Ruoergai Grassland Travel Guide (Zoige)

  Basic information Area code: 0837 Emergency phone: 110, 120, 119 Zoige Traffic Police Brigade: 0837-2298377 Hongyuan Traffic Police Brigade: 0837-2662069 Travel information The Ruoergai and Hongyuan areas are at an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level plateau area. […]

 

Basic information

Area code: 0837
Emergency phone: 110, 120, 119
Zoige Traffic Police Brigade: 0837-2298377
Hongyuan Traffic Police Brigade: 0837-2662069

Travel information

• The Ruoergai and Hongyuan areas are at an altitude of 3,500 meters above sea level plateau area. Visitors to the plateau may have altitude sickness, remember to drink plenty of water, try to eat light food, eat more fruits and vegetables, and avoid heavy exercise.
• The temperature difference between morning and evening in Ruoergai is above 15°C, it is recommended to prepare some warm clothes.
• The ultraviolet radiation is strong in the plateau area. Pay attention to applying sunscreen in time when you are out on the tour. You can wear sunglasses and umbrellas.
• In the Ruoergai area, the road conditions are very good, but there will be yaks and Tibetan sheep at any time. Therefore, you must pay attention to the conditions on both sides of the road while driving, and do not speed up to avoid danger.
• There are large swamps in the Ruoergai area. Do not enter it by yourself.

Medical treatment

Ruoergai People’s Hospital
Address: 1 Commercial Street, Dazha Temple Town, RuoergaiCounty
Tel: 0837-2298227
Hongyuan County Hospital
Address: Opposite to the Finance Bureau of Xiaqiong Middle Street, Hongyuan County
Tel: 0837-2662055
Waqie Township Health Center
Address: Yangzhou North Road, Waqie Township, Hongyuan County
Tel: 0837-2661500

Destination Overview

 

Destination sketch

Ruoergai Grassland Located in the northwest of Sichuan Province, Ruoergai Grassland covers four counties- Ruoergai, Aba, Hongyuan and Rangtang. Covering over 13,745 square miles, it is the vast home of Zang (Tibetan) People who mainly live on stock farming.

Hongyuan was personally named by Premier Zhou Enlai, meaning the grasslands the Red Army had walked through. Located in the northwestern part of Sichuan Province and in the middle of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, it is located on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In the territory of Hongyuan, there is a splendid landscape of marshy grassland, a colorful Tibetan style, and endless grasslands dotted with countless lakes.

Local life

In winter, Tibetans usually live in a winter-built house with wooden structures. In summer and autumn, they follow the nomadic places where they live. The Tibetans’ daily diet consists mainly of pasta, meat, and a small amount of potatoes and vegetables. The zanba is the main pasta and the meat is mainly cattle, sheep, and pork. Tea, milk, and wine are traditional drinks of local residents.

Beliefs and taboos

The Ruoergai and Hongyuan area has a great influence on religion and it mainly believes in Tibetan Buddhism and Islam.

Culture

 

Religious worship music

In Zoige County, there are two types of music: religious worship music and folk music. Worship music is mainly played by cymbals, horns, and trumpets, and drums, cymbals, and other percussions.

Tibetan Opera

The Tibetan language is “Langtaer” or “Luoji” , and it is mainly composed of history, religion, folk myths and legends as the theme of Tibetan local opera. The local Tibetan opera in Zoige originated from Labrang Monastery in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Thangka

Thangkas are traditionally kept unframed and rolled up when not on display, mounted on a textile backing somewhat in the style of Chinese scroll paintings, with a further silk cover on the front. Thangka serve as important teaching tools depicting the life of the Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas.

Local Festival

Sho Dun Festival

The traditional Buddhist events held in Tibetan Buddhist temples are generally held in early February, mid-April or mid-June, and the dates of events around the country are not the same. The big Buddha, the large Thangka, is the treasure in each temple. There are many forms of Thangka that can be painted on paper, cloth, silk, and wool fabrics. Sho Dun Festival is the most sacred festival in the Langmusi. The monks and local residents will come and gather around temple to have the ceremony.

Hongyuan Yak Cultural Festival (July, Every 2 years)

Founded in 1999 and held every 2 years for 3 days. Including the opening ceremony of the Grassland Yak Cultural Festival, cultural and sports activities, economic and trade activities, forum activities, thousands of large-scale pot dancing, costumes, Tibetan operas, grassland folk songs, masks, folk performances and other special performances. They also Launched yak beauty contests, large-scale theme song and dance evenings and horse races, game yak, equestrian performances, Tibetan wrestling, archery and other traditional folk sports activities and hot air balloon, bicycle, car off-road and other modern sports competitions.

Yaddon Festival (July 16-20)

The annual Yaddon Festival is a traditional festival in Zoige County. The people of all ethnic groups set up tents on the grasslands. Every family slaughtered sheep to entertain guests. At the same time, they sang folk songs, played Tibetan operas, and held ethnic sports activities such as horse racing and wrestling. There are spring festivals in spring and summer celebrations in summer, and the Tibetan “Yaddon” means the celebration of summer.

