A Family Adventure in the "National Geographic" Recommended Destination! A 5-Day Parent-Child Trip to Gannan is So Healing

👨👩👧 Our family just returned from a trip to Gannan, and looking back at the photos still feels like a dream! This place combines the grandeur of Xinjiang, the vastness of Mongolia, and the purity of Tibet. The kids ran wild on the grasslands every day, their laughter louder than the wind🌬️
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🏕️ Norlha Camp is perfect for families
📍 Nestled deep in the Sangke Grassland of Xiahe, Gannan, it’s ranked by "National Geographic" as one of the world’s top 10 wild luxury camps. Staying here with kids feels like living in nature.
🏆 It’s also one of the world’s 43 most beautiful hotels, open only from May to October—ideal for spring, summer, and fall visits. Kids can watch the grasslands transform from blooming flowers to golden hues.
🌄 The camp blends seamlessly with the grassland. Step outside, and you’re greeted by mountains, rivers, and grazing livestock. Every morning, the kids couldn’t wait to "chat" with the lambs.
👩🍳 The head chef, formerly from Aman in Nepal, uses local organic ingredients. Even picky eaters devoured the meals—our kids finished big bowls without complaint!
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📝 Tips for family travel:
👔 Pack layers! Even in summer, bring a windbreaker for chilly mornings (perfect for sunrise) that can be removed when it warms up.
👟 Sturdy, non-slip sneakers or hiking shoes are a must for running on grass or climbing hills.
🥤 Carry a thermos for warm water—especially important for little stomachs when first arriving.
☀️ Sun protection is key: kids’ hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen. The high-altitude UV rays are strong—protect those cheeks!
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🗺️ 5-Day Itinerary:
🔹D1: Arrive in Lanzhou → Transfer to Hyatt Lanzhou
🍢 At night, explore Zhengning Road Night Market. Kids loved the sweet milk-egg rice wine, sipping it nonstop! Try lamb offal, skewers, and sweet fermented barley milk tea while strolling.
🔹D2: Lanzhou → Labrang Monastery → Sangke Grassland → Xiahe → Stay at Norlha Camp
📚 Morning at Labrang Monastery with kid-friendly guides explaining Tibetan culture—our little one was mesmerized.
🌱 Afternoon on the emerald Sangke Grassland: rolling in the grass, chasing livestock, and watching herders tend horses.
🔹D3: Xiahe → Langmusi → Stay at Langmusi Grand Hotel
🕌 Morning stories at Sertri Monastery, with its sky burial site and striking Red Stone Cliff—endless questions from curious kids!
🥾 Afternoon hike through Namo Gorge (easy terrain). Our child walked the whole way, learning about plants from the guide.
🔹D4: Horseback riding → Tibetan pastures → Gahai Lake → Stay at InterContinental Hezuo
🐎 Gentle horses along the Bailong River’s source—kids were fearless, even petting manes!
🏕️ Lunch in a herder’s tent: milky tea and tsampa-making demos. "So this is how milk comes!" they exclaimed.
💧 Rode to the river’s origin—kids splashed and marveled at nature’s wonders.
🔹D5: Hezuo → Milarepa Buddhist Tower → Return to Lanzhou
🏯 Morning at the striking red Milarepa Tower. "Like a block castle!" said our kid, soaking up cultural insights inside.
👋 Afternoon departure. Clutching a "gift-exchange rock" from the grassland, they whispered, "This is from the lambs." Pure magic!