Things to do in Daofu

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Ganzi Prefecture

Moshi Park Scenic Area

Moshi Park Scenic Spot is located in Bamei Town, south of Daofu County. Naturally, it belongs to the northern end of the Daxue Mountains in the Hengduan Mountains. People usually call this scenic spot Bamei Stone Forest, but according to the professional definition, it has different names, emphasizing its tectonic function, and it is called "tectonic stone forest". There are many stone forests in the world, but most of them are karst stone forests and sandy stone forests. Stone forests formed by special geological landforms like Moshi Park Scenic Area are very rare. Looking at the scenic spot from a distance, you can tell it at a glance from the color tone. The stone forest is gray toned, and the mountains, woods, grasslands, and flowing water around it are colorful. These changeable colors are like the changing scenery of the stage, and also make the stone forest present different beauty in different seasons. In summer, the green hills are green and green, green grass and wild flowers are everywhere, and the stone forest is like a gem resting on a colorful carpet; in autumn, the mountains are full of golden withered grass, fiery red maple trees, and the stone forest seems to be reborn from the ashes.

No. 5 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Ganzi Prefecture

Yala Snow Mountain

Yala Snow Mountain Attraction(Phase I entrance) is located in Daofu County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is a shining pearl on the Western Sichuan Small Loop and Dandao Secret Realm Loop. Yala Snow Mountain Attraction is a national 4A-level tourist Attraction, known as the "Little Switzerland of Western Sichuan". It is not only a paradise for photography, hiking, and camping enthusiasts, but also an ideal place for travel photography, wedding photography, and outdoor weddings. The main peak of Yala Snow Mountain is 5,820 meters above sea level. Its Tibetan name is "Xa Xue Ya La Ga Bo", which means the Eastern White Yak Mountain. It is not only one of the four sacred mountains in Tibet, but also the first sacred mountain crossed by the ancient Han-Tibetan Tea-Horse Road. It is known as the "Second Shambhala" and is a sacred mountain that represents the wisdom of "giving up" and "dedication". The Yala Snow Mountain Attraction covers an area of ​​251 square kilometers, with five major charms: ancient (ancient road), holy (sacred mountain), clean (second Shambhala), harmony (harmony between man and nature), and wonder (outdoor hiking, spiritual baptism). You can go outing to enjoy the flowers in spring, camping in summer to escape the heat, take pictures of colorful forests and red leaves in autumn, and play in the snow in winter. The Attraction is based on the 15-kilometer-long Rainbow Scenic Avenue. Along the way, there are many beautiful check-in points with beautiful scenery and good meanings, as well as a 5-kilometer sightseeing plank road and a 4-kilometer hiking route. You can get a close look at the "Crown of Western Sichuan" Yala Snow Mountain, the "Jade Sea" Yala Youcuo, the "Alpine Bonsai" Youcuo Wetland, the "Yala Twin Walls" Sister Lakes, Flower Lake, virgin forests and natural meadows. When you enter the Attraction, you can not only measure the vicissitudes of the Sichuan-Tibet Ancient Tea-Horse Road with your feet, feel the sacred mountain and holy water of Yala with your eyes, but also understand the wisdom of giving and dedication with your heart.

Yala Snow Mountain Viewing Platform

Yala Snow Mountain Viewing Platform is located at Tagong Grassland, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Yala Snow Mountain. The full Tibetan name for Yala Snow Mountain is "Xiaxue Yala Gabo," meaning "Eastern White Yak Mountain." On clear days, you can see the golden peak of the mountain glistening in the sunlight, which is spectacular and mysterious. On the grassland below, herds of cattle and sheep often graze leisurely, creating a beautiful scene of harmony between humanity and nature with the snow mountain in the distance. Here, you can fully enjoy the tranquility and grandeur of nature and experience the charm of the plateau.

