass
华-RainbowMarch 19, 2022
4.0
It is worth a visit. It is a grotto from the Northern Wei Dynasty, just like Maiji Mountain in Tianshui.
Bafeng Cliff
素年锦时xhlgOctober 21, 2026
5.0
Zhagana is unbelievably beautiful! Surrounded by rocky mountains, the Tibetan village is shrouded in mist in the mornings, like a thin veil draped over it. Standing on the viewing platform, you can see terraced fields stretching out, with yellow rapeseed flowers and green barley, set against the backdrop of shimmering snow-capped peaks in the distance—every snapshot is wallpaper-worthy. The air is filled with the scent of grass and cooking smoke, and yaks graze leisurely. It's so relaxing, you won't want to leave!
Zha Ga Na
小小白235October 25, 2026
4.0
We happened to be there during the Maijishan Rain and Mist, and it was very impressive when we arrived at the foot of the mountain. The grottoes and statues were also very unique. We visited Cave 133, and although it was a bit pricey, our whole family felt it was worth it. Before coming, we saw some negative reviews online, so our expectations were probably low. But we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived. I didn't give it five stars because the new visitor center is not very convenient to get to. It's hard to get a taxi, and visitors without cars can only leave by public transport.
Maijishan Cave-Temple Complex