Language

Most of them can not speaking English

Best Travel season

Summer June to August is the golden season of the Zoige prairie.

Currency and Consumption

 

Consumption level

The main consumption of tourism in the northwestern Sichuan area is car rental and fuel costs, and a clean accommodation can be found at about 100 yuan. The local food is delicious and cheap. In the county town, you can eat authentic local food less than RMB 100. The scenic area is slightly more expensive.

Practical information

Ruoergai Tourism Bureau
Address: 34, Commercial Street, Ruoergai County
Tel: 0837-2298081
Hongyuan Tourism Bureau
Address: No. 14, Chongtang Lane, Caoxi Town, Hongyuan County
Tel: 0837-2662013

Intercity traffic

 

Aircraft

Aba Hongyuan Airport, AHJ
Aba Hongyuan Airport is located in Hongyuan County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is about 48 kilometers away from Hongyuan County and is about 3535 meters above sea level. It is a high altitude airport. Hongyuan Airport was opened in 2014. It is mainly based on domestic tourism branches. It is the second small airport in Aba Prefecture after Jiuhuang Airport. At present, only round-trip flights from Chengdu to Hongyuan, CA4220 from Hongyuan to Chengdu, take-off time 8:50, CA4219 from Chengdu to Hongyuan, take-off time 7:10, one-way fare is 1310 yuan, and flight time is 1 hour.

At present, Hongyuan Airport has not yet opened an airport bus service. After arriving at the airport, you can choose to take a taxi or chartered bus to reach the Hongyuan city and attractions. Taxi fare is divided into two types: table-making and bargaining.

Address: Hongyuan County, Aba Prefecture
Inquiries: 0837-7735566

Train

There are no trains in Zoige and Hongyuan County, visitors can take the train to Chengdu first and then to Chadianzi Bus Terminal to take bus to Zoige and Hongyuan.

Long distance Bus

Ruoergai Passenger Transport Center
Address: Shuguang Road, Zoige County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture
Tel: 0837-2298395

Red Plains Passenger Transportation Center
Address: Ruiqing Middle Road, Hongyuan County
Tel: 0837-2662448

Chartered car

There are many vans available for rent at the Trident intersection on the Panzhou Hotel in Zoige County. One-way chartered trip to Hongyuan County is about RMB 350, and the cost cof shuttles to the Jiuqu First Bay of yellow river Scenic Spot round trip is RMB 150. The price of chartered vehicles fluctuates greatly, the main impact factor is the tourist traffic.

Attractions

Ruoergai Prairie, also named Zoige Grassland, is located in the northwest of Sichuan Province, and covers four counties: Ruoergai, Aba, Hongyuan and Rangtang. With many small blue lakes scattering in green grassland with high and wide visibility, Ruoergai Prairie looks like a magnificent brilliant emerald, which is well-known as one of “Top 10 Most Beautiful Wetlands”in China. Galloping a horse across the vast land, you will feel that you are the master of this amazing land. The best time to view the wild flowers at Huahu Lake (Flower Lake) is between June and July. And the First Bend of Yellow River possesses its unique beauty, of which the most mirable view happens at sunset when the gentle light glanced off the silently flowing river.

The first bend of Yellow River

This charming grassland is endowed with a unique peace and harmony. Even the Yellow River turns its first bend here to glance at its beauty. Countless small lakes are scattered all over like stars.
Address: Located next to Sogezang Temple in Tangke Township, Zoige County, 61 km from the county seat
Tickets: 65 yuan

Flower Lake

Have you ever seen pieces of pretty flowers blooming in the water? If not, please come to Huahu Lake (Flower Lake) which is about 25 miles northwest of Ruoergai County. It is a vast lake dotted in the wetland areas. Every August, the grass in it comes into beautiful blooms, which gives the lake its name. The calm water sparkles in the sunlight. Although it looks shallow, the lake has a deep marsh below the surface. Across the lake, there is a wooden bridge designed for visitors to take pictures. The blacked-necked cranes, one of the rare birds in China, fall in love with this fairyland and make it their home for a long time.
Address: Adjacent State Road 213, Zoige County, Aba Ticket: 75 yuan, 30 yuan sightseeing bus
Tel: 0837-6224276

Tazha Temple

it is a Gelugpa (Huangjiao) monastery. There are many festivals and ceremonies in Dhazha Monastery, including the Sho Dun festival, the chanting flower, and the Maitreya Society. In July, there are debates (Sayings Day), the October Lantern Festival, the December Disaster Relief Conference, and the Dance of Falun festival.
Address: Northeast of Ruoergai County, about 500 meters from Ruoergai Hotel
Tickets: Free, Exhibition Hall 15

