Five-Day, Four-Night Itinerary for Gannan

Zhagana is one of the most anticipated destinations in the Gannan itinerary. In fact, the scenery is stunning—a beautiful village hidden deep in the mountains. For viewing platforms, you can choose Dari Viewing Platform. The Rock Viewing Platform requires more walking, so it’s not recommended. After taking photos at the viewing platform, drive to the visitor center to check out Fairy Beach. No tickets are required, and you can either take a sightseeing bus or walk up a 20-30 minute staircase. For those confident in their stamina, walking is an option, but be prepared for the breathlessness of climbing stairs at high altitudes. Fairy Beach is essentially a large grassland, offering a different perspective to admire Zhagana’s beauty.

Here’s a five-day itinerary for your reference:
Day 1: Lanzhou—Ganga Secret Land—Labrang Monastery—Xiahe
Day 2: Xiahe—Sangke Grassland—Guomang Wetland—Langmu Monastery
Day 3: Langmu Monastery—Ruoergai Flower Lake—First Bend of the Yellow River—Tangke/Ruoergai
Day 4: Tangke—Zhagana
Day 5: Zhagana—Milarepa Buddha Pavilion—Disband in Lanzhou City

Highlights:
Langmu Monastery mainly involves visiting two temples, one in Sichuan and the other in Gansu. Separate tickets 🎫 are required for each. Generally, visitors only go to one temple.

Gerdeng Monastery + Namo Grand Canyon
The monastery is simple and unadorned but exudes a sense of solemnity and sanctity. Here, I lit a wishing lamp made of butter, which had a unique milky fragrance. Right next to the monastery is Namo Grand Canyon, where the scenery is beautiful. You can linger for a while, but to conserve energy for the rest of the trip, it’s recommended not to venture too deep into the canyon.

First Bend of the Yellow River
We didn’t specifically aim for sunset timing. The escalator is a must for convenience and saving energy. The only downside is that the parking lot is a bit far from the exit, so you’ll need to walk a little after getting off.

🏨 Tangke Town
A reminder: the cost-performance ratio of accommodations in Tangke Town is slightly lower compared to accommodations of the same price in other regions. Please be mentally prepared for this. However, its proximity to the First Bend of the Yellow River makes it convenient for sightseeing, which can be considered a compensating factor.

Post by “踏上奇妙之旅，探索世界每一个角落。我是极地之光，热爱旅行分享、带你领略别样风景，发现旅途惊喜。 | Sep 22, 2025