Kangding

What are the most recommended things to do in Kangding?

Visit the iconic Anjue Bridge, a symbol of Kangding’s culture and history.
Explore Tangjiahe Nature Reserve for Tibetan wildlife and scenic landscapes.
Tour the town’s Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and temples.
Stroll along the Dadu River and enjoy riverside scenery.
Experience local markets to buy Tibetan handicrafts, textiles, and souvenirs.
Attend local festivals or cultural performances if timing allows.

Introducing Kangding

Kangding City boasts a long and splendid history and culture. It serves as the gateway to the Sichuan-Tibet Plateau, a key town on the ancient Tea-Horse Road, and a hub for the exchange of Tibetan and Han Chinese culture. Since ancient times, it has served as the political, economic, cultural, commercial, information, and transportation hub of the Kham Tibetan region. Covering an area of 11,600 square kilometers, the city is home to a diverse ethnic group, primarily Tibetans, along with Han, Hui, Yi, and Qiang peoples.

Former Premier Zhu Rongji, upon his visit, expressed deep admiration, calling it "an overseas fairyland, a sacred Penglai." Kangding is a Chinese name, derived from the area east of Mount Danda, known as "Kang," and the name derives from the idea of stability and peace. In Tibetan, Kangding is called "Da Zheduo," referring to the confluence of the Daqu (Yala) and Zhequ (Zheduo) rivers. Historical records previously translated it as "Da Jianlu," but later translated it as "Da Jianlu," or simply "Lucheng."

On September 25, 2018, it was awarded the honorary title of “2018 Comprehensive Demonstration County of E-commerce in Rural Areas” by the Ministry of Commerce.

Climate and best time to travel

Kangding's geographical latitude suggests a subtropical climate, but its complex topography and pronounced vertical variations create a unique plateau-type continental monsoon climate. With annual precipitation of 800 to 950 mm and a frost-free period of 150 to 250 days, it belongs to the mountainous cool temperate zone.

The eastern part of Kangding City is a mountainous canyon with a subtropical climate. It is rich in resources and is known as the "Khamba Jiangnan"; the western part is a mountainous plain with a plateau continental climate. It is a typical representative of Tibetan customs with cattle and sheep everywhere and temples and pagodas standing in rows.

Recommended number of days and locations for visiting

The Kangding Love Song (Mugecuo) Scenic Area is a National AAAA-level tourist attraction, a World Heritage Site nominee, and a National Key Scenic Spot. It comprises scenic spots such as Fangcaoping, Seven-Colored Lake, Dujuan Gorge, Yaochi Boiling Spring, Mugecuo (Wild Man Lake), and the Red and Black Seas. The scenic area features a vibrant landscape of plateau lakes, primeval forests, hot springs, snow-capped peaks, unique rocks, and the 8-kilometer-long Thousand Waterfall Gorge. The scenic area's exquisitely designed attractions make it an ideal destination for sightseeing, entertainment, sightseeing, rest, recuperation, fitness, summer retreat, and scientific research.

Xinduqiao

Xinduqiao is a fascinating "photography paradise". It is located at the fork of the south and north lines of National Highway 318 and is a picturesque paradise.

Yaha Scenic Area

The Yaha Scenic Area, located in Jiagenba Township and Gongga Mountain Township in Kangding City, Ganzi Prefecture, features wide plateau valleys, subalpine meadows, extremely high mountains, springs and pools, and Muya culture and architecture. Also known as the "Yalong" Scenic Area, it offers an excellent vantage point for viewing the main peak of Mount Gongga, known as the "King of Shu Mountains," and the Gongga Peaks. The scenic area encompasses four key areas: the Yalonggou Springs and Pools, the Yaha Pass Mount Gongga Viewpoint, the Yulongxi Grassland, and the Yulongxi Springs and Pools. Its key features include highland pastoral scenery and Muya culture (customs and architecture).

The wonder of the scenic area is the Quanhua Beach, of which there are two: Yalonggou Quanhua Beach and Yulongxi Quanhua Beach.

The Yalonggou Flower Beach is 6,500 meters long and about 200 meters wide, far exceeding the 3,500-meter-long Huanglong Flower Beach (previously, Huanglong Flower Beach was known as the world's largest), and has been selected as a candidate for the world record for the largest flower beach by the China World Records Association.

The Yulongxi Spring Beach is approximately 3,000 meters long and 200 meters wide, with seven steps forming colorful pools of varying sizes. A variety of aquatic plants and free-swimming Qianghuo fish (small salamanders) bring boundless vitality to this ancient geological wonder. At an altitude of 4,300 meters, a 1.5-meter-high hot spring erupts, maintaining a constant temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius year-round, providing the primary water source for the Yulong Spring Beach. Furthermore, Liusi Village in Yalonggou boasts a 200-meter-long and 50-meter-wide purple stone beach, featuring a variety of unique purple rocks that offer a wealth of scenic beauty.

