Milariba Buddha Pavilion is a nine-story Tibetan-style blockhouse pavilion built to commemorate the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu school (commonly known as the White Sect) master Milarepa. It was first built in the 42nd year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1777), and the existing structure was rebuilt in later generations. The pavilion is dark red throughout, which is relatively rare among monasteries in Tibetan areas. The hall enshrines over 1,000 statues, with the patriarchs of all major Tibetan Buddhist sects worshipped together in the same pavilion, along with numerous historical and cultural figures of Tibet. In the center of the first floor is a tall statue of Jampa Buddha (Maitreya Buddha), depicted in a solemn and dignified bodhisattva appearance. Flanking it are statues of Tibetan kings such as Songtsen Gampo and Princess Wencheng, as well as figures like Thonmi Sambhota, who created the Tibetan script, and Thang Tong Gyalpo, the founder of Tibetan opera. The second through fifth floors correspond to different sects. The fifth floor is dedicated to the White Sect, where the statues of Milarepa and his master Marpa are gaunt, and the murals on the walls depict the process of Milarepa's body changing from fat to thin during his ascetic practice. The sixth to eighth floors enshrine the Dharma kings, yidams, and protectors of Tibetan Buddhist Tantra, with statues of Hayagriva, Mahakala, and others often appearing in wrathful forms. The ninth floor is not an independent floor, but a mandala painting on the roof of the eighth floor. You can visit the interior by climbing the stairs floor by floor, or simply admire the exterior architecture. The Hezuo Monastery is located right next to the west side of the pavilion; if you have enough time, you can visit both.

Hezuo · 756m from downtown

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No. 6 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Gansu

Meiren Grassland

5.1

4.9/5

36 reviews

Meiren Grassland has an altitude of over 3,000 m and is an alpine meadow grassland. Unlike common flat grasslands, the meadows here rise in mounds and stretch continuously, dotted with various small wildflowers. Herds of yaks and Tibetan sheep roam the grassland, which is also one of the main production areas for the local fine yak breed, the Meiren yak. Tents are often scattered across the grassy slopes, where you can see the daily scenes of herders grazing their livestock. The entire grassland stretches along the Heyi Highway from Hezuo to Yeliguan. You can slow down during your self-drive tour to view these rolling meadows, or easily connect to nearby scenic spots such as Kangduo Gorge and Lianhua Mountain.

Hezuo · 29km from downtown

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Dangzhou Grassland

3.7

4.6/5

47 reviews

This is an ideal holiday destination, with green grass and trees, mountains, forests, grasslands and tents. Every midsummer, all kinds of wild flowers bloom on the green grass. Since the first Gannan Shambhala Tourism Art Festival was held in 2000, it has become the main venue of the previous Gannan Shambhala Tourism and Art Festivals, as well as the gathering place for ethnic mass cultural and sports activities and festival celebrations.

Hezuo · 7.7km from downtown

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Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Museum

2.9

4.7/5

9 reviews

The museumwas established in 1986,has an exhibition area of 601 m², houses 2,381 various artifacts, including 185 precious artifacts, with a focus onethnic and Red Army artifacts.

Hezuo · 1.5km from downtown

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2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Jiuzhaigou National Park

9.7

4.8/5

67.6k reviews

Jiuzhaigou National Park features towering snow-capped peaks, lush forests, and stunningly colorful pools and shoals. Crystal-clear streams meander through the forests and shoals, complemented by traditional Tibetan wooden houses, prayer flags, and the unique traditional customs of the Tibetan and Qiang ethnic groups, earning it the name "beautiful fairy-tale world." Jiuzhaigou National Park is shaped like a "Y" and consists of three valleys—Shuzheng Valley, Rize Valley, and Zechawa Valley—with a total length of over 60 km. Fall is the golden season for sightseeing, as the mountain forests gradually shift in color from emerald green to golden yellow and then to fiery red, contrasting beautifully with the azure lakes and presenting an unforgettable picture.

China · Jiuzhaigou

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Prayer Wheel

2.6

The prayer wheel is located in Maqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and is one of the largest prayer wheels in the world. Its body has a total weight of 320 tons, a diameter of 12.43 m, and a height of approx. 42.38 m. This prayer wheel is not only massive in size but also deeply meaningful. The body is mainly made of titanium and is partly inlaid with relief Buddha images. Inside are about 110,000 sutra volumes, weighing more than 86 tons. The exterior is also carved with the 12 zodiac animals, attracting many visitors for pilgrimage and sightseeing.

