Encounter the drunk and beautiful Gannan in the most beautiful season丨A graduation trip that just goes away

【A glimpse of Gannan】

If

Tibet symbolizes holiness

Xinjiang is close to heaven

So Gannan

is holy heaven

It combines the green of Xinjiang and the blue of Tibet

become our longing

※ Fascinating mystery

Known as "the source of Mount Shu, the Kunlun Ladder", the eighth among the top ten sacred mountains in Tibetan areas - Lianbao Yeze

Zhayana, a natural "stone city" rated as "one of the 50 outdoor paradises in the world"

There is no doubt about the way out of mountains and rivers, and there is another valley——Namo Canyon

The miraculous land under the sunset—Ganga Secret Realm

"Clearly distinguishing between Wei and Wei" - the confluence of the Yellow River and the Tao River

※Green grassland

Cattle and sheep all over the hills and fields in Ganga grassland

Wildflowers in full bloom in the Sangke Grassland

Ruoergai Grassland covers Gansu, Sichuan, and Qinghai Provinces, and its area is second only to Hulun Buir Grassland

The Hongyuan prairie once witnessed the legend of the Red Army's Long March

The 10,000 mu rapeseed field in Hongyuan County is like laying a golden carpet on the earth.

National Highway 248 from Hongyuan to Aba crosses the alpine meadow with thousands of ravines

The quiet Yellow River meanders through the Maqu Grassland

※The vibrant wetland

Gahai Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Gannan like a magic mirror

Wetland Park within reach - Sangke Wetland

The Habitat of Black-necked Cranes - Guomang Wetland

Eyes of Ruoergai Wetland——Eye of Flower Lake

The Artistic Conception of the Sunset on the Long River——The First Bend of the Yellow River's Nine Twists

Green carpet with silvery light——Awancang Wetland

※Magnificent temples

Labrang Monastery, known as the "World Institute of Tibetan Studies", has the world's longest prayer corridor

The prayer wheel of Niangma Temple was successfully crowned the world's largest

"Oriental Little Switzerland" Langmusi interprets the legend of North and South Watch

Fort-style religious building Milarepa Buddha Pavilion has the halo of "the only one in Tibet"

Wache Tallinn is the permanent commemoration of the 10th Panchen Lama by the people of Hongyuan

【Itinerary Q&A】

※WHY

Q: Why?

A: My daughter graduated from elementary school this year, and a perfect graduation trip is the best reward for her. Because the epidemic is still raging around the world, you must not go abroad, so the destination can only be locked in China. I didn't plan to go too far, thinking that a three-day round trip to Huangshan would be enough, but after communicating with other parents at the graduation ceremony, I quickly changed my mind. Everyone said that this summer vacation was the most relaxing one after entering junior high school, and it would be better if I didn’t go to a farther place at this time, so I set my sights on the west of the motherland. Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu and other places are all hot spots for summer travel in recent years. After comparison, I found that the itinerary in Gannan is relatively simple, and basically does not need to spend too much time and energy to do homework in the early stage. After a rough estimate, the squeezed 7-day vacation is just right for exploring this mysterious land, so after paying attention to the weather for the next half a month, a 7-day and 6-night Gannan graduation trip is so pleasant decided.

※WHERE

Q: WHERE?

A: Same as many people’s understanding, at first I thought that Gannan = southern Gansu. After doing my homework, I realized that Gannan refers to the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu. It borders on Gansu Province and is known as "China's Little Tibet" and "Gansu's Back Garden". There are not only rich natural landscapes such as meadows and grasslands, hills and mountains, but also precious humanistic treasures such as Tibetan Buddhist temples and revolutionary historical relics. one.

Because Gannan is located at the junction of Gannan, Sichuan, and Qinghai provinces, the arrangement of the route can not only be limited to Gannan Prefecture, but also cover the neighboring Ruoergai County, Hongyuan County, Aba County of Aba Prefecture in Sichuan Province, and Guoluo County in Qinghai Province. In this sense, Gannan is the collective name for the bordering area of ​​southern Gansu, northern Sichuan and southeastern Qinghai.

※WHO

Q: WHO?

A: A family of three + mother. My mother has traveled to more than 20 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions across the country, except for a few provinces in the west. The average altitude in Gannan is about 3000 meters, and the highest altitude in our itinerary, Lianbaoye, is 4500 meters. I was a little worried that such a height would have an impact on a 70-year-old man. Looking at the situation later, Including myself, it takes almost two days to adapt to the local altitude.

※WHEN

Q: WHEN?

A: July-August is the best season for traveling in Gannan. At this time, the sun doesn't finish work until after 8 o'clock in the evening every night, and the long play time during the day makes you feel profitable instantly. In summer, the grassland is lush and green, with the blue sky and white clouds, it is difficult to think of a large area. Because our itinerary also involves mountainous areas such as Zhayana and Lianbaoyeze, the weather is also very important. Although summer vacation is the peak tourist season, it is not difficult to find a room. It can be decided one to two weeks in advance according to the weather forecast departure date.

Grassland under the blue sky and white clouds

Grassland under the clouds

In addition, the summer in Gannan is not like that in the south. The dry air makes us feel very comfortable and pleasant when we are used to the hot and humid weather. The daily temperature is maintained between 10°C and 25°C. Although the temperature difference between day and night is large, it is definitely a good place to escape the heat. Here I would like to remind everyone that since you are in a high-altitude area, the ultraviolet rays are particularly strong under direct sunlight, so you must take sun protection measures. In terms of clothing, since it is cooler in the morning and evening, especially when it is windy, you still need to bring a jacket or a thin down jacket.

※HOW

Q: HOW?

A: There are two main ways to travel in Gannan: one is to hire a local car; the other is to rent a car and drive by yourself. We are used to self-driving travel, and my mother, as a representative of group travel, also wanted to experience a different way of travel, so I chose the latter without any suspense. The road conditions in Gannan are very good, especially the national, provincial, and county roads in Gansu and Sichuan. Vehicles run smoothly on them. From the perspective of cost performance and practicality, cars are enough. The only exception we encountered was the road from Jiuzhi in Qinghai to Maqu in Gansu.

Considering that we are four people and have a lot of luggage, we chose a medium-sized SUV—Borgward BX7. The pick-up and return locations are both at Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport. The price is 2,200 yuan/6 days. Compared with other cities, car rental in Lanzhou is much more expensive, and it is best to book a week in advance during the peak season, especially for popular models such as SUVs.

This self-driving route is generally in the shape of an "8" (as shown in the figure below). The big loop line below runs clockwise, and the small loop line above runs counterclockwise. The whole journey passes through 4 states, 11 counties, and 1 city, namely Yongdeng in Gansu County, Yongjing County, Linxia County, Xiahe County, Luqu County, Diebu County, Maqu County, Zuozuo City, Ruoergai County, Hongyuan County, Aba County in Sichuan and Jiuzhi County in Qinghai, with a total journey of 2,000 kilometers. Most of the local gas stations are PetroChina, and the total fuel cost is 1165 yuan.

National highways, provincial highways, and county highways in Gannan are generally two-way, two-lane roads, with a speed limit of 70-80 km/h. Although the road conditions are generally good, don’t be careless. In many places, the herdsmen’s yaks, horses, and sheep are free-range, and there are no guardrails on both sides of the road, so they will meet them on the road from time to time. At this time, you must slow down and observe the livestock. If it is safe, proceed slowly. In addition, normal overtaking during driving must ensure a safe distance from oncoming vehicles in the opposite lane.

※WHAT

Q: WHAT?

A: Regarding the question of "what to play" in Gannan, the answer is actually very simple. Viewing + hiking + horseback riding is enough to sum it up. Most scenic spots in Gannan have plank roads, so walking along the plank road without thinking, you can capture the most beautiful scenery in the camera. Zhagana, Lianbaoyeze and Namo Canyon are ideal hiking destinations. When you have time, you must use your feet to measure these magical lands. Of course, because of the altitude, the distance and duration of hiking vary from person to person. In short, go out for fun Safety comes first. Where there are grasslands, there are horses. How can you come to the grasslands and not experience the joy of riding on horseback? In comparison, horseback riding in Ruoergai is relatively cost-effective.

Our itinerary is as follows:

Finally, I will briefly introduce the accommodation in Gannan, and give points to the 6 hotels/homestays I have stayed in for your reference:

Overall situation: There are three main options for accommodation in Gannan: hotels, homestays and grassland camps. The facilities of the hotel are relatively better, which can meet the basic needs; the homestay is mainly run by local farmers and herdsmen, and some places are supported by the government, and the conditions are relatively poor; I have never lived in a grassland camp, so I have no right to speak. The price of a standard room in peak season is basically between 200-300 yuan; grassland camps are more expensive, basically thousands of dollars, and some Internet celebrity camps even cost 2000+. Breakfast is generally relatively simple, mainly porridge + eggs + pickles, and better ones will provide milk tea and fruit. This stay was all booked on Ctrip’s official website, and there was a small episode in the middle. The hotel in Jiuzhi that I originally booked had no water supply that day. Ctrip’s customer service contacted me two days in advance to help change the booking, and refunded the price difference. Finally, I checked in smoothly. The new hotel does not affect the follow-up itinerary, and the big platform is still trustworthy.

Lanzhou Civil Aviation Guest House: Since I arrived in Lanzhou at night on the first day, the main reason for choosing Civil Aviation Guest House is its location. It is only a 3-minute drive from the airport, and it also provides free pick-up and drop-off services. Pick it up at the airport the next day The car is also very convenient, starting from here the entire Gannan itinerary could not be more ideal.

Rating: ★★★

Location: ★★★★

Comfort: ★★★

Facilities/Services: ★★★

Cost performance: ★★★

Xiahe Labrang Civil Aviation Hotel: It is a relatively good hotel in Xiahe County, and it is also the hotel I am most satisfied with and the only hotel I took pictures of during the entire trip. The interior is decorated in a Tibetan style, and the bathroom is separated from wet and dry. The key point is that we have been upgraded to a suite for free. The hotel's breakfast is relatively rich. The only downside is that there is a square in front of the hotel. You know the favorite of the aunts. In the morning, I was woken up by the rhythmic rhythm of the square dance when I was still asleep.

Rating: ★★★★

Location: ★★★★

Comfort: ★★★★

Facilities/Services: ★★★★

Cost performance: ★★★★

Hakka residence in Diebu Stone Forest: There are four small villages in Zhayana, from bottom to top are Dongwa Village, Yeri Village, Dari Village and Daiba Village. There are many B&Bs in Dongwa Village, and the choice is the largest. Even if you don’t book in advance during the peak season, you can find a place on the spot. Another advantage of living in Dongwa Village is that there are many restaurants, and you can always find something that suits your taste. Dari Village is another popular place to stay because of its relatively high altitude, overlooking the entire Zhagana. Among them, the Shilin Guest House where I live and the Diebu Gezong B&B next to it have the best view. Looking around, there is no obstruction in front (as shown in the picture below), which is the same as what you can see on the Dari viewing platform above. If you choose these two homestays, you don’t have to get up early to go to the viewing platform to grab a seat with others. You can watch the sunrise from the inn.

Back to the inn itself, the owner is a middle-aged Tibetan. He sold the hundreds of cows he raised two years ago, and the money he got was used to build this B&B. Although the expectations for this kind of homestay should not be too high, I still have to complain. There is a water heater installed in the shower room, but the hot water that comes out is pitifully small and not too hot. In the end, even taking a hot bath has become a luxury. . Apart from this, everything else is fine. The second floor is their restaurant, tried a dinner, four dishes plus a soup, the taste is not bad, the price is very fair.

Rating: ★★★

Location: ★★★★★

Comfort: ★★★

Facilities/Services: ★★★

Recommended value: ★★★

Ruoergai Tangke Wangfu Hotel: Tangke Town is also a popular place to stay, because on the Ruoergai Grassland, whether you take the clockwise loop or the counterclockwise loop, you will take this place as a stop, so the town is very lively, and the famous Yellow River Nine Quyi Bay is about a 20-minute drive from the town. After watching the sunset at First Bay, you can go back to the hotel to rest. Our hotel has an impressive name, and the actual stay is really good. Dinner and breakfast can be arranged at the restaurant on the first floor.

Rating: ★★★★

Location: ★★★★

Comfort: ★★★★

Facilities/Services: ★★★

Recommended value: ★★★

Jiuzhi Lelong Shangdu Hotel: Jiuzhi used to be the first choice for many tourists because of the famous Nianbao jade, but now it is temporarily closed because of the Nianbao jade, and there are many fewer tourists. The lotus leaf we clocked in this time belongs to the same branch of Bayan Har Mountain as Nianbaoyu, and it is the same mountain area, but Nianbaoyu is in the northwest, Lianbaoye is in the southeast, and Lianbaoye is in Sichuan Between Aba County and Qinghai Jiuzhi County, it is closer to Aba, and the drive from Jiuzhi is about 1 hour and 30 minutes. We combined our itinerary for two days before and after, and chose Jiuzhi as our accommodation. Lelong Shangdu Hotel has been renovated, and the accommodation conditions are good. There is a wonton shop next door downstairs, which is very suitable for our Shanghai stomach. Our dinner and breakfast are settled in their shop.

Rating: ★★★★

Location: ★★★★

Comfort: ★★★★

Facilities/Services: ★★★

Recommended value: ★★★

Langmusi Zhongyuan Holiday Hotel: Located on the main street of Langmusi Town, there are many restaurants around. It is a 500-meter walk from the famous Lisa restaurant. It is very convenient to eat and live. The boss is very enthusiastic, helping to carry the luggage, and even upgraded the room with a view. Although the interior decoration is simple, it is very warm, giving people the warmth of home.

Rating: ★★★★

Location: ★★★★

Comfort: ★★★★

Facilities/Services: ★★★

Recommended value: ★★★★

【Yongdeng 丨 Getting to know Gansu for the first time】

I went to the airport to pick up the car early in the morning. The "contactless" car pick-up launched by SZ Car Rental made my eyes shine. During the epidemic, this method can effectively reduce the contact of people. I would like to recommend it here. After successfully picking up the car, we set off from Yongdeng to officially embark on a trip to Gannan. Yongdeng is located in the transition zone between the Loess Plateau and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The mountains in the territory are mainly loess hills and rocky mountains, which are distributed alternately and stretch on both sides of the road.

There are few cars on this road, so I took the opportunity to be lazy and set a constant speed cruise at 80 km/h. I was leisurely lamenting that the lack of rainfall caused the mountains on both sides to have sparse vegetation and looked bare. A lot of white things were coming towards us, so we stepped on the brakes quickly and took a closer look. It turned out that a group of sheep occupied the entire road and looked for food on both sides of the road. This situation can be regarded as a wake-up call for me at the beginning of the journey-you have to keep your spirits up whenever you drive here, and you must not be careless.

As the vehicles entered Yongjing County southward, the vegetation on the mountain gradually increased.

【Yongjing丨Appetizers】

Yongjing was called "Xiqiang" in ancient times, and most of the ground was covered with loess. The Yellow River flows through the county in an "S" shape, creating the three canyon landscapes of Bingling Gorge, Liujia Gorge and Yanguo Gorge (Three Gorges of the Yellow River), and forming the three major reservoirs of Liujia Gorge, Yanguo Gorge and Bapan Gorge. Famous scenic spots in the territory include Bingling Temple Grottoes, Liujiaxia Hydropower Station and so on.

※"Separation between Wei and Wei", a scenic spot where the Yellow River and the Yellow River meet

The idiom "clear and clear" is a metaphor for clear or non-clear boundaries. In fact, it originates from a natural wonder. Near Xi'an, Shaanxi, because the water of the Jing River is clear and the water of the Wei River is turbid, when the water of the Jing River flows into the Wei River, the turbidity and turbidity do not mix with each other. Don’t think that this phenomenon is only found in Shaanxi. In fact, it can also be seen near the famous Liujiaxia Hydropower Station. The navigation is set to "Yellow River Green and Yellow Confluence Sightseeing Spot". This is the place where the Yellow River and the Tao River meet. After the two meet, they go downstream through the Liujiaxia Dam.

Because this scenic spot is not a serious scenic spot, the car can only be parked on the side of the road. When you get out of the car, you can see an open space surrounded by a circle of wire. A dirt road at the entrance leads to a pavilion not far away, which is the viewing platform. However, the view of the pavilion is blocked by trees, which is not very good.

The best view is on a protruding rock at the bottom of the pavilion, but you must be extra careful when going down. First, the slope is relatively steep, second, the road is very slippery, and third, there is no fence on the cliff, and you will never be able to recover if you fall.

Many people's first reaction when they see the two rivers is the same as mine, thinking that the muddy one is the Yellow River, and the other clear water is the Tao River. In fact, it is just the opposite. It is the Tao River that is muddy, and it is from Liujiaxia that the Yellow River begins to turn yellow.

The Tao River originates in Qinghai Province and flows through Gannan. It is the largest tributary of the upper reaches of the Yellow River. When it passed through the Longxi Loess Plateau, it was relatively turbid because it carried a lot of sediment.

