[2024 Kangding Attraction] Travel Guide for Kangding City (Updated Oct)
Featured Neighborhoods
Address:
Ganjun Bridge, Ganding Prefecture, Sichuan Province
Opening times:
Open year round, 24/7Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
2-3 hours
Kangding | A Severely Underrated Treasure of a Small Town (with a 2-day Tour Guide)
| A Severely Underrated Treasure of a Small Town (with a 2-day Tour Guide). How many people, like me,
fall in love with a city because of a song
Every time I go to Western Sichuan
The first stop is always Kangding
The familiar ballad involuntarily comes to mind 🎶
Galloping horses on the mountain slopes ⛰️
A drifting cloud in the sky ☁️
As the eternal first stop on a trip to Western Sichuan
The cultural and natural scenery of Kangding is really underrated
Please reserve at least two days for her
Not only can you experience the Tibetan folk customs, but there are also countless delicacies and beautiful sights!
Attached is the Kangding 2-day tour guide
🚘 3.5h from Chengdu, all the way on the highway
🧥 Altitude 2600m, not prone to altitude sickness but with strong UV rays, large temperature difference in summer, use sunscreen during the day, wear spring/autumn jackets at night
🍽️ Recommended to try the local favorite yak mushroom soup hotpot all year round! The local wild mushrooms and yak meat are delicious without much seasoning! First boil the mushrooms, then drink the soup, and finally dip the beef, every bite is incredibly fresh! There's a rich variety of mushrooms, and the freshly cut yak meat is tender!
We chose Shu Jiu Ji, there are several stores in Kangding, all doing good business, really reliable!
Day1
🔺 Kangding New Town Area
Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Museum, no tickets required and no reservation needed, six galleries on three floors are all worth a visit! From nature to culture, it covers the past and present of Ganzi!
The platform at the entrance offers a view of the snow-capped mountains 🏔️, perfect for photos 📸
🔺 Kangding Old Town Area
Stroll along the Zheduo River that runs through the city, visit Kangding Love Song Square and the winding town, both day and night offer completely different experiences, both worth seeing!
The whole city is filled with Tibetan-style architecture, even casual street photos look great!
The prayer wheels in the winding town, the arcades next to them, and the glass bridge are all great spots for photos!
Relax with a cup of Tibetan coffee ☕
Try some Tibetan mixed sweets, highland barley cakes 🫓
Day2
🔺 Namo Temple
There are many temples in Kangding, but Namo Temple is relatively less crowded and more photogenic!
Built during the Northern Song Dynasty, the majestic double-eaved Xieshan-style architecture is resplendent in the sunlight, breathtaking!
🔺 Yajiageng
Just 0.5h drive from Kangding city center!
You can hike or drive to the deepest part (off-road vehicle recommended)
Meadows, lakes, yaks, sea of flowers...
Lift your head to see Mount Gongga 🏔️
360° of unobstructed beautiful scenery!
Rosie Twinkling Star
I am so satisfied with my trip to Banwei in Western Sichuan that I can't sleep
The hardships at work are compensated by Western Sichuan.
Moreover, Western Sichuan is perfect for summer vacation.
A weekend 2 days 1 night self-driving trip.
Friends who want to go can just copy the itinerary below:
Two-day itinerary:
day1: Chengdu - Yajiageng - Kangding City
day2: Kangding - Riche Village - Tagong Grassland - Gunong Village - Chengdu
√ Kangding
This time in Kangding, I found it to be a real treasure.
1. Yajiageng, 30 minutes' drive from Kangding, is less crowded and exquisite, very worth it.
A 20-minute hike will bring you to reachable snow mountains, meadows, and rivers.
2. Staying in Kangding at night, of course, you have to eat the local delicacies.
A local friend recommended Shu Jiu Ji Yak Meat Mushroom Soup Hotpot, featuring tender yak meat and mushrooms. The yak meat is freshly cut, with large portions and many varieties. Once you taste the mushroom soup, you can't stop.
I drank several bowls~ It's really delicious~
√ Riche Village
On the second day, head to Riche Village, which is simply the Sichuan version of Altay, with streams and meadows. You can bring a tent for camping.
√ Tagong Gunong Village
This season, Tagong Grassland is also very beautiful, with the majestic Yala Snow Mountain standing tall in the distance.
