Things to do in Gonjo

Because it's the off-season, driving into the scenic area is the best option. I took the scenic area shuttle bus, but there aren't many buses during the off-season, so you have to stay in the same car and sit in the same spot. This greatly shortens your sightseeing time to only about 2.5 hours, which is not enough. If you want to enjoy the area at a leisurely pace, you should drive into the scenic area yourself.

After having a Tibetan meal in Dukezong Ancient Town, I saw some scenic views online and on a whim, my partner and I decided to drive there. It was winter, so the road conditions were quite dangerous. Because it was night, the roads were covered in black ice and snow. We didn't encounter many vehicles along the way, so it felt rather deserted, but thankfully we made it safely. We were also incredibly lucky to witness the sunrise over the sacred mountains—a sight I'd never seen before. I definitely want to see those sacred mountains again someday!

My first hike was supposed to be easy, but it took me four and a half hours to get to the village, a total elevation gain of 1700 meters. At an altitude of over 3000 meters, it gave me courage. The next day, I hiked 26km from the sacred waterfall to the village. Now I'm not afraid to climb any mountain on the plains anymore. The scenery after entering the village was unbeatable. However, with the road now open, I won't have to go through Ninong to get to the village anymore; I don't want to go through that ordeal again.

This is the closest place to view Meili Snow Mountain. The viewing platform has a wide open space, and the 13 peaks of Meili Snow Mountain are right in front of you. You can't help but hold your breath and fully appreciate the beauty of the snow mountain. You won't want to leave for a moment!

Internet-famous Tree The alarm clock hit 6:35 AM, and I crawled out of the tent and showered with ice-cold water. All the sleepiness was gone! Breakfast was at 7:30 AM, and we set off at 8:00 AM sharp! Today's destination was the internet-famous tree! Honestly, without a guide, I wouldn't have known which tree it was. 😂 But the highlight of the day wasn't the destination, but the grassland scenery along the way. This was my first time exploring such a vast expanse of grassland! The mountain was covered in tiny toothbrush flowers, so beautiful! We naturally took tons of beautiful photos. I was even happier to capture the beautiful scenery and my companions than to take any beautiful photos myself! The snow-capped mountains, as usual, were shy, revealing only a portion of their appearance. We rested at a tree for a snack and waited for almost half an hour, but still didn't get to see the entirety of Genyen. Today's hike: 26,017 steps

The scenic area boasts a beautiful environment, stunning natural scenery, a well-defined tour route, comprehensive facilities, and friendly staff, making for a relaxing and enjoyable overall experience. It's definitely worth visiting again.

The journey along the southern route of Genyen was absolutely amazing! Everywhere you looked was a delightful surprise: the magnificent glacial relics of Tiejian Mountain, the lush green grasslands of the Reti River Valley, and the picturesque scene of smoke rising from Tibetan villages mingling with prayer flags. The heart of the route, the "Eye of Genyen," was truly breathtaking—a circular lake like the eye of the earth, surrounded by aquatic plants, its reflection of the Genyen peaks clearly visible from a drone view. The entire route was a tapestry of snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and ancient temples, with few tourists and pristine scenery. Every moment of this self-driving adventure felt like stepping into a fairyland, a journey worth revisiting!

Letong Ancient Town is located in Litang County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is a planned Tibetan village with more than 4,000 households, Renkang Ancient House, and Renkang Ancient Street. It covers an area of ​​about 75 hectares and has a history of more than 400 years. It is now a national 4A-level scenic spot. The main attractions include the former residence of the Seventh Dalai Lama, the Tibetan village of 1,000 households, the Kham People Museum, the Millennium White Pagoda, etc., as well as non-legacy cultural heritages such as Nire, Zhuocha calligraphy, Zhuosang cloth embroidery, Gemu stone carving, Nangso Jiapei Tibetan medicine, Tibetan opera, Tangla Zeweng Gama Gazi Thangka, etc.