What is amazing is that even if a motorboat occasionally crosses the water, the place where the blue and yellow meet seems to be frozen, and there is no change at all. The two sides adhered to the principle of "no one will attack me, I will not attack others" and maintained a balance of power, as if nothing had happened.

Tips:

1. Try to wear non-slip shoes when you go down to the viewing pavilion, and pay attention to safety when taking pictures. It is recommended to give up on rainy days.

2. Play time: about half an hour.

3. Recommended index: ★★★★★.

※Water and sky are the same color, Liujiaxia Reservoir (Liujiaxia Bridge)

The Liujiaxia Bridge has a total length of 568 meters and is the largest span bridge across the Yellow River in Northwest China. It started construction in November 2010 and was completed and opened to traffic in December 2013.

From a distance, Liujiaxia Bridge looks like a "flying rainbow" across the Yellow River, beautiful and spectacular!

The tower shape of the Liujiaxia Bridge has strong national cultural characteristics. The unique design and the unique terrain nearby make the bridge distinctive.

Liujiaxia Reservoir is located 1 km southwest of Yongjing County. The reservoir is located in a plateau gorge and is known as the "Pearl of the Plateau".

There is a special viewing platform next to the Liujiaxia Bridge. Standing on it, you can see a vast lake, and the rippling lake is lined with blue sky and white clouds.

The reservoir starts from Liujiaxia Dam in the east and reaches Binglingsi Gorge in the west. The shoreline is 55 kilometers long and the widest part of the water surface is 6 kilometers. The water area is more than 130 square kilometers and the water storage capacity is about 5.7 billion cubic meters.

The reservoir is also a necessary place to visit the Bingling Temple Grottoes. You can buy a boat ticket at the visitor center next to the Liujiaxia Dam, then take a boat upstream, pass the Three Gorges of the Yellow River, and finally go straight to the Bingling Temple Grottoes at the southwest end of the reservoir. .

Tips:

1. There is a special viewing platform next to the Liujiaxia Bridge, which can catch the bridge and the reservoir; there are also some small viewing platforms along the Zheda Highway for rest and enjoying the beautiful scenery of the reservoir.

2. Play time: about 15 minutes.

3. If you have plenty of time, it is recommended to take a boat trip to visit the Three Gorges of the Yellow River and the Bingling Temple Grottoes. The ticket purchase location is at the Visitor Center of the Bingling Temple World Cultural Heritage Tourist Area next to the Liujiaxia Dam.

4. Recommended index: ★★★★.

【Xiahe丨Meet the Grassland】

After leaving Yongjing, passing through Linxia, ​​and driving on the Wuma Expressway for a while, the mountains on both sides began to be covered with green clothes, and the surrounding colors suddenly brightened. We officially entered Xiahe County in Gannan Prefecture, Gannan, here we come!

Xiahe is located on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and in the northwest of Gannan Prefecture. It is named after the Daxia River in its territory. Known as "Little Tibet", Xiahe is not only a "Grand View Garden" of simple and mysterious Tibetan Buddhist culture, but also has colorful and charming natural scenery. Here, the grassland scenery is picturesque, the pine waves in the forest are remote, the plateau lakes are clear and deep, and the folk culture is colorful. Famous scenic spots in the territory include Dazong Lake, Labrang Monastery, Sangke Grassland, Ganga Grassland, Baishiya, Bajiao City Ruins, etc.

※Praying at the shore of Dazong Lake

Dazong Lake is located about 17 kilometers northeast of Xiahe County, and is revered as a "divine lake" by the local people. Every June, there is an endless stream of pilgrims from all over the world, who come here to visit the lake, make pilgrimages, and insert arrows.

The entrance of the scenic spot is located on the hillside, and you can see the holy lake surrounded by mountains from a distance. It takes about 1.5 kilometers to walk from the entrance to the holy lake. There is a simple ticket office at the entrance, free for the elderly over 70 years old and children under 1.2 meters, and 30 yuan per person for adults.

The altitude of Dazong Lake is about 3,100 meters. It takes a long uphill winding road from Provincial Highway 312 to the scenic spot. For tourists who have just arrived from the plains and have not yet adapted, they will more or less suffer from altitude sickness. Our family The old and the young didn't finish the road around the lake in the end.

Since the entrance is at a high place, you must go down to the main road below to get to the lakeside. If you want to save effort, you can take the steps. Although it is a shortcut, the slope is a bit steep. It is easy to go down and difficult to go up, and people will be more panting. It is recommended that you take a few more steps and slowly go down along the main road. After the game, you can walk up slowly. A process of adaptation, high reaction will not be too strong.

The main road is painted in colorful colors, and my daughter calls it "Rainbow Avenue", which feels like a "celestial road" leading to the holy lake.

There is an open land near the lake, where Manidui and arrow-inserting platforms are built for Tibetans to carry out religious activities, surrounded by prayer flags.

Legend has it that there were only a few families here at the beginning, and it was because of the existence and protection of this sacred lake that the herdsmen here thrived, their livestock prospered, and their lives were rich and happy.

The custom of religious believers turning around the lake is as follows: men and women hold prayer wheels in their hands, recite scriptures, circle the lake three times in a clockwise direction, then throw vases, sacrifice to the lake, in order to pray for the blessing of the gods, pray for a good harvest of grains, and the prosperity of people and animals. Two prosperity.

The holy lake is full of religious atmosphere, and even the scattered stones in the grass on the roadside are painted, as if everything has spirituality.

It is about 2 kilometers around Dazong Lake. The left bank of the lake is gentle and the road is relatively smooth. If you have limited physical strength or high resistance, you can choose to walk along the left bank trail, which is relatively easy.

Turning to the right side of the lake, the mountain becomes steeper, and the road becomes a faintly visible up and down path, with bushes and branches criss-crossing.

According to the custom, we started to turn around the lake in a clockwise direction. Along the way, with the different light, shadow and angle, Dazong Lake is constantly changing its color.

The ecology near Shenhu Lake is maintained quite well, and wild ducks can be seen playing in the water from time to time.

After carefully reading the introduction of the display boards by the lake, I have a deeper understanding of the customs of this place. The local people's worship of Shenhu Lake is essentially their belief in the "Lu" god in the lake.

Tibetans believe that some unexplainable natural phenomena in reality, such as floods, droughts, hail, and plagues, are all manifestations of the lake god "Lu". The god "Lu" is related to hailstorms and floods, and is deeply revered and worshiped by religious believers.

Here I also want to remind everyone not to wash hands, throw debris, or pick flower branches in the lake, respect local customs, and travel in a civilized manner.

Even if you stop and go all the way, you can quickly reach the farthest end of the lake, which is also full of prayer flags. A section of wooden plank road across the lake connects the left and right trails. If you continue to walk forward, you will reach the right bank of the lake. There will be climbing, so everyone should walk slowly.

In the distance there are mountains and mountains, Dazong Lake is surrounded by mountains and forests, away from the outside world, it is more quiet.

There is a section of the path on the right that is completely surrounded by prayer flags, and when the wind blows, the surroundings whistling. Prayer flags are a unique scenery in Tibetan areas. There are scriptures and some auspicious patterns printed on the flags. People in Tibetan areas believe that every time the wind blows the prayer flags, it is a chanting and a prayer to the gods. The five-color prayer flags around us are called five-color prayer flags, and their colors and arrangement are fixed—blue, white, red, green, and yellow. They cannot be innovated at will. Each color has a meaning: the top is the blue flag, It symbolizes the blue sky; under the blue streamer is a white streamer, representing white clouds; under the white streamer is a red streamer, which symbolizes flames; under the red streamer is a green streamer, representing green water; the bottom streamer is yellow, It symbolizes loess or earth.

At the end of the lake tour, we returned to the cement-repaired platform at the starting point, where pilgrims made offerings to the holy lake. It is said that most of the sacrifices are highland barley, which are wrapped in long round cloth and thrown into the lake. If you come here in June, there will be densely packed long round cloth floating everywhere in the lake. Unfortunately, we have not seen such a grand occasion.

Tips:

1. Scenic spots are charged, 30 yuan per person for adults, free for the elderly over 70 years old and children under 1.2 meters.

2. It is recommended to turn the lake clockwise according to local customs, so that you can appreciate the holy lake from different angles.

3. Playing time: about 1.5 hours including the transfer to the lake.

4. Recommended index: ★★★★.

※The Buddha Hall of Labrang Monastery

Labrang Monastery is one of the six major monasteries of the Gelug Sect (Yellow Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also the most famous Tibetan Secret Academy in the world. It is known as the "World Tibetan Institute". It has the most complete Tibetan Buddhist teaching in China system.

The temple is large in scale, covering a total area of ​​866,000 square meters, with a construction area of ​​more than 400,000 square meters. There are more than 90 main halls, including six colleges, 16 Buddhist halls, 18 Angqian (big living Buddha palaces), monk houses And the pulpit, the law garden, the printing house, the pagoda, etc., form a group of magnificent buildings with Tibetan characteristics, with no less than 10,000 houses.

The Labrang Monastery scenic area is open, without tickets, tourists can walk around at will. The general way to visit Labrang Monastery is to go around the monastery clockwise. This is also a pilgrimage ceremony of Tibetan Buddhism. When you see the main halls scattered in the building complex during the tour, you can go in and visit. There are only two areas in the entire Labrang Monastery, one is the Sutra Hall and four other main Buddhist halls, and the fee is 40 yuan; the other is the Gongtang Pagoda, which costs 20 yuan to climb.

Coming out of the Ximen parking lot, the first thing that catches your eyes is the super-long prayer-turning corridor of Labrang Monastery. This corridor is rare in the world. There are 1,813 prayer wheels in total, including 18 large prayer wheels. The turning corridor surrounds the entire temple, stretching for 2.95 kilometers, which is spectacular. It takes at least an hour to go through each prayer wheel. You can turn clockwise around here to accumulate merit and pray for relatives and friends.

Gongtang Pagoda is a landmark building of Labrang Monastery, located in the southwest corner of Labrang Monastery, because it is very close to the west gate, so our visit starts from Gongtang Pagoda. Gongtang Pagoda, formerly known as the current Jiantuo Shwedagon Pagoda, is well-known at home and abroad for the statue of the Buddha of Infinite Light (Amitabha) invited from Nepal in the pagoda. The top of the pagoda is golden yellow, especially beautiful and dazzling in the sun. Gongtang Pagoda not only has a dazzling appearance, but also has an exquisite structure inside. In the center of the pagoda are four inter-connected Buddhist halls on the second floor, enshrining the Tangcang pagoda or wood-carving gold-plated statues, and storing more than 20,000 volumes of Buddhist scriptures;

Standing on the top of the pagoda, you can have a panoramic view of the entire Labrang Monastery complex, which is the best place to take a panoramic view of Labrang Monastery.

The pagoda is five stories high and consists of three parts: the tower brake, the tower bottle and the tower base. The Tasha is a dazzling sun, moon, and stars. The tower vase is a fine copper embossed gilt eight Bodhisattvas. The tower base is a three-story and four-corner building decorated with glazed tiles.

Looking from the Gongtang Pagoda to the southwest corner, an ancient wooden bridge spans the Xiahe River, crosses the bridge and goes up the mountain, and you can enjoy the panoramic view of the Labrang Monastery even standing on the Sun Buddha Terrace.

After visiting the Gongtang Pagoda, we continued to walk from west to east along the east-west central axis to the core area of ​​Labrang Monastery. On both sides of the road are monk houses made of adobe, just like the courtyard houses of ordinary residents, with house numbers coded on each door frame. After walking about 500 meters, turn left according to the sign, and you will see an empty square not far away. On the left side of the entrance of the square is the cement "Labrang Monastery" archway, and on the right side is a row of small bungalows. The wooden sign of "Labrang Monastery Management Committee", here you can invite a free guide to lead the tour.

Wensi College is the center of Labrang Monastery, also known as the Great Sutra Hall. There are hundreds of houses in the front hall, front courtyard, main hall and back hall, covering an area of ​​more than ten acres. It is a mixture of Tibetan style and ancient palace style. structure. Looking up, you can see that there are gilt copper tiles, copper goats, Dharma wheels, banners, vases and other decorations on the top. The porch hangs white curtains with lion heads and yin and yang double deer with their heads up.

When we went there, the gate of the front hall was under construction and we couldn’t directly enter it. After we came back, we found out after reading the news that the Labrang Monastery was undergoing renovations to welcome the arrival of the 11th Panchen Lama in late July. There was a gap of more than ten days between us and the Panchen Lama's visit to Labrang Monastery. It is a pity that we did not have the chance to see the real face of the Living Buddha. Like Labrang Monastery, the 11th Panchen Lama also belongs to the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. During his trip to Gannan, the master specially arranged to hold a Dharma meeting here, which shows the lofty status of Labrang Monastery in Tibetan Buddhism.

We entered the main hall of the Great Sutra Hall through the side door. This is the place where the monks of the whole temple gather to chant sutras, and it is also the most important Buddhist hall in the entire Labrang Monastery. The content of the study of the monks is mainly the Sutra, emphasizing the five major treatises written by Indian Buddhist scholars ("Shiliang Lun", "Prajna Lun", "Madhyamika Lun", "Gushe Lun", "Precepts and Disciplines") ").

When the scripture hall of Wensi College was first built, there were only 80 pillars. In 1772, it was expanded to 140 pillars by the second Jiamuyang, which can accommodate 3000 monks to chant scriptures at the same time.

Leaving the amazing Wensi College, head south into a small courtyard, where is Shou'an Temple, also known as the Lion's Roar Buddha Hall, where the incarnation Buddha statue of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect, is enshrined. Because the lion is the king of beasts, comparing the lion's roar to Buddhism can get rid of all kinds of heresies and distractions. During his lifetime, Master Tsongkhapa vigorously rectified the behavior of believers, carried forward the teachings, and made indelible contributions to the establishment and development of the Yellow Sect.

The hall has four floors, all with red outer walls, and curtains are hung on each window.

A black cow-hair curtain is also hung in front of the main hall, with colorful pictures of yin and yang and double deer painted on it.

Above the entrance of the Buddhist hall, there is a plaque of "Shou'an Temple" bestowed by Emperor Jiaqing, and a tall and solemn gilt-bronze lion roaring Buddha statue is enshrined in the center of the hall. According to reports, this lion roaring Buddha statue was transported from Zhangjiakou, Hebei.

Further inside is the Manjusri Bodhisattva Buddha Hall. There are many exquisite murals in the hall, including Buddha Jataka, Buddhist scripture stories, Buddha statues, historical figures, medical illustrations, etc., which are brightly colored and full of life. There is also the famous Thangka painting, painted on cloth tents, which is very delicate.

From the small courtyard where the Lion Roaring Buddha Hall and the Manjusri Bodhisattva Buddha Hall are located, we were led by the explaining monks into another courtyard, where there is the only Buddhist hall in Labrang Monastery that can be photographed inside - the Butter Flower Hall. Ghee is extracted from milk. It is said that 20 kilograms of milk can extract one catty of ghee. Ghee flowers are made from this milk essence.

It is said that when Princess Wencheng entered Tibet more than 1,000 years ago, she brought a Buddha statue of Sakyamuni and enshrined it in the Jokhang Temple. According to Buddhist etiquette, offerings in front of Buddha statues need to be offered with flowers. It was the twelfth lunar month of winter, where can I find flowers? Therefore, it can only be carved into the shape of flowers with ghee and enshrined in front of the Buddha statue. Later, butter flower became a special folk art handed down.

The melting temperature of ghee is 25°C, while the normal body temperature of the human body is 37°C. How to ensure that the ghee does not melt when pinching the ghee flower? The production of butter flowers in Labrang Monastery is generally done in winter—from November to the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in the new year—three months. When making it, first make pots of ice water with ice cubes from the nearby Xiahe River. The monks who made it should soak their hands in the ice water to reduce the temperature of their fingers to 0°C. At the same time, the temperature of the main hall should also be kept at Start production at around 0°C. Whenever you feel the temperature of your hands rise, soak them in ice water again. It can be said that the amazing and beautiful butter flower was born in pain and persistence.

All kinds of Buddha statues, flowers, golden dragons spit out pistils, auspicious clouds, and lotuses growing step by step are all displayed in front of the world in the skillful carving. The carvings are delicate and exquisite, the expressions are lifelike, and the carvings are complicated and exquisite... It can no longer be described in words and words.

Next to the Butter Flower Hall is the Labrang Monastery Museum. The cultural relics displayed in it bear and witness the history of the Labrang Monastery for more than 400 years. From the small slope on the right side of the Labrang Monastery Museum, facing you stands the famous Dajinwa Temple, also known as Maitreya Buddha Hall, which is the best preserved and most complete Buddhist hall in Labrang Monastery.

The Dajin Tile Hall is built at the highest point of Labrang Monastery, and the resplendent eaves can be seen from a distance, layer upon layer, majestic and majestic.