Gunong Village is very close to Tagong, a 20-minute drive, with many campsites along the way.
√ S434 Provincial Road
The scenery along the way is really beautiful, surrounded by snow mountains, passing by Honghaizi, Kangding Airport Road, and Sidingcuo.
If you have more time, you can stay for four days.
Four-day itinerary:
day1: Chengdu - Kangding - S434 - Honghaizi - Kangding Airport Road - Xinduqiao
day2: Xinduqiao - Yuzixi - Gedilamu Sky City - Xinduqiao
day3: Xinduqiao - Tagong Grassland - Muya Monastery - Gunong Village - Tagong Town
day4: Tagong - Sidingcuo - S434 - Chengdu
❗️Travel tips
√ If you are afraid of altitude sickness, remember to take Rhodiola in advance or prepare some oxygen bottles in the car.
√ The temperature difference between morning and evening is large this season, so prepare long sleeves, short sleeves, and long pants.
√ Check the weather in advance before going. If it shows continuous rain, don't go.
√ Bring rain gear, and it is recommended to wear non-slip hiking shoes.
Gastronomic Getaways
Kangding in Western Sichuan, a severely underrated treasure city
"On the galloping horse's mountain, a floating cloud yo"
A song made us remember Kangding City
But I believe many people, like me, often list Kangding as a transit station for their Western Sichuan trip or 318 self-driving tour
But this time, after spending 3 days and 2 nights in Kangding, I really feel it is severely underrated
√3.5h drive directly to escape the heat
√Easily explore the local natural and cultural features in the city and surrounding areas
Life, after all, is full of unexpected warmth and endless hope
🚗3 days and 2 nights itinerary↓
day1: Kangding Love Song Square—Liuliu City—Namo Temple—Taste Explorer
day2: Ganzi Museum + Yajiageng
day3: Mugecuo + return in the afternoon
👉Travel experience recommendations↓
Who says Kangding lacks entertainment at night? Go to Taste Explorer at night, everyone becomes an explorer, sitting at the "hot air balloon dining table", starting a wonderful journey
The costumes, props, and environment all have a great sense of atmosphere
The performers will sing and dance while serving you dishes that match different travel destinations, and they even speak "Martian language" which is very interesting
What's more special is that they will interact with you, playing games, dancing, and having a lot of fun
After the show, you can stroll around their market
Creative, sentimental, and full of surprises, I really like it
🚗Transportation:
3.5h self-driving from Chengdu, suitable for electric car self-driving, there are many charging stations locally
🏠Accommodation: There are many local homestays
😋Food: Mushroom hot pot (my favorite), Kangding barbecue, Tibetan cuisine, yak meat, etc.
Gastronomic Getaways
It's a pity to only use Kangding as a resting point when traveling in Western Sichuan
D1️⃣ Deyang-Ya'an-Kangding
Leave in the afternoon, it takes 3.5 hours from Deyang to Ya'an, taking the Chengdu Economic Circle Expressway from Shifang West, with fewer cars and no traffic jams🚗
Ya'an to Kangding takes 1.5 hours, it's quieter to stay in the new city.
D2️⃣ One-day tour in Kangding
Morning
🏔 Mugecuo, half an hour's drive from Kangding county to Mugecuo
Play time 3-4 hours (see the previous article for specific strategies)
Sunshine, blue sky, white clouds, and snow-capped mountains, it's like stacking buffs!!
⚠️ If you're not just staying in Kangding and want to continue deeper into the area, personally, I think this spot can be skipped. There are free plateau lakes all along the way.
Afternoon
Coffee shop➕ stroll around the city for a check-in. The bustling places are basically in the old town area, where you can even experience high-altitude clubbing at the Singing Castle.
D3 Kangding-Chengdu
About food and drinks🫵🏻
📍 Ya'an Barbecue Fish Restaurant🐟
For the sake of the treasure sword, I ate the Ya fish, which Ullala also had. The signature dish is the barbecue meat, a bit salty if eaten too much. The Ya fish tastes good, tender with many bones. The treasure sword is in the fish head, ask the owner if you can't find it.
