Location: Xiahe is in the southwest of Gansu Province.

Population: with a population of 778,000.

Area: The whole area is 6273.88 sq km, including one town, 14 countrysides.

Nationalities: Xiahe makes up of 14 minorities including Tibetan people, Han, Mongolian people, Korean nationality. The Tibetan population is the main body, about the 78% of the whole population.

History: used to be the ley of Qiang in the spring and autumn period; once occupied by Xianbei, Tubo and Mongolian nationalities; named as Xiahe in 1928.

Climate: It is generally lower in temperature than other cities at the same latitude. The annual average temperature here stays at around 4°C, while monthly temperatures for the optimum season to go there, the summer time, are between 8°C and 14°C. Precipitation is mild, at 600 to 810mm per annum.

Transportation: From Xiahe - a few direct buses run to Xiahe daily, departing 6:30~7:30 and 14:00. But if there is only a few passengers, the driver may "sell" you at Linxia to the Linxia-Xiahe buses when stopping for lunch.
Leaving - The daily bus leaving Xiahe for Xiahe departs in early morning. You can also go to Linxia,there are 2~3 buses per hour to Xiahe between 6:30am and 4pm, about the same timetable for buses to Hezuo.Getting to the part of China tends to be tricky and the only way to reach Xiahe is by bus. There are regular buses from Linxia (2 hours), Lanzhou (5 hours) and Langmusi (4 hours). International visitors will probably fly into the airport at Shenyang and then catch a bus to Xiahe via Lanzhou (9 hours).

Local Food: Sheep tendon, Zangbao, Zage, Silk tea

Major Attractions:
Xiahe boasts wonderful landscape and mysterious religion culture. Unique Tibetan customs and beautiful prairies are shown here very well. It got the name hence the Da Xiahe River flows through the county; and also it has the good names of ‘Chinese Little Tibet' and 'Eastern Vatican'. With such a great reputation, it attracts many tourists to come to explore.

In the county, the first must-see is Labrang Monastery. Located at the foot of Phoenix Mountain, Labrang Monastery is one of the great six monasteries of Gelukpa sect as well as the location of Gansu Provincial Buddhism College. Unlike many other Chinese temples or monasteries, it has no bounding walls. The locals can enter or exit the monastery very conveniently. Its inside seems a little dark. Lighted butter lamps are put here and there. Lamas sit together and recite the Buddhist scriptures. Observing carefully, you can find that even if the locals pass by the monastery, they will bend the body to worship very piously. From this, you can understand how holy religion is in Tibetans' mind.

Sangke Grassland – Spreading out some 10kms away to the southwest of the Xiahe county seat, the Sangke Grassland is part of the Dajiu flatland (Horse-racing flatland) in the Sangke. It features abundant water and grass with beautiful scenery and under the white-colored blue sky, herds of sheep and cows are grazing, a perfect place of natural scenes for enjoying a pastoral life.

Travel Tips:
1. Weather in Xiahe is changeable, especially at morning and evening, it is very cold even though in August, so it is necessary for you to prepare for some warm clothes.
2. It is nice if bring some sweets for local children and younger Lama, then they will give you much help.

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