There are golden peach-shaped plaques hanging on the wall of the top floor, golden copper tiles on the roof, and golden gilt copper lions, copper dragons, vases and other ornaments on the roof ridge, which look golden from a distance.

Entering the courtyard, there is a tall cypress tree on the left, vigorous, upright, and gloomy, covering most of the courtyard. Facing you is the main hall of Maitreya Buddha. The outer wall is red, and a black cow-hair curtain is hung outside the door of the hall. There are two prayer wheels on each side of the hall corridor. There are monks and believers kneeling in the hall corridor. Looking up, the plaque of "Shouxi Temple" written in Manchu, Tibetan, Han and Mongolian is hung on the top of the main hall. Entering the hall, a huge gilt-bronze Maitreya Buddha statue is enshrined in the center, with a solemn and natural expression and an elegant demeanor. On both sides are enshrined gilt-bronze eight Bodhisattva Buddha statues, which are beautiful in shape and have different expressions. What is especially precious is that there is a "Kanjur" written in gold juice in the hall, which can be described as a rare treasure.

Walking out of the Maitreya Hall, the Sakyamuni Buddha Hall in the west is modeled on the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, with a gold-plated copper tile roof, commonly known as the "Little Gold Tile Temple", but this hall is not included in our visit.

Although the whole tour time is not long, we still have a general understanding of Labrang Monastery through the explanation of the little master in the monastery. The status of this Tibetan-style monastery in Tibetan Buddhism is equivalent to that of Tsinghua University and Peking University in our secular universities, and it is worth spending half a day savoring it carefully.

Tips:

1. There is no charge for scenic spots, only Wensi College (Dajing Hall) and Gongtang Pagoda charge. Wensi College is a package ticket, 40 yuan/person for adults, including Wensi College + Lion Roaring Buddha Hall + Manjusri Bodhisattva Buddha Hall + Butter Flower Hall + Dajinwa Temple; Gongtang Pagoda is charged separately, 20 yuan/person for adults.

2. The location to shoot the panorama of Labrang Monastery is above the Buddha-sun Terrace on the other side of the Xia River, and the Gongtang Pagoda is the second.

3. At the docent appointment office on the right side of the square, you can ask the docent to guide you for free. Unless you have a particularly in-depth study of Tibetan Buddhism, it is generally recommended to follow the guide to visit.

4. Without the permission of the monks, please do not take pictures or make loud noises in the hall.

5. Play time: about 3-4 hours.

6. Recommendation index: ★★★★★.

※The tranquility of the Ganga Grassland

There is a prairie in the north and south of Xiahe. The Ganga Grassland is located 30 kilometers northwest of Xiahe County, and the Sangke Grassland is in the south. The vastness and beauty are their common labels. Compared with the Sangke Grassland, the Ganga Grassland does not have an overly commercial flavor, so it is more natural and tranquil.

Surrounded by mountains, the Ganga Grassland is a typical plateau grassland with an average altitude of over 3,000 meters. It is also an ideal natural pasture. It is one of the main animal husbandry bases in Gannan Prefecture.

The most abundant species on the Ganjia grassland is the Ganjia Tibetan sheep. The Ganjia Tibetan sheep is not only a landscape on the grassland, but also a source of income for the herdsmen here.

On the way from Xiahe County to Ganga Grassland along National Highway 316, you will pass through a winding and winding mountain road. There is a viewing platform with an excellent view in the middle - Nuori Langka Viewing Platform, 3397 meters above sea level. From here You can overlook the whole Ganga Grassland and the whole picture of Baishi Cliff in the distance.

At the Nuorilangka Observation Deck, you can only see the blue sky, white clouds and grassland in one piece, where you can experience the vastness and tranquility of the grassland.

The grassland in summer is verdant and green, like a natural green carpet, with flowers in full bloom. The Yangqu River and the Yangla River meander and flow, like a white Hada floating on the grassland.

From the moment I stood on the Nuorilangka viewing platform, the camera in my hand never stopped. In a short while, countless standard computer desktop pictures were harvested in the memory card.

The undulating hillside reaches directly to the sky, and the eyes are full of emerald green; Tibetan sheep are dotted like white pearls, and the customs of the grassland are all in the eyes.

From the Nuorilangka viewing platform, go down the mountain along the Panshan Highway, and continue to explore the secret places in the distance, where there are Baishiya and Bajiaocheng.

The straight road divides the grassland into two halves. It looks like a streamer on the green carpet from a height, which is so beautiful! On both sides of the road, Tibetan-style exclusive small courtyards are scattered in a patchwork manner. If there is no road leading to the outside world, this place is absolutely isolated from the world.

Tips:

1. The best lookout point in the Ganga Grassland is at the Nuorilangka Observation Deck. I saw someone say that there will be a parking fee. I arrived around 7 pm and there is no charge.

2. Try not to enter the grassland surrounded by barbed wire, it is all private land.

3. Play time: about half an hour.

4. Recommendation index: ★★★★★.

※Sunset at Shiraishi Cliff

At the end of the Ganjia Grassland, there is a huge cliff that towers into the sky and stretches for more than ten kilometers - Baishiya. It is like a barrier guarding the Ganga Grassland below, not only like the Great Wall in "A Song of Ice and Fire", but also like the remote and mysterious Middle-earth world in "The Lord of the Rings".

The boundless grassland is suddenly separated by steep rocky cliffs. As the sun sets, the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkles the entire mountain and grassland, adding a bit of psychedelic color.

Navigate and enter "Xiahe Ganga's Stone Secret Realm", and you will have unexpected gains. This is not only a place to stay, but also an excellent viewing spot, where you can catch the entire Baishiya cliff, the villages below, and the rapeseed fields in the distance.

At this time, the sun was setting and everything was quiet in the soft orange light except for the whistling wind.

To the west of the bottom of Baishiya, there is a natural karst cave that can accommodate three or four people. The cave has gurgling water and winding paths. It is a good place for those who want to explore and seek excitement.

Entering the cave must be led by a local lama, and you must wear a headlamp or flashlight. Since some places need to crawl to pass, try not to wear too good clothes and bring less things.

Tips:

1. The best lookout point of Baishiya is in the "Stone Secret Realm of Xiahe Ganga". Do not turn right when you arrive at Ganga Town in the west section of National Highway 316. Just drive straight ahead. This road is relatively narrow and can only accommodate a car. Cars pass, pay attention to avoiding when meeting cars.

2. If you don’t plan to visit the Baishiya Karst Cave, it is recommended to go to Baishiya when the sun is about to set. The red sunset afterglow hits the white stone wall, which will definitely kill countless films. After visiting Baishiya, you can take the regular route and return clockwise to Ganga Town. You will pass Bajiao City on the way, so you can take a look if you have time.

3. Play time: about 1 hour for Baishiya, about half an hour for Bajiao City.

4. Recommendation index: ★★★★★.

※The Harmony of Sanke Wetland

Sangke Wetland Park is located 10 kilometers southwest of Xiahe County, and it is the only place to go to Sangke Grassland. The wetland is next to the road, and a wooden plank road is built along the wetland, with many viewing platforms set up in the middle, so that you can enjoy the wetland from different angles.

The wetland is surrounded by mountains, and the Daxia River flows slowly from south to north, nourishing everything nearby.

The scenery of the vast grassland wetland is charming: horses are enjoying the fertile water grass, water birds are chasing and playing in the river, the rolling alpine grassland is in the distance, and the sky, clouds and mountains reflected in the river are nearby.

Faced with this situation, people can't help but blend into this picturesque scenery, everything is so harmonious.

Tips:

1. Sangke Wetland Park is free. The park is built with plank roads, which can be visited along the plank roads. The parking lot is across the road, and the fee is 5 yuan per time.

2. It is recommended to take more viewing platforms to appreciate the wetland from different angles.

3. Play time: about half an hour.

4. Recommended index: ★★★★.

※The green carpet of Sangke Grassland

Sangke Grassland is located 15 kilometers south of Xiahe County. It is part of the Dajiutan (between "Paoma Beach") grassland in Sangke Township.

Surrounded by mountains, it is open and flat in the middle, with lush water and grass. It has always been a natural pasture for the Tibetan people. In addition, it is also the place where the famous hero King Gesar sacrificed to cast gods and became king by racing horses. In Tibetan, the smoke festival is called mulberry fire, and the smoke sacrifice is called sang sang, so this place is called Sangke (the area of ​​sang sang).

There are rolling hills, gurgling water, and open fields on the grassland. In summer, the grassland is as green as a carpet, flowers of various colors compete with each other, and cattle and sheep flock under the blue sky and white clouds, creating a natural pastoral scenery.

There are several Tibetan-style tent reception stations in the Sangke Grassland, which not only provide tourists with the opportunity to taste the special flavors of Tibetan areas such as fresh milk tea, tsampa, Tibetan bags, and hand-caught lamb, but also prepare horse riding, yak riding, shooting, Grassland tourism projects such as bonfire parties.

Tourists can truly return to nature here and fully appreciate the unique nomadic life style of the Tibetan people.

National Highway 316 passes through the middle of the Sangke Grassland, and both sides of the highway are full of green. Under the premise of ensuring safety, as long as you park on the side of the road, you can have a close contact with the grassland at any time.

Tips:

1. The commercial atmosphere of Sangke Grassland is much stronger than that of Ganga Grassland. There are many reception stations along the way, where you can ride horses and taste various Tibetan delicacies.

2. Try not to enter the grassland surrounded by barbed wire, it is all private land.

3. Playing time: about 1-2 hours.

4. Recommended index: ★★★★.

【Luqu丨Impression Wetland】

Leaving Sangke Grassland, we enter Luqu County, which is located in the southwest of Gannan Prefecture and is another county named after a river in Gannan. Luqu is the Tibetan pronunciation of Taohe. In Tibetan, "Lu" means dragon, and "qu" means river, meaning "Shenlong River". This is the common birthplace of the Bailong River in the Yangtze River system and the Tao River in the Yellow River system. The mountains are beautiful because of the water, and the water is more spiritual because of the mountains. Therefore, this land of outstanding people is born.

The big characters "Hometown of Guozhuang in China" on the mountains on both sides of the road are particularly eye-catching. Guozhuang dance is one of the three major Tibetan folk dances. It is widely spread and mainly distributed in Tibet, Yunnan, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan and other Tibetan communities. The area is a kind of traditional folk culture and leisure and entertainment popular among Tibetan people. More and more people realize Luqu's side besides religion and nature through Guozhuang dance.

The main scenic spots in Luqu include Langmusi Temple, Zecha Stone Forest, Gahai Lake, Guomang Wetland, etc.

※Wings ready to fly, cranes in Guomang Wetland

Guomang Wetland is 3,562 meters above sea level. It is the birthplace of the Tao River and the source of water conservation. It is of great significance in the ecological conservation and water source protection of the Yellow River Basin.

In order to protect the environment, it is necessary to walk a section of wooden plank road to the viewing platform in the middle of the wetland. The total length of the plank road is about 1.5 kilometers.

Walking along the plank road, the scenery on both sides is equally attractive. Looking around, the sky is high and the clouds are low, and the distant mountains at the end of the field of vision seem to be integrated with the white clouds. Although the hot sun brings a bright grassland, it also puts forward higher requirements for sun protection.

With disheveled hair, casual and chic hands in pockets, and an open field, I really like this style!

The small flowers all over the mountains and plains are blooming in full bloom, and it is difficult for you to resist the temptation to take photos with them. At this moment, please close your eyes and feel the wonderful breath from the summer grassland with your heart.

Guomang Wetland is the place where black-necked cranes inhabit in winter. There are statues of black-necked cranes specially built on the viewing platform at the end of the plank road. Black-necked cranes are endangered first-class protected animals. They are the only cranes that live on plateaus. They can fly to an altitude of 10,000 meters and fly over the Himalayas. They can be said to be extreme athletes in the animal world.

The viewpoint of the viewing platform is condescending, and the rivers in the wetland in the distance are criss-crossing and turning around. They flow quietly, flowing into the Tao River like capillaries, and finally rushing to the embrace of the mother of the Yellow River.

The small bridges over the river, the prayer flags fluttering in the wind, the dotted houses along the river, and the smoke from the kitchen from time to time, all of these make the originally monotonous grassland wetland full of vitality.

According to the data, the famous Tang-Fan Ancient Road, Ancient Tea-Horse Road and Silk Road all passed through here. On the way back, looking at the plank road in front of me, I suddenly felt that time and space were intertwined. I seemed to see caravans passing by one after another. Like many small rivers flowing through this grassland, they finally merged into the rolling river of the imperial capital. In the crowd.

Tips:

1. Guomang Wetland is free. There is a plank road from the parking lot to the viewing platform. The total length of the plank road is about 1.5 kilometers. The altitude here is more than 3,500 meters. It is recommended to walk slowly.

2. Play time: about 1 hour.

3. Recommended index: ★★★★.

※The blue magic mirror, the reflection of Gahai Lake

On the Gahai Grassland at an altitude of 3,400 meters in Luqu County, there is a rippling lake under the open sky. She is Gahai Lake, known as a bright pearl on the plateau.

Gahai Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Gannan Prefecture. It covers an area of ​​more than 10,000 mu in the wet season and more than 7,000 mu in the dry season. The deepest water is about 5 meters. In 1982, Gahai Lake was listed as a wetland migratory bird protection area by Gansu Province, and it was listed as a national nature reserve by the State Council in 1999.

Gahai Lake is rich in water and grass, and a large swamp is formed around the lake. The moss, ferns, plum algae and other plants growing in the swamp and meadow provide a wide foraging point and habitat space for birds. Many rare birds that migrate from south to north settle and breed here. Rare birds such as black-necked cranes and swans are all over the grassy beach by the lake.

The part of Gahai Lake developed as a scenic spot is located on the north side of the lake. Although the lake can be seen from other places, it is difficult to get close and the landscape is average. From the gate of the scenic spot to the lakeside plank road, you need to take a scenic sightseeing bus. After that, you can walk along the plank road to the lake from both left and right directions, walk along the lake and then return from the other side. The whole play time is about 1- 2 hours.

At the end of the plank road on both sides, there are two-story buildings facing the lake, with observation decks on the roof.

From June to September every year, wild flowers of various shapes and colors are blooming by the lake, and yaks and sheep are leisurely chewing the delicious green grass. This is the most beautiful time in Gahai and the best season for bird watching.

On a sunny day, Gahai Lake is even more beautiful. Looking from a distance near the lake, she is like a sapphire inlaid on the top of the plateau, and like a bright mirror opened by a beautiful woman in the morning light, sparkling and shining under the sunlight.

Approaching her, you will see the green peaks and green grass, the blue sky and white clouds reflected in the lake layer by layer, showing every detail.

Climb to an observatory and overlook the vast expanse of green Gahai Lake. Compared with many famous Lishui lakes in the mainland, the lofty Gahai Lake looks extraordinarily pure, without a trace of artificial decoration and carving, without the hustle and bustle of the city.

Tibetan herdsmen who have lived in the Gahai Grassland for generations believe in Buddhism and adhere to the creed of not killing animals. They regard the presence of rare birds as auspicious, especially the cranes as the incarnation of gods, a symbol of auspiciousness and beauty, and never disturb or harm them. As a result, in this blessed pure land, butterflies of all colors dance lightly and compete with flowers; birds of all kinds fly up and down, playing and singing. At this time, Gahai Lake is colorful, combining movement and stillness, which is a simple and elegant picture of the unity of man and nature.

Nowadays, people who have lived in the city for a long time are like migratory birds. Every summer, they travel thousands of miles here for sightseeing, put themselves in this dreamlike fairyland, and experience the wonderful feeling of returning to nature.

Tips:

1. Gahai Lake will start to charge at the end of June 2021. Tickets are 50 yuan per person, and the elderly over 70 years old and children under 1.2 meters are free of charge; from the gate of the scenic spot to the lakeside plank road, you need to take the sightseeing bus of the scenic spot. There is no discount for the ticket, and everyone have to buy. There is a plank road built near the lake in the scenic area. The plank road is 3-4 kilometers long. There is a watchtower at the left and right ends, and a two-story viewing platform in the middle.

2. The weather is very important to watch the lake. Sunny days and rainy days are two completely different experiences. If you are traveling by car, it is recommended to arrange the itinerary according to the weather conditions.

3. Play time: about 2 hours.

4. Recommendation index: ★★★★★.

【Zhayana 丨 Wonderland on Earth】

Diebu County was called "Diezhou" in ancient times, which means "thumb" in Tibetan. In this place, which is known as the "opening" of the mountain god, there is a secret place surrounded by mountains - Zhayana. "Zhayana" is Tibetan, meaning "stone box". The terrain here is not only like a huge palace, but also like a complete ancient city built by natural rock walls.

Although this fairyland was hailed as the birthplace of Adam and Eve by the famous traveler Joseph Locke nearly a hundred years ago, it is still a virgin land.

It was rated as the fourth place among the "Top Ten Unknown Mountains in China" by China National Geographic, and was also rated as "one of the 50 outdoor paradises in the world" by the authoritative American travel magazine.

