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XIAHE
Things to do
What to see
Accommodation
Getting there
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 Xiahe
(2900m) is an easily accessible village to admire the Tibetan
culture outside Tibet. If you pass Lanzhou on your silk road
itinerary, make sure that you have two days to make an excursion
to Xiahe, a five-hour bus trip from Lanzhou.
Your eyes would be refreshed in Xiahe by striking crimson
robe and yellow hats of monks, as well as beautiful Tibetan
architecture, green grasslands and clear blue sky. The rich
color contrasts vividly to the monotonous color of ruins and
Gobi desert on the silk road.
Link: A
brief introduction of Xiahe and Labrang Monastery
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 Things
to do:
> Walk the 3km kora, the circumambulation route leading
around the pilgrimage points in Labrang Monastery: Chortens,
Gompas, and hundreds of prayer wheels. In the dusk, monks,
nuns, nomads and farmers would come out to fulfill their daily
kora. (see left photo).
" Circumambulation is a traditional Buddhist practice and
has been part of Tibetan pilgrimage and veneration for more
than a thousand years "
> Talk with monks or nuns.
> Walk to the Sanke Grassland (11/2 hour) and rent a horse
for ride from Tibetan nomads.
> Rent a car and make an excursion to the Ganjia Grassland,
if you stay for three or four days.
What
to see:
 >
Labrang Monastery: Y31 with guide. Otherwise walk
quietly inside the monastery. In the morning, monks gather in
the inner courtyard, recite some sutras while waiting for their
daily ceremony. (see right photo). Two monks would appear on
the roof in front of the Wheel of Life and blow a horn. A senior
monk, dressed sumptuously (see photo below), walks out from
the temple, and annonces the beginning of the ceremony.
> Golden Chorten (stupa)
: Y5. Fabulous Tibetan architecture, the most beautiful Chorten
that I have ever seen. (see upper right photo)
 Accommodation:
> Hotels:
- It is heard that Tara Guesthouse
is the best place in Xiahe for backpackers.
Single for Y50. Double for Y60. Dormitory rooms:Y15 per bed.
- We stayed at Dasha Hotel: Double
for Y60 with WC and hotwater shower, but the bathroom is not
very clean.
- One upper standard hotel : Labrang Hotel
is located a little bit isolated from the village.Y100-Y160
for a standard room.
> Food: Lanzhou noodle(la1mian4). (Y4) |
Getting
there and away:
Langmusi --> Hezuo --> Xiahe
From
Langmusi to Hezuo, see Langmusi/Getting
there
From Hezuo to Xiahe: Y9, 21/2h.
Xiahe
--> Lanzhuo:
Y20
Bus leaves at 7:20 from Xiahe every day, and
arrives in Lanzhou around noon.
Lanzhou has two daily buses to Xiahe. The first one leaves
at 8:30 from the north bus station.
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Before Xiahe: Langmusi,
After Xiahe: Lanzhou.
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Problems:
It
seemed that there was no garbage disposal in the residential
area of monks. The road was covered by rubbish and plastic
bags. On the contrary, Langmusi
was relatively clean and much more attractive.
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Traveled
to Xiahe in August 2000. © copyright: chinabackpacker.com
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