7 Days in Langmusi

Town sits at about 3,300 m — keep day one gentle. Sertri dates to 1748 (entry around CNY 30); the sky-burial site above is active, so view from a distance and never photograph.

1. langmusi sertri monastery
2. langmusi sky burial viewpoint

Kirti's founding is traced to 1413; the gorge trail runs 1-2 hours each way to the river's spring caves, gaining about 200 m. Clockwise circuits, ask before photographing inside.

1. langmusi kirti monastery
2. langmusi namo gorge
3. langmusi white dragon river source

Ten minutes across the provincial-line bridge, then 40 km north on the G213 to Gahai Lake at about 3,480 m — black-necked cranes and gulls in summer.

1. langmusi border bridge
2. langmusi gahai lake

An honest Gansu day out — about 90 km and two hours of road to the stone village ringed by grey cliffs at around 3,000 m; settle in, walk the lanes between timber houses, watch the valley smoke rise at dusk.

1. langmusi zhagana

A full day on the terraces and viewpoints above the four villages — the grassy ledges give the classic look back at the cliffs and rooftops; trails vary from a 20-minute stroll to half-day hikes.

1. langmusi zhagana

Drive south then west, about 2.5 hours to Flower Lake in Sichuan's Ruoergai county — boardwalks over the marsh at about 3,450 m, entry plus shuttle around CNY 100 — then another hour back to Langmusi for the night.

1. langmusi flower lake

Early chanting, a riverside walk, then buses north to Hezuo (about 150 km) or Lanzhou (roughly 390 km, 6-7 hours).

1. langmusi sertri monastery