Here you can watch the work and life of the Tibetans, and feel the simplicity and tranquility of the original Tibetan village.

During the two days, Zhagana in our eyes was multi-faceted. It not only has the enthusiasm when bathed in the sun, but also the beauty under the rain; and our experience is also rich and colorful, not only the joy of encountering the Milky Way , There is also the regret of missing the sunrise. Zhagana's many changes are precisely her most attractive place.

Zagana bathed in sunlight

Zhagana in the lights

Zhagana soaked in rain

To the north of Zhayana is the majestic, majestic, and radiant Guanggai Mountain, which was called "Shijing Mountain" in ancient times and was named for the gray-white rocks that reflect light easily.

In the east, there are towering peaks, standing thousands of feet on the wall, with different shapes, some soaring into the sky, and some surrounded by clouds and mist. Being in the peak forest, people have to sigh the ingenious workmanship of the Creator.

In the southeast, two stone peaks rise up from the ground and stand side by side, forming a stone gate to guard Zhayana.

Shimen is called a line of sky, and the scenic road built just passes through the middle of Shimen.

There are four major villages in Zhagana like a paradise—Dongwa Village built around Lasang Temple, Yeri Village surrounded by rapeseed flowers, Dari Village where you can enjoy the most beautiful sunrise, and Daiba Village with the highest altitude. The four major villages from bottom to top are Dongwa Village, Yeri Village, Dari Village and Daiba Village. There is a winding road connecting the four villages.

Driving in from the entrance of the village, the first thing you arrive at is the largest village in Zhayana - Dongwa Village. There is a big stone here called Dashimen. The hillside next to Dashimen is very suitable for shooting upwards. The village is built along the mountain and surrounded by cliffs. beautiful view.

Dongwa Village has the largest population and is also a good place for accommodation and dining. You can arrange accommodation at the farmhouse here, and then walk or drive to several higher villages. It takes about 1 hour to walk to the high place.

The highest point of Dongwa Village is the Lasang Temple, which was built in 1645. The temple is located at the foot of Zhayana North Mountain. The holy white pagoda, the saffron wooden frame, the golden temple roof, and the colorful corridors… With a history of more than 300 years, it is the spiritual sustenance of more than 2,500 believers in seven natural villages. It is disturbed by people every day, but it has always seemed untouched by the world, which makes people feel awe.

Going up from Dongwa Village, Yeri Village is immediately followed by Yeri Village, which will be surrounded by rapeseed flowers every July. There is also a house in Yeri Village where Locke lived for more than a year, but now he can only visit it outside.

On the hillside is an open highland barley field. You can often see Tibetan families busy working in the fields. This scene is safe and simple.

Zhagana has two viewing platforms, Shimen viewing platform and Dari viewing platform. The Shimen Observation Deck is located near Yeri Village. Although the viewing angle here is not as high as that of Dari, it can still take beautiful photos with rapeseed flowers in the foreground.

There is also a very good small scenic spot near Yeri Village-Runwu Scenic Spot. In the deep canyon, walk 2 kilometers along the built plank road, and you will have the opportunity to see the beautiful waterfall. Because it is not difficult, it is very easy. It is suitable for the whole family of young and old to travel together.

Continue to go up, and after passing Dari Village, there is a viewing platform with a wide view, which is the Dari viewing platform. This is the most suitable place to watch the sunrise. Not only can you overlook the entire valley, but you can also see the most beautiful sunrise angle.

Climb up to the viewing platform, and you can have a panoramic view of the entire village below and the fantastic rock wall behind. All the houses are old wooden roofs and earthen wall buildings, which look simple and serene, forming a beautiful landscape under the wrapping of the cliff. Beautiful scroll.

After shooting the panorama, you can descend and return. Due to the relatively remote terrain, there are very few scenery to see in Daiba Village, so you don't have to go.

Zhayana has a fairy beach that surprises you at a glance. The fairy beach is a wide meadow under the Zhayana mountain peak, which echoes the Dari viewing platform and can be recognized at a glance on the Dari viewing platform.

Fairy Beach in summer is full of green grass, blooming flowers, surrounded by green trees, especially the green in the rain, which is difficult to adjust on the painter's palette, but as long as you have seen this watery green, It is hard to forget.

Fairy Beach also has a large viewing platform, from which you can have a panoramic view of the entire Zhagana peaks and four villages from another angle, and it is the best place for Zhagana to watch the sunset.

Overlapping mountains, vertical and horizontal canyons, farmland, rivers, dwelling houses, temples and the surrounding forests and grasslands set off each other, and farming alternates with forest and grass.

Zooming in, the three major villages of Yeri, Dari and Daiba are scattered on the opposite hillside from bottom to top, and the high mountain ridge behind is shrouded in clouds and mist, which is extremely magical.

If you have enough time, you can walk 1.5 kilometers from Fairy Beach to Fairy Lake. Fairy Lake is hidden deeper in Zhagana. The area is not very large, only tens of square meters. The lake is clear and calm. There is a plank road built from Fairy Beach to Fairy Lake, and those who are interested can go to find out.

There is a large area of ​​terraced fields at the foot of the mountain on the east side of Dongwa Village. In summer, Jiahe spouts emerald green. From a distance, it looks like rows of green waves are coming from the mountains. I believe it will be more beautiful in the harvest season.

It is about 1.5 kilometers from the foot of the mountain to Fairy Beach. There are two ways to get there. One is to climb up the steps along the plank road from the foot of the mountain, or ride a horse along the path beside the plank road; the other is to take a scenic battery car and tell the driver in advance Well, get off at the "plank road" halfway.

The end point of the battery car in the scenic spot is located near the first line of sky in the back mountain of Zhagana, which is the famous Zhagana Negana Dawa Shenshan Park. There is a two-day hiking route in the park, which leads to the inaccessible stone forest, Guanggai Mountain and Bao Naxi Ranch. The scenery along the route is pristine and beautiful, but this route is only suitable for outdoor enthusiasts, and one night of camping is required. For a short distance, you can try to walk or ride a horse to the area around Shenwang Temple and the small waterfall. There is a place to rent horses when you get off the battery car. The round trip between Stone Forest and Guanggai Mountain is about 350-500 yuan/horse.

Going down the mountain from the plank road, I couldn’t help but scan Zhayana again when I was approaching the foot of the mountain. In two days, these beautiful pictures of peerless Tibetan villages have been deeply engraved in my mind until It still lingers today. Goodbye, Zagana! If there is a destiny, we will meet again!

Tips:

1. Going to Zhagana usually comes from the direction of Langmusi. This mountain road is winding and takes about 2 hours. Pay attention to driving safety. At present (early July 2021) there is no charge for the scenic spot, but you need to purchase an insurance of 5 yuan/person at the ticket office at the entrance of the Zhayana scenic spot. There is still a distance of 12 kilometers from the entrance of the large scenic spot to Zhayana, about 20 minutes drive.

2. The regular way of playing is to arrive in the afternoon of the same day, take a leisurely stroll in the village and enjoy the beautiful scenery. In the evening, stay in a family homestay opened by Tibetans for one night. The next morning, you will take pictures of the early morning clouds and sunrise. In the morning, you can choose a short-distance route to try hiking or horseback riding, and leave at noon or afternoon.

3. You can drive up to the Dari viewing platform, and the parking fee is 10 yuan per time. Fairy Beach varies from person to person. If you have good physical strength, you can go up and down the plank road all the way; if you are not physically strong or have high resistance, you can take a battery car up the mountain, and then walk down the plank road, which is relatively easy. During the peak season, 8:00-10:00 in the morning is the time when the scenic spot has the largest flow of people. It is very likely that there are no parking spaces in the parking lot at the foot of the mountain.

4. Today, Zhaga feels a bit over-developed, the commercial atmosphere is too strong, and there are construction sites everywhere. The roar of machines can be heard at night when everything is quiet. My starry sky shooting plan is also because of Forced to give up due to strong light exposure. I still hope that the local area can focus on protection, supplemented by development, and retain as much of the original flavor of the "stone box" as possible.

5. Play time: 1 day.

6. Recommendation index: ★★★★★.

【Zoige丨Storm】

Go back to Langmusi from Zhagana, then go south and enter Ruoergai territory. Ruoergai County is affiliated to Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, and is located at the junction of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces. Since ancient times, it has been the Golden Triangle of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai along the Ancient Tea Horse Road. Ruoergai enjoys the reputation of "the most beautiful alpine wetland grassland in China" and "the hometown of black-necked cranes in China". Famous scenic spots in the territory include the first bend of the Yellow River Jiuqu, Ruoergai Prairie, Flower Lake, Jiangzha Hot Spring, etc.

※Frustration of Flower Lake in the rain

It was still light rain in Zhagana in the morning, but when the car entered Ruoergai territory in the afternoon, the rain became heavier and heavier. We also bid farewell to the sunny weather for two consecutive days, and finally saw the vast grassland covered by dark clouds. In the distance, white clouds and mist carrying a lot of water vapor are rolling over the mountains in front of them and rolling towards us. Everything indicates that a heavy rain is coming. The grassland we are in is called the Reer Dam Grassland, which is the second largest grassland in China after the Hulunbuir Grassland. The famous natural wetland Huahu Lake is a natural lake on the Reer Dam Grassland.

Huahu Lake is located next to National Highway 213. Because there are dense aquatic plants growing in the lake, in summer, all these aquatic plants bloomed in clusters, which are very beautiful. Therefore, it is named Huahu Lake, which is called "Chaa Lake" in Tibetan. Zhabu". It is said that when the weather is fine, Huahu Lake looks like this ↓ (the picture comes from the Internet).

But the Huahu Lake we actually saw was like this ↓, and you can imagine the huge psychological gap. The main reason is that the weather is not beautiful, but not seeing the legendary flowers is also a major factor of our disappointment, which is not worthy of the name "Flower Lake". But having said that, even if the sky is cloudy, you can still see the vast surface of Huahu Lake, and the bottom of the water is an unfathomable swamp. Walking along the plank road built in the scenic spot, you can walk to the middle of the wetland.

Because the scenery is lacklustre, so the attention is completely attracted by the wild ducks in the lake.

They are leisurely playing in the lake in twos and threes looking for food, completely ignoring the heavy rain above their heads.

I turned around along the plank road at the fastest speed in the wind and rain, and at the end of the day, I saw a signboard by the lake, which read "Eye of Huahu Lake". It looked like it, but it also became my The only memory of Huahu Lake.

Tips:

1. The most suitable season to go to Huahu Lake is the end of June and the beginning of July every year. At this time, the Huahu Lake is full of sunshine, the water color is pure and beautiful, and the lakeside is full of flowers. It is like entering a fairyland. If the flowers are not finished blooming earlier, the flowers will fade later. Almost there.

2. July and August are the rainy season. It is best to pay attention to the weather before going to Huahu Lake. If it rains, the sky will be dark and the water color will be flat. People come away disappointed like I did.

3. Huahu Lake is located in the Reer Dam, which belongs to the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The temperature is about 10 degrees lower than that in the plains. Especially in rainy days, we must pay attention to keeping warm. ps: I was caught in the rain at Huahu Lake, and I had a fever that night. Fortunately, I brought antipyretic medicine, and the fever subsided after taking it, which did not affect the follow-up itinerary.

4. The parking lot and the scenic spot are located on both sides of National Highway 213. From the parking lot to the entrance of the scenic spot, you have to walk a 1-kilometer corridor, and then cross the overpass. After entering the scenic spot, it takes 5 minutes to take the scenic bus to reach the entrance of the plank road. There are 4 observation decks on the whole section of the plank road, with a total length of about 4 kilometers. You can calculate that it takes a total of 6 kilometers to visit the entire Huahu scenic spot. Considering the altitude of 3,500 meters, the physical requirements for such a distance are quite high. Please do what you can. Tickets for Huahu Scenic Area + sightseeing car 105 yuan/person, parking fee 10 yuan/time.

5. Play time: about 2 hours.

6. Recommended index: ★★★.

※The winding of the Jiuqu Yellow River

The water of the Yellow River rushes from the Bayan Har Mountains, forming a nearly 180-degree turnaround in the vast Zoige Wetland. This is not only the only 180-degree turnaround on the thousands of kilometers of the Yellow River, but also the 90th turn of the Yellow River in the world. The first of nine bends. The water of the Yellow River here is not as raging and roaring as the Hukou Waterfall, but as gentle and graceful as a girl. It meets the Baihe River at Tangke in Ruoergai, and immediately turns around and floats back to Qinghai.

I have seen many photographs on the Internet showing the sunset of the first bay, and the beauty is difficult to express in words. Our original itinerary was to come in the evening that day, but it rained heavily, so we had to give up. Fortunately, the next day was sunny after the rain, and the first bay under the blue sky and white clouds was not inferior to the first bay in the evening.

In the blue sky, white clouds move quickly at a height within reach, and the ever-changing cloud shadows are projected onto the huge green carpet, one after another, forming a strong contrast with the bright grass next to it under the sun. This contrast between light and dark changes with the shadows, and the cattle and sheep are slowly pacing on the grassland, making the picture in front of me suddenly indescribably agile.

Facing the Jiuqu Yellow River, there is a small hill, with a three-story viewing platform built on the top, which is the best place to watch the sunset at First Bay. In addition, a viewing plank road was built along the ridge leading directly down the mountain.

There are two ways to climb up the viewing platform, one is to climb up the stairs along the ridge plank road, and the other is to take the sightseeing escalator. This sightseeing escalator is a relatively rare sectional escalator in China, with a total of 14 sections, only up and not down. Therefore, the more labor-saving way to visit the first bay is to take the sightseeing escalator to the viewing platform, and then slowly descend the mountain along the plank road. If you have time, you can also go to the plank road and viewing platform by the Yellow River to have a close contact with the mother river. It’s just that you need to pay attention to the above method. The parking lot of the escalator and the parking lot of the plank road are not the same. The distance between the two parking lots is about 10 minutes on foot.

Looking from a distance, the vast wilderness and the ribbon-like water of the Yellow River naturally blend into a harmonious whole. The charm of "the sunset and the lonely sky fly together, and the autumn water is the same color as the sky" is vividly reflected here. It is no wonder that this place has always been recognized as the most beautiful of the ninety-nine bends of the Yellow River.

Looking downstream, after the White River and the Yellow River merged here, they meandered and disappeared into the distant sky...

Tips:

1. Tickets for Jiuqu First Bay adults + sightseeing escalators are 105 yuan/person, tickets for children above 1.2 meters + sightseeing escalators are 75 yuan/person, tickets for seniors over 70 years old and children below 1.2 meters + sightseeing escalators are 45 yuan/person.

2. The regular way to visit First Bay is to take the sightseeing escalator up the mountain and down the mountain along the plank road. If you have enough time, the plank road and viewing platform by the Yellow River are also worth visiting. The escalator parking lot and plank road parking lot are 10 minutes walking distance apart.

3. The sunset and sunset in the first bay are very easy to produce large movies. It is recommended to arrange the last itinerary of a certain day in the first bay. In summer, the scenic spot is open until 19:30, which can fully cover the sunset period. After watching the sunset, there is a place to stay, and it is only 20 minutes' drive from Tangke Town.

4. Play time: about 2 hours.

5. Recommended index: ★★★★★.

※Legend of Zoige Grassland

Ruoergai Prairie covers Ruoergai, Hongyuan, Aba, Songpan in Sichuan Province, Maqu and Luqu in Gansu Province, Jiuzhi in Qinghai Province and other counties, with a total area of ​​about 53,000 square kilometers. The magnificent and eye-catching emerald is known as "the oasis of the Northwest Plateau of Sichuan", and it is one of the three major wetlands in my country.

Driving all the way from Gannan, almost every distance on both sides of the road, there are Tibetan family music opened by herdsmen, which provide activities such as horse riding, meals and accommodation. During this period of time, every time I passed by the bag and saw a billboard for riding a horse, my baby was eager to try it, but the weather in the past few days was either cloudless or stormy, so I had to postpone it. Today's weather is good, no sun and no rain, I thought it was time to fulfill her wish. Not long after the car got out of Tangke Town, it saw a shop on the side of the road bursting with popularity, so it stopped decisively, paid the money, chose a mount, and got on the horse in one go.

Prices for horseback riding vary according to the distance. In order to let the baby have a good time, we chose the farthest distance, 1.5 kilometers back and forth, and the price is 80 yuan. The business was booming, and there were not enough horsemen, so with the boss's consent, we became grooms ourselves. The advantage of leading the horse by ourselves is that we can control the speed of the horse, and the result is that 80 yuan rides for 160 yuan.

After finally coming to the prairie, I finally experienced the feeling of riding a horse, and the time on the horseback was too long, which made the baby feel addicted.

