National Geographic didn’t lie to me! The fairyland Zhagana is truly worth it (with travel guide) ||

National Geographic didn’t lie to me! The fairyland Zhagana is truly worth it (with travel guide) || Eden on Earth—Gannan Zhagana just back❗
No wonder it was rated by National Geographic as a must-visit place in a lifetime🏞️
Jagged cliffs like a huge stone city⛰️
Mist-shrouded primeval forest🌲
Quiet and distant mysterious villages
And groups of marmots randomly appearing💕
Here’s my detailed travel guide👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
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📍Address: Zhagana, Diebu County, Gannan
🎫Tickets: 80 RMB/person, sightseeing bus 40 RMB
🚗【Recommended self-driving route】
Day 1: Chengdu—Hongyuan—Moon Bay—Yellow River Nine Bends sunset (stay in Tangke Town)
Day 2: Tangke Town—Langmu Temple—Diebu County—Zhagana Fairy Beach sunset (stay in Dari Village)
Day 3: Zhagana Dari Viewing Platform (sunrise)—Zhagana Daiba Village—Ruoergai Grassland (stay in Ruoergai)
Day 4: Horse riding and feeding marmots in Ruoergai—Songpan County—Chuanzhusi—Maoxian—Chengdu
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🌟【Must-visit spots】
✅ Fairy Beach: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A must-go❗ Expansive alpine meadows combined with terraced mountain peaks create a stunning picture, 🉑 overlook the entire Zhagana village, and you can also catch a beautiful sunset🌇 (20 min walk from Dongwa Village)
✅ Dari Viewing Platform: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Highest altitude, an excellent spot for shooting sunrise🌅❗ Morning shots of the sunrise with sea of clouds flowing over stone peaks are breathtaking😭 Remember to check sunrise time in advance and arrive before 7 AM to secure your spot📸
✅ Daiba Village: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A village in the clouds☁️, accessible by car🚗 If you want to see marmots, you must come here❗❗❗ There’s a marmot home with lots of cuties (next to Zhouqingcang Inn)
✅ Dongwa Village: 🌟🌟🌟
The largest village in Zhagana, located lower with more people, offers deep experiences of Tibetan folk customs and tasting special foods like butter tea and tsampa.
✅ Lasang Monastery: 🌟🌟🌟
A Gelugpa sect monastery built during the Qing Shunzhi era, located at Zhagana’s highest point, accessible by car. The red walls and golden roofs contrast with the stone peaks, perfect for photos🥰
✅ One Line Sky: 🌟🌟
Tall mountains on both sides, only a narrow strip of sky visible when looking up
✅ Tiger Mouth: 🌟
Rock formation resembling a tiger’s open mouth, a somewhat boring spot, no need to get off the car and waste energy🙅🏻‍♀️
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🏠【Accommodation recommendations】
In the scenic area, ✅ Dongwa Village ✅ Dari Village ✅ Daiba Village ✅ Yeri Village all have many guesthouses, the last three are highly recommended! (Great views, open your window to snow-capped mountains, meadows, and sea of clouds)
We stayed in Dari Village mainly to get up early the next day to see the sunrise at Dari Viewing Platform❗ (5 min walk)
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🔍【Travel tips】
👉 Daytime: Long-sleeve T-shirt + light jacket (shell jacket/wool)
👉 Early morning and evening: Down jacket
👉 Must bring: Comfortable hiking shoes, rain gear, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
Finally, personally, I think the Zhagana sightseeing bus is not cost-effective; the only worthwhile stop is Fairy Beach, which you can easily reach on foot. If you really don’t want to walk, you can take the direct bus to Fairy Beach after 5 PM to catch the sunset!