Yushu Prefecture Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Free Admission｜Qinghai—Yushu

In 2010, a major earthquake occurred in Yushu, causing many people to die. People from all over the country gave great help to Yushu. Therefore, to thank the aid from the compatriots across the country, Yushu decided that all scenic spots in the area would be free of charge, permanently. This place is more mysterious than Tibet, more primitive than Xinjiang, and as sacred as Sichuan. It is even a paradise for travelers, ranking among the top in China. It is Qinghai Yushu. 🚉Travel Guide: ✈️You can choose to fly to Yushu Batang Airport 🚅You can choose to take a bullet train to Xining, and then depart from Xining to Yushu Recommended attractions: Hoh Xil This is a sacred place to witness life and faith, a paradise for rare wild animals. On the way, you can see snow-capped mountains and grasslands, lakes and wetlands, and groups of wild animals. △The core area is prohibited to enter, only for distant viewing, please pay attention to safety! Sanjiangyuan China's first national park, where the mountains stand tall, on both sides of the Yellow River, presenting a fascinating picture. Coming here is like walking into a huge natural zoo: Tibetan antelopes, wild donkeys, and wild yaks can be seen everywhere Chumar River Under the sun, the Chumar River looks like rocks washed by water, and also like the 'blood of the earth', which is really amazing Jiegu Temple The temple and the monks' houses are well-arranged, towering above the hill. Standing here, you can see the whole town, which is very spectacular and vast Gaer Temple This is an ancient temple hanging on a cliff, with an altitude of more than 3700 meters. It is the largest temple in the White Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. You can visit the treasure of the temple, a pair of peculiar prayer wheels. It is said that this pair of prayer wheels was the dowry brought by Princess Wencheng when she married Songtsen Gampo, and was later placed in Gaer Temple Baizha Ancient Salt Field An ancient salt field with a longer history than Chaka Salt Lake, still using the ancient salt-making process. The scenery is pleasant in summer, with mountains, grasslands, wheat fields, and ancient villages, forming a picture Xinzha Mani Stone Scripture City At an altitude of more than 3600 meters, the Mani pile is magnificent and is known as 'the largest place in the world for making wishes'. Although these characters are mysterious and difficult to understand, they are as elegant as artworks Yushu Horse Racing Festival The largest Tibetan carnival in Qinghai, held on the Zaxi Grassland from July 25 to August 1 every year. Those who are going to play recently can pay attention The name 'Yushu' is translated from Tibetan, meaning 'ruins'. There are countless praises for this place: 'Ocean of Song and Dance', 'Hometown of Song and Dance', 'Ancestor of Famous Mountains', 'Source of Rivers', 'Land of Yaks', 'The Closest Place to the Sky in the World'.