Saying goodbye to the pony we are thinking about, we continue our journey. The grassland is densely covered with lakes, cattle and sheep are everywhere, and the scenery is beautiful. But what attracts me at this moment is not the natural scenery here, but the connection between Zoige Grassland and a great historical event, this important event is the Long March. The Zoige Grassland has irreplaceable historical significance during the Red Army’s Long March—they stayed in Sichuan for the longest time, experienced the most extensive area, faced the most difficult and dangerous environment, fought the most outstanding struggle, and paid the greatest sacrifice. All of these are reflected in the Ruoergai Grassland, known as the "Songpan Grassland" in the world. It can be said that the Red Army's Long March made the Ruoergai Grassland even more legendary.

The difficult scene of the Red Army crossing the grass is emerging in my mind, and a large field of yellow rapeseed flowers appears in front of my eyes, which is particularly eye-catching against the backdrop of the green hills. Looking back on the past, it is difficult to connect this picturesque pastoral area with the suffering place of the Red Army during the Long March. However, we do not forget the well diggers. It is because of the sacrifice and dedication of the Red Army soldiers that we have People of all ethnic groups enjoy a peaceful and happy day today. Let us always remember this period of history and appreciate the hard-won of a better life now.

Tips:

1. Zoige Grassland covers a wide area and has a long driving distance. On the way, you can choose a Tibetan home to experience the fun of riding a horse or riding a yak on the grassland. Some high viewing platforms are often set up on the road section on the mountain. Here, the view is wide and you can overlook the grassland. After driving for a long time, you might as well take a rest, which can not only enjoy the beautiful scenery but also relieve fatigue. You can pull over when you encounter a rapeseed field on the side of the road, but you must pay attention to safety.

2. Play time: half a day.

3. Recommended index: ★★★★★.

【Red Plain丨Immortal Monument】

Leaving Ruoergai County, we continued our clockwise loop tour on Ruoergai Grassland, and the next stop was Hongyuan. Hongyuan County is also located in the heartland of the junction of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai. From June 1935 to August 1936, the First Army, Second Army and Fourth Army of the Red Army of Chinese Workers and Peasants climbed snow-capped mountains, crossed grasslands, and crossed swamps in Hongyuan. At the age of two months, he experienced the most difficult years of the Long March and wrote the most difficult and tragic legend in the history of the Chinese revolution. In 1960, in order to commemorate the contributions made by the grassland and the Tibetan people at the critical moment of the Chinese revolution, Premier Zhou Enlai personally named this newly built county Hongyuan County, which means "the prairie where the Red Army marched through". Hongyuan has tourism resources such as the broad and beautiful wetland grassland scenery, the tragic and touching cultural relics of the Red Army's Long March, the strange and colorful Anduo Tibetan ethnic customs, the ancient and profound grassland horseback tribe culture, and the extensive and profound Tibetan Buddhist landscape. The famous scenic spots are Vache Tower Forest, Emotang Flower Sea, Moon Bay Wetland, Vacheri Ganqiao Red Army Long March Meadow Ruins, etc.

※Vache Talin, the world of white pagodas and prayer flags

Vache Taling means "big tent" in Tibetan. In 1982 and 1986, the 10th Panchen Lama went to Vache twice to give lectures, preaching the esoteric Buddhist scriptures and the great law of "good rules". After the master passed away in 1989, the local people built a precious spiritual pagoda and 108 white pagodas of various sizes on the throne where the master preached to commemorate the religious leader, forming a magnificent Vache Tower Forest.

Around Tallinn, there are continuous prayer flags hung by devout Tibetans, which is magnificent. Prayer flags are a kind of totem in Tibetan areas. There are mantras and images on the prayer flags of Vache, some of which are wordless. The method of inserting the prayer flags in different parts of the Tibetan area is also different. Most of the prayer flags of Vache appear in the form of "big tents", and the large area of ​​the prayer flags of Vache is also rare in Tibetan areas.

After being exposed to the sun, rain, wind and dust, although these prayer flags have lost their original brilliance, and some are even dilapidated, the devotion to the gods and the yearning for beauty they represent are eternal.

For photographers, rows of white pagodas and continuous prayer flags are very good themes and one of the must-see attractions.

At the entrance of Vache Talin, you can see the pyramid-shaped main tower at the end of the road at a glance. It is composed of many resplendent small towers. These small towers cover eight styles of Tibetan Buddhist pagodas, each representing the Buddha. Buddha's relationship in different stages of Sakyamuni's life.

If you observe carefully, you can distinguish the eight styles of pagodas from the white pagoda body on the bottom base: firstly, the pagoda body is cylindrical or stepped; The stepped tower is divided into two shapes: quadrangular and octagonal, and the pattern on the final tower body is drawn with lotus patterns and leaf patterns.

Next to the main tower and prayer flags, there are several spiritual towers surrounded by white pagodas and prayer wheels, where Tibetans often turn around the towers and pray.

Tips:

1. Vache Tallinn is a private fee-charging scenic spot, the ticket is 20 yuan per person, without any discount.

2. Play time: about half an hour.

3. Recommended index: ★★★★.

※Red Grassland, the intersection of history and reality

Most Chinese are familiar with tragic and touching stories such as "The Golden Fishhook", "Seven Matches" and "Red Army Willow", but I am afraid that few people can tell clearly where the stories happened. In fact, the familiar yet unfamiliar grassland swamp is near the town of Vache in Hongyuan. This year coincides with the 100th birthday of our party. When planning the itinerary, I thought that I must bring my children to receive a patriotic education. It is not only a commemoration of the revolutionary martyrs, but also an inheritance of red history.

A 10-minute drive from the town stands the Red Army Long March Monument on the hillside of Riganqiao, and there is also the Red Army Long March Memorial Site nearby. Under the blue sky and white clouds, the red characters "Red Army Crossing the Grassland Monument" on the front of the stele and "Long March spirit shines forever" on the back, as well as the four red five-pointed stars around the top of the stele, are particularly dazzling.

Four blocks of black marble around the base are engraved with golden inscriptions. Through the words, we look at the Rigancho swamp called the "Sea of ​​Death" in front of us, and our thoughts suddenly return to July 1936. An epic and difficult time. With the spirit of fearless sacrifice, the soldiers of the left column of the Second Red Army and the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army overcame the sea of ​​grass, quagmire, and swamp that may perish at any time on the way forward, overcame various difficulties such as hunger, cold, and injury, and finally conquered the obstacles. The difficulties and obstacles in front of them led to the victory of the Long March.

At the same time, the broad masses of Tibetans were heart-to-heart with the Red Army. They not only provided food for the Red Army, but also helped shelter and rescue the wounded, and acted as guides for the Red Army. It was with the support and help of the people that the Red Army was able to preserve its strength and finally win.

There is a passage engraved on one side of the monument: "Any nation needs its own heroes. True heroes have that kind of profound tragic meaning; sowing seeds, but not participating in the reaping, this is the backbone of the nation. They go through hardships, and we reap brilliance." Touching the scene, it can't help but make people sigh, but it's more awe-inspiring to those unsung heroes.

In the past, it was a swamp with a depth of 19 meters at its thickest. The weather was erratic, and heavy rain, strong wind, hail, and wind-wound snow occurred at any time. Today, eighty-five years later, when we set foot on this grassland, the ferocious face of the past has been replaced by a school of peace, and the beautiful flowers transformed by countless heroic spirits bloom permanently on this vast grassland, becoming a landscape.

Although today's Rigan Qiao has long been far from that tragic history, an indelible spirit will always accompany her. Only by interpreting every grass and flower on this grassland with heart, can we understand why it is called Hongyuan and why it is so beautiful.

Do not forget the original intention, remember the kindness of the people! Today, the days when the herdsmen lived without a fixed place are gone forever. Most of them have moved into the "settlement project" built by the government - Wache Herdsmen New Village, and lived a happy life. Today's prosperous age is eighth. The goal that the team that passed by here more than ten years ago fought for.

Go down the steps from the high platform where the monument is located, and across the road is the Riganqiao swamp wetland where the Red Army walked. An open-air "stand" displayed several large stones with slogans and an introduction board in the shape of a red flag.

Beside a boulder with the words "be the successor of the Red Army, be the loyal guard", three proud willows are particularly conspicuous on the vast grassland. These are the Red Army willows that have been described in many literary works. It turns out that the story of "Red Army Willow" is true. It was not only written into the county annals of Hongyuan County, but also widely circulated among the people of all ethnic groups in Hongyuan County. This red willow was struck by lightning in 2006, and everyone believed that there was no hope of survival. What is unexpected is that its root system miraculously divided into three, and the three new willows we see today grew out, and they once again guarded this green land with an unyielding posture. The local people said that ordinary trees and crown trees could not survive on this extremely cold and oxygen-deficient plateau with an average altitude of 3,600 meters. , because they are the embodiment of the soul of the Red Army! Standing in front of the "Red Army Willow", we doubly miss those heroes who shed blood on the journey and sacrificed their lives for the country, and doubly miss the predecessors who made immortal feats for national independence and people's liberation.

There is a wooden plank road on the grassland, which is called the Red Army’s Long March Experience Avenue. If you have enough time, you may wish to follow the footsteps of the revolutionary ancestors and experience the feeling of walking on the grass. I believe that you will cherish today’s beautiful life better after walking. .

Tips:

1. Hongyuan Wache Red Army Long March Monument - The Red Army Long March Memorial Site is very close to Wache Tower Forest. It integrates the grassland landscape and the Long March Monument. It is a rare patriotic education base. When the content of the book is transformed into a real scene, it is a good red education not only for children, but also for us adults.

2. Play time: about one hour.

3. Recommended index: ★★★★★.

【Lian Bao Ye Ze丨Sacred Mountain and Holy Water】

Lianbaoye is located in the southeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a branch of the southern section of the Bayan Har Mountains, between Aba County in Sichuan Province and Jiuzhi County in Qinghai Province. Lianbaoye covers an area of ​​more than 300 square kilometers, with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters. The highest peak in Aba County is 5,141 meters. It is a natural barrier in the northwest of Aba County. According to the "Lianbaoye Zeshen Mountain Records", Lianbaoye is one of the top ten sacred mountains in the Tibetan area, ranking eighth, and the first among all the sacred mountains in the Amdo Tibetan area.

Legend has it that a long time ago, a handsome young hero came to this mountain from Ali, Tibet, and helped the white yak of Omco Gongma (the name of the lake) defeat the gray yak of Omco Anma (the name of the lake). In order to thank the young hero for his great help, the God of Lianbao Mountain betrothed his third daughter to him. The young hero fell in love with his beautiful and virtuous wife, gave birth to three smart children, and became the ancestors here.

This area was first known because of Nianbaoyuze in the north. Nianbaoyu is located in Jiuzhi County, Qinghai Province. The spectacular ice bodies, beautiful lakes and steep rocks make Nianbaoyu a popular spot. tourist attractions. Although Lianbaoye and Nianbaoyu seem to have different names, they are actually two brothers, referring to the same secret place - Qinghai and Sichuan provinces have developed their own scenic spots, and the Qinghai side in the north is called Nian Baoyuze is called Lianbao Yeze in the south of Sichuan. It is a pity that with the continuous arrival of tourists, the fragile ecological environment of Nianbaoyu has been seriously damaged. In order to protect and restore the natural resources of the Sanjiangyuan area, the scenic spot was closed in April 2018. It is still not open to tourists. So at this stage, if you still want to appreciate the style of this magical secret place, you can only come to Lianbao Yeze in Aba County.

Lianbao Yeze, also known as Ye Erjing Zala, means the dignified jade peak. It is known as "the source of Mount Shu, the Kunlun Ladder", and is usually called a stone castle or a stone mountain by the people. Here is a world of strange peaks and rocks and a sanctuary of natural art, with wonders such as horned peaks, fin ridges and "U"-shaped valleys widely distributed.

"U" shaped valley

There are many barrier lakes distributed in the "U"-shaped valley, generally 1 km long and 200-300 meters wide. Tibetan people call these lakes in the sky "haizi". It is said that there are 108 large lakes and 360 small lakes distributed in the entire Lianbaoye, and about half of them are distributed in Aba County, especially in Tsolama, Luoyuncuo, Zhumucuo and Zhagarcuo Mountain. The water is beautiful and the scenery is charming.

horn peak

fin ridge

The entire Lianbaoye Mountain is majestic and majestic, full of masculinity; the mountain is large in scale and stretches endlessly; there are dotted lakes and silver waterfalls.

According to the "Lianbaoyeze Shenshan Chronicle", the Lianbaoyeze area was the ancient battlefield where King Gesar fought in the east. Many legends of King Gesar are still spread here. There are relics of King Gesar everywhere in the huge Shenshan Castle, the lifelike King Gesar's sword-casting platform, the guillotine for beheading the devil, the sky moat split by the divine sword, the hoofprints left by the divine horse, the camp of the garrison, and the commanding platform. , the mountain lake named after the general, and the many colorful lakes turned into many colorful lakes by the treasure mirror accidentally broken by King Gesar's concubine, as well as the silver belt, milk hook and other accessories left by her. The extremely profound King Gesar culture is widely distributed in Lianbao Yeze, overflowing in the colorful lakes and clear streams and springs, eulogized in the word-of-mouth stories of old people and children, and inscribed on all majestic stone peaks.

There are four main alpine lakes in Lianbaoye - Tsolama, Luoyuncuo, Zhumucuo and Zhagarcuo. There are three routes planned in the scenic spot: one leads to Tsolama and Luoyuncuo; Zhumucuo; there is also a road leading to Zagarcuo. At present, the route of Zhagarcuo has been developed. On the way to Zhagarcuo, you can see the signs and forks of the other two routes, but the corresponding roads are still being paved.

The ticket price for Lianbaoye is 120 yuan per person, children have discounted tickets, and 70-year-olds are free. After purchasing a ticket at the tourist center, you can drive into the scenic spot. It takes about 20 kilometers to drive from the gate of the scenic spot to the destination. There are three tourist service centers on the way, namely Baixianglin, Heyuan and Panyangping. Baixianglin Tourist Service Center is next to Taizan Gecuo (Baixianghai), and the nearby attractions mainly include Shishengshu, Feilai Stone, Qudengcuo (Luoxia Lake), White Pagoda, etc.

Heyuan Tourist Service Center, after getting off the bus, walk about 1.5 kilometers along the plank road or the newly paved asphalt road to Zhagarcuo.

The Panyangping Tourist Service Center is located on the mountain. After getting off the bus and walking for 1 km, there is a 4520 viewing platform under construction, which can overlook the entire Zhagarcuo and its surrounding mountains from a high place.

After entering the gate of the scenic spot and driving for about 15 minutes, the mountains on both sides gradually lost their green coats, and large areas of rocks were exposed. The clear streams on the grass on the left hand side are like capillaries, gurgling down from the main peak of Lianbaoyeze at an altitude of 5369 meters, and then converging into three silvery rivers at the foot of the stone palace wall, and finally converging into three rivers. As the source of the Yangtze River and the Yellow River, Lianbaoye has also become a "watershed", where the two mother rivers have changed from gathering to separating.

The first relatively large lake encountered along the way is called Taizangecuo (Boxianghai), with an altitude of 3863 meters, which means a crystal clear lake. On the day we visited, the weather was strong, the water was calm, the light and shadow were just right, and the reflections of the surrounding peaks were clearly visible. The mountains, light, and water were integrated and beautiful.

The boulder pile in the center of Taizangetuo Lake is an excellent location to appreciate the U-shaped valley, but the road ahead winds through the valley, leading to an unknown but desirable distance.

Qudengcuo is not far from Taizan Gecuo, with an altitude of 3,890 meters. Now it has a very nice Chinese name, Luoxia Lake. The majestic and straight white pagoda on the hillside beside the lake makes the surrounding lakes and mountains full of poetic and picturesque flavor.

These beautiful lakes one after another have injected infinite vitality into the huge gray granite stone castle. The green grass felt flowers on the shore of the lake make people linger and forget to return. The rich colors are an excellent place for photography.

The car continued to drive forward, and soon Lan Zhuocuo appeared on the left. Haizi itself is relatively small, and not as stunning as the previous two, but the viewing platform here can already see the mountains surrounding Zhagarcuo.

The glimpse of the "city wall" on the cliff is impressive enough even though it is the first meeting. At this time, because we are located in a lower place, it will take a while to unveil the mystery of Zhagarcuo.

While talking, the Heyuan Service Center had arrived, but we didn't mean to stop, but decided to go straight to Panyangping. At this time, a winding "ladder" on the hillside on the right is particularly conspicuous. That's right! In the past, if you want to go from Heyuan to Panyangping, you have to climb up the steps along this plank road. It is conservatively estimated that its drop is about 300 meters. It is conceivable that it is definitely not an easy task to realize the wish of overlooking Zhagarcuo from a high place. .

Fortunately, now you don't need to look at this "ladder" to look at the slope and sigh. We can easily drive to Panyangping through the "zigzag" road built in the scenic spot.