Red Houses + Sky Burial Site + Yak Hot Pot, 2/3/4 Day Itinerary Packaged. 🏘️ I. Must-See: Larung Gar Buddhist Academy: The world's largest Tibetan Buddhist academy, with red houses dotting the valley. Walk around the mandala, and watch the sunset illuminated from the West Mountain viewing platform. 🕊️ Sky Burial Site: 13:00-16:00, last entry at 15:00. 🚫 No photos or videos allowed; solemn and quiet atmosphere, skip if you're sensitive to noise. 🛕 Dongga Monastery, Jinma Grassland, Dengdeng Qudeng Pagoda, Gesar Tibetan Opera, 4 Intangible Cultural Heritage items. 🚗 II. Itinerary: ⚡ 2 Days: Day 1 Chengdu → County Town → Buddhist Academy Night View; Day 2 Morning Mist → Sky Burial Site → Dongga Monastery → Return Trip. 🌟3 Days (Recommended): Day 1 Chengdu → Ma'erkang → County Town; Day 2 Buddhist Academy → Mandala → Sky Burial Site → Night View; Day 3 Dongga Temple → Jinma Grassland → Return Trip. 🚙4 Days: Day 1 Chengdu → Xinduqiao; Day 2 Tagong → Moshi → Seda; Day 3 Morning Prayer → Sky Burial Site → Danba; Day 4 Siguniang Mountain → Chengdu. 🏘️Internal Tour: Sightseeing Bus → Mandala → Larung Hotel → Viewing Platform → Red House → Great Sutra Hall → Night View, 6-8 hours. 🎫 III. Transportation Reservations 🚌Chengdu Chadianzi Bus: 220-284 RMB, 10-12 hours. 🚗Shared Ride: 300-500 RMB, Chartered Car: 400-600 RMB/day. 🎫Mini Program "Larung Valley Entry Reservation", tickets released 3 days in advance at 18:00, 48 RMB round trip. Offline ticket to Luoruo Town: 30 RMB. Private cars are not allowed; use sightseeing buses instead. 🎮 IV. Activities 📿 Walk slowly, circling the mandala three times clockwise. 🌅 Take photos of the blues and lights 20 minutes after sunset at the viewing platform. 📖 Morning prayers at 5 AM and large prayers from 8-10 AM; please do not disturb. 🚙 Provincial Highway 455: Nailong Mountain Pass, Nailong Secret Realm, and Kavalori God of Wealth Mountain. 🏠 Stay in an oxygen-supplied hotel in the county town; the Larung Hotel offers views of red buildings from the window, but it's at an altitude of 4200 meters, and there's a queue. 🍲 V. Food 🥘 Yak meat hot pot: 60-80 RMB per person, served with chili powder, Sichuan peppercorn powder, and the original broth. 🍵 Butter tea + tsampa: Salty, helps with altitude sickness; tsampa 5-10 RMB, butter tea 15-25 RMB/pot. 🥣Tibetan Yogurt: So sour it'll make you wince, sprinkled with sugar, about 10 yuan. 🥟Tibetan Buns: Potato/yak meat filling, Ni buns. 🍜Sweet Tea House: Sweet tea a few yuan a pot, Tibetan noodles 15 yuan, fried potatoes 5-10 yuan. 🥗Vegetarian Restaurant at the Buddhist Academy: Buffet 15-20 yuan, vegetarian hot pot 20 yuan. 🍽️Recommended: Yam Hot Tibetan Restaurant, 70-120 yuan per person. ⚠️Don't look for meat at the Buddhist Academy; roadside yak jerky is often fake; drink butter tea while it's hot. 📌 VI. Tips 🫁Altitude Sickness: Take Rhodiola Rosea in advance, move slowly, don't shower or drink alcohol, bring oxygen. Eat lightly upon arrival. 🧥Clothing: Windproof jacket/light down jacket, hat, sunglasses for sun protection. 🙏Etiquette: Remove hats in the prayer hall, no photography, turn prayer wheels clockwise, don't photograph monks, no drones allowed. 🕊️Sky Burial Site: Photography and videography are strictly prohibited. Please remain quiet and respectful. 🎬Conclusion: A quick look at Red Valley Mountain is incomplete without a thorough examination of its natural formations. Approaching it with reverence is more important than bringing a camera.

I've visited Meili Snow Mountain three times. Last July, when I first visited with my son, it was my first time to see the snow-capped mountains face to face—the awe I felt is still vivid. We stayed at Feilai Temple, fully anticipating a full view the next day. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't favorable. All night, fog and rain enveloped the snow-capped mountains, obscuring even their outlines. Filled with regret, I had to leave in a hurry. This past April, I made plans with friends to visit again, hoping to rekindle that lingering memory. This time, we stayed at Wuzhongding, and in the evening, we were treated to a breathtaking sunset glow. The golden glow shrouding the snowy peaks was breathtakingly beautiful. But the next morning, the fog was thick again, and I was left with a sense of loss. Perhaps it was fate that, at the urging of a friend, I took my child on a hike to Yubeng. When Meili Snow Mountain once again came into view, it suddenly felt as if it were calling me from afar. This time, the clouds and mist dissipated, and the grandeur of the golden mountain in the sun and the holiness of the endless snow-capped peaks all lay clearly before my eyes - finally, it was what I had dreamed of.