【Jiegu Yichengzhou - Jiegu Temple in Yushu, Qinghai】

Jiegu Temple is located on the Dongjiegu Mountain in Jiegu Town, Yushu City, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It is a very famous Sakya sect temple in the Yushu area. In Tibetan, it is called 'Jiegu Dunzhu Leng', which means 'Jiegu Yichengzhou'. Jiegu Temple is built on the mountain, with majestic architecture, numerous monks, and well-arranged halls and monk houses. Looking up the mountain, it looks like multi-storey pavilions are dotted on the mountainside. The main building of Jiegu Temple, 'Duwen Sangzhou Jiaco' lecture hall can accommodate thousands of people chanting sutras at the same time. The main Buddha in the sutra hall and the main hall is Sakyamuni, Master Padmasambhava, Goddess of Auspiciousness, Sandalwood Carved Tara and the Five Ancestors of Sakya in Tibet, etc. There are more than 3,400 various types of copper gilt Buddha statues and wooden Buddha statues. Jiegu Temple also treasures nearly 10,000 volumes of Tibetan Buddhist classics such as 'Ganzhuer' and 'Danzhuer', as well as many precious cultural relics such as Sakyamuni and Tara statues given by Basiba, and a treasure knife handed down by Zawu Baihu. There is also a statue of Sakyamuni preaching to his five disciples under the Bodhi tree on Jiegu Mountain. When visiting, I was puzzled as to why there are so many elements of Han Buddhism here. It was not until I went to the Princess Wencheng Temple that I suddenly realized that it should have been brought by Princess Wencheng when she married. Jiegu Temple is a good place to understand the Tibetan Buddhist culture in the Yushu area. There have been many high monks in the history of Jiegu Temple. The most famous is the first generation Jiana Living Buddha. Jiana Living Buddha is talented and has created more than 100 dances of 'Duo Xiang Qiu Zhuo', making the Yushu area a famous Tibetan song and dance hometown. About 5 kilometers away from Jiegu Temple, the Jiana Mani Stone Sutra City, which was also created by Jiana Living Buddha, is very large and visually shocking. Every day, many devout Tibetan compatriots turn the scriptures here. The scale of Jiana Mani Stone Sutra City is the largest in the world, known as 'the largest place in the world for praying and making wishes'. The number of Mani stones here reaches tens of billions. 【✍🏻Tourist suggestion】It is recommended to leave half a day to a day for visiting. Yushu is high in altitude, so you need to visit according to your physical strength. The lecture hall, Dazhao Hall and Maitreya Hall are must-visit places. Whether to visit Jiana and Wenbao Living Buddha's courtyard depends on personal preference. The halls and monk houses of Jiegu Temple are well-arranged and towering on the hill. From Jiegu Temple, you can overlook Jiegu Town. 【📍Address】On Dongjiegu Mountain in Jiegu Town, Yushu City, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province 【⏰Tour time】8:00-17:00 【🎫Ticket】Free 【✈️Transportation】At present, there is no train service in Yushu, you can only take a plane or drive by yourself. There are not many flights, and it is more convenient to drive by yourself. You can also enjoy the beautiful Qinghai along the way. Just navigate to Jiegu Temple to arrive

More mysterious than Bilasa, it's completely underestimated!

This is the only city in China with free admission. The name "Yushu" is a Tibetan translation, meaning "ruins". The reputation here can't be counted with one hand: "Sea of Dance", "Hometown of Dance", "Ancestor of Famous Mountains", "Source of Rivers", "Land of Yaks", "The world closest to the sky"... -Yushu occupies one-third of Qinghai, and it also occupies one-third of the beauty of Qinghai. The average altitude is over 4000 meters. Although it lacks oxygen, it does not lack faith. It's not Tibet, but it feels the power of faith more than Tibet. The travel strategy is for four days and three nights 1️⃣day 1 Yushu You can fly directly to Yushu Batang Airport from Chengdu or Xining. I can fly from Chengdu to Yushu City in an hour and a half. Take a taxi to Yushu City for half an hour. The average altitude here is about 4000 pounds. After arriving in the city, you can rest for a while, and then visit the highest point in the city: Jiegu Temple tourist area. This is the highest temple in the city. The temple is built on the mountain, and the temple and the monks' houses are scattered together. Accommodation: You can stay at the Gesar Palace Hotel, which should be one of the best hotels in the city, and the accommodation conditions are also good. -2️⃣day 2 Zhiduo County You can set off to Zhiduo County in the morning, two and a half hours drive from Yushu City. You can see a lot of beautiful scenery along the way. In Tibetan, "Zhiduo" means "source of the Yangtze River", also known as "the first county of the Yangtze River". It is known as the source of the Yangtze River, the animal kingdom, and the water tower of China. It is also the Sanjiangyuan National Park, and China's first national park. In the afternoon, it takes about three and a half hours from Zhiduo County to Chumar River (Red River). The Chumar River belongs to the Yangtze River Source Nature Reserve, and the upstream area is the core area of the Kekexili Reserve. The rivers here flow through flat beaches, fantasizing about colorful and ever-changing gorgeous pictures. In an instant, nature cannot be captured in full view, and stay overnight in many counties. Accommodation: Ling·Gesar Queen's Hotel, there is more food around. -3️⃣day 3 Yushu It takes two and a half hours to drive back to Yushu from Zhiduo County. You can go to see the Mani pile, mainly the accumulation of white stones, used for prayer, carved with Buddha or scriptures. The Tibetans here will circle around the Mani pile, read words, call God, and pray for God's gifts and blessings. In the afternoon, you can visit the Princess Wencheng Temple. The Princess Wencheng Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty and has a history of more than 1300 years. It is one of the important cultural relics of the Tang Fan Ancient Road.

