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Xiahe — China travel

14 Days in Xiahe

Two weeks circle the Amdo edge from Xiahe — both grasslands, a day over to Tongren in Qinghai for the Regong arts, then Langmusi, Zhagana and an exit through Linxia to Lanzhou.

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Best time: June-August for the grasslands, festival days in the first lunar monthBudget: mid-range

Quick Answer

Is 14 days enough for Xiahe?

14 days lets you go beyond Xiahe's core into neighborhoods, food markets, and one or two day trips at a relaxed pace.

Source: NihaoVisit Xiahe guide

14-day Xiahe itinerary at a glance

Use our full Xiahe travel guide as the base and adapt it to 14 days. Keep the city's three signature attractions as the backbone; fill the rest with neighborhood walks, food markets, and an easy day trip.

Labrang Monastery (founded 1709) and the 3.5-km koraSangke and Ganja grasslands with the Baishiya cliffsTongren in Qinghai, home of the Regong arts (110 km day)Langmusi, the Namo gorge and Zhagana in DiebuLanzhou's provincial museum to finish
1
Day 1

Labrang Monastery & the Kora

Visit the monastery founded in 1709, one of the six great Gelug monasteries; walk the 3.5-km kora clockwise past 1,700-plus prayer wheels and climb the Gongtang pagoda. Town sits near 2,900 m — keep day one easy.

Scenes from Xiahe, China
  1. xiahe labrang monastery
  2. xiahe gongtang pagoda
  3. xiahe prayer wheel kora
2
Day 2

Slow Kora & Town Acclimatisation

A gentle second day — half the kora, the monastery courtyards when doors are open, an early night. Altitude habits matter more than distance at first.

Scenes from Xiahe, China
  1. xiahe prayer wheel kora
3
Day 3

Sangke Grassland Day

Ten kilometres southwest, the grassland and its wetland sit near 3,000 m; herder tents open in summer, a short horse loop runs about an hour.

Scenes from Xiahe, China
  1. xiahe sangke grassland
  2. xiahe sangke wetland
4
Day 4

Ganja Grassland, Baishiya & Bajiao City

A 30-km road north across the Ganja grassland reaches the pale Baishiya cliffs and the walled Bajiao City, begun some 2,000 years ago in Han times.

Scenes from Xiahe, China
  1. xiahe ganja grassland
  2. xiahe baishiya cliff
  3. xiahe bajiao city
5
Day 5

Dazong Lake & a Slow Afternoon

The sacred lake lies 17 km from town at about 3,100 m; quiet time by the water, back in town by mid-afternoon.

  1. xiahe dazong lake
6
Day 6

Tongren Day (Qinghai)

An honest cross-province day — about 110 km over to Tongren city in Qinghai's Huangnan prefecture for the Longwu monastery quarter and the Regong painting workshops; roughly two hours each way on mountain roads.

Tongren, China
  1. tongren
7
Day 7

Xiahe Rest Day

Recovery day — morning chanting from the courtyard edge, butter tea, thangka browsing and an early night before the western loop.

  1. xiahe labrang monastery
8
Day 8

West to Langmusi via Hezuo

An honest long day — about 220 km and three-plus hours, pausing at Hezuo's nine-storey Milarepa pavilion and the Gahai Lake wetland at about 3,480 m. Overnight in Langmusi town, Luqu county.

Langmusi, China
  1. hezuo milarepa pavilion
  2. gahai lake
  3. langmusi
9
Day 9

Langmusi Two Monasteries

A full day in the town straddling the Gansu-Sichuan line — the Gansu-side monastery hill in the morning, the Sichuan-side complex and the Namo gorge with the White River spring after lunch; second night in Langmusi.

  1. langmusi
10
Day 10

On to Zhagana (Diebu)

About 90 km south into Diebu county for the Zhagana stone village; honest note, the last stretch is mountain road, about two hours. Overnight in a village guesthouse.

  1. zhagana
11
Day 11

Zhagana Terraces & Return

Dawn on the viewing terraces above the villages and a half-day valley walk, then the drive back to Xiahe — about 260 km and five hours by honest count.

  1. zhagana
12
Day 12

Xiahe Slow Day

A whole slow day at home base — full kora lap, market streets, a long noodle lunch and packing; the exit run starts tomorrow.

  1. xiahe prayer wheel kora
13
Day 13

Linxia Alleyways on the Way Out

East with a stop in Linxia, about 100 km from Xiahe, for the Bafang Thirteen Alleyways old quarter, then on to Lanzhou for the night — honest note, this day belongs to two other prefectures.

Lanzhou, China
  1. linxia
  2. lanzhou
14
Day 14

Lanzhou Museums & Departure

The provincial museum's Silk Road halls and the Zhongshan iron bridge over the Yellow River, then flight or HSR out from Lanzhou.

  1. lanzhou

Budget for 14 days in Xiahe

TierPer day14 days total
BackpackerUSD $50–$80USD $700–$1,120
Mid-rangeUSD $100–$200USD $1,400–$2,800
LuxuryUSD $300+USD $4,200+

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Frequently asked questions

What is the daily budget for Xiahe?
Budget travelers: USD $50–$80/day. Mid-range: $100–$200/day. Luxury: $300+/day. These cover hotel, three meals, transit, and one paid attraction per day.
Do I need a visa to visit Xiahe?
It depends on your passport — see our <a href="/china-visa-2026/">China visa guide</a> for the latest country-by-country list. Most Western passport holders can enter visa-free for 30 days as of 2026.
How do I get from the airport to the center of Xiahe?
Xiahe's main airport connects to the city center via airport bus, taxi, or metro where available. See the airport transfer section of our Xiahe guide.
Can I use 14 days for both Xiahe and a side trip?
Yes — with 14 days you can pair Xiahe with one nearby city (e.g. a short rail or bus side trip) and still have buffer days.
Is Xiahe safe for tourists?
Yes. Xiahe has very low violent crime rates and is widely considered safe for foreign tourists. Standard petty-theft precautions apply. See our <a href="/is-china-safe-2026/">is China safe</a> page.

See also: Xiahe travel guide, China visa 2026, China trip cost.