Bameizhen

Bamei Town, formerly the seat of Qianning County, boasts magnificent residences, integrating architecture, religion, culture, art, and ethnic customs. The scenery is dominated by plateau grasslands. If Xinduqiao is known as a "photographer's paradise," then Bamei's scenery surpasses it. The stunning beauty of the Bamei Earth and Stone Forest rivals the limestone karst stone forests of South China, but its geological origin, landscape characteristics, micro-geomorphology, and natural environment are unique. Similar mylonite earth and stone forests have not been reported in China or abroad. The Bamei Earth and Stone Forest landscape is located near the 36th Road Station of National Highway 317. It forms the Xianshui River Fault Zone, formed along the Kangding-Daofu-Luhuo line, and is most prominent near Bamei. The forest, set against the backdrop of vast meadows, rolling snow-capped mountains, charming Tibetan villages, and earth and stone forests, creates a breathtaking landscape. Huiyuan Temple is located in a small mountain basin between Bamei and Danba on Provincial Highway 303, at an altitude of 3,600 meters. Its meticulous layout and ornate architecture, imbued with local characteristics, make it a masterpiece of Kham architectural art. Yala Sacred Mountain, located southeast of Bamei Town, belongs to Huiyuan Temple. Its majestic peak, capped year-round with snow, is a sacred mountain revered by Huiyuan Temple and its surrounding communities.

No. 15 of Night Attractions in Ganzi Prefecture

Yuke Grassland

Yuke Grassland, located in Daofu County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, at an altitude of approximately 3,500 meters, is known as the "Kamba Altay" and is a hidden gem on the "Dan Dao Secret Realm" loop in western Sichuan. It integrates snow-capped mountains, forests, meadows, lakes, and hot springs, offering a diverse range of activities to satisfy different needs such as nature sightseeing, outdoor experiences, and cultural exploration. There are many core nature sightseeing activities here. You can visit Huanxitai, one of the "Top Ten Campsites" recommended by *Chinese National Geography*, for panoramic views. The solitary tree on the meadow is a landmark photo spot, perfect for strolling, picnicking, and taking cinematic photos. Outdoor experiences are equally exciting. In the grassland area, you can experience horseback riding, led by herdsmen, galloping across the grassland, weaving through seas of flowers and forests. The grassland terrain is gentle, and the Milky Way is clearly visible at night. You can pitch a tent, cook, and stargaze, experiencing the romance of highland camping. Adorable marmots are commonly seen on the grassland; you can feed them from a safe distance and capture their cute peeking-out moments. Intangible cultural heritage and cultural experiences are also not to be missed. In a Tibetan courtyard in Yuke Town, you can try making your own tsatsa (a traditional Tibetan offering), which you can take home or have delivered to the temple by the shopkeeper to accumulate merit – a great activity for families. Explore the unique main tourist service area – the Yuke Natural Ecological Museum – with its coffee shop, bookstore, specialty restaurants, cultural and creative products, and handicrafts, where you can learn about grassland ecology and culture, browse creative products, and enjoy coffee and relaxation. Visit the Yuke Tibetan Village, see the distinctive Bengke Tibetan houses, interact with the herders, experience yak milking, and witness a Tibetan wedding, feeling the simplicity and warmth of Tibetan culture. It is recommended to visit the Yuke Grassland in summer (June-August) or autumn (September-October). Driving there provides good road conditions; be sure to take precautions against sunburn and keep warm at high altitudes, respecting local customs and the natural environment for a more enjoyable trip.

Huiyuan Temple

Huiyuan Temple was built in the seventh year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign in the Qing Dynasty. At that time, the Mongolian Junggars invaded Tibet and the order in the Tibetan area was very chaotic. In order to ensure the safety of Kelsang Gyatso, the Qing government specially selected Ganning (formerly Taining), the lotus treasure land, to build a temple. The Qing government allocated treasury silver for the construction of temples, and used a large number of craftsmen and migrant workers to build magnificent, unique and resplendent temples. Huiyuan Temple has been rebuilt three times. The newly built temple is a palace-style gold-tiled roof, equipped with golden vases, Falun and beasts, painted paintings of emperors and generals of past dynasties, various Thangka paintings, and living Buddha statues on the eaves and purlins; relief sculptures Kowloon's Nine Lions Gate, with fat beams and fat columns, is beautifully laid out; the courtyard is spacious and rigorously laid out; the halls and courtyards are harmonious and decent. The building of the temple is gorgeous, with local characteristics, and it is a fine art of Kamba architecture. The temple now has a collection of various precious cultural relics. The temple recites scriptures for various sacrificial activities for 245 days every year. but". During the puja, believers from all over the country come to worship and chant the scriptures, which is very lively.