📍 Mugecuo 3780 meters freshly ground coffee☕️
It is indeed freshly ground
📍 Shujiuji Yak Meat Mushroom Soup Hotpot🍲
Opposite to the King of Mushrooms Mansion, a yak meat hotpot found by chance, delicious😋
📍 Drive Coffee☕️
Next to the Love Song Square, nicely decorated, but with limited seating, so go early.
📍 Pull–Tab Coffee☕️
Takeaway, waterfall coffee, looks good and tastes good
📍 Ram's Yak Yogurt🍼
Add less sugar to the yogurt otherwise it will be very sour, you can add many kinds of toppings, tasty
📍 Highland Barley Restaurant🥣
I really liked the beef blanket, the pancake is fragrant and sweet, with beef and vegetables inside, very delicious‼️ But for the mushroom sausage dish, I only ate the mushrooms, the sausage wasn't meaty, it was more like barley cake, a bit... indescribable. Overall, the environment is good, but the prices are a bit high.
Three days and two nights, countless trips to Western Sichuan, this is the first time I only stayed in Kangding. Mainly because it snowed heavily under Zheduo Mountain on the day of arrival, the road conditions were bad, and safety was the priority.
During the three days in Kangding, only the second day was without rain, so, everything is up to fate. In Western Sichuan travel, weather definitely comes first, as long as the weather is good, beauty is everywhere. If the weather is bad, the scenery will be greatly discounted.
HarperSutherland51
Self-driving in Western Sichuan | How to enjoy Kangding?
Self-driving to Kangding in Western Sichuan, the correct way to open Kangding is to take a night tour. The night in Kangding is brilliantly lit, like a dazzling pearl inlaid on the plateau of Western Sichuan.
Here, you can admire the magnificent starry sky and the beautiful scenery of the city lights complementing each other. Walking on the streets, feeling the unique charm of this city, you will find that the night in Kangding is so enchanting.
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🌟 Liuliu City
Liuliu City is located in the old town of Kangding, named after the lyrics 'Kangding liuliu de cheng' from the song 'Kangding Love Song'. Here, there is a sign that says 'Must drive on Route 318 in Kangding in this lifetime', which is a spot where many people who self-drive the Sichuan-Tibet Highway 318 come to check in and take photos.
🌟 Love Song Square
Kangding Love Song Square is located on Love Song Avenue in Kangding, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The place is very lively at night, where citizens will dance the Guozhuang, forming two or three circles, with dances that are super Tibetan in style, cleverly taking advantage of the long sleeves in Tibetan clothing.
🌟 Zheduoshui River
A river that runs through the entire city area, the rapid river water combined with the dazzling lights make this place a popular spot for internet celebrities to check in, and it looks especially beautiful in photos at night.
🌟 Guoda Bridge
There is nothing very special about taking photos here, but you can see the hustle and bustle of everyday life. There is a vegetable market where you can see various vegetables, fruits, and snacks. Interested friends can take a stroll.
BenjaminRogers^79
I came to Kangding with my family to experience the celestial wonder of the highland sunshine
⛰【Travel Guide】
📍Detailed Address:
Kangding city is located in the eastern part of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province.
Kangding is situated at the transition zone between the western edge of the Sichuan Basin and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, serving as the throat of Sichuan-Tibet, an important town on the ancient Tea Horse Road, and a center of Tibetan-Han cultural exchange.
🚗Transportation Routes:
●G318 old road: The traditional route into Tibet, approximately 200 kilometers long, mostly mountain roads, takes longer but offers beautiful scenery.
●Yakang Expressway: About 135 kilometers long, it is currently the fastest route from Ya'an to Kangding, but it is relatively more expensive.
●Baokang Road: About 180 kilometers long, starting from Zhonggang Village in Baoxing County, Ya'an City, it takes about 1 hour by car through Denglong Gully to ascend to a mountain pass at an altitude of 4500 meters, entering the territory of Kangding City, Ganzi Prefecture, then descending the mountain, passing through towns and villages such as Lianghekou Village, Jintang Town, Pengta Village, Maibeng Township, and Guzhan Town, and merging into the 318 line at Guzhan, turning right to Kangding.
🌟Highlights:
●Cuisine: Kangding cold noodles are known for their good elasticity, fine strands, neatly cut with clear edges, uniform thickness, shiny appearance, and they don't break easily when picked up with chopsticks. The texture is smooth, with a spicy, fresh, and tender taste; the mutton soup is deliciously fresh, fragrant, and steaming hot; the konjac chicken has a bright red color, emitting an enticing aroma, with tender and tasty chicken meat, and the konjac fully absorbs the chicken's savory juices.