Tagong Scenic Area

"Tagong," meaning "the place favored by the Bodhisattva" in Tibetan, is located in Tagong Town, Kangding City, Sichuan Province, 113 kilometers northwest of Kangding City, on a plateau at an altitude of 3,730 meters. The Sichuan-Tibet Highway passes through the area. Legend has it that when Princess Wencheng passed through this area on her way to Tibet, the statue of Sakyamuni Buddha she was carrying suddenly spoke, expressing her wish to remain there. The people immediately constructed a replica of the original statue and left it there. The Tagong Scenic Area features the towering Yala Snow Mountain, the rolling grasslands, and the magnificent "Muya Golden Pagoda" nestled amidst the grasslands. The scenic area includes the Tagong Temple, the Tagong Temple Pagoda Forest, and the Yala Snow Mountain.

Tagong Grassland: Covering an area of 712.37 square kilometers, the terrain is gently rolling. The vast grasslands are lush with abundant grass and water, and are home to numerous herds of cattle and sheep. Rising at an altitude of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 meters, the grasslands are a typical hilly plateau. Winters are harsh, summers are cool, and spring and autumn are short. There is ample sunshine, and a large temperature difference between day and night.

The Muya Golden Pagoda, also known as the Muya Zunsheng Pagoda, was built by Living Buddha Dorje Tashi to commemorate the 10th Panchen Lama's initiation and teaching here. The pagoda is located in the center of eight sacred mountains: Yala, Xiagudongqing, Wenshu, and Guanyin. It is called "Gurutang" in Tibetan, meaning "Padmasambhava's Dojo." Legend has it that when the temple was consecrated, auspicious clouds and a seven-colored halo appeared in the sky.

Tagong Monastery, nestled on the Tagong Grassland, is a renowned monastery of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, known as the "Little Jokhang Temple." Its walls are covered with thangkas, Tibetan paintings, reliefs, colored sculptures, murals, butter products, and a forest of ancient pagodas in diverse shapes, showcasing unique ethnic, religious, and cultural characteristics. It is a sacred pilgrimage site for Tibetans in the Kham region, where grand Buddhist ceremonies and rituals are held annually.

Yala Snow Mountain, known in Tibetan as "Xiaxue Yala Gabo" (meaning "Eastern White Yak Mountain"), is one of the four sacred mountains in China's Tibetan areas. Located at the junction of Kangding, Daofu, and Danba counties in Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, it stands at an altitude of 5,884 meters, facing the sacred Moldo Mountain to its northwest. Its summit, capped year-round with snow, is a renowned sacred mountain in the Kham region, home to the Yala River. At over 4,000 meters, two lakes lie less than 300 meters apart, flowing north and south onto the mountain's ridge, creating a breathtaking natural spectacle.

Yajiageng Scenic Area

Yajiageng is located within the Hailuogou Scenic Area of Mount Gongga, between Laoyulin in Kangding City and Moxi Town in Hailuogou. It lies on the northern slopes of Mount Gongga's east slope, upstream of the Yajiageng River. Nestled at an altitude of 3,500 to 4,000 meters, the Yajiageng Scenic Area stands as a dazzling pearl at the foot of Mount Gongga. Since ancient times, it has served as a link between the mainland and Tibet, adorned with the dual aura of the "Ancient Tang-Tibet Road" and the "Ancient Tea-Horse Road." Its two main attractions are the Yajiageng Red Stone Beach and the Yajia Sea of Love.

Yajiageng Red Stone Beach: The Red Stone Offering of Longevity, one of the Eighteen Scenic Spots of Hailuogou, showcases the magical red stone landscape of Yajiageng, which is known as the "Chinese Alpine Botanical Garden" and the "Chinese Red Stone Park". It has classic and unique ecological scenery, rich and profound historical relics, and innumerable rare animals and plants. It has the world's only red stone river valley, shimmering alpine lakes, towering snow-capped peaks, and colorful seas of flowers. It also has the ancient and winding Tea-Horse Road ruins, the deep and quiet Wilson Trail, the mysterious thousand-year-old hanging coffins, the adorable red pandas, and the world-famous "Xikang Mulan". It is an excellent place for ecological sightseeing, outdoor experience, scientific expeditions, and cultural exploration.

Yajia Love Sea, also known as Lieyaozi Lake, lies at the foot of the Yajia Snow Mountain. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and azaleas, it is a legendary "Love Lake." Since ancient times, it has been a sacred place for love, on par with Paoma Mountain. Legend has it that Tsangyang Gyatso, the Sixth Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism, renowned for his love poems, visited this area around 1710 and penned many deeply moving verses. As its name suggests, the "Love Sea" is a well-deserved elopement sanctuary, a place of natural beauty, seclusion, and pristine beauty.

Tickets

free

Attraction opening hours

All day

Most Popular FAQs for Kangding

What is the history and significance of this attraction/city?

Kangding is a historic town in the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan. It has long been a key trading hub between Han Chinese and Tibetan cultures and is famous for its cultural fusion, traditional Tibetan architecture, and the famous Kangding Love Song. The town is also strategically located along the Dadu River.

Where is it located and how do I get there (metro, bus, taxi, walking)?

Kangding is located in western Sichuan province. It is accessible by bus or car from Chengdu (approximately 8–10 hours by road). Walking is ideal for exploring the town center and cultural sites. Local taxis and minibuses can be used for nearby attractions.

What are the opening hours and best times to visit?

Best months: May to October for pleasant weather and road access.
Most attractions, including Anjue Bridge and monasteries, are open 8:00 AM–6:00 PM.
Tangjiahe Nature Reserve: usually open 7:00 AM–5:00 PM.