The grandeur of the first bend of the Yangtze River that spans thousands of miles

When it comes to the first bend of the Yangtze River, many people will think of the first bend of the Yangtze River in Lijiang, Yunnan, but they don't know about the first bend of the Yangtze River in Yeqing Village, Zhi Duo County, Yushu Prefecture, Qinghai, which is the Tongtian River in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. This is the famous Tongtian River in 'Journey to the West'. The river course naturally forms a natural arc river bend around the mountain. The altitude here is 4200 meters, and the scenery is very magnificent. Now the first bend of the Yangtze River that spans thousands of miles has also built pedestrian walkways and viewing platforms. Cars can drive to the mountainside, and the construction of the scenic area has initially formed a scale. At present, there is no admission fee, so it is very worth visiting. Transportation: You need to drive by yourself, about 3 hours drive from Yushu Prefecture. Accommodation: You can stay in Zhi Duo County or in Yushu Dining: It is recommended to eat in Zhi Duo County, there is no place to eat near the scenic area.

Regarding the location of the First Bay of the Yangtze River, it is actually controversial. Many people will say that it is in Lijiang. In fact, the first bay after the source of the Yangtze River is actually in Qumalai County of Yushu. Here she has another name, the Tongtian River in the Journey to the West. According to legend, Tang Yan returned from the Jingtian River. Because he forgot to entrust him, the old turtle took Tang Yan and his entourage down the river. After the men and women went ashore, they dried the wet scrolls on the spot. The words on the scrolls were printed on the stones. There are still handwritings here. The Wanli Yangtze River rushed down from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and came to Yushu. It walked through the deep valleys of the mountains and was blocked by the cliffs. It formed a big sharp turn here, which made people feel tidal. Such a spectacle is straightforward. The wide river surface slows down the rushing river, and it looks like a ribbon surrounded by blue mountains with beautiful curves and beautiful scenery.

