To appreciate Tibetan folk culture in Gansu Sangke Grassland

As a part of Dajiutan Prairie, Sangke Grassland is at an average sea level of above 3000 meters and surrounded by mountains. This grassland spreads for around 70 square kilometers, but only about 4000 herdsmen live on it. As a meadow  1 kilometer apart from Xiahe County, Gansu Province, this grassland area is one of the main stock farming bases of Gannan Zang Autonomous Prefecture as well as one of the valued natural sightseeing sites in Gansu.

Sangke Grassland is located on the west side of Xiahe County in Gannan in the middle of the Tibetan Plateau near the precious Labrang monastery one of the biggest monasteries in the word. It enjoys a good reputation in the northwest Tibetan region for its excellent pasture and significant Buddhist ceremonies.

The area has been one of the main stock farming bases of Gannan Zang and is also home to River Daxia which moves from south to north promoting luxurious and endless growth of wild flowers which blossom attractively on the great tableland under the blue sky creating a picturesque natural scenery.

Sangke Grassland is a vast highland meadow surrounded by mountains. In summer, the grassland forms a natural green carpet extending to the far horizon. Myriads of wild flowers blossom together, presenting a lovely picture. Daxia River winds its way through the prairie, resembling an undulating silk ribbon on the carpet. Clear water reflects the blue sky and floating clouds. Countless sheep and yaks live near the river. Yaks may moo from time to time and their melodious pastoral songs spread far away. The green carpet is scattered with tents and smoke is curling up over the dwellings.

Highlights of Sangke Grassland

Horse riding and camping

This is the right place to appreciate Tibetan folk culture. If you happen to visit during summertime camping on the prairie is extremely exciting and you can appreciate the Tibetan folk culture to the full by wearing Tibetan costumes and riding horses or yaks across the land. They can also stay overnight with a local family or camp on the prairie to watch the clear starry sky and enjoy the evening by the campfire.

Savor local cuisine

Every year from late Jun to Augest when the grass grows well enough, locals set up tents, entertaining visitors with unique Tibetan snacks such as yak-butter tea, stuffed steamed buns, mutton, and Zanba, a traditional Tibetan staple food made of roasted highland barley flour.

A visit here is only complete after tasting local food like Tibetan glutinous rice, zhang bread, mutton and drinking the local milk tea and buttered tea.

Xianglang Festival

During summer there are a number of festivals including this famous Xianglang Festival (picking firewood) During this festival everv monk will gather firewood and go to the fields to commemorate this special tradition that started back in the days when finding firewood was a hard task forcing everyone to walk for miles to collect a handful.

Visit Labrang Monastery

Sangke and Labrang Monastery are both best enjoyed during the summer. Labrang Monastery is one of the six major Tibetan monasteries of the Gelugpa order (Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism). With its succession of squeaking prayer wheels (3km in total), hawks circling overhead and the throb of Tibetan longhorns resonating from the surrounding hills, Labrang is a monastery town unto itself. This monastery sufficiently conveys the mystique of its devout persuasions, leaving indelible impressions of a deeply sacred domain.