Xiangcheng
The 'Shambhala' of the Shuoqu River valley, with white Tibetan houses dotted along the valley, Sampeling Monastery, autumn colors at Zhongde Village and the colorful forests of Maxiong Gully — a convenient base between Daocheng and Derong.
Xiangcheng County lies in the southwest of Sichuan's Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, on the Sichuan–Yunnan loop between Daocheng, Derong and Shangri-La in Yunnan. The county seat, Xiangbala (Shambhala) Town, sits in the Shuoqu River valley at about 2,850 m; milder than Daocheng, it's an important overnight stop on road trips through southwestern Sichuan. Xiangcheng is best known for its white Tibetan houses, one of the 'Three Wonders of Xiangcheng': rammed-earth tower houses, whitewashed every year and scattered among the valley's fields. Framed by peach blossoms in spring and golden poplars in autumn, they make for some of the most photogenic village scenery in western Sichuan. There are two main routes: around the county town, visit Sampeling Monastery and the white houses of Se'ergong Village; or head south on the S217 through Zhongde Village in Qingde and the Shuoqu River valley to the Ranwu Hot Springs — the heart of the autumn-color drive. To the northeast, Maxiong Gully leads toward Daocheng; in the mountains to the east are the Shambhala Seven Lakes and Bamu Holy Mountain; and Reda Town to the northwest is high-altitude pastoral country. The best seasons are the peach-blossom season in Mar–Apr and the autumn-color season in Oct–Nov; landslides are common in the summer rainy season, and high mountain roads get snow in winter. Getting there: the nearest airport is Daocheng Yading (about 2.5 hours by car), or drive in from Shangri-La via Derong or from Daocheng; sights within the county are mostly reached by car. Allow 1–2 days, and combine with Daocheng Yading, Derong and Shangri-La as a loop. The altitude is high, so protect yourself against the sun and altitude sickness, and respect Tibetan religious customs.
Top sights
- Sampheling Monastery – One of the largest Gelug monasteries in southern Kham, with gilded roofs overlooking the county town and the Baicang House valley. It is th…
- White Tibetan Houses & Seergong Village – Seergong Village, next to the county town, is the best place to see Xiangcheng's white Tibetan houses. Whitewashed stone towers with inward…
- Zhongde Village (Qingde) – The filming location of the movie 'Passing By Your Whole World,' where white Tibetan houses, golden poplars, and barley fields create layer…
- Shuoqu River Valley – The Shuoqu River Valley, running north to south through Xiangcheng, lined with white Tibetan village houses, poplar groves, and terraced fi…
- Maxiong Gorge – A high-altitude mountain gorge on the way from Xiangcheng to Daocheng, accompanied by primeval forests, colorful foliage, and streams; a mu…
- Shambhala Seven Lakes & Mt. Bamu – A group of high-altitude glacial cirque lakes in the mountains east of the county seat; seven lakes are linked by primeval forests and mead…
- Ranwu Hot Springs – Xiangcheng's largest hot spring cluster, with more than a hundred springs within about 0.5 square kilometres, reaching temperatures of up t…
- Reda Township – A highland pastoral town in the northwest of Xiangcheng, where the Qupi Monastery, Tibetan villages, and alpine pastures make a quiet, auth…
- Wuming Mountain (Glacial Boulder Field Viewpoint) – A high-altitude mountain pass on the Daocheng–Xiangcheng road, covered with glacial boulder fields left by ancient ice; a classic roadside…
Where to eat
- Shuhan Restaurant – An established Sichuan restaurant on Xiangbala South Road in Xiangcheng County town, serving sour pork trotter, tree-pe…
Itineraries
- Daocheng Yading and Xiangcheng in Depth – Acclimatize in the county town, spend a night in Xiangcheng, then enter Yading for the short and long routes, and finis…
- Daocheng Yading to Shangri-La & Lijiang Overland – Enter Daocheng along Highway 318 from Chengdu, cross into Yunnan via Xiangcheng, and conclude in Shangri-La and Lijiang.