Panyangping is full of cars, and the popularity is quite high. There is a huge boulder on the side of the road, and the eight characters of "the source of Shushan Mountain, Kunlun Ladder" are written on it, which is particularly eye-catching. The altitude here is 4424 meters, which is almost the upper limit of our trip to Gannan. After several days of adaptation, at this moment at this height, we did not feel any discomfort.

Lianbaoye is a veritable kingdom of stone mountains. There are huge granite mountains, not only steep mountains and towering peaks, but also strange rocks on the upper part of the peaks, in various poses. Here you can give full play to your imagination and make them Seen as the shapes of various characters and animals, every place is lifelike and lifelike. The entire rock mass opposite Panyangping is a masterpiece of nature, resembling the palm of Buddha.

The interior part of the Panyangping Tourist Service Center is still being renovated and has not yet opened to the public, but on the large viewing platform here, the panorama of Zhagargou in front of you is like a wonderful picture scroll, and the scenery is already invincible. In time, if you can sit down on the terrace and drink tea while enjoying the scenery, it will be a fairy life.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the road up the mountain. Without it, I am afraid that my mother and Bao'er would not have this opportunity to see the magnificent "Zhagarcuo Panorama".

This is a typical U-shaped valley, and there is a small lake in the valley. U-shaped valleys are generally formed by glacial erosion, also known as glaciated valleys. Glaciers flow along the valleys formed by surface water erosion. During the flow, the planing action of glaciers deepens and widens the original valleys. Therefore, the glaciated valley is straight and wide, forming a trough-shaped valley with two steep walls.

The mottled sunlight shines through the gaps in the clouds to this piece of stone art. The gray rock mass is covered with white lights, making it even more strange and holy. No wonder people here worship them.

If the green valley where Zhagar Valley is located is compared to a city, then the majestic and strange stone peaks winding around it are the solid city walls guarding this charming city.

Looking back at the road when we came, the three lakes of Dangzangecuo, Qudengcuo and Lanzhuocuo are lying quietly at the entrance of the stone castle, like appetizers used by the host to entertain guests, a little bit to whet everyone's appetite, Until the ultimate meal is served.

It is about 1 kilometer from Panyangping to the 4520 viewing platform. Although the asphalt road has been paved, it was not open to traffic when we went, so we could only walk. It is recommended to walk slowly at such a high altitude, and you can reach it in about 20 minutes. Here, we also met a super enthusiastic Tibetan elder brother who seemed to be the person in charge of the road construction project. Seeing that his mother was getting old, he offered to drive us to the 4520 viewing platform, and then agreed It's time to pick us up back to Panyangping. One side of water and soil nurtures one side of people, and only such a pure land can breed such kind people. Facing the holy mountain, I also prayed silently, wishing good-hearted people like my elder brother a safe life!

From this perspective, the plank road from the Heyuan parking lot at the foot of the mountain to Zhagarcuo and the newly built road are very conspicuous on a large green carpet, like two side-by-side white belts wrapped around the mountain.

4520 Observation Deck, as the name suggests, is at an altitude of 4520 meters. The observation deck is facing Zhagarcuo, with a wide view. Only when you see the scene in front of you with your own eyes, can you understand why Lianbaoye is called the sacred mountain of the Tibetan paradise and fairyland. The upright thousand-bladed stone peak is her majestic character, and the crystal-clear lake is her gem-like passionate eyes. No wonder people say that Lianbaoye is a stone castle unparalleled in the world. It suddenly flew from the sky to the Amdo Tibetan area of ​​Yimapingchuan, and it really deserves the reputation of an unrivaled spectacle.

Zhagarcuo is 4,200 meters above sea level and covers an area of ​​about 3 square kilometers. It is the lake with the highest altitude in Lianbaoyeze. Under the sunlight, the lake water presents a sapphire-like beautiful color, crystal clear, like a bright pearl on the plateau, illuminating the entire Lianbao Yeze. The huge "stone wall" behind the lake is easily reminiscent of the Great Wall in the north used to resist wildlings and strange ghosts in "Game of Thrones". Could it be that George Martin has also witnessed the true face of Zagarcuo? ?

Two years ago, I went to visit Moraine Lake in the Rocky Mountains during my trip to Western Canada. I was amazed at its blue lake and the ten surrounding peaks. Today, I can proudly say that compared with it, our Zhagarcuo is even worse, especially with the cliff "city wall" surrounded by three sides as "green leaves", Zhagarcuo is already ranked first In my mind, the No.1 position of the holy mountain and holy lake.

The lake view on the front of the 4520 Observation Deck is shocking, and the mountains behind it are equally fascinating.

pyramid hill

Jade Rabbit Peak

A kiss for thousands of years, there are two peaks hugging and kissing each other on the opposite side of the mountain. It is said that it is the place where King Gesar and Princess Zhumu made sweet love together. It is said that lovers can grow old together as long as they pray sincerely and make promises here. lifetime.

Since I don't have a telephoto, I can only feel wronged and enlarge the picture below. In the middle is a kiss for a thousand years.

Lingering at the strange peaks and rocks and the colorful pools of the green lake from the aerial perspective, everyone was so fascinated that they were delayed for too long. Near noon, we reluctantly set off down the mountain to the Heyuan Service Center, preparing to experience the holy lake up close. There are two roads from the Heyuan parking lot to Zhagarcuo, one is the wooden plank road in the picture below.

The other is the avenue that is still being paved. I personally prefer to take this road. The whole journey is 1.5 kilometers, basically there is not much climbing, and you can reach the lake in 30 minutes.

Enlightenment to Taoism and Stone Buddha Chanting Sutras on the canopy on the east side of Zhagarcuo

1.5 kilometers sounds like a long distance, but it doesn't feel very strenuous to stop and see on the way. On the hillside on the right hand side, there are strange peaks rising from the ground, layer upon layer, and the perspective of looking up is completely different from the feeling of "seeing all the small mountains at a glance" from a high place. Coupled with the psychology of reverence, the mountain is even more majestic and upright.

Gravels are scattered everywhere on the lawn on the hillside, and many stone surfaces are painted with colorful and exquisite patterns, which are still bright and dazzling despite the wind and rain, entrusting the Tibetan people's worship of nature and their yearning for beauty.

On the left is Elephant Mountain. The plank road to the top of the hill and the newly built road to the 4520 viewing platform are clear at a glance. We walked back to the Panyangping Service Center from the viewing platform along the ribbon-shaped road on the mountainside. From this From the perspective, the road is still a bit sloped.

The grass on the side of the road is dotted with various wild flowers, and there are vibrant scenes everywhere at the foot of the mountain.

Turning around a mountain, the eyes suddenly opened up. Although we can only glimpse a corner of the holy lake, the iconic "stone wall" has already stood in front of us, and we are very close to Zhagarcuo.

How can such a sacred place lack white pagodas and prayer flags? Just thinking about it, they consciously appeared on the hillside at the entrance to the west of Zagarcuo. The scriptures engraved on the stone, the prayer flags fluttering in the wind, the holy white pagoda, the traces of man-made construction and the divine power of natural carvings are integrated here to complement each other.

There is also a viewing platform under construction before going down to the lake, standing on it you can see the whole picture of the lake. After arriving at Zhagarcuo, you can go around the lake if time, weather and physical strength permit. The whole road around the lake is about 3 kilometers. The road conditions are mainly gravel roads and dirt roads, so pay attention to safety.

There are many small ponds like this by the lake. The water plants in the ponds are lush and full of small white and yellow flowers. The holy lake and the surrounding lakes, large and small, nourish all things on this land, and they are also a source of relief for the monotonous stones. The castle brings out the bright colors.

"Zhagar" means white rock, and white represents holiness and auspiciousness in Tibetan culture, so "Zhagarcuo" is a holy lake. Zhagarcuo and the surrounding stone mountains complement each other, it can be said that "the lake is more charming because of the mountains, and the mountains are more majestic because of the lake". The holy lake not only has the resolute, majestic, solemn and tragic side of the lotus leaf, but also has the roundness, delicacy and femininity like a woman, which is majestic, tragic and beautiful.

Walking by the lake, except for the sound of the wind, you can't hear a single noise, and the surroundings are surprisingly quiet. Randomly choose a boulder by the lake to sit down. Zhagarcuo in front of you is like a huge magic mirror, collecting the huge stone city wall into the lake. Using any words to describe my feelings at that time seemed pale and powerless. At this moment, I just want to turn into a pebble at the bottom of the lake and watch over this sacred secret forever.

On the east side of Zhagarcuo lake mouth are continuous stone peaks, and the leftmost peak looks like a stone Buddha reciting scriptures. I joked with them, even the stone Buddha couldn't help but start to clean up here, which shows that this is indeed a rare place to purify the heart.

We don't have to pray for anything here, just a moment of peace away from the hustle and bustle of the city is enough.

When the clouds cleared and the fog cleared, we were fortunate to see the Zhagaer peaks under the blue sky. This is a gift from nature to us, and we are grateful. Maybe it was our piety that touched the heavens, so at this moment, it is worthwhile to go back from Jiuzhi County early in the morning and travel for two hours on the road.

Behind the lake is the long cliff "city wall" that has been faced several times today. The entire mountain is more than 1,000 meters high. There is a nice name called "Wall Standing Qianren".

The time is already scorching July, but there is still some unmelted snow on the "city wall". It is conceivable that if it is a winter of ice and snow, this place must be a replica of the Great Wall of the North.

Zhagarcuo is a typical ice-eroded lake formed by accumulating water in glacial ice-eroded basins. The melted snow water provides Zhagarcuo with a steady stream of water, and this pool of clear water turns into streams of clear mountain springs. Running to the distant mother river, the mountain god of Lianbao Yeze not only sowed love on this land, but also poured love on the various ethnic groups downstream.

The local people often say that the sky beside Haizi is the face of a baby, and they cry when they cry, and laugh when they laugh. It is said that in the summer when the sky is clear and the sun is shining brightly, if you make a loud noise, it is very likely to attract lightning, thunder, and heavy rain. With an attitude of rather believable, I sat quietly on the shore, not daring to breathe, for fear that the blue sky and white clouds above my head would be fleeting. It’s a joke, but the weather around the holy lake is really unpredictable, so you still have to do your homework before you come.

On the west side of Zhagarcuo, there is a sharp stone peak with one big and two small piercing the sky, like Zhagarcuo's door god and sharp sword. These peaks have also been given very vivid names, such as camel humps, eagles hitting the sky, and stone monkeys worshiping Buddha. Due to time constraints, we couldn't find out one by one, and even the planned hiking around the lake was forced to give up because of the follow-up itinerary. Although there are regrets left, there are gains and losses. The sacred mountain and holy lake bathed in the sun is already a rare encounter. What reason do we not have to be grateful?

The name of this stone peak is the Sphinx. Everyone should search for themselves first to see which stone has both god and form.

did you find it? publish the answer

Although I still wanted to hang out by the lake for a while, but time waited for no one, so I reluctantly returned to the parking lot from Zhagarcuo. Along the way, the sun filled the entire valley, in stark contrast to the gloom when we came. At this moment, we are in a happy mood, because we have seen the most beautiful Lianbao Yeze and Zhagarcuo.

After only ten minutes, the blue sky was covered by dark clouds again, and the sun also hid in the thick clouds. Compared with the fleeting beauty, I hope that Lian Baoye will not be like his "brother" Nian Baoyuze, who will only exist in pictures on the Internet in the future. It is undeniable that I am very contradictory. I want more people to know about this secret land, but I don't want him to be as famous as Nian Baoyuze. Nowadays, many people come here admiringly. If you still don’t pay attention to protecting the local ecological environment as before, then piece after piece of pure land will continue to be polluted. Lianbaoye is likely to be the next Nian Baoyuze. Beauty is not the monopoly of one person, and nature is not exclusive to one person. Whether we are in scenic spots or in our daily lives, we should pay attention to protecting the environment and let beauty pass on from generation to generation.

Tips:

1. Lianbaoye can come from Jiuzhi in Qinghai and Aba in Sichuan. It takes about two hours for Jiuzhi and one and a half hours for Aba.

2. The weather in Lianbaoye is changeable, please prepare clothes and rain gear in advance.

3. The altitude of Zhagarcuo that has been developed is between 3,800 meters and 4,500 meters. Although most of the roads have been opened to traffic, some places still need to go on foot. Walking at this height must be slow, and strenuous exercise is not allowed. If you feel unwell, you can find a place to rest in situ. I saw people taking small canned oxygen bottles to inhale oxygen along the way. Although I don't know how effective it is, it is also a way to relieve altitude sickness. In addition, the three service centers of the gate of the scenic spot, Baixianglin and Heyuan have medical centers, and the staff inside can be asked for help when necessary.

4. The plateau where the sacred mountain and holy water is located has a fragile ecological environment, and we need to protect it together. Please cherish this secret area that is still open, and don't let Lianbaoye repeat the same mistakes as Nianbaoyuze.

5. The two roads leading to Zhumcuo and Tsolama are still being paved as of July 2021. These two measures and their surrounding areas are still undeveloped areas. Although off-road vehicles can barely pass through, it is not recommended that you go now Take the risk, after all the safety of the journey is the most important thing. In time, after the development of the entire scenic spot is completed, I will come back to visit the old place again. I believe it will be a different feeling then.

6. Play time: 1 day.

7. Recommended index: ★★★★★.

【Maqu丨Mother of the Yellow River】

Probably because of the closure of Nianbao Yuze, Jiuzhi County is far less lively than Aba, and the road from Jiuzhi to Gansu Maqu is also full of potholes, giving people a feeling of disrepair. The picture below shows Jiuzhi County, until the Yellow River Bridge at the junction of Qingan and Gansu provinces, a total of more than 30 kilometers (marked in red), and my speed did not dare to exceed 40 kilometers per hour. Even with such careful driving, people still cannot avoid suffering from bumps in the car. It can be said that this section of road conditions is the worst section of the entire Gannan six-day itinerary.

Although the journey was hard, fortunately, the beautiful scenery on both sides helped to distract part of our attention. The Shake River followed us like a shadow and followed us to the Yellow River Bridge at the junction of Qinghai and Gansu, and then merged into the Yellow River and continued to flow downstream.

After crossing the Yellow River Bridge, we returned to Gannan Prefecture after three days. This is the only county in the country named after the Yellow River - Maqu County, known as the "Chinese Water Tower". Maqu, Tibetan means the Yellow River. Perhaps it is because of the fascination with this land that the Yellow River flows through here and forms a 180-degree turn. Beautiful scenery - the first bend of the Yellow River in the world.

Maqu is the only pure animal husbandry county in Gansu. It is rich in "Oriental God Riding" Hequ Horse, "Plateau Ship" Awancang Yak, "King of Tibetan Sheep" Ola Sheep and Hequ Tibetan Mastiff. At the same time, relying on the complete water source system of the upper reaches of the Yellow River composed of 5.6 million mu of wetland in the territory, Maqu is known as the "kidney of the earth" and "natural reservoir". Famous tourist attractions in Maqu include Awancang Wetland (Gonselka Mudao Wetland), the First Bridge of the Yellow River in the World, Ximei Duotang and Tsongka Stone Forest.

※The largest prayer wheel

During the trip to Gannan, you can see the standard prayer wheel in every monastery. It can be said that the prayer wheel is an important symbol of Tibetan Buddhism. In Tibet, people think that every turn of the sutra is equivalent to reciting the scriptures contained in it once, which is a way of practice. Gannan on the prayer wheel, whether it is the longest prayer wheel in the world in the Labrang Monastery we have already visited, or the world's largest prayer wheel in the Maqu Niangma Temple that we will visit soon, are moving and shocking .

Niangma Temple is a monastery of the Nyingma School, one of the five major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It was founded in 1834 and moved to Tashigong Secao Beach, Awancang Township, Maqu County in 1934. In the resplendent temple building, the Tripitaka prayer wheel standing on the square is the landmark building of Niangma Temple. When driving on the Aqun section of the road, you can see its golden appearance from a long distance. The total height of this prayer wheel building is 42.38 meters. Among them, the total height of the prayer wheel is 37.73 meters, the diameter of the lower cylinder is 12.6 meters, and the diameter of the upper cylinder is 17.6 meters. The total weight of the rotating prayer wheel is 320 tons. There are 1,080 Tripitakas in it, a total of 110,000 volumes, and a weight of 86 tons. The body relief is made by Nepalese craftsmen using 60 kilograms of gold forged and cast by hand.

On the last day of August 2018, after precise surveying and strict review, the Tripitaka prayer wheel of Niangma Temple successfully challenged the Guinness World Record and became the largest prayer wheel in the world. This record has been maintained until now.

What is amazing is that the prayer wheel itself and the Tripitaka inside weigh more than 400 tons. Such a huge heavy object rotates there every day without any built-in power, and it is all driven by the person who turns the prayer. Due to the continuous human push, the rotating prayer wheel will also have a certain inertia, and the slowly rotating prayer wheel witnesses the power of piety and faith.

Tips:

1. The world's largest prayer wheel is 8 kilometers away from the Awancang Wetland, about a 10-minute drive away. Its eye-catching golden appearance can be seen at a glance on the Aqun section of the road, and it is very easy to identify. Near the prayer wheel, there is also a new Buddhist scripture pavilion in Niangma Temple, which is also magnificent.