Hezuo · 7.9km from downtown

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No. 10 of Best Things to Do in Sichuan

Huanglong National Scenic Area

8.5

4.6/5

16.3k reviews

Huanglong National Scenic Area is a Attraction famous for its fantastic and beautiful calcified pools. The water in the numerous calcified pools in the Attraction is crystal clear and colorful and very beautiful. There are also many natural landscapes such as forests, canyons, snow-capped mountains and waterfalls in the Attraction. It is known as the "Fairyland on Earth". Huanglong National Scenic Area is mainly divided into two parts, Huanglong Headquarters and Munigou. Huanglong Main Gou in Huanglong Headquarters is the main Attraction of Huanglong National Scenic Area, and is also the place generally referred to when talking about Attraction. The Attraction is located in Songpan County. The best time to visit here is in summer and autumn, when the lake is in its flood season, with a large pool area and beautiful scenery. In winter and early spring, the water volume is smaller, but the scenery is still good.

China · Songpan

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No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Gannan

Labrang Monastery

6

4.4/5

897 reviews

Located in Gannan District's Xiahe County, Labrang Monastery is one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug (Yellow) Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is large in scale and high in status. A representative example of the monasteries and temples throughout Gannan, it is a must-see for visitors to the area. It is a majestic temple complex. It offers spectacular sights while walking through and also when taking in a panoramic bird's-eye view from its highest point. The monastery is full of giant Buddha statues and various exquisite sculptures, murals and countless musical instruments. Furthermore, the long corridor of the Labrang Monastery is a sight rarely seen anywhere else in the world. This is a place where pilgrims come to accumulate merit and to pray for friends and relatives.

Xiahe · 42.4km from Hezuo

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No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Qinghai

Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum

8.2

4.8/5

10.3k reviews

Qinghai Tibetan Culture MuseumIt is a comprehensive museum themed on Tibetan medicine culture and featuring Tibetan culture.Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum(also known as Qinghai Tibetan Culture Museum) is located in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province in the eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It officially opened in September 2006. The museum has basically formed a "one museum with two halls" layout, featuring 16 exhibition halls including the Silk Road and Tibetan civilization, the grand view of Chinese Tibetan art painting, and the history of Tibetan medicine.Qinghai Tibetan Culture MuseumThe collection is rich, historic, and diverse, possessing high historical, scientific, and artistic value. The museum houses the Guinness World Record-holding thangka masterpiece, "The Grand Thangka of Tibetan Culture and Art," which is 618 m long. It was planned by renowned thangka master Zongzhe Lajie and completed by 400 painters over four years. Its content encompasses the Tibetan understanding of the universe, the formation of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, history, religion, medicine, culture, art, and folklore. With its intricate details and brilliant colors, it is a magnificent sight and can be called an encyclopedia of Tibetan culture, hailed as a "contemporary national treasure." Through four major series—ancient books and documents, Tibetan medical thangkas, ancient Tibetan medical instruments, and Tibetan material specimens—the museum comprehensively displays the long history, profound theoretical system, clinical practice, and unique preparation techniques of Tibetan medicine, with four ancient books included in the National Catalogue of Precious Ancient Books. The Silk Road and Qinghai-Tibet Civilization exhibition hall uses history as its temporal dimension and the vast plateau landscape as its geographical dimension. Through thousands of precious cultural relics such as silk, gold and silver ware, and coffin paintings, it highlights Tibetan cultural elements and showcases the origin, inheritance, rise, and prosperity of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau civilization throughout the long river of history. The Tibetan carpet exhibition hall is one of the largest exhibitions of ancient carpets in China, displaying more than 400 Tibetan carpet artifacts from different periods and eras, featuring magnificent patterns, intense colors, and unique ethnic styles and local characteristics. At the same time, there are also Tibetan-style architectural exhibition halls, Tibetan calligraphy art exhibition halls, as well as temporary exhibition halls, multimedia screening rooms, academic lecture halls, and cultural relic storage rooms, providing strong capabilities for inheritance, protection, and research, as well as conditions for cultural exchange.Qinghai Tibetan Culture MuseumIt will continuously improve the level of cultural relic preservation, exhibition design, scientific research, and management operations, becoming a platform for promoting ethnic unity and social development, a broad stage for cultural dissemination and academic exchange, a research center for cultural relic protection and Tibetan studies, and an exhibition center for treasured literature and collections, showcasing the splendid civilization and culture of the Tibetan Plateau to the world.

