Located at the foot of Mount Zhougong, the Kangding Hot Springs boast a water temperature of approximately 40°C and a high sulfur content. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it served as a natural bathing pool for travelers. In the early years of the Republic of China, a hostel teahouse, named "Yudianlou," was established. Prices range from 10 to 120 yuan, depending on the size and condition of the room.
Located south of Kangding City, at an altitude of approximately 2,700 meters, Paomashan is known to the local Tibetans as "Lamtse," meaning "Fairy Mountain." It is considered one of the most sacred mountains in the Tibetan culture. To commemorate the birthday of Sakyamuni (the Buddha's Bathing Day), locals hold a grand ceremony here on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, known as the "April Eighth" circumambulation of the mountain, along with horse racing. From Paomashan, one can overlook the entire city of Kangding.
Located in Yala Township, northeast of Kangding County, 26 kilometers from the county seat, at an altitude of 2,900-3,800 meters, the scenic area covers 500 square kilometers. The area comprises six sub-scenic areas: Dujuan Gorge, Saimaping, Seven-Colored Sea, Yaochi Feiquan, Mugecuo, and Red Sea Grass. The area boasts plateau lakes, primeval forests, hot springs, snow-capped peaks, cascading waterfalls, and unique rock formations.
Tagong is 110 kilometers from Kangding County. From Kangding, travel west along the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, cross the Zheduo Mountain, and after passing Xindu Bridge, head north to Tagong Temple, the centerpiece of the scenic area. Scenic spots are scattered along both sides of the highway, encompassing rivers, grasslands, forests, mountains, temples, Tibetan architecture, and a rich tapestry of Tibetan customs.
The sacred Yala Mountain in Tagong rises majestically from the grasslands, draped in silver and shrouded in clouds year-round. Set against the vast green grasslands and the magnificent Tagong Monastery, it presents a breathtaking plateau landscape. In summer and autumn, the grasslands are ablaze with blooming flowers, the waters flow gently, and herds of cattle, sheep, horses, tents, and temples intertwine, creating a breathtakingly colorful scene. Every year from late July to early August, Tibetans hold a grand folk festival called "Shuabazi" on the grasslands, featuring horse racing, singing and dancing, and overnight, the grasslands are filled with colorful tents, creating a bustling atmosphere.
"Tagong" means "a place favored by the Bodhisattva" in Tibetan. Founded during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty (1796-1820), it is a renowned temple of the Sakya School (Flower Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism, known as the "Little Jokhang Temple." Its unique structure, simple and solemn, is surrounded by four pagodas—white, yellow, red, and green—in which perpetual lamps burn day and night. Surrounding the four square pagodas is a forest of over 100 pagodas of various shapes. The main hall of the temple houses a statue of Shekya Pandita, the founder of the Flower Sect. The statue of Sakyamuni within the temple is said to have been sculpted by Princess Wencheng during her visit to Tibet and is a precious cultural relic. The vast triangle of prayer flags behind the temple is a magnificent sight.
At the north-south fork of National Highway 318, the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, lies a picturesque paradise. Magical light, boundless grasslands, winding streams, golden cypress trees, rolling hills, a patchwork of Tibetan villages, and a scattering of cattle and sheep... This is Xinduqiao, a captivating "world of light and shadow," a "photographer's paradise."
Xinduqiao differs from the graceful, delicate, and misty bridges of Jiangnan. Instead, it possesses a vastness and depth, a quality born of its profound colors. Numerous small stone and wooden bridges span the streams alongside the road, embodying a quaint simplicity. Beyond the stream stretches barley fields far into the distance. During barley season, you'll see yellow barley, green alfalfa, and groups of Tibetans in their traditional Tibetan attire, mingling with this vibrant scene.
Kangding is a city with many bridges, known in ancient times as the "City of Eight Bridges." Today, the oldest bridge across the Zheduo River is the Princess Bridge in the south of the city. Many legends surround this bridge, including the widely known one that it was built for the marriage between Princess Wencheng and Songtsen Gampo. While Princess Wencheng actually traveled the Qinghai-Tibet Highway to Tibet, the legend about Kangding's Princess Bridge remains firmly borne in mind. Kangding, situated at the heart of the Sichuan-Tibet Highway, has long been a vital route for the "Tea-Horse Trade" between Tibetans and Han Chinese. The 18th Army of the People's Liberation Army proudly crossed the Princess Bridge to march into Tibet. The Princess Bridge stands as a historical testimony to the unity between Tibetans and Han Chinese.
Nanwu Temple, also known as Namu Temple in Tibetan, is said to be the Fairy Temple of Paomashan. Located 2.5 kilometers south of Kangding City, it is one of the most famous temples in Kangding. Together with the adjacent Vajra Temple, it is known as the "Twin Temples in the Cloud Forest" and is one of Kangding's ancient scenic spots.
