Yushu
A Khampa Tibetan hub at the source of three great rivers, home to Gyanak Mani, the world’s largest mani stone mound, plus the Leba Valley, the Tongtian River and a spectacular horse festival.
Yushu lies in southern Qinghai Province in the heart of the Sanjiangyuan (Three-River Headwaters) region. Its prefectural seat, Gyêgu (Yushu City), sits at about 3,700 m and is the gateway to the source areas of the Yangtze, Yellow and Mekong rivers. It is also a major center of Khampa Tibetan culture, and the Tang–Tibet Ancient Road passes through. After the 2010 earthquake, Gyêgu was rebuilt entirely and now has good facilities. June–September is the best season, with the horse festival in late July the liveliest time; it turns cold after October, and winters are bitter, with some mountain roads icing over.
Areas to explore: ① Gyêgu and its outskirts—Gyanak Mani, Gyêgu Monastery, the prefectural museum and the Earthquake Memorial; ideal for your first day while you acclimatize to the altitude. ② The southern route—Thrangu Monastery, the Batang Grasslands, Princess Wencheng Temple, the Leba Valley and the Tongtian River, which can be linked in a day. ③ Dangka Monastery on the eastern outskirts and the Longbao Wetlands about 50 km northwest, where black-necked cranes can be seen in summer.
Getting there: Yushu Batang Airport, about 20 km from town, has flights to Xining, Chengdu and elsewhere; driving from Xining via Gonghe and Madoi along National Highway 214 covers about 800 km and takes 1–2 days. Allow 3–4 days. Note: the altitude is high, so avoid strenuous activity and alcohol when you first arrive, and bring sun protection and warm clothing. Walk clockwise around monasteries and mani mounds, ask before taking photos inside halls, and respect local religious customs.
Top sights
- Gyanak Mani Stone Mound – The world's largest mani stone pile in Xinzhai Village. Hundreds of millions of carved stones are stacked layer upon layer like a city, and…
- Princess Wencheng Temple – A Tang-era Vairocana Buddha cliff carving and shrine on the cliffs of Beina Gully. Legend says Princess Wencheng stopped here on her journe…
- Leba Valley – A narrow gully leading to the Tongtian River, with cliffs and riverbed covered in painted mani stones and Tubo-era line carvings. The one-k…
- Jyekundo Monastery – A Sakya school monastery built on the hillside north of Jyekundo town. Its red-and-white halls rise in tiers, and it was rebuilt after the…
- Tongtian River – A section of the upper main stream of the Yangtze River. It cuts a deep gorge through Yushu, and the Tongtian River Bridge at Zhimenda is a…
- Longbao Wetland – A high-altitude marsh wetland at an elevation of about 4,200 metres. It is China's first national nature reserve with the black-necked cran…
- Thrangu Monastery – A Kagyu school monastery south of Jyekundo. It is the main monastery of Thrangu Rinpoche and was almost entirely destroyed in the 2010 eart…
- Dangka Monastery – An old monastery in the hills east of Jyekundo, built into the mountainside and surrounded by prayer flags. Visitors are few, making it a g…
- Yushu Earthquake Memorial – A memorial museum preserving the site of the 2010 Yushu earthquake and recording post-disaster reconstruction. It tells the story of how th…
- Yushu Prefecture Museum – A prefecture-level museum in the centre of Jyekundo, presenting the natural environment of the Three Rivers Source Region, Kham Tibetan fol…
- Yushu Horse Racing Festival – A horse racing festival held in late July on the Zhaxiké grassland on the western outskirts of Jyekundo. Horse racing, equestrian skills, t…
- Batang Grassland – An open highland pasture in the Batang River valley south of Jyekundo. Wildflowers bloom in summer, you may see marmots and yak herds, and…
- King Gesar Square – The central square of Jyekundo. A huge bronze statue of King Gesar on horseback is Yushu's landmark, and locals gather to dance guozhuang i…
Where to eat
- Zanggong Leisure Dining – A well-known local Khampa-style Tibetan restaurant in Yushu, serving yak meat, aka buns and butter tea, with a stage fo…
Itineraries
- Golog, Yushu & Nangqian: 10-Day Deep Kham Itinerary – Head south from Xining via Guide, Maqên, and Madoi to Yushu and Nangqian, venturing deep into the Kham region of the Sa…