Things to do in Zoige

🌿 What a magical place Ruoergai is! Located in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, "Ruoga" in Tibetan means "the happy home of yaks." At an altitude of 3300-3600m, it's one of China's largest plateau wetlands. A "water tower" on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, it contributes over 30% of the river's water resources. The peat bogs act like giant sponges, absorbing water in the rainy season and releasing it in the dry season. In short: low clouds, wild grasslands, and swift yaks. 📸 Must-see attractions: Two stunning views 🌸 Flower Lake: Flowers bloom from June to August, and black-necked cranes are a common sight. Go between 7-8 am for the morning mist, waterbirds, and reflections—a perfect screensaver! 🌊 First Bend of the Yellow River: Climb to the viewing platform two hours before sunset; the Yellow River turns into an orange-red ribbon—a breathtaking sight that will leave your memory running low. 🎉 Culture + Red-themed Surprises 🐎 Ando Horse Racing Festival: July 16-20, 2026, Red Star Town, Re'er Grassland, Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai riders race. 🙏 Dujiong Festival: Chanting scriptures for blessings, burning incense for sacrifice, a tradition spanning 1250+ years. 💃 Evening Square Guozhuang Dance: Can't dance? Just sway along and have fun. 🇨🇳 Red-themed Attraction: The Red Army's seven-day, seven-night march across the grasslands in 1935. Visit the "Dawn of Victory" monument in Banyou Village and the Brazil Conference Memorial Hall for quiet reflection and deep respect. 🐎 Activities: Don't just get out of the car for photos 1. 🐎 Horse Riding: 80 RMB/30min, 120 RMB/hour at the scenic area's horse farm. 1. **For a more adventurous experience:** Horseback riding 15km from Tangke Town to the Yellow River (3-4 hours, 200-300 RMB/person). Includes butter tea and tsampa along the way. 2. **Spend a day with local herders:** Milking cows, making butter tea, and herding livestock. Advance booking is required. Wear long pants and long sleeves, and bring candy, stationery, and small gifts. 3. **Hiking:** 8km from the county town to the wetlands. Travel in groups, bring offline maps, water, and snacks. Signal strength is unpredictable; don't go alone. 4. **Stargazing:** Stay in a tent campsite. The Milky Way stretches across the sky between 0:00 and 2:00 AM. Temperatures are below 5℃; bring hand warmers, a thick coat, and a blanket. 5. **Horse Racing Festival:** Mid-July, a grassland version of Fast and Furious. 🍲 Eating in Ruoergai: A Taste Blend on the Plateau 🍲 Yak Hot Pot: Yak meat, cabbage, potatoes, and vermicelli in a copper pot, simmered in a rich broth—perfect for warming you up in the cold wind. 🥩 Hand-Pulled Lamb: Tibetan sheep raised in saline-alkali soil have a mild gamey flavor; dipped in salt, pepper, and garlic sauce, it's delicious to eat with your hands. 🍗 Cumin Lamb Ribs: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a satisfying crunch. 🧈 Butter Tea: Salty, savory, and rich; the first sip is like soup, the second is truly delicious, and it warms you up quickly. 🍵 Sweet Tea: Black tea + milk + sugar—similar to milk tea but more refreshing. 🥣 Yak Yogurt: Initially sour, but adding sugar or honey instantly transforms it into a sweet and sour treat. 🍚 Tsampa: Roasted barley flour and butter tea rolled into a dough—a herder's energy bar. 🍚 Fern root rice: Rice + fern root + white sugar + ghee, sweet but not greasy, a symbol of reunion. 🐟 Yellow River fish: Naked carp makes a delicious soup; the cold-water fish is flavorful with Sichuan peppercorns. 🐖 Fern root pig: Raised on wild mushrooms and ginseng fruit, thin-skinned and fragrant meat, a delicacy of the plateau. 🥟 Tibetan dumplings: Take a small bite to soak up the oil; a distant relative of the soup dumplings. 🍶 Highland barley wine: Slightly sour with a sweet aftertaste, paired with yak meat, the most enjoyable experience on the grassland. ⚠️ Restaurants are scarce outside the county town; bring your own food; during the off-season, shops close around 8 or 9 pm.

Namo Grand Canyon, Gannan's most underrated hiking gem! Passing through Langmusi and Galdan Monastery, and following the source of the Bailong River upstream, you'll enter this hidden canyon deep in the plateau. Autumn is the perfect time to visit; the leaves on both sides turn golden, drifting into the stream like a golden carpet. The canyon trek is truly thrilling and fun—walking along the stones by the stream, the crystal-clear water is refreshingly cool, and you might accidentally step into it—the whole journey is full of wild charm. At the large meadow, chubby marmots roam freely, not shying away from people, their adorable antics are endearing. If you're lucky, you might even spot eagles circling overhead. The scenery is breathtaking: blue skies, white clouds, alpine meadows, and babbling brooks create a stunning panorama. The further you go, the more magnificent the scenery becomes, with majestic mountains shrouded in mist—every snapshot is a masterpiece. The entire hike takes about 3-4 hours and is suitable for all ages. It's a much better experience than those popular tourist attractions and is definitely the most beautiful canyon scenery in my heart!

Convenient transportation, newly opened, very clean and tidy, the room is very large, but the water quality is a bit poor in the plateau

The Ruoergai Wetland Reserve is located in Ruoergai County, Aba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It has a unique ecological environment and is extremely beautiful. It is the largest peat swamp area in my country and is a good choice.

The ranch is very big, with beautiful flowers and artistic layout. Although it is a bit old, the details are unique and tasteful. There are various meals, barbecues, bars, and handicrafts in the flower street. I bought a Tibetan bracelet there and liked it very much. I listened to music in the bar at night. It was very touching. It is my favorite ranch. It exceeded my expectations. If the subsequent itinerary had not been booked, I would have stayed for two more days. I like it very much! !

The Tibetan Buddhist temple in Ruoergai City is quite interesting. Now you can overlook the whole Ruoergai from the top of the temple, and you can also see the grassland in the distance, which is very spectacular. Red walls, golden roofs, blue sky and white clouds, very sacred. [Scenery]

Lina, the lecturer at the Gambo Museum, is exceptionally skilled. During the two-hour learning experience, she demonstrated a thorough understanding of the chronological order and comparative analysis of the artifacts, meticulously integrating historical evolution with everyday life. I look forward to the completion of the new Gambo Museum and visiting it again next time.

Qingmuchuan Ancient Town is located at the junction of Shaanxi, Sichuan and Gansu provinces. The ancient buildings are well preserved. Must-see attractions include the Wei Family Residence, Rongshengkui, and the opium den. You must also stroll along Huilongchang Old Street and climb Huilong Pavilion to overlook the entire ancient town.

Lanzhou Old Street is quite close to the Yellow River Tower. We walked there after visiting the Yellow River Tower. The old street area isn't small, and it feels like a newly built commercial district. In the afternoon during the off-season, there were very few people. I wonder if it will be more crowded at night? The shops are mainly restaurants, plus souvenir shops. If you're passing by, you can check it out!