●Architecture: The meandering city is built along the Pama Mountain and stands facing the Zheduoshui River. Strolling through the small streets, you can see the green tile roofs, high and low, each with its own charm. The covered bridges cross the streets, with painted columns and carved lattices, displaying ancient style and modern charm, fully showcasing ethnic characteristics.
vasquez_the_fez
Self-driving in Kangding, Sichuan｜A guide to strolling and eating in the city
On the eighth day of self-driving in Sichuan, we arrived in Kangding, this romantic city is really too beautiful! A Zhe Duo River runs through the city, today we walked into the "Kangding Love Song" lyrics' "Kangding Strolling City". Follow my lens and enter Kangding!
Kangding City, a county-level city under the jurisdiction of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, and its capital, is called "Da Zhe Duo" in Tibetan, meaning the confluence of Da Qu (Yala River) and Zhe Qu (Zhe Duo River).
How to play in the Strolling City‼️
The Strolling City is located in the old city of Kangding, named after the "Kangding Love Song" lyrics' "Kangding Strolling City". Here is the sign of 'Must Drive 318 Kangding in this life', many people who self-drive the 318 Sichuan-Tibet line come here to check in and take photos.
Known as Kangding's "Jinli", it is a street for eating, drinking and playing in Kangding city. Here you can taste delicious food, there are many hotel restaurants to choose from. There are really many choices for accommodation in Kangding, and the price is not very expensive.
🌟Basic Guide
⏰Opening hours: Free all day
📍Detailed address: 198 General Bridge, Kangding City, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province
🍜Food recommendation
When you come to a place, you must taste the local food, such as cold noodles, Kangding pot leader, yak meat, konjac roast chicken, Jiao Wozi oil cake, butter tea, Zanba, etc., foodie friends can try.
SeekingNewHorizons
Joyful Little City
Kangding, the capital of Ganzi Prefecture, is located in the eastern part of the autonomous prefecture, with a long and splendid history and culture. It is the throat of Sichuan-Tibet, the important town of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, and the center of Tibetan and Han convergence. Here, you can feel the strong cultural atmosphere and also enjoy the gifts of nature.
Stepping into Kangding, you will be attracted by the unique charm of this city. Traveling through the Tibetan-style buildings, immersively experiencing the historical accumulation of this city, every brick and tile is telling the past stories, in every corner of this city, you can find some kind of resonance.
In addition to the heavy history, Kangding also has a refreshing natural scenery, towering snow-capped mountains, clear lakes, magnificent canyons and vast grasslands... Whether you are walking on the majestic Zheduo Mountain or swimming in the beautiful Mugecuo, you can feel the magic of nature.
At the same time, food is also an experience not to be missed here. The catering culture here is rich and diverse, with both Tibetan butter tea and barley wine, and Sichuan-style spicy and fresh. You can taste a variety of authentic dishes and feel Kangding on the tip of your tongue.
Step into Liuliu City, Princess Bridge... Step into Kangding!
JEFFERSON GRANT
Walking around Kangding, Sichuan
Kangding is a county level city that is 8,400 feet ( 2560 m) above sea level. It is located at the seat of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuna, China. It is the home of Han Chinese, Tibetans and other minorities.
Getting There - From Chengdu you can either take a bus or by plane. Buses to Kangding leave from Xinnamen Bus Station. The journey takes you about 5-8 hours deoending on traffic. If you are going during holiday than it is carzy traffic. It took us 14 hours. That's how busy the roads are to Kangding.
There are many attractions in the city and outside the city that requires 2-3 or even 5 hours drive. I have posted attractions in Kangding so please feel free to check them out.
Food & Restaurants - Food here is amazing. Tibetan and Chinese food are around and even some western food but not a lot of options.
Shopping - If you are staying by the river then you are basically in the shopping street.
‼️Tip
1. Oxygen bottle- if you suffer from altitude sickness then you might be needing an oxygen bottle. There are oxygen bottles around so just grab if you feel dizzines, shortness of breath or headache.
If you are under the weather when you visit Kangding then expect to experience discomfort.
Enjoy your Kangding Trip.
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