Gannan Travel Guide

Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is located in the southern part of Gansu Province, China. It is one of the ten Tibetan autonomous prefectures in the country. It is located on the northeast edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, connected to Aba Prefecture in Sichuan to the south, Huangnan Prefecture and Goluo Prefecture of Qinghai to the southwest, and to the east Its face and north are adjacent to Longnan, Dingxi and Linxia of this province. Located in southern Gansu Province, China. It covers an area of ​​45,000 square kilometers. It is located in the transition zone between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau. The terrain is high in the northwest and low in the southeast. Gannan’s tourism resources are extremely rich and colorful. The tourism resources are of complete types, high grade, rich in characteristics, and characterized by originality, mystery and diversity. There are 153 scenic spots in 7 categories and 33 species available for development and utilization across the state. With the rapid rise and development of global tourism in recent years, Gannan's unique and charming tourism resources have attracted widespread attention from the world and the favor of Chinese and foreign tourists. It is known as Shambhala, a wonderland on earth that is beautiful, magical, pure and holy, and admired by the world.

Best season: June to August. At this time, the temperature in Gannan is generally between 15 and 30°C, which is cool and pleasant, and the grasslands are full of Gesang flowers.

Recommended tour: 6 days

Notes

Weather

The temperature difference between day and night in Gannan is large, and the weather is changeable, with frequent wind and rain. A sudden situation occurs. Be sure to bring cold-proof clothing and prepare umbrellas, raincoats, and rain boots in case of emergencies. On sunny days, the sun is scorching and ultraviolet rays are strong, so you must have sun protection products such as hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses.

Gannan is covered with grasslands and hilly landforms. On rainy days, the roads are extremely muddy and some sections of the road will be difficult to walk. Be sure to check the weather conditions before going out.

By car

The Gannan area is sparsely populated, with scattered scenic spots and inconvenient transportation. It is recommended to charter a car if possible. For safety and financial reasons, it is best to go together as you can share the burden. We can also take care of each other for fares.

It is allowed to smoke when taking a bus in the northwest region, so if you take a shuttle bus, you must occupy a favorable position by the window and ensure that the window can be opened. On the one hand, it is convenient to enjoy the scenery along the way, and on the other hand, it ensures that you can obtain Fresh air.

Customs and Taboos

Tibetans are a nation where all people believe in Buddhism. When you go to the countryside, follow the local customs. Please be sure to respect the local customs.

1. Offering hada is the highest standard of Tibetan hospitality, expressing warm welcome and sincere respect to guests. Hada is mainly white, but also light blue or light yellow. It is generally about 1.5 meters to 2 meters long. The best ones are blue, yellow, white, green and red Hada, which are used in the highest and most solemn ceremonies such as Buddhist ceremonies;

2. When drinking butter tea, the host pours the tea, and the guests should wait for the host to hold it with both hands. Only when you are in front of you can you take it and drink it; when refilling the cup, the guest must tilt the tea bowl forward with both hands to show respect;

3. Encounter temples, Mani piles, pagodas and other religious places along the way Facilities must be circled from left to right, counterclockwise in Bon temples (rarely seen); ritual objects and braziers are not allowed to be crossed, and prayer tubes and prayer wheels are not allowed to be reversed.

4. When entering the temple, it is taboo to smoke, touch Buddha statues, read scriptures, and ring bells and drums. You are not allowed to touch religious objects such as amulets and rosary beads worn by lamas; you must be quiet in temples, sit upright when sitting, and avoid sitting on the seat of a living Buddha;

5. Tibetans generally do not eat Don’t force yourself to eat fish, shrimp, chicken and eggs, but now many Tibetans have begun to eat them;

6. It is taboo for others to touch the top of their heads with their hands;

7. When receiving guests , whether walking or talking, always give priority to guests or elders, and use honorifics, such as adding the word "La" after the name to show respect and kindness. It is taboo to call them by their first names. When greeting guests, you should bow down and smile. When sitting indoors, sit cross-legged, do not straighten your legs, put the soles of your feet facing people, and do not look around. When accepting a gift, use both hands to receive it. When giving gifts, bow down and raise your hands above your head. When offering tea, wine, or cigarettes, you should offer them with both hands, and do not put your fingers into the mouth of the bowl.