【Jiegu Yichengzhou - Jiegu Temple in Yushu, Qinghai】

Jiegu Temple is located on the Dongjiegu Mountain in Jiegu Town, Yushu City, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. It is a very famous Sakya sect temple in the Yushu area. In Tibetan, it is called 'Jiegu Dunzhu Leng', which means 'Jiegu Yichengzhou'. Jiegu Temple is built on the mountain, with majestic architecture, numerous monks, and well-arranged halls and monk houses. Looking up the mountain, it looks like multi-storey pavilions are dotted on the mountainside. The main building of Jiegu Temple, 'Duwen Sangzhou Jiaco' lecture hall can accommodate thousands of people chanting sutras at the same time. The main Buddha in the sutra hall and the main hall is Sakyamuni, Master Padmasambhava, Goddess of Auspiciousness, Sandalwood Carved Tara and the Five Ancestors of Sakya in Tibet, etc. There are more than 3,400 various types of copper gilt Buddha statues and wooden Buddha statues. Jiegu Temple also treasures nearly 10,000 volumes of Tibetan Buddhist classics such as 'Ganzhuer' and 'Danzhuer', as well as many precious cultural relics such as Sakyamuni and Tara statues given by Basiba, and a treasure knife handed down by Zawu Baihu. There is also a statue of Sakyamuni preaching to his five disciples under the Bodhi tree on Jiegu Mountain. When visiting, I was puzzled as to why there are so many elements of Han Buddhism here. It was not until I went to the Princess Wencheng Temple that I suddenly realized that it should have been brought by Princess Wencheng when she married. Jiegu Temple is a good place to understand the Tibetan Buddhist culture in the Yushu area. There have been many high monks in the history of Jiegu Temple. The most famous is the first generation Jiana Living Buddha. Jiana Living Buddha is talented and has created more than 100 dances of 'Duo Xiang Qiu Zhuo', making the Yushu area a famous Tibetan song and dance hometown. About 5 kilometers away from Jiegu Temple, the Jiana Mani Stone Sutra City, which was also created by Jiana Living Buddha, is very large and visually shocking. Every day, many devout Tibetan compatriots turn the scriptures here. The scale of Jiana Mani Stone Sutra City is the largest in the world, known as 'the largest place in the world for praying and making wishes'. The number of Mani stones here reaches tens of billions. 【✍🏻Tourist suggestion】It is recommended to leave half a day to a day for visiting. Yushu is high in altitude, so you need to visit according to your physical strength. The lecture hall, Dazhao Hall and Maitreya Hall are must-visit places. Whether to visit Jiana and Wenbao Living Buddha's courtyard depends on personal preference. The halls and monk houses of Jiegu Temple are well-arranged and towering on the hill. From Jiegu Temple, you can overlook Jiegu Town. 【📍Address】On Dongjiegu Mountain in Jiegu Town, Yushu City, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province 【⏰Tour time】8:00-17:00 【🎫Ticket】Free 【✈️Transportation】At present, there is no train service in Yushu, you can only take a plane or drive by yourself. There are not many flights, and it is more convenient to drive by yourself. You can also enjoy the beautiful Qinghai along the way. Just navigate to Jiegu Temple to arrive

More mysterious than Bilasa, it's completely underestimated!

This is the only city in China with free admission. The name "Yushu" is a Tibetan translation, meaning "ruins". The reputation here can't be counted with one hand: "Sea of Dance", "Hometown of Dance", "Ancestor of Famous Mountains", "Source of Rivers", "Land of Yaks", "The world closest to the sky"... -Yushu occupies one-third of Qinghai, and it also occupies one-third of the beauty of Qinghai. The average altitude is over 4000 meters. Although it lacks oxygen, it does not lack faith. It's not Tibet, but it feels the power of faith more than Tibet. The travel strategy is for four days and three nights 1️⃣day 1 Yushu You can fly directly to Yushu Batang Airport from Chengdu or Xining. I can fly from Chengdu to Yushu City in an hour and a half. Take a taxi to Yushu City for half an hour. The average altitude here is about 4000 pounds. After arriving in the city, you can rest for a while, and then visit the highest point in the city: Jiegu Temple tourist area. This is the highest temple in the city. The temple is built on the mountain, and the temple and the monks' houses are scattered together. Accommodation: You can stay at the Gesar Palace Hotel, which should be one of the best hotels in the city, and the accommodation conditions are also good. -2️⃣day 2 Zhiduo County You can set off to Zhiduo County in the morning, two and a half hours drive from Yushu City. You can see a lot of beautiful scenery along the way. In Tibetan, "Zhiduo" means "source of the Yangtze River", also known as "the first county of the Yangtze River". It is known as the source of the Yangtze River, the animal kingdom, and the water tower of China. It is also the Sanjiangyuan National Park, and China's first national park. In the afternoon, it takes about three and a half hours from Zhiduo County to Chumar River (Red River). The Chumar River belongs to the Yangtze River Source Nature Reserve, and the upstream area is the core area of the Kekexili Reserve. The rivers here flow through flat beaches, fantasizing about colorful and ever-changing gorgeous pictures. In an instant, nature cannot be captured in full view, and stay overnight in many counties. Accommodation: Ling·Gesar Queen's Hotel, there is more food around. -3️⃣day 3 Yushu It takes two and a half hours to drive back to Yushu from Zhiduo County. You can go to see the Mani pile, mainly the accumulation of white stones, used for prayer, carved with Buddha or scriptures. The Tibetans here will circle around the Mani pile, read words, call God, and pray for God's gifts and blessings. In the afternoon, you can visit the Princess Wencheng Temple. The Princess Wencheng Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty and has a history of more than 1300 years. It is one of the important cultural relics of the Tang Fan Ancient Road.

