Unforgettable Adventure Across the Breathtaking Roof of the World

Labranng

Functioned as a massive monastic university with six colleges, offering a complete curriculum in Buddhist philosophy, tantra, medicine, and astrology. Its educational system was considered the best in the region.

Labrang significance lies in its role as a premier Tibetan Buddhist monastic university and a unique historical crossroads where Tibetan, Mongol, Chinese, and Muslim cultures have interacted for centuries. Often called the “World Tibetan Academy,” it was one of the largest and most influential Gelugpa monasteries outside of Lhasa.

Sokdzong

Just 40 km from the county town, Mount Jigan rises as one of Amdo’s sacred mountains. Its majestic peaks, rugged rocks, and lush lower slopes create a perfect haven for wildlife and yaks alike.

Though modernization presses on, yet the locals remain rooted in tradition—still adorned in the same costumes and jewels as their ancestors.

“Ngawa” (also known as “Aba” in Chinese) is a region that is distinct from Kham, yet it is closely connected. It’s also home to hundreds of monasteries, each representing different schools—including Bon, Jonang, Sakya, and Nyenma traditions. It’s also home to hundreds of monasteries each representing different schools. Kirti Gompa, the largest, Gelugpa monastery founded in 1472, houses thousands of monks.

Nyenpo Yurtse

Mount Nyenpo Yurtse (Nianbao Yuze,) is a site of immense cultural, religious, and geographical significance. It is a sacred mountain range located in the heart of the Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, at the crossroads of the traditional Tibetan regions of Amdo and Kham

A sacred mountain deeply revered in Tibetan Buddhism and the indigenous Bon religion. It is considered the territorial deity and protective mountain god of the Golog tribes, central to local identity and cosmology .

In Tibetan epic tradition, it is believed to be the birthplace of the legendary hero King Gesar, the epic’s central figure. It serves as a key anchor for the unique culture of the Golog nomads 

An area of pristine alpine ecology, featuring glacial lakes, rich flora, and abundant wildlife. The area is recognized for its high biodiversity value 

Garze Gonpa

Founded around 1642 CE by Mongol allies of the Gelug school, it was one of the largest monasteries in Kham, housing 1,500 monks. It served as a political stronghold and was a central player in regional power dynamics 

Its architectural highlight is the main Assembly Hall, featuring a golden roof, long red wooden columns, and three sets of glass-encased images representing the founders of the Nyingma, Kadam, and Gelug lineages. Additionally, It houses fine Thangkas of meditation deities.

Architectural Marvels: 

The main Assembly Hall is a striking structure with a golden roof that offers magnificent views of the valley and the majestic snow caped mountain called Khawa lurol .

Sacred Art and Relics: 

Inside, the monastery houses a vast collection of religious art. This includes a hall with a huge statue of Jampa (Maitreya, the Future Buddha) . Unique to this monastery, the main hall displays three sets of images representing the founders of the Nyingma, Kadam, and Gelug lineages high up in glass cabinets . Upstairs, a library preserves the Kangyur, alongside old images of Avalokiteśvara and the great Gelug teacher Tsongkhapa .

Unique Relic: A smaller hall down the hill contains a particularly fascinating relic: a massive statue of the Future Buddha, and remarkably, a tooth of the historical Buddha is embedded in its right big toe.

Dege Parkhang

The Dege Printing House (also known as Dege Parkhang) is a living cultural treasure and one of the most significant repositories of Tibetan literature and art in the world. Indeed, its significance lies in its unparalleled role as a center for cultural preservation, religious authority, and living history.

Inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World regional register in 2024 for preserving irreplaceable documentary heritage holds over 300,000 woodblocks containing 70% of Tibetan literary heritage, including Buddhist scriptures, history, medicine, astronomy, and art continues to operate without electricity using traditional 18th-century techniques, printing thousands of pages daily as a functional institution, not just a relic

The Dege Printing House is more than a historical site; in fact, it is the heart of Tibetan intellectual and spiritual life. For nearly 300 years, it has safeguarded a vast ocean of knowledge, and by keeping ancient traditions alive, it remains an indispensable bridge between the past and the future of Himalayan culture.

Dzongsar

Dzongsar Monastery, perched on a sharp ridge in the remote Dzongsar Valley of Sichuan, China, is one of the oldest and most significant monastery complexes in the Kham region. Its significance stems not only from its long and layered history but also from its pivotal role as a center of the non-sectarian Rimé movement and as a renowned seat of Buddhist learning.
Ancient Origins: The site’s spiritual history is very old. It was originally founded as a Bön shrine as early as 746 AD (Bön is the indigenous religious tradition of Tibet that predates Buddhism)

Sakya Foundation: The monastery as it is known today was established in 1275 as a Sakya school monastery by Drogön Chögyal Phagpa, a key figure in Tibetan Buddhist history, on his return from China

The monastery also runs a school teaching Tibetan traditions and is known for producing its own traditional incense

Litang

Litang

Although its location is quite high there are so many things to discover around Litang and the driving goes through mountains and several high passes until Litang and then the landscape changes from mountainous to rolling grasslands. You would visit many villages and communities along the road

Mount Genyen

The hidden mountain Mt Genyen is marvelous to see. It’s not known by many people yet it offers a perfect day hike up to an old monastery deep in the valley

Lhagong (Tagong)

It’s a small but very interesting town with a beautiful, historical, and ancient temple where local people gather. Beyond that, there is a spectacular view of Mt Shakdrag (Yala), and there are some nice hotels with a Tibetan taste.

Yala Mt national park( Zhara Lhatse)

Both Minyak Gangkar and Yala mountain, with their soaring peaks, are truly inspiring; it gives you different visions from different angles. The crystal clear rivers and the blue lakes at the bottom attract all walks of life. It’s also a perfect place to have a hike and picnic.

Ya’an Bifengxia Panda Reserve

Nestled within the lush Bifengxia Gorge in Ya’an, Sichuan—the very region where the first giant panda was discovered—this reserve serves as a vital branch of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. Established in 2003, its mission expanded significantly after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, when it became a new home for pandas displaced from the Wolong reserve .

Today, the base is home to over 60 giant pandas . It is thoughtfully divided into three main areas: White Panda Terrace for adult pandas, a Panda Kindergarten for hand-reared cubs, and an Overseas Panda Returnees Paradise housing beloved pandas born abroad . Unlike the bustling crowds at Chengdu, Bifengxia offers a quieter, more serene experience, allowing visitors to observe these national treasures in a setting that closely mimics their natural habitat .