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Xiahe Travel Guide
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¡ãC, while monthly temperatures for the optimum season to go there, the summer time, are between 8¡ãC and 14¡ãC. 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.
Local Food: Sheep tendon, Zangbao, Zage, Silk tea
Major Attractions:
Sangke Grassland ¨C 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.
Labrang Monastery ¨C Labrang Monastery is home to the largest numbers of monks outside of Tibet Automonous Region. The white walls and golden roofs feature a blend of Tibetan and Han architectural styles. The monastery contains 18 halls, six institutes of learning, a golden stupa, a sutra debate area, and houses nearly 60,000 sutras.
Monlam Prayer Festival ¨C Monlam, also known as The Great Prayer Festival, falls on 4th -11th the day of the 1st Tibetan month in Tibetan Buddhism. As the greatest religious festival, thousands of monks (of the main monasteries of Drepung, Sera and Ganden) gathered for chanting prayers and performing religious rituals.
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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