The Mani stone pile of Yushu

I was amazed by the countless Mani stones at the Jiana Mani pile in Yushu, Qinghai. Numerous devotees circled around the hundreds of thousands of Mani piles to chant scriptures, and I followed the crowd for a large loop. Among them, the old and the young, men and women, devoutly turned their prayer wheels and walked tirelessly, chanting sutras from their lips, a sincerity that touches the heart.

Xinzhai Mani pile, a devout place

Xinzhai Mani stone pile is located in Xinzhai Village, Jiegu Town, where the government of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province is located, with an altitude of nearly 4000 meters. It is said to have been founded by the first generation of Tibetan Buddhism high monk Jiana Living Buddha Dodson Quepawang. Here you can see many Tibetan Buddhist believers, turning the prayer wheel, very devout. The total number of Mani stones here exceeds 2.5 billion, making it the largest in the world, and it is also known as "the largest place in the world for making wishes". Mani stones are ordinary white stones on which Tibetan people carve scriptures, various Buddha images and auspicious patterns. Many of them are carved with six-word proverbs and decorated with five colors. It is very exquisite and spectacular, and it is a very good place to experience Tibetan Buddhist culture. Transportation: It is about 10 yuan by taxi from the city center of Jiegu Town in Yushu City. Accommodation: There are many hotels nearby to choose from. Food: The large Xunhua noodle slices in the city, the impression of Jiegu and the Nan hot pot, etc.

The places I once longed for in geography books have all become roads I've traveled

The moment the ancestor of ten thousand mountains appeared before my eyes, I couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of the Kunlun Mountains. Majestic and fortunate to have captured with my eyes the beloved snow-capped Mount Yuzhu, standing at 6178 meters, resembling a lovely girl. Suddenly, I thought of a phrase: 'While everyone heads to the sea, I alone turn to the mountains.' How lucky we are. Traveling with a military convoy tens of kilometers long into the Hoh Xil, we kept a tacit distance and used our turn signals kindly. The beautiful legend is actually a forbidden zone for human life. The grasslands at an altitude of over 4700 meters are a free paradise for all creatures, though I didn't encounter the Tibetan antelopes I longed for, I did come across other adorable animals. The bumpy permafrost highway and the distant Qinghai-Tibet Railway, built by road workers challenging human limits with their lives, left me, who gets dizzy and freezes as soon as I step out of the car and can only breathe oxygen throughout the journey, with nothing to offer but silent salutes and prayers for a lifetime of peace and health. Standing at the source of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang Rivers, I couldn't help but marvel at the magic and greatness of nature. The small streams that eventually become the life-nurturing Yangtze River, the scenes of Sicily from my childhood 'Animal World' and 'Man and Nature' are still vivid in my memory. Now, having the fortune to be here, I am filled with emotion. Life is like this, reminiscing while continuing, never willing to truly stop. I used to like Da Bing's books a lot, and there's a line in his song, 'Accompany me to Hoh Xil to see the sea, I don't want the future, just you to come.' Now I understand that this is probably a naive obsession and madness of youth. Approaching thirty, I came to Hoh Xil and realized there is no sea here; you must live well to have a future with him.