Jiayilacuo Lake

Longdeng Grassland

Longdeng Prairie, also known as "Gesartong", means the "grassland" of King Gesar. There is a sea child on the Longdeng Prairie called Zhumcuo, which means "Emerald Sea". It is said to be King Gesar. The emerald headgear left behind by his love Fei Zhumu turned into water plants in the sea. There is a red sect temple Rangu Temple beside Jumcuo Lake. It is a unique Tibetan Buddhist temple. The upper and lower floors of the tower of the temple hall enshrine 108 double-cultivation Buddha statues hugging each other. Upstairs and downstairs There are 10 large-scale double-cultivation Buddha statues below each, with a grand scale.

yun rao ya la xue shan guan jing ping tai

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is home to many adorable giant pandas, and you can observe these charming national treasures up close. Located in the northern suburbs of Chengdu, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is approx. 10 km from the city center, and its construction fully simulates the wild living environment of giant pandas, with lakes, streams, bamboo forests, lawns, and more. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has many "panda villas", which are enclosed leisure areas for pandas. Each features an outdoor yard and an indoor rest room. When the weather is cool, the giant pandas play in the yard, and visitors can watch the adorable pandas through the railings; when the weather is hot, the giant pandas hide in the air-conditioned rest rooms, and visitors can only watch them through the glass. You can also see pandas in the new area of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, and they are our hero pandas. The pandas' home is bigger, and their activity range is wider. Seeing pandas is the main draw, but there is plenty more to do and see. A must-visit is our landmark building — the internet-famous Panda Tower. As a new landmark of Chengdu, it stands at the highest point of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The tower is 69.8 m tall with 11 floors. Its exterior resembles a giant bamboo shoot, while the interior is shaped like a blooming hibiscus flower. Inside, 81 platforms are distributed throughout, allowing visitors to enjoy the views of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding from multiple angles. There is also the Art Museum (New Building) located in the dense forest area of the new district, which uses emerging exhibition methods such as multi-sensory interaction, lighting installations, interactive installations, and thermal sensing to create immersive exhibition scenes for visitors. The new area of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding plans to set up science popularization display boards and interactive facilities with rich content and diverse forms in four major zones, so that visitors can learn about giant pandas while watching them and enhance their interactive experience. On festivals related to animal and environmental protection, themed science popularization activities will also be carried out for visitors of different age groups, such as interactive lectures, family-friendly science popularization, mystery exploration games, and other activities that combine education with entertainment. When you're tired from playing, you can also go enjoy a musical — "Panda": it vividly presents to the audience the scene of magical animals, with the giant panda as their representative, coexisting harmoniously, sharing nature, and loving life on the beautiful and fertile land of Chengdu, Sichuan. Through the form of a musical, it reflects the livable landscape of Chengdu, Sichuan, and the simple and leisurely life of the local people. In terms of total area, it has increased from the original 1,035 mu to 3,570 mu, expanding by 2.5 times. During the expansion, the original topography and landforms were fully followed and preserved, and the multi-level landscape belts of mountain valleys formed by mountain gullies and streams were utilized to create 11 giant panda venues, multiple science popularization venues, and visitor pedestrian streets and other sightseeing locations. After the expansion project is completed, it can accommodate no fewer than 180 giant pandas and companion animals such as red pandas and golden snub-nosed monkeys. As of now, multiple giant pandas and red pandas have moved into the "new homes" in the expansion area, and rare animals such as golden snub-nosed monkeys will also be waiting to welcome everyone in the future. In terms of design, the new area is equipped with ample visitor facilities in accordance with 5A attraction standards. It not only provides basic facilities such as sightseeing vehicles and tourist restrooms, but also equips the hill commercial street, the exit commercial street, and scattered commercial complexes in various zones with a large number of tourism service facilities. The planned business formats include dining, souvenir sales, postal services, cinemas, theaters, and experiential education, among others, and the quantity is sufficient to meet visitor demand. After nearly a year of operation, in response to the practical issues of the new area's large size and uneven distribution of supporting facilities, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding has added multiple beverage vending machines, direct drinking water dispensers, and shared convenience facilities throughout the new area to improve the visitor experience. Next, the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding will further supplement and improve visitor rest facilities, inquiry service facilities, and guide and navigation facilities to meet visitor needs. The expanded Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding will help Chengdu build a demonstration site of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, improve conditions for giant panda research and conservation, protect biodiversity, fully demonstrate the brand value, cultural value, and economic value of giant pandas, and build the cultural tourism brand of "Sanxingdui, Jiuzhaigou, and Giant Pandas: A Leisurely Journey Through Sichuan." New businesses and projects such as the Panda Art Museum, IMAX Theater, and Panda Theater are now open, meeting visitors' needs for dining, entertainment, sightseeing, shopping, and leisure while they watch giant pandas.