Gannan—Stepping into the Real-Life Wizard of Oz

Life is a wilderness, not a track. This time, drive yourself to Gannan to embrace that intoxicating pure land. Riding all the way, looking out from the car window, you see rolling mountains covered with vast expanses of green, dotted with uniquely shaped rocks like nature’s spontaneous artworks. The sky above is purely blue, with big fluffy white clouds seemingly within reach. Of course, Gannan’s beauty goes far beyond this. Crystal-clear streams shimmer under the sunlight, with unknown wildflowers and grasses growing by the banks—yellow and purple little flowers scattered like stars, adding a playful touch to this green world. There are also dogs lazily sunbathing beside temples, quiet and content, as if they too are enjoying this special time unique to Gannan. The winding Yellow River with its endless sands rushes to the sea, never to return! Here in Tangke Town, the Yellow River meets the White River. After passing through the North Qinling Mountains, Longmen Mountain, and Daxue Mountain, the river forms the famous nine bends and eighteen turns. The scenery is truly beautiful—so beautiful you don’t want to leave! Ruoergai Flower Lake: Stunning under cloudy skies. Luckily, I brought binoculars and a telephoto lens, which allowed me to see various water birds and even a family of black-necked cranes. Animal and bird lovers must not miss this. Zagana, a place whose name itself carries a fairy-like aura, is truly breathtaking beyond words! Mist-shrouded stone city, layered Tibetan villages, endless green fields... it’s like an “Eastern Little Switzerland” hidden deep in the mountains! Along the way, I couldn’t help but capture every moment with my camera and joyfully take photos with this beautiful scenery, wanting to keep every bit of Gannan etched in my heart. If you also long to escape the noise of the city and feel the healing power of nature, then you must drive to Gannan at least once. Trust me, every scene here will captivate you.