2. Play time: about half an hour.

3. Recommended index: ★★★★.

※The most beautiful Awancang

In the "Beauty Pageant China" event held by "China National Geography" in 2008, Awancang Wetland was rated as the first place among the "Five Most Beautiful Grassland Wetlands in China". It is located in the arms of the Yellow River in the south of Maqu County. Qu county is 50 kilometers away. From west to east, the Yellow River enters Maqumu Xihe from Jiuzhi, Qinghai, and forms many branched rivers and swamps due to poor drainage, making this vast grassland with an area of ​​200 square kilometers lush with water and grass, and fat with cattle and sheep.

The Awancang Wetland is represented by the Gongsaierka Mudao Scenic Spot, which in Tibetan means the confluence of the three rivers Gongqu, Saierqu and Daojiqu with the Yellow River. When we arrived that day, it was past 18:00, the last opening time of the scenic spot, so unfortunately, we could only overlook Gonsel from the promenade near the parking lot, but we saw the nearby basin was gentle, the grass was green, and the huge green felt The river loops; thousands of mountains compete in the distance, and the sun shines white light directly on the earth through the dark clouds, which is extremely magical.

Lajma Peak and Watt Peak are like two majestic King Kong warriors facing each other across the river, guarding the gate of Gonselka Wood Road. This place has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times, and it is the main throat for nomads leading to Longnan, western Sichuan and Qinghai.

There are many legends about Gonselkamudao, especially the myth of Gesar. According to legend, the exiled Gesar mother and son worked hard in Hequ to improve the ecological environment, built a commercial castle, improved a series of public facilities, won the trust and recognition of the herdsmen, and finally became king through horse racing. Thus opened the prelude to the world's longest epic "King Gesar".

The scenery here is beautiful and unique, the wetlands and lakes reflect each other, the snow-capped mountains and the Yellow River coexist, the masculinity of the northern land and the soft beauty of the Jiangnan water town are integrated, everything is so quiet and harmonious.

The sight turns to Awancang Town on the other side. Under the blue sky, there are boundless green grasslands, neatly arranged Tibetan-style houses with yellow walls and red tiles, and dark yak herds dotted around, leisurely and contented.

The streams on the grassland are winding and criss-crossing, and the swamps are scattered all over the place. They are silvery in the sun, and they are beautiful. The continuous picture scroll has been like this for thousands of years. The history has changed, and the Awancang Grassland remains the same, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, without the pollution of modern civilization.

The majestic and beautiful mountains and rivers, the scenery like a legend, the harmoniously developed pure land, the bold and simple folk customs, the splendid and colorful culture, and the profound Sanskrit music are not hallucinations in dreams, but Awancang in reality.

Tips:

1. The Gonselka Wood Road Wetland Scenic Spot is a fee-paying scenic spot. There are wooden plank roads and observation decks built in the scenic spot, overlooking the Awancang Wetland. The opening hours of the scenic spot are from 8:30 to 18:00. If you miss the entry time like us, you can also enjoy the beauty of the wetland on the promenade near the parking lot.

2. Play time: about one hour.

3. Recommended index: ★★★★★.

※The earliest Yellow River Bridge

Maqu Yellow River Bridge - a bridge made of reinforced concrete across the banks of the Yellow River, under the bridge is the first bend of the Yellow River's nine bends and eighteen bends. Because of the bend, the Yellow River flows from east to west, so it is also called the Yellow River Backflow.

The Maqu Yellow River Bridge was completed in 1979. It is the first Yellow River bridge built in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, so it is known as "the first bridge on the Yellow River in the world". The bridge is 280 meters long and 7.5 meters wide.

The railings of the bridge are filled with red flags celebrating the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. Two rows of red flags flutter in the breeze, creating a spectacular scene.

Standing on the bridge, looking down at the Mother River, on the broad river, the slightly turbid water after the rain is rushing towards Qinghai again. The "V"-shaped river surrounds the Maqu Grassland, and the scenery on both sides of the river is winding, with green grass and flocks of cattle and sheep. The snow-capped mountains and lakes intersect in the distance, and the fusion of humanities and nature nearby makes people feel the magnificence of the mother of China.

There are two wonderful landscapes on the first bridge of the first song. One is the "arch bridge supporting the sun". Standing on the west side of the bridge at sunrise in the morning, you can see a red sun rising in the east. When it reaches the arch surface, it seems that the arch bridge is supporting the red sun, which is quite spectacular; "Sunset on the Long River", looking at the water of the long river from the side of the Yellow River Bridge at dusk, the sun gradually sinks to the west, as if falling into the long river, you can appreciate the magnificent landscape of "sunset on the long river".

We specially arranged the first song of the Yellow River as the last visit of the day, in order to make up for the regret of missing the sunset at the first bay of the Jiuqu of Tangke Yellow River. But the beautiful scenery of "Long River Sunset" is hard to find, God made a joke with us again, at this time, there are white clouds in the east, but dark clouds in the west. continue.

Tips:

1. The name of the scenic spot is the first bend of the Yellow River in the world. Be careful not to confuse it with the first bend of the Yellow River in Ruoergai. As far as the scenic spot itself is concerned, the Yellow River here is restricted by the nearby terrain, and the viewing angle is not as shocking as overlooking the first bay of the Yellow River Jiuqu, so it is better to watch the bridge than to watch the river. The Maqu Yellow River Bridge is the only way to enter and exit Maqu County, so you can stop by to visit it. If you really want to see the river, you can navigate to the nearby "Maqu County Xiaoshouqu Tourist Scenic Area", where the view is better.

2. Play time: about half an hour.

3. Recommended index: ★★★★.

【Langmusi丨Oriental Switzerland】

Because of the book "Tibet Horizon" written by American Robert Ekvar, a small town in Gannan called Langmusi became famous overseas. The world marveled that Gannan also has a miniature version of "Shangri-La". It is not only a paradise of natural beauty , the intersection of ancient roads, and also a place where multiculturalism blends and develops.

What needs to be clarified is that Langmusi is not actually the name of a temple, but a place name. To be precise, it is called Langmusi Town, a small town jointly under the jurisdiction of Luqu, Gansu and Ruoergai, Sichuan. The Bailong River, a tributary of the Jialing River, passes through the town. There are two Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and a mosque in the town, and "Tibet Horizon" was written by a Western Christian who lived here for many years. Different beliefs and cultures coexist harmoniously in this land. Saichi Temple, also known as "Dacang Langmu Saichi Temple", is located in the territory of Bailongjiang North Gansu. The golden-roofed Buddha Hall is tall and imposing. There is a celestial burial platform behind the temple, which is the only celestial burial platform that is allowed to be visited in Gannan area.

Located in the territory of Sichuan on the south bank of the Bailong River is the Geerdi Temple, also known as "Dacang Langmu Geerdi Temple", which is across the "river" from Saichi Temple. Both temples belong to the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Langmusi Historical Relics Museum is a courtyard-style Buddhist temple complex. The fifth Kirden Living Buddha Body Buddha Hall inside is dedicated to the body of the Living Buddha that has not deteriorated for more than 200 years after passing away. It is the essence of many scenic spots in Langmusi.

Bianjing Lin, Bianjing means that after the monks study the Buddhist scriptures, in order to strengthen their true understanding of the Buddhist scriptures, they use the method of one question and one answer or one question and one answer or more questions and one answer to exchange their learning experience and Buddhadharma. Academic discussion.

The one with the blue tile roof at the lower part is Wensi College, and the one with the golden roof at the upper part is Xubu College.

On the east side of Langmusi, there is a peak that looks like a crown. On the top of the soothing mountain, a towering red rock red cliff suddenly rises. The red color is shown in the afterglow of the setting sun. People call it Hongshiya.

This is the place where the sun rises every day in Langmusi. In Tibetan, it is called "Jongboma", which means the mountain of offerings. It is named for its shape like a tray on which offerings are placed.

The best place to watch the Red Rock Cliff is on the hillside called Huagai Mountain, which is located behind the Geerdi Temple. At sunset in the evening, looking north from here, you can see the panoramic view of Langmusi Temple under the sun; to the east is the top of Hongshiya Mountain, which collects all the villages of Langmu Town; looking southeast, you can see Namo Canyon, which is set off by a dense forest. The peaks covered with gray rocks are enough to arouse people's infinite reverie.

Langmusi Town has complete accommodation conditions, including hotels, homestays, youth hostels and other high, medium and low-end accommodations. There are many restaurants in the town, mainly Tibetan and Sichuan cuisine. We went to check in the Internet celebrity restaurant - Lisa Restaurant. Although the owner is a local, the restaurant can provide Western food. We ordered the special apple pie and yak meat , the taste is not bad. Lisa restaurant has a great reputation among backpackers at home and abroad. As you can see in the store, the walls around are covered with flags and messages of various outdoor travel groups.

Tips:

1. The best photography location of Langmusi Temple is on the hillside of Saichi Temple. To go to Saichi Temple, please enter "Langmusi Temple-Ticket Office" in the navigation; to go to Gerdi Temple in Sichuan, please enter "Langmusi Temple" in the navigation Scenic Spot - Ticket Office". The two scenic spots are charged separately, the price is 30 yuan per person, and the elderly over 70 years old and children under 1.2 meters are free.

2. Many people are curious about the celestial burial, but it is not recommended to go to watch it with a curiosity-seeking mentality, and the celestial burial does not happen every day, it will only be held when the locals die.

3. Although Langmusi is cold in winter, many Buddhist activities will be held. Children's shoes who are interested in Tibetan Buddhism can choose important festivals such as Morang Festival (the third to seventeenth day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar) to experience the strange and mysterious religion. culture.

4. Play time: half a day.

5. Recommended index: ★★★★★.

【Namo Canyon丨Secret Land Exploration】

If you think that Saichi Temple and Geerdi Temple, which are guarded in the north and south, are all of Langmusi, then you are very wrong. Langmusi not only integrates a variety of religious cultures, but also integrates natural landscapes such as mountains, streams, and grasslands, hiding a mysterious paradise in the depths of the valley behind Gerdi Temple.

This secret place is full of twists and turns, strange rocks of various shapes, and amazing peaks in various poses and with different expressions. It is the Namo Canyon (Langmusi Grand Canyon), which the locals call "Naipugou", "Naipugou "Pu" is a transliteration of Tibetan, which means "the gathering place of gods and spirits".

There are Tongtian Cave, Duosangtang, Tibetan Scripture Cave, Manquka (medicinal spring) and so on in the canyon. The flowers and plants are bright, the shrubs are verdant, and the gullies are vertical and horizontal. It is suitable for hiking, horse riding, exploring and other activities.

Coming out of the parking lot of Gerdi Temple, the sound of gurgling water on the grass on the side of the road attracted our attention. This small stream less than 2 meters wide is clear and bright, and it originates from the Bailong River in Namo Gorge. Walking up the river, the hidden canyon in front of us is the place we are going to explore. Our hearts are full of curiosity and expectation.

What we call "Langmusi Temple" evolved from the Tibetan place name "Dacang Langmu". "Dacang" is a transliteration of Tibetan, which means "tiger's den"; "Langmu" is also a transliteration of Tibetan, which means "Jiyang Tianmu" and "fairy". The name "Dacang Langmu" is widely circulated and used in Amdo Tibetan area, and has a long history. There is also a legend about its origin. According to legend, in the past, a big white-fronted tiger often came out of the forest to hurt the living beings. People died and fled, which was very miserable. One day, when the evil tiger was chasing the people who were too late to escape, a kind fairy "Waldan Langmu" floated in the air. She subdued the evil tiger with her wisdom, and locked the tiger in a stone cave, letting it guard day and night. At the source of the Bailong River. People lived a life of peace and contentment, but the fairies lived in the fairy cave because they could not return to the heaven because they went down to earth privately. Since then, this place has the beautiful name "Dacang Langmu". At the entrance of the canyon, I saw a majestic tiger looking back on the stone pedestal. Its mouth seemed to be roaring like a tiger, which is easily reminiscent of the evil tiger in the story.

After a few steps into the valley, there is a cave under the cliff on the right. In front of the cave is an arrow stack, all kinds of colorful arrows are wrapped with hada and colored cloth strips. In Tibetan areas, the Arrow Insertion Festival is a unique folk custom and religious event, implying that the weapons used in war are handed over to the gods to pray for peace. The stone tablet below the arrow stack is engraved with the words "Fairy Cave". Inside the cave is the residence of the legendary goddess Pandan Langmu (translated into Chinese can be interpreted as "Auspicious Heavenly Mother") who subdued the evil tiger.

In front of the entrance of the cave, there are cypress incense burned by believers, and the bluish-white smoke rises up against the cliff wall, filling the entrance of the cave.

We bent down, walked ten steps into the cave against the rock wall, and suddenly realized that the highest point of the cave is five or six meters, and the area is about 400 square meters. This is a karst cave. A pillar of stalactites in the southwest corner of the cave looks like a young and beautiful girl. She is Pandan Langmu. The goddess is the patron saint of people's spiritual home. She still sits in the center and never leaves the mountains and people she protects.

Not far from the fairy, the rock wall is sunken one meter above the ground, forming an "L"-shaped passage, about two meters long, called "the bardo cave". A stone at the entrance of the cave is like a wishful piece, and it is like a Ganoderma lucidum supporting the top of the rock. It is said that people can complete the transformation from the past life to the present life by drilling in from one end of the tunnel and then out from the other end.

Between the fairy stone and the "bardo cave", a knee-shaped strange stone protrudes from the rock wall. It is smooth and moist, and it is said that touching it can eliminate stomach problems.

Coming out of the fairy cave, on the cliff at the entrance of the cave, there are stone holes where the gods tied the deer, the three claw marks left by the tiger jumping over the cave, the footprints of the lotus Buddha, the triangular box for disaster relief, and the stone-throwing hole for begging sons and daughters. Wait, the whole cliff is engraved with magical stories.

The streams of the Bailong River flow through the mountains humming cheerful ditties. They slap the rocks in front of them heartily, and eagerly want to go to the world outside the canyon to see. At this time, they don’t know that the last one is called Jialing River. My sister will take them into the arms of the mother of the Yangtze River.

There is also a touching legend about the origin of the name Bailongjiang. In the past, this area was a kingdom of animals with dense forests and the fragrance of birds and flowers. One year, a fire suddenly rose between the valleys, thick smoke billowed everywhere, and countless lives were devastated. The thousand-year-old white dragon who practiced in the forest edge rock wanted to go to rescue him, but he was stuck in the cave and couldn't use it. The white dragon roared so anxiously , The roar of the dragon alarmed the birds and beasts near and far, and everyone ran for their lives. A few flower magpies and a group of wild pigeons lost their direction in the dark sky, and soon they were smoked and fell in front of the white dragon; the two exhausted deer could not escape the engulfment of the flames... …Watching countless fresh lives disappear before his eyes, Bailong couldn't help shedding helpless and painful tears. However, it was these strings of tears that broke through the rocks, turned into springs, extinguished the fire on the ground, and saved the lives, and it has never stopped since then. Later, in order to commemorate Bailong, people called the spring water flowing from the cracks in the rock "Bailong River".

After walking in for a while, the road on the bank gradually disappeared, and there was a section of the road ahead that required wading through the water. Fortunately, there were some gravel in the water that could be used as stepping stones so as not to wet the shoes. There are more than a dozen bubbling springs here. The local people call this spring "Naixi" (meaning holy water), and they think it is the source of Bailong River. Standing on the rocky beach and looking up to the left, there is a cave overlooking the spring on the steep hillside. It is condescending and the tiger is majestic. This is "Dacang" - Tiger Cave.

Most people thought they had found the source and turned back; even if a small number of people walked forward for a while, they retreated when they saw the long road ahead; few people could continue to go deeper. Stick to it. It's a pity for those who gave up halfway, but they stopped when they were closest to the secret realm.

It is true that many times, you will feel that "there is no way out", but as long as you have the courage to try and stick to your teeth, you may end up with "another village". This is true of hiking and sightseeing, and so is the journey of life.

Of course, it is not enough to have a firm belief, and a scientific response is equally important. Many of the trails in Namo Canyon are gravel roads like this. In some places, the stones are not small. It is recommended that children who plan to hike should be equipped with relatively professional high-top hiking shoes to protect their ankles.

Our enthusiasm and desire for the canyon were not swayed by the remarks of other tourists, but we firmly walked towards the unknown depths between the two mountains. The road under the feet widened again, and on a small lawn in the valley, some Tibetans were leading horses and touting horse riding business. I learned from the Tibetans that it takes 1-1.5 hours to walk to the source of the real Bailong River. After looking at the rocky road ahead, we were worried about our daughter’s physical strength and could not stand her pleading. We decided to let the Tibetans lead us on horseback. Shan, the round-trip price for one horse was 260 yuan, and the final transaction for two horses was 500 yuan.

