Xinlong (Nyagrong)
A hidden Tibetan corner in the Grand Canyon of the Yalong River, with the forest-ringed sacred Cuoka Lake, the Tibetan villages of Xionglongxi and the stone-slab villages of Larima — increasingly popular with road-trippers and photographers in recent years.
Xinlong County, called Nyagrong in Tibetan and formerly known as Zhandui, lies in the center of Sichuan's Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The Yalong River runs north to south through the county, and the county seat, Rulong Town, sits deep in the Grand Canyon of the Yalong River at about 3,000 m. The county is defined by high mountains and gorges, forests and lakes, and Tibetan villages, and in recent years it has become a trending hidden-gem road-trip destination in western Sichuan on Xiaohongshu (RED). Sights radiate out from the county town: about 32 km southwest, Cuoka Lake is the county's best-known attraction, with clear waters ringed by forest and Cuoka Monastery on its shore; to the northwest, the Tibetan villages of Xionglongxi Township and Zhaga Holy Mountain are great for photography and Tibetan homestays; to the east, Larima Town has stone-slab Tibetan villages, Zhazong Monastery and open grasslands, about 125 km round-trip from the county town; in the west, the Red Mountain scenic area in Yinduo Township features high-altitude Danxia landforms; and on the northern border with Garze County, Kawaluori Snow Mountain rises to nearly 6,000 m and is mainly admired from afar. The best season is Jun–Oct, with autumn colors at their finest from late September to mid-October; winters are cold and some mountain roads ice over. Getting there: Xinlong has no railway. The nearest airports are Kangding, Daocheng Yading and Garze Gesar; from Garze County it's about 2 hours south along the Yalong River to the county town, or you can come in from the Litang/Yajiang direction. Allow 2–3 days, and combine with Sertar, Garze and Litang for a western Sichuan loop. The county town isn't especially high, but Cuoka Lake and the Xionglongxi area are close to or above 3,800 m, so watch for altitude sickness. Landslides are common in the mountains during the rainy season; respect Tibetan religious customs and walk clockwise around monasteries and sacred mountains. Check local announcements for the latest on tickets and road conditions.
Top sights
- Tsoka Lake – A highland sacred lake surrounded by forest in Mari Township, a national 4A-rated scenic area with clear, colorful waters and Tsoka Monaste…
- Xionglongxi Tibetan Villages – A cluster of Tibetan villages in Xionglong West Township, with tower-style houses scattered between snowy pastures and highland barley fiel…
- Zhaga Holy Mountain – A granite sacred mountain in western Xinlong's Xionglong region, one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Xinlong, its white peak standing out a…
- Khawa Lori Mountain – A snow-capped peak on the border of Xinlong and Garze counties, at about 5,992 meters, one of the Four Sacred Mountains of the local Tibeta…
- Larima Stone-Slab Village & Zhazong Monastery – A stone-slab Tibetan village and Zhazong Monastery in Larima Town, with houses roofed in shale slabs and open grasslands all around.
- Hongshan Danxia Scenic Area – A high-plateau Danxia landform scenic area in Yinduo Township, a National 4A-level site, often described as among the highest and most exte…
- Xinlong Town & Yalong River Gorge – A small plateau county town where the Yalong River flows through, with steep canyon walls on both sides. It serves as a base for visiting C…
Itineraries
- Western Sichuan Grand Loop: Seda & Daocheng – A panoramic loop from Danba, Seda, Garzê, and Xinlong south to Litang and Daocheng, returning to Chengdu along Highway…