Qinghai self-guided tour has checked in for you

1️⃣ 📍: Hoh Xil 🚘: Driving route: Golmud - Kunlun Holy Spring - Yuzhu Peak - Kunlun Mountain Pass - Sonandajie Conservation Station, return. 🏞️: High-altitude uninhabited area, pristine nature reserve, World Natural Heritage site. Here you can find towering snow-capped mountains, majestic glaciers, tranquil lakes; it's a paradise for wildlife, with Tibetan antelopes, black-necked cranes, vultures, wild yaks, Tibetan wild donkeys, etc. Also known as: The Forbidden Zone of Life. 🐳: Poor road conditions (requires vehicle passability and power), no supplies (bring your own food), poor signal (download offline maps), high altitude with lack of oxygen and high UV radiation (prepare for cold, sun protection, and altitude sickness), unpredictable weather, respect the dangers! Littering is strictly prohibited! 2️⃣ Devil's Eye 📍: Mangya City, Haixi Prefecture 🚘: Navigate to the Devil's Eye to reach. 🏞️: In the desolate western end of the Qaidam Basin, the never-ending spring water gushes out from the earth, the spring water is a bright yellow-red color, shaped like an eye, as if embedded in the desolate land like the eye of a devil. The tumbling spring water spreads to the surrounding land, accumulating over time, etching the surrounding land into another appearance, indescribably magnificent and colorful, it will always gaze quietly into the deep sky. 🐳: Average road conditions (requires vehicle passability and power), essential to have a drone (no effect without aerial photography)! 3️⃣ Devil's City 📍: Lenghu Town, Mangya City, Haixi Prefecture 🚘: Navigate to the Yadan Landform Group in the Ejin Banner Scenic Area, first to the Mars Camp, and then 500 yuan per vehicle for entry to the scenic area. 🏞️: Ejin Banner, a Yadan landform group, where you can see thousands of miles of rolling yellow sand and fierce westerly winds, a sense of loneliness and insignificance that has nowhere to be placed. The sunset is gorgeous, the night sky is clear, and the Milky Way is brilliant, striking the soul with desolation and grandeur! Mars Camp, this is the place on Earth that least resembles Earth. Space capsules, spacesuits, as if you are on Mars. 🐳: Poor road conditions (requires vehicle power and passability), long-focus photography, aerial photography can have an effect! 4️⃣ 📍: 1. Mangya City, Haixi Prefecture 2. Da Qaidam, Haixi Prefecture 🚘: 1. Navigate to Mangya Emerald Lake, beside the 315 road in Huatugou Town; 2. Navigate to Da Qaidam Town Emerald Lake 🏞️: Both are called Emerald Lakes, although they are hundreds of kilometers apart, each has its own unique beauty, you can choose one or both to see. Comparatively speaking, Mangya Emerald Lake is a bit greener, Da Qaidam Emerald Lake is bluer, and Mangya Emerald Lake is larger overall. The large and small lakes are like gems lost by the fairy world to the human world, dazzling and captivating, making it hard to contain oneself. 🐳: Pay attention to wind and sun protection, aerial photography is recommended if possible. Summary: Qinghai has unique natural landscapes, with Xining and Golmud as the two base cities to expand outward, there are endless beautiful views, you can plan your route according to time.

Kekexili One-Day Tour

👍Highly recommended: The most beautiful scenery is always on the road. Traveling along the Kunlun Mountains and crossing the uninhabited area of Kekexili, I was lucky to see Tibetan antelopes, wild yaks, and Tibetan wolves! ❤Reasons for recommendation: I just want to say: if you don't go there yourself, the scenery will always live in someone else's photos! ✅Must experience: I just finished the Kekexili one-day tour, and the weather, scenery, animals, and people I encountered were unexpectedly beautiful. I was lucky that the weather was clear, the visibility of the Kunlun Dragon's Backbone and various small animals was at its peak. The wind was strong, and the temperature was slightly cold, but it was warm inside the car. The fellow travelers and the guide I met were very nice, and we had a great chat along the way, leaving altitude sickness far behind.

Kekexili, all the way to the west

Have you ever dreamed of seeing Kekexili in winter like me? Look at the eternal ice and snow mountains, deserts, glaciers, and swamps converge on the same land. I think this time, I really connected with the world.