Langmusi

A sleepy village in a remote breathtaking location predominantly inhabited by a colorful mix of Hui Muslims and Amdo Tibetans. It is said that the provincial borderline runs through the middle of town with Sertri Gompa in Gansu and Kirti Gompa located in Sichuan. The power struggles between the two Gompa may have been the reason for the border location. Both temples have distinct styles making both well worth the visit alone. The surrounding mountains give off a very much alpine flair reminiscent of rural Austria or Bavaria and perfect for hiking and horsetrekking.
While there are continually construction projects in all seasons (as in virtually every Chinese town, down to the tiniest backwater), much of the money that tourists bring in appears to be going to renovating and improving Tibetan temples and meeting places, or into local businesses catering to the seeker of Tibetan culture.
Address: Northwest of Zoige County, 92 kilometers from the county
Ticket: 30 yuan

Gers Prairie

The Gers Prairie is located in Zoige County and is the most beautiful grassland in the northwest of Sichuan. It covers an area of 3.2 million mu, accounting for 23.5% of the Zoige area. It is the most flat wetland grassland in China. The GerDam boasts the second largest grassland in the country after the Hulunbuir grassland and is as beautiful as a flower lake, it has many plateau lakes. Swans, black-necked cranes, red-crowned cranes, Tibetan mastiffs, gull-headed gulls, vultures, eagles, dry oysters, skunks, foxes, rabbits and other species of alpine wetland-specific wild animals grow freely on this earthly paradise.
Arrival method: From Zoige County to the Gers Prairie, one-way 60 yuan, the day can go to and from the lake
Tickets: 10 yuan, plus 10 yuan for horse riding

Jiangzha Hot Spring

Jiangzha Hot Spring is located in the north of Zoige County, 95 kilometers from the county town. The hot springs are surrounded by mountains and are in the forest valleys. There are more than 50 springs in the valley, and the water temperature is around 40°C.
Address: In the town of Ruoge County, Northeast of Ruoergai County. Tickets: 25 yuan

Tiebu spotted deer Nature Reserve
Tiebu spotted deer Nature Reserv covers an area of 2,300 square kilometers with an average elevation of 2,900 meters. The sanctuary is a habitat for breeding spotted deer.
Address: Chonger Township, North Zoige County, 120 kilometers from the county seat
Arrival method: Take a shuttle bus from Ruoergai to Diebu County, Gansu, and drop it off. The ticket is 15 yuan. Or chartered, chartered price 250 to 300 yuan
Tickets: Free

Hongyuan Grassland

 

Moon Bay

The crystal-clear White River has hundreds of returns, cause the shape of the river like crescent moons on a wide grassland, hence the name moon bay.
Address: Anqu Ranch, Hongyuan County, 3 km from the county seat
Tickets: Free, 10 yuan parking fee

Maiwa Temple

Also known as the Wangxiang Daci Falun Forest, it is now the largest Tibetan Nyingma monastery in northwestern Sichuan. Maiwa Temple is large in scale and is even more solemn and towering under the backdrop of blue sky and green fields.
Address: North Amukhamen, Hongyuan County, 10km from the mouth of the Amu River
Ticket: 30 yuan

Emutang Yellow Sea

Every June and July of this year, the grassland here will be transformed into a sea of flowers. Imagine a sea of flowers with more than 30,000 acres. Therefore, past visitors are also known as “the most beautiful grassland flowers lake”.
Address: Yangkou Township, Hongyuan County, 82 kilometers from the county town
Arrival method: Along the S209 provincial road at 374 km, there is a clear signage. After 8 km along the road,
Tickets: Free

Itinerary

 

Three – day in grassland

Day 1 Chengdu – Dujiangyan – Wenchuan – Moon Bay – Hongyuan – Yellow river first bend

Day 2 Tangke Town – Flower Lake – Langmusi – Ruoergai County

Day 3 Ruoergai County – Hongyuan county – Li county- Dujiangyan – Chengdu

Four – day in grassland

Day 1 Chengdu – Dujiangyan – Wenchuan – Mao county – Jiuzhaigou
Day 2 Jiuzhaigou
Day 3 Jiuzhaigou – Dalu village – Baxi meeting site – Ruoergai County – Yellow river first bend – Hongyuan
Day 4 Hongyuan – Moon Bay – Li County – Taoping Qiang village – Dujiangyan – Chengdu

Accommdation

The accommodation facilities in the grasslands are not perfect as the urban areas. If you want to experience the prairie style, you can choose the bed and breakfast run by the local herdsmen on the roadside of the Provincial Highway and the National Road. The cost is 200 RMB per night. Zoige County 3 – star Hotel is generally 380 to 480 yuan, cheaper in the off-season.

Food

Zanba, roasted qingke barley flour
Wild vegetables stuffed buns and dumplings.
Butter Milk Tea
Yak yogurt

Shopping

Yak meat, Cordyceps sinensis, Verbal medicine, Tibetan knives, embroidery of the Qiang ethnic minority

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