Listen up! Gannan 5 Days 4 Nights Nanny-Level Guide
Who knows, family! Gannan is truly the ultimate healing destination😭 Once you go, you’ll be amazed forever!
The healing blue at 3000 meters altitude, vast grasslands with cattle and sheep grazing in the breeze, Tibetan temples with golden roofs shining brightly, misty secret villages... all blowing away the "workday blues"! Here’s a beginner-friendly 5 days 4 nights guide that’s straightforward and foolproof—just copy it and go~
🗓Recommended itinerary (Lanzhou in and out, no detours, perfect for the lazy)
Day 1: Arrive in Lanzhou → Linxia (2.5h drive)
First thing, dive into a bowl of authentic beef noodles! Look for “one clear, two white, three red, four green, five yellow,” the broth is so fresh you’ll stomp your feet~ In the afternoon, head to Linxia, stay near the convenient Bafang Shisan Alley! In the evening, stroll through the alleys full of Hui culture, buy some fragrant oil cake with a bowl of covered tea, the slow pace is so relaxing🌙 Key point: prices here are super friendly, 50 RMB per person and you’ll be full!
Day 2: Linxia → Xiahe (Labrang Monastery + Sangke Grassland) (3h drive)
Get up early to visit Labrang Monastery! The world’s longest prayer corridor must be walked through, join Tibetan moms spinning the prayer wheels, the morning bell instantly calms your mind~ Must-do: rent Tibetan clothes for photos! About 80 RMB per person including makeup, every shot looks like a masterpiece (Tip: ask for an all-inclusive price first and bargain to avoid pitfalls). Have Tibetan food for lunch, Tibetan rice and butter tea warm you up, perfect for the high-altitude stomach~ In the afternoon, visit Sangke Grassland, free entry! Horse riding costs about 50 RMB per round, if lucky you might spot a marmot with a flashy patch🐿 Stay overnight in a Mongolian yurt on the grassland, if the weather is good you can see the Milky Way, so romantic it’ll make you cry!
Day 3: Xiahe → Ganjia Secret Realm → Zhagana (4h drive)
In the morning, trek through the Ganjia Secret Realm, the Danxia landform of the white stone cliffs is incredibly photogenic, drone shots are breathtaking! Visit the Octagonal City ruins to feel the weight of a thousand years of history. For lunch, head to Hezuo Market for yak hotpot, who understands the joy of eating big chunks of meat! Super satisfying~ In the afternoon, arrive at Zhagana, tip: after buying the ticket, head straight to the Dari viewing platform to wait for sunset! Golden sunlight on the snowy Tibetan village is wallpaper-level beauty with every shot~ Stay overnight in a Tibetan wooden house, open the window to see the snow-capped mountains, the atmosphere is perfect!
Day 4: Zhagana → Langmu Temple (2.5h drive)
Listen up! Get up early! Rush to Fairy Beach to shoot Zhagana’s morning mist, clouds and fog swirling around the village, it’s like a real-life fairyland~ In the morning, head to Langmu Temple, which straddles Sichuan and Gansu provinces. The golden roof of the Gansu temple shines brightly, the Sichuan temple is quiet and ancient. Important: you can only view the sky burial platform from afar, respect local customs, absolutely no random photos! In the afternoon, wander around Langmu Temple town, have a cup of Tibetan yogurt, sweet and sour and very refreshing, the slow pace of life is so healing~ Stay overnight in Langmu Temple, experience Thangka painting, the sense of accomplishment is huge!
Day 5: Langmu Temple → Lanzhou (4h drive)
Take it slow on the way back, passing through the Ruoergai Grassland, the yak herds and prayer flags by the roadside are natural scenery, tip: remember to park safely on the side for photos, watch out for cow dung underfoot~ Back in Lanzhou, head straight to Zhengning Road Snack Street! Egg milk fermented rice, grilled lamb skewers, and finally buy some Lanzhou lilies as souvenirs, a perfect ending~
💡Gannan Tips (Key points! Avoid pitfalls with these)
- Altitude sickness: average altitude 3000m+, listen up! Drink Rhodiola 3 days in advance, avoid strenuous exercise upon arrival, bring an oxygen bottle (1 per person) and altitude sickness medicine, try not to shower the first night to avoid catching a cold🧴
- Transportation: attractions are very spread out! Tip: it’s best to hire a car or join a local small group tour, about 80 RMB per person per day, safe and worry-free; for self-driving, note the many winding mountain roads, download offline maps in advance (Rock Road has no signal!)
- Clothing: tip! Onion-style layering is always the best! Short sleeves + fleece + windbreaker is the standard, with a 20-degree temperature difference between day and night, even in summer bring a thin down jacket~ Wear bright colors for photos, the chance of great shots doubles!
- Food: must-try list: Linxia Hezhou old stir-fry, Xiahe Tibetan buns, Zhagana barley cakes, Langmu Temple yak meat! Tip to avoid: don’t touch the “wild mushroom soup” in scenic spots, it’s easy to get ripped off!
Gannan’s beauty is pure and healing! June to September is the best season, wildflowers bloom and cattle and sheep roam freely, leave your worries to the grasslands and the wind~ Brave souls enjoy the world first, save this and set off now!
- Taboos: listen up! No photos or touching Buddha statues inside temples, spin prayer wheels clockwise; respect local customs, don’t enter Tibetan tents casually~