# "Gansu · Yangba Town"｜A "Little Jiangnan" Hidden in Longnan, Missed by 99% of Tourists

In this province defined by the Loess Plateau, there is a lush "outlier"—Yangba Town in Kang County, a mountain and water secret realm that resembles Jiangnan but is wilder than Jiangnan.

Here, the annual average temperature is 15°C, forest coverage exceeds 80%, streams run through the village, tea mountains layer upon layer, and mist lingers all year round.
Locals jokingly say, "We are Gansu’s 'Southern residents.'"

Come to Yangba and experience a green Gansu like you’ve never seen before.

1. What does Yangba have? Three sentences to describe its beauty

Pick tea in spring, escape the heat in summer, watch red leaves in autumn, and admire the sea of clouds in winter—scenery all year round;
There are waterfalls, ancient towns, tens of thousands of acres of tea gardens, and wild giant panda habitats—varied ways to explore;
Step into three counties at once, hear roosters crowing from Shaanxi and Sichuan—located at the junction of Gansu, Shaanxi, and Sichuan, blending diverse cultures.

It’s low-key but brews nature and culture into a cup of clear tea.

2. Four must-visit highlights

Meiyuan Valley: A rare primitive forest scene in Northwest China
Known as the "Little Jiuzhaigou," the creek water is emerald green, and the plank road winds along the valley. Come here in summer, and it’s cool enough to not need air conditioning. Along the way, you can see waterfalls, ancient trees, wild monkeys, and if lucky, encounter takins.

Qinghe Forest Park: A real-life "Wizard of Oz"
Home to thousand-year-old yew and hemlock trees, sunlight filters through the leaves creating dappled shadows. A 3-hour hike fills your lungs with negative oxygen ions.

Thousand-acre Tea Garden: Pick a handful of spring by hand
Yangba produces "Longshen Tea," the only high-quality green tea region in Gansu. During the April tea-picking season, put on a tea farmer’s outfit, carry a bamboo basket, experience hand-frying tea in the lush terraces, and taste a cup of fresh pre-Qingming green tea with a refreshing aroma.

Old Street Charm: Slow life in wooden stilt houses
The town preserves wooden old streets in Ming and Qing styles, with bluestone paths and carved window frames. There’s no commercial hawking, only elders sitting at doorsteps basking in the sun and cats napping under eaves. Perfect for quiet walks and slow photography.

3. How to play? Practical guide

Location: Yangba Town, Kang County, Longnan City, Gansu Province, about 2 hours by car from Longnan city center
Transportation: Recommended to drive (G75 Lanhai Expressway to Shitian Expressway), roads are good; you can also take high-speed rail from Lanzhou/Chengdu to Longnan North Station and then charter a car
Best season: April to October (lush green in spring and summer, colorful forests in autumn)
Accommodation recommendations:
- Luxury: Meiyuan Mountain Villa (inside the scenic area, mountain views from the window)
- Homestay style: Tea Fragrance Courtyard (host personally brews tea for guests)
Must-try foods:
- Tea-smoked bacon (smoked with tea leaves, unique flavor)
- Handmade tofu flower noodles, wild vegetables, honey wine

Tickets: Meiyuan Valley 30 RMB, other attractions free---

Finally: This is not a trendy check-in spot, but a place for the soul to rest

Yangba has no traffic filters, no drone formations, and even mobile signals are intermittent.
But it has morning bird songs, afternoon tea fragrance, and a star-filled sky at night.

If you are tired of crowded tourist spots,
want a place to daydream, listen to the rain, cleanse your lungs, and reboot your mood—
come to Yangba, the gentlest side of Gansu, hidden here.