Each choose their favorite horse, get on the horse, and set off! After walking for a short distance, the lawn under our feet gradually narrowed, and the road turned into an irregular stone road as it rose. Our mounts carefully searched for a foothold between the stones, and struggled to climb up. The Tibetans who lead the horses told us a little skill of riding horses: when the horse goes uphill, our body should lean forward, and vice versa when going downhill, just lean back. The mountains on the left and right gradually converge towards the middle. As far as the eye can see, the cliffs on both sides of the narrowest point in front face each other, and it seems that the width of a gate is not even wide.

This situation made me unconsciously recite Li Bai's "Looking at Tianmen Mountain": "The Tianmen interrupts the Chu River, and the clear water flows eastward. There is no water in the middle of the gap, but the artistic conception is still very similar. Looking at the towering peaks on both sides, it seems that one by one stalagmites have broken out of the ground. The most surprising thing is that there is a tree growing on the tip of the stalagmites. My daughter named it "Stone Tree".

Watching the horses struggling up and down over the gate guarded by the two stone generals, we are thankful for our wise decision-there is no doubt that riding a horse is the most labor-saving way to explore the canyon.

As we were thinking about it, our eyes suddenly became clear, and the first open grass pasture in Namo Canyon appeared in front of us without any warning.

Standing in the middle of the meadow, as far as the eye can see, there are stone mountains rising from the ground, some are like stone forests, some are like castles, and some are continuous like the Great Wall. The shape of Shifeng is also full of strange things, there are flying eagle cliffs, and pigeon caves... It is really uncanny and lifelike.

Obviously, even though it is only 20 minutes away from Tiger Cave, there are really only a handful of people who come in. The reason is that it is estimated that the difficult uphill and downhill road just now blocked the progress of many people. On the way back, we encountered many foreigners walking into the canyon along the way, but there are very few Chinese people. As far as the way of travel is concerned, hiking seems to be more popular among foreigners.

Looking back at the way I came here just now, I am also a little confused. Where did we come in from? However, it is precisely because of the difficulty in getting in and out and the unique road that this piece of land surrounded by mountains can retain its originality and simplicity to the greatest extent.

Many people regard this meadow as the end of their itinerary, thinking that this is the whole of Namo Canyon, then they are very wrong. In fact, there is still a long way to go here from the real secret place, and it can only be regarded as an appetizer at best.

In the clear blue sky, long white clouds drift between peaks and peaks. There are many bare rocks in the center of the canyon, lush flowers and plants on both sides, blooming like a brocade, the fragrance of flowers is intoxicating, the running water is intermittent, and occasionally small animals escape from the front.

Although someone is pulling in front, my daughter and I have already mastered the balance on the horseback very well. At this time, she is busy looking left and right, using her imagination to name the mountain, and I am the camera and DV. Incorporate the beautiful scenery on both sides into photos and videos in turn.

The stone monkey was born, But! Where did the stone monkey go?

lion face

It was already deep into the valley, and there were no other people except the four of us along the way. The surrounding area was quiet and quiet, with only the rhythmic sound of horseshoes and the footsteps of the horse-leader in our ears.

The angle of view on horseback is still different from that on foot. Many times when you look around, you will find that the front, back, left, and right are covered by a large area of ​​bushes, and there is no passable road at all.

The brothers and sisters who lead the horses for us are very familiar with the terrain and roads here because they often walk. We walked for an hour, and they only took 40 minutes in the end. Under their twists and turns, we walked out of the low bushes, and a narrow path leading to the front appeared in front of us again.

In a timely manner, I remembered a famous saying by Mr. Lu Xun, "In fact, there is no road in the world. If there are many people walking, the road will become a road." In fact, life is not the same. When you need to determine the direction at a certain stage, you must dare to explore. Try to change the angle of thinking, not afraid of twists and turns, and persevere, in order to open up a new path and reach a new shore.

Different from Lianbao Yeze's gray main tone, Namo Canyon is a green world. Looking around, the protruding pinnacles in the greenery became embellishments instead, like a few isolated islands floating in the vast green ocean.

There are also mini canyons nested in the Grand Canyon, and the scenery is not inferior at all. The two are like tributaries and main streams, complementing each other and forming an interesting contrast.

The longer you walk in the canyon, the more you will feel its beauty. It is beautiful in the radian of the valley bottom, like a bridge connecting the left and right sides; it is beautiful in the moderate distance between the peaks, too far apart to form a valley, too close and feels depressing; it is even more beautiful in the embellishment of streams, without streams there is no valley , is just a narrow road, lacking a little poetry.

In front of the road, there is a huge boulder lying in the middle of the road. It looks like a guiding finger. My daughter once again used her imagination and named it "Immortal Guide".

After passing the "immortal guiding the way", the hillside on the left suddenly rises a lot, and the stone peaks on the top are completely different from the single-handed mountains seen before. They are connected into a piece, like a stone wall Standing on the top of the mountain, it seems to be guarding something.

The answers of the brothers and sisters quickly solved our doubts. Turning the hill on the right is the destination of our trip - the second larger grassland in Namo Canyon and the real source of Bailong River.

Looking at the time, it took a total of 40 minutes from departure to arrival, which not only saved nearly half an hour compared to hiking, but also for children, while enjoying the original ecological canyon scenery while enjoying the horse riding addiction, it can be said to be wonderful. Serves multiple purposes.

A cave on the hillside on this hill successfully caught our attention, and we guessed it should be a cave with a story. Sure enough, according to the brothers and sisters, in order to protect the cultural relics in the temple during the special period, the monks of Langmusi moved scriptures and ritual objects to the cave for storage, and many precious cultural relics escaped disaster. It can be said that this cave has played a great role in the continuation and development of the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in the Langmusi area.

"Walk to the water poor place, sit and watch the clouds rise." In such a beautiful place, the brothers and sisters helped us off the horse, and sat with us on the grass to have a rest. As far as the eye can see, this inaccessible grassland is far deeper than the first grassland, and it is a rare treasure. Seeing our horses munching on the fat green grass next to us, my sister joked, you really know how to choose your days when you come here. Facing the questions on our faces, my brother explained that the Namo Canyon in July is the most beautiful month of the year. At this time, the grass in the valley is fertile and the water is beautiful, wild flowers are everywhere, and it is a scene full of greenery. In August, the local herdsmen will bring a large number of cattle, sheep, and horses to graze here. After the livestock have eaten the green grass, the beautiful scenery in front of them will disappear, and it will only be restored in the next summer. The grand occasion in front of you.

After hearing what he said, I immediately felt like I was racing against the clock. I immediately stood up, took myself as the center, and took the camera to "click, click" to take a quick shot, for fear of missing a certain corner or detail. Yes, although this group of blockbusters is so beautiful that words are scarce, the good times don’t last long, the time of existence is too short, and it’s not easy to get, so it’s worth being greedy and keeping them all for yourself in a short period of time.

My daughter usually doesn't like to take pictures when she goes out, but now she asks me to take some pictures for her as souvenirs. To my surprise, until now, she still can't forget the trip to Namor. I asked her why, and she said that Namor is a place only in dreams.

The scenery in front of me is intoxicating, but I have a faint worry. Although it is still an uncultivated virgin land, what about the future? Will it also be developed like Zhayana and Lianbaoyeze, and then lose itself and lose its simple nature in the face of excessive commercialization?

I hope the mountains can block the turmoil of the outside world, and this pure land under the blue sky and white clouds can go its own way and continue like this. I hope that everyone can have the opportunity to come here to find the paradise of their own dreams, and I hope that our descendants can also stand in the center of the Namor mystery like we do today.

Patronizing Gangai, I forgot to talk about the business~~~ The following is a grand launch of the authentic source of Bailong River - the trickle in the grass. The brothers and sisters said that the water of the source is the pure water in the real nature. We tasted it and it was true. There is a refreshing feeling.

Different from the water speed at the mouth of the valley, the streams here are very suitable for the surrounding environment without competition. They don't fight or fight, and flow through the gravel in a clear and shallow way, flowing to the outside world.

It is difficult to connect the stream in front of you with the big river, but the world is so wonderful. He and his daughter recalled the famous saying in "Encouraging Learning" by Master Xun: "If you don't accumulate small steps, you can't reach a thousand miles; if you don't accumulate small streams, you can't form a river." Everything in nature has undergone a process from quantitative change to qualitative change. Why do you need long-term accumulation if you want to succeed in your study and work?

We spent a quarter of an hour wandering around the neighborhood and resting. Seeing that it was getting late, we took the initiative to ask the brothers and sisters to prepare to return. It's a pity, if I don't have to drive for more than 5 hours to the airport, I really want to stay here for a while.

On the way back, the clouds in the sky gradually thickened, and the Namo Canyon at this time was quite different from the time when we came. To be honest, I personally prefer to have the blue sky and white clouds as a foil, so we are very lucky at the moment, and at the same time, our hearts are full of gratitude. We are grateful to God for showing the best Namor in front of us.

Nearing 10 o'clock, people began to enter the mountain one after another, but basically foreigners are the main ones. It can be said that the number of foreigners I met here is more than that I met in other places in Gannan. I guess it is because of "Tibet's Horizon" "The impact of this book. Although I politely greeted each of them say hello along the way, in fact, I would like to borrow the words of my brother and sister to tell them that you made the most correct choice and came to the most beautiful place in the best season.

40 minutes passed quickly, and a stunning canyon ride also drew a successful conclusion to our entire trip to Gannan. When it came time to part with the dream, I was a bit reluctant. But life has to go on, goodbye, Namo Canyon! Goodbye, every grass and tree here, every mountain and stone, every stream is top-notch! I will remember your original appearance forever!

Tips:

1. Namo Canyon is located in Langmusi Scenic Area. You can see the entrance of the canyon from the parking lot of Gerdi Temple. There is no separate ticket, which is covered by the ticket of Gerdi Temple.

2. Namo Canyon is inaccessible, especially the source of Bailong River is charming, suitable for hiking, horse riding and other activities. It takes about 2 hours to hike to the source of the Bailong River and back. The road conditions are not very ideal. The gravel road is mainly used. It is recommended to equip professional hiking shoes; the more labor-saving way is to ride a horse, pulled by local Tibetans. It takes about 1.5 hours to go back and forth, and the price is 250 Yuan / person.

3. Namo Canyon has not been developed so far, and its original appearance has been preserved to the greatest extent. In order to leave the beautiful scenery to more people, please pay attention to protecting the environment when you play, and don't litter.

4. Play time: half a day.

5. Recommended index: ★★★★★.

【Cooperation丨Nine-story Buddha Pavilion】

Leaving Langmusi, our three-day Zoige Grassland Clockwise Ring Road (Gansu—>Sichuan—>Qinghai—>Gansu) also ended perfectly. On the way back to Lanzhou Airport, we specially chose to go through Zuozuo City to see the more distinctive Milarepa Buddhist Pavilion in the Tibetan area.

Hezuo City is the capital of Gannan Prefecture. It is transliterated as "Heicuo" in Tibetan, which means the place where antelopes live together. Cooperation is an important commercial port of the ancient "South Silk Road". Since ancient times, it has been an important hub connecting the Central Plains and Western Shu with the Anduo Tibetan area. It is known as the "Shambhala South Silk Road". Milarepa Buddhist Pavilion is located in the northern suburb of the urban area. It is the only fort-style religious building in the whole of Tibet, and it is also a representative building of the White Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

The Buddha Pavilion has a magnificent appearance and strong colors. The interior is resplendent and magnificent, covered with murals, and there is a prayer wheel outside the pavilion. The construction of the Buddhist Pavilion is mainly to commemorate Milarepa, the most legendary master in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and one of the founders of the Kagyu Sect (White Sect).

The Buddha Pavilion was first built in the 42nd year of Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty (1777). The original pavilion was destroyed in a special period, and the existing building was rebuilt in May 1988, which took four years to complete.

The Buddhist Pavilion has nine floors, and each floor is a separate Buddhist hall. Each floor represents an era or a branch of Tibetan Buddhism, and includes Tibetan cultural celebrities who have been deified, including Songtsengan Bu and Princess Wencheng and so on. You need to take off your shoes when entering the Buddha Pavilion, and you can buy disposable slippers to put on. In the Buddhist hall, you need to go around clockwise, and you can go up to the roof along the corridor stairs.

In addition, the large-scale murals here are also worth seeing. Their superb painting techniques are integrated with colored paintings, Thangkas, and Buddha statues, reflecting the content of Tibetan Buddhism and having high artistic value.

Tips:

1. The Milarepa Buddhist Pavilion is open from 8:30 to 18:00, and the ticket price is 20 yuan per person. The Buddhist Pavilion has nine floors, and each floor is visited clockwise.

2. Play time: 1 hour.

3. Recommended index: ★★★★.

【Yong Deng丨Two episodes】

On the way back to the airport, there were two small episodes: one was when I was on the expressway, I experienced hail for the first time in my life. The sound of hailstones hitting the car is still unforgettable to me. I have not encountered anything during the few days in Gannan. Extreme weather, I am secretly thankful, I did not expect to let us see the changeable grassland weather before leaving; the second is driving on the Lanzhou Ring Road, a few kilometers around the city, there is a dark area, heavy rain outside the car, because I am in a hurry, so the speed is relatively fast Quick, I didn’t pay attention to the large area of ​​water on the overtaking lane when overtaking. As a result, the splashed water formed a water curtain and covered the front windshield at once, and the front suddenly became a visual blind spot. Shaking violently, extremely thrilling, the scene is still scary when I think about it now.

Although the written description is understated, the above two episodes just give two big reminders to children's shoes who are preparing for a self-driving tour in Gannan:

One is to pay more attention to the weather forecast when traveling on grasslands. When hiking or riding outdoors in mountainous areas or open grasslands, it is especially necessary to pay close attention to weather changes; if you encounter extreme weather such as thunder and hail on the way, you should stop related activities immediately and find a safe place nearby; If necessary, the itinerary can be adjusted reasonably according to the weather conditions.

The second is to keep in mind to control the speed of the car when driving on the grassland. The national highways, provincial highways, and county highways in Gannan are all two-way two-lane roads. There are many uphill and mountain roads. Many road sections have no guardrails, and animals can go on the road at will. Although signs with a speed limit of 80 can be seen everywhere on the road, there are still a small number of vehicles that are lucky. They will unconsciously speed when they see that there are no speed cameras or that there are few cars on the road, and random overtaking occurs from time to time. These behaviors not only It seriously threatens the driving safety of other vehicles, and it is even more irresponsible to yourself and your family. Please consciously resist traffic violations and ensure the safety of your journey.

[End丨It's hard to say goodbye]

As soon as I came back from Gannan, I started to organize photos and videos non-stop, and began to record this different itinerary. The reason why I say it is different is because it is different from the previous trips where you often do strategies, grab air tickets, and book hotels a long time in advance. This time, all the preparatory work was done within two weeks before departure, which can be called an event. Pack your bags and go for a trip. Although it was rushed, the ending was very happy, and it was the first time for our family of three to travel with my mother, so it felt very special.

I wrote the travel notes intermittently for a month, and when I looked back at the previous article at the end, I found that the content of the record was a bit complicated. The narration was lyrical and at the same time included strategy guides, and the introduction of natural landscapes was interspersed with religious and humanistic narration. But this also shows from another aspect that Gannan is not as simple as what we see in our eyes. I sincerely hope that you can understand the stories behind the beautiful scenery, the people, things and things living in this land, and understand the Tibetan compatriots from my writing. understanding of nature and devotion to religion.

Finally, let me talk about the top 10 Gannan attractions in my mind:

1. Namo Canyon, an unpolluted virgin land, maintains the original ecology;

2. Lianbao Yeze, the perfect combination of the holy mountain and the holy lake, the soul is purified;

3. Zhayana, although suspected of over-commercialization, is still a secret place;

4. Ganga Grassland, Baishiya's beautiful sunset blockbuster, the most healing scene;

5. Gahai Lake, the blue sky and white clouds reflected by the magic mirror on the plateau, you can’t tell the real from the fake;

6. Hongyuan Grassland, the intersection of textbook stories and reality, to experience the difficulty of the Long March;

7. You will never be disappointed in the first bend of the Yellow River with nine bends, and the scene of the long river setting in the sun;

8. Labrang Monastery, the hall of high-level Buddhist studies of Tibetan Buddhism, the longest sutra-turning corridor;

9. Awancang Wetland, the silver light on the huge green carpet is the most beautiful;

10. Ruoergai Grassland, the alpine meadow with thousands of ravines, is shocking only when you experience it firsthand.

A few days after I came back, due to the spread of the Delta virus in China, there have been repeated outbreaks in some places. Due to the upgrading of prevention and control measures in various places, many people's summer travel plans had to be cancelled. While we are thankful that we did not encounter any major trouble during the time we went out, we also pray that the epidemic will pass as soon as possible and that society will return to normal order as soon as possible, so that more people can go out and enjoy the great rivers and mountains of the motherland. We firmly believe that this day will come soon!