Nanwu Temple occupies 2,524 square meters, with a built area of 3,851 square meters. It is a quadrangular courtyard constructed of wood and stone. The main hall, with three floors and a basement, stands approximately 20 meters tall. The interior is magnificent, flanked by side halls. The temple boasts double-eaved hip-and-gable roofs, openwork arches, and flying eaves. Its pavilions and halls are decorated with Tibetan-style paintings, creating a magnificent spectacle. It is one of the main venues for the April Eighth Mountain Circumambulation Festival. Nanwu Temple has produced renowned monks, including three abbots and 14 geshes. The Eighth Panchen Lama donated his robes to the temple. The temple is a constant source of worship year-round, attracting a constant stream of devotees and visitors, including numerous international visitors and compatriots from Hong Kong and Macao.
Legend has it that Paomashan and three other mountains in Kangding are sacred sites for the Three Protectors of Tantric Buddhism (Avalokitesvara, Manjushri, and Vajrapani). In 1272, a small temple of the Old Tantric Nyingma lineage was built at the foot of Paomashan. This temple is the predecessor of Vajra Monastery. With a history of over 700 years, Vajra Monastery is one of the earliest monasteries in Ganzi Prefecture to promote both Nyingma learning and practice.
Lotus Sea is located in the Kuxirong Valley of Pusharong Township, Kangding County, at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters, 120 kilometers away from Kangding County, and between Mount Gongga and the Wuxuhai Scenic Spot.
The Lotus Sea is surrounded by snow-capped mountains, stone forests, and forests. The peaks, shimmering in the sunlight, are resplendent and elegant. The mountainside's stone forests and twisting trees create a myriad of forms, home to wildlife such as gazelles and blue sheep. The dense forest at the foot of the mountain also boasts a wealth of natural medicinal herbs, including cordyceps, fritillaria, and snow lotus. During blooming season, a multitude of exotic flowers and plants burst into bloom, their fragrance filling the air and refreshing the soul. In autumn, the mountains transform into a vibrant painting of vibrant colors. The vibrant peaks, seemingly drenched in paint, shimmer in red, yellow, cyan, and green against the azure sky. Even the most delicate brush could hardly capture this magnificent beauty. The mirror-like waters, reflecting the forest and sky, create a tranquil and profound experience, evoking memories of bygone times and bringing a sense of inner peace and tranquility. Look at the emerald green lawns surrounding the lake, herds of cattle and sheep scattered on the grassland like pearls, beautiful butterflies fluttering in the air, and occasionally white cranes and otters playing in the lake.
Anjue Temple, located west of Jiangjun Bridge in Kangding City, is a renowned Yellow Sect temple. Some say it was first built in the late 18th century during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty; others say it began construction in the 10th year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, when the First Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso, passed through Kangding on his way back to Tibet from his pilgrimage to Beijing. Anjue Temple was originally named Anque Temple. "Anque" is Tibetan, with "An" meaning "five" and "que" meaning "offering," referring to a temple dedicated to the five monks. Legend has it that it was designed and built by five Buddhist masters, including Luole Gele, a disciple of the renowned Buddhist master Yeshi Jiangze of western Tibet. In 1937, Dai Chuanxian of the Nationalist Government's Examination Yuan inscribed the three characters "Anjue Temple" in gold, which were then erected beneath the gilded eaves of the main hall. From then on, the temple was renamed Anjue Temple.
The Gongga Mountain Scenic Area is located about 55 kilometers south of Kangding City, in Luding, Kangding and Jiulong counties of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is centered on Gongga Mountain and consists of Hailuogou, Yanzigou, Mugecuo, Gongga Temple, Wuxuhai, Gongga South Slope and other scenic areas, covering an area of 10,000 square kilometers.
"Gongga" means "snow-white" in Tibetan. Mount Gongga is steep and towering, with a 70-square-meter platform at its summit. It is covered with snow year-round, and when the sky is clear, it shines brightly, creating a magnificent sight.
Hailuogou is an ideal spot for viewing Mount Gongga, the king of Sichuan's mountains. Climbing the Second Peak or Lion Rock, one can gaze upon a pristine blue sky, with dozens of snow-capped peaks piercing the heavens from the clouds, with Mount Gongga majestically nestled among its surrounding peaks. Every morning and evening, the dozens of peaks are bathed in a dazzling golden glow, creating Hailuogou's most famous sight: the Golden Mountain in the Sun.
Hailuogou boasts a pristine, ancient, wild, magical, unique, and breathtaking charm. It boasts: ancient and mysterious primeval forests; a diverse "animal kingdom"; the world-renowned "Conch Cuckoo"; colorful waterfalls and hot springs; a "mythical world" beneath Pomo Mountain; the enchanting "Sunshine Golden Mountain"; the mysterious "Green Sea Glacier"; and the "Great Icefall" cascading through the air. Hailuogou is also renowned for its large, low-altitude modern glacier, stretching 14.7 kilometers. The scenic area blends primeval forests, rare flora and fauna, hot springs, and waterfalls into a magnificent and unique landscape, a world-renowned attraction that offers both educational and entertaining experiences.