Gannan Private Car Rental · Free Style on the Grassland

【Introduction】: Gannan Scenic Area = a big gift pack of "grasslands + temples + stone cities + canyons," all packed around 3000 m altitude at the "northeast gate of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau." It borders Aba to the south, Qinghai Guoluo to the west, and is just 4 hours from Lanzhou to immerse yourself in Tibetan atmosphere.
Highlights in one sentence:
Labrang Monastery — the world's longest prayer corridor, monks' robes + copper bells in the morning = movie opening scene.
Zhagana — natural stone city + Tibetan village morning mist, listed by Lonely Planet as one of the "50 Best Outdoor Paradises in the World."
Ganjia Secret Realm — the white stone cliff at the end of the grassland looks like a sudden "Game of Thrones" set, and the octagonal ancient city preserves Han Dynasty beacon smoke in the land.
Ruoergai Flower Lake / Yellow River Nine Bends — highland wetland "waterbird screensaver" + the only "Sichuan-style" big bend of the Yellow River, a sunset photo of the long river can easily get likes.
Yeliguan — red cliff Danxia + forest sky pool, a new 5A-level attraction, autumn red leaves look like a spilled palette.
Cultural Easter Egg:
The official name "Nine-colored Gannan" actually steals nine highly saturated colors: monk red, coral orange, prayer wheel yellow, grassland green, Ani blue, sky blue, Tibetan costume purple, yak black, and snow mountain white. The phone camera colors can be maxed out.
Summary in one sentence: Only half the size of neighboring Aba, but condenses the essence of the Amdo Tibetan area’s pastures + temples + stone cities. The small loop can be completed in 4 days, with mild altitude sickness, great photo opportunities, and affordable budget.

🕘【Opening Hours】:
Labrang Monastery 08:00-18:00, 2-3 h, no photos inside the hall; morning prayer + golden rooftop light is best for photos, remember to walk clockwise around the temple.
Langmu Temple 08:00-17:00, 2 h, Gansu temple for morning mist, Sichuan temple has sky burial platform, keep camera 100 meters away; no ticket sales in winter.
Zhagana Open all day, 1-2 days, Fairy Beach sunrise climb starts at 5:30, rainy season July-August stone slabs are slippery, grippy shoes are a must.
Ganjia Secret Realm Open all day, 3-4 h, grassland + white stone cliff + octagonal ancient city all in one; no entrance fee, drone shots of the "alien canyon" are even cooler.
Flower Lake 08:00-18:00, 2-3 h, 6 km boardwalk, most black-necked cranes from June to August; windy with strong glare, sunglasses + shawl for sun protection.
Yellow River Nine Bends First Bay 08:00-19:00, 2 h, elevator 8 min to the top, best at sunset around 19:30; wind flags on the mountain top can easily blow away phones, hold tight.
Dangzhou Grassland 08:30-19:30, 3 h, main venue of the Shambhala Art Festival at the end of July every year, with Guozhuang dance + horse racing + bonfire, tens of thousands dancing on the grassland.
Yeliguan Tourist Area Follow official website announcements, 0.5-1 day, hiking 40 min to Tianchi Yihai, Danxia red cliff valley has big temperature differences, bring fleece;
General Tips
Altitude Sickness: Altitude 3000-3600 m, no washing hair or running on the first day, carry glucose + portable oxygen.
Temperature & Sun Protection: Day and night can differ by 20℃, down jacket + SPF50+ sunscreen double protection; lip balm is a must, wind dries lips instantly.
Cash & Signal: WeChat often fails in small towns, carry 300 yuan cash; some areas in Zhagana and Flower Lake have no signal, download offline maps in advance.
Religious Etiquette: Remove hats and sunglasses in temples, spin prayer wheels clockwise; no close-up photos at sky burial platforms, respect first.

⛺【Activities】:
|① Labrang Monastery
1. World’s longest prayer corridor (3.5 km)
2. Wensi Academy Main Hall (debate at 8:00 am)
3. Backhill Buddha Sunbathing Platform (panoramic view)
4. Follow locals spinning prayer wheels at 7:30 am, copper bells + incense smoke = cultural masterpiece
5. 40 min tour inside the main hall, 600-year-old thangka paintings, no flash photography
6. Main gate → prayer corridor clockwise → Wensi Academy → backhill sunbathing platform → descend for yogurt
7. No photos allowed inside, keep phone in pocket
8. Backhill dirt road 15 min, slippery when wet, grippy shoes essential
② Sangke Grassland
1. Wetland birdwatching (black-necked cranes)
2. Visit herders’ homes + yak milk milking experience
3. Horseback/horse carriage loop, wildflowers in June-August, sunrise 6:30, sunset 20:00 with soft light. From Xianghe County south exit 15 km → wetland boardwalk 30 min → home visit tent → horseback riding backlit photos → return to county
4. Black-necked cranes are shy, 200 mm+ telephoto lens needed
③ Langmu Temple Town (one temple in Gansu and one in Sichuan)
1. Gansu Saichi Temple (golden roof + mummy Buddha hall)
2. Sichuan Gerdie Temple (Fairy Cave, Namo Grand Canyon)
3. 1 h easy hike to the source of Bailong River
At 6:40 am watch mist rolling over Saichi Temple backhill; 3 km canyon with stream + murals, natural air conditioning. Town center → Saichi Temple sunrise → breakfast → Gerdie Temple → canyon hike → coffee in town
4. Sky burial platform ends at 7:30 am, no photography allowed, observe from 100 meters away
5. No signal in canyon, travel in groups, wear hats in rockfall areas
④ Zhagana
1. Dongwa Village Tibetan village (morning mist + cooking smoke)
2. Fairy Beach meadow (30 min easy hike)
3. One Line Sky / Stone Forest 4 km deep hike
4. Horseback to Guangai Mountain (1 day round trip) Fairy Beach sunrise climb starts at 5:40, stone city + terraced fields in one frame; Guangai Mountain 3800 m overlooks the entire "giant stone Rubik’s cube." Buy tickets at village entrance → photo at Dongwa Village → boardwalk hike at Fairy Beach → breakfast back in village → choose either One Line Sky hike or horseback riding
5. Fairy Beach, save money by hiking directly
6. Windy and -5℃ at the summit, bring light down jacket
⑤ Flower Lake + Yellow River Nine Bends
1. Flower Lake: 3 km wooden boardwalk birdwatching
2. Nine Bends: elevator 8 min to 3600 m viewing platform. Flower Lake has water plants + black-necked cranes in June-July; Nine Bends sunset 19:30-20:10 golden "nine bends," 1 s long exposure silky water flow. Langmu Temple → Flower Lake 1.5 h → boardwalk loop 2 h → exit scenic area straight to Nine Bends → elevator to top → shoot then return to Tangke Town
3. Flower Lake has no shade, sunglasses + SPF50+ sunscreen needed, lake surface glare can cause sunburn
4. Nine Bends elevator 60 yuan, last ride at 20:00, missing it means night climb

🧡【Preparation】: Recommended items to bring before the trip
1️⃣ Document pouch
ID card, driver’s license/student ID (some attractions offer half price), 500 yuan cash (for small towns/toilets/no signal areas).
2️⃣ Clothing
3-in-1 shell jacket (fleece liner = lifesaver for 0-5℃ mornings and evenings)
2 quick-dry long sleeves (daytime sun protection + sweat dries instantly)
Light down jacket (Zhagana/Nine Bends 3600 m sunrise wrap keeps you alive)
Sun protection set: brimless hat + sunglasses + UPF50+ face scarf
Mid-high waterproof hiking boots (essential for slippery Rock Road & Stone Forest hikes)
3️⃣ Skincare & Sun Protection
SPF50+ sunscreen, lip balm (highland wind + UV, lips crack in 1 hour), moisturizing spray.
4️⃣ Emergency supplies
Altitude sickness: Altitude medicine, 1-2 portable oxygen cans
Essentials: Montmorillonite powder (for stomach issues), motion sickness pills, glucose oral liquid (quick energy)
5️⃣ Electronics
20,000 mAh power bank (cold drains battery fast), multi-port charging cable, offline Gansu map (no signal navigation), drone pre-registration.
6️⃣ Daily essentials
Thermos cup (herders refill butter tea for free), wet and dry tissues, folding umbrella/disposable raincoat (afternoon thunderstorms in July-August)
Headscarf/shawl = photo prop + temple shoulder cover + wind and sand protection all in one
7️⃣ Energy snacks
Beef jerky + chocolate + glucose bars, 2-hour no-service zones between attractions, hunger calls before the car.
8️⃣ Eco-friendly items
Foldable shopping bag + trash bag, no trash bins on the grassland, take your trash back to town with the beautiful scenery.
Final motto:
"Carry your shell jacket, reapply sunscreen anytime, spread out your cash, bring your trash back to town."
With all these, you can confidently handle Gannan’s 3000 m altitude, 20℃ day-night temperature difference, and full-screen UV rays!