China · Xining

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No. 3 of Best Things to Do in Qinghai

Kumbum Monastery

8.2

4.7/5

18.7k reviews

Kumbum Monastery is one of the important monasteries of the Gelug (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism and the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Hat sect. The monastery features magnificent architecture, abundant treasures, and a strong religious atmosphere, making it one of the more popular travel destinations in Xining. Overview of the visit It has distinct differences in architectural layout compared to Han Chinese Buddhist temples in inland China: the complex here is not symmetrically arranged along a central axis. The monastery is an ancient architectural complex composed of numerous halls, scripture halls, stupas, and colleges, with each sutra hall, main hall, and stupa irregularly distributed on a small hill. Travelers can explore the site in a relatively free manner rather than following a straight path along a central axis. The Great Golden Roof Hall of Kumbum Monastery is the center of the entire architectural complex. It is said that Master Tsongkhapa was born here, and when he was born, his umbilical cord blood dripped on this spot, from which a bodhi tree grew. Later, a stupa was built around the tree, and a monastery was constructed, hence the name. Believers hold that this tree and stupa are the embodiment of the master. The three unique features of the attraction: butter sculptures, murals, and appliqué embroidery. Butter sculptures are made by mixing butter with various pigments to mold and carve into figures of Buddhas, people, flowers, birds, animals, and pavilions. Travelers can admire exquisite butter sculptures at the butter sculpture hall inside the temple (located far from the main gate). Vibrant centuries-old murals can be appreciated in the main halls, corridors, and front galleries of the temple. Appliqué embroidery involves cutting colored satin into desired shapes, such as Buddha figures or animals, stuffing them with wool or cotton, and embroidering them onto cloth hangings. In the temple's great sutra hall, two rare large appliqué embroidery pieces—"Sixteen Arhats Displaying Divine Powers" and "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea"—hang on either side. The four major religious festivals (based on the lunar calendar): 1. Cham dance (14th day of the first month) and butter sculpture exhibition (15th day of the first month); 2. Cham dance (14th day of the fourth month), Buddha unveiling, and Cham dance (15th day of the fourth month); 3. Buddha unveiling, Cham dance (6th day of the sixth month), and golden Buddha procession (8th day of the sixth month); 4. Full-day Buddha unveiling (22nd day of the ninth month) and Cham dance (23rd day of the ninth month). During these festivals, activities like Buddha unveiling and ritual dances take place, attracting large crowds of devotees and travelers, creating a lively atmosphere.

China · Xining

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7D6N • 7-day Tibetan region exploration tour: Zha Ga Na morning mist, visit the sacred Lianbaoyeze Mountains, and watch the sunset over the Yellow River's Nine Bends

Take in the morning mist at Zha Ga Na and visit highlights such as Labrang Monastery, Ruoergai Flower Lake, the First Bend of the Yellow River, Lianbaoyeze, and other scenic spots in Gannan. | You will be accompanied by experienced local guides and supported by our 24/7 online travel concierge throughout your journey. We provide daily itinerary updates, food recommendations and practical travel tips, delivering a completely shopping-free experience from start to finish. | Stay in carefully selected local four-star hotels and travel with professional drivers for a safe, comfortable journey.

MandarinGuaranteed departureArr. & dep. transfers incl.Multiple car types availablePrivate Tours

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6D5N • Lanzhou + Gannan + Zhagana + Zoige + Diebu + Hezuo

Groups are limited to a maximum of 16 guests. Tour guides are available even for solo travelers. The package includes priority admission tickets to the scenic area and the required shuttle bus fees. | Visit sacred Labrang Monastery, explore Zhagana Mountain and the ancient Ganjia Secret Land, see peaceful Langmu Temple on the Sichuan-Gansu border, and admire the First Bend of the Yellow River. | Free group aerial video of Zhagana Scenic Area. 24-hour private airport & station transfer service at destination, no shared rides. Free breakfast for children.

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[Lanzhou Departure] Labrang Monastery & Sangke Grassland & Ganga Mijing Day Tour

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[Departing from Lanzhou] Gannan Labrang Monastery + Sangke Grassland + Sangke Wetland Park One-Day Tour

Duration: 11.5 hrs

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[Depart from Lanzhou] Private Car Day Tour to Labrang Monastery, Sangke Grassland and Ganjia Secret Land

Duration: 6.5 hrs

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[Lanzhou departure] Labrang Monastery + Sangke Grassland + Ganjia Secret Land one-day tour: chartered car + admission tickets

Duration: 5 hrs

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Private Tour to Labrang Monastery and Sangke Grassland (Departing from Lanzhou)

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Private 1-day tour from Lanzhou to explore the sacred land of Gannan, featuring Labrang Monastery and Sangke Grassland

Duration: 8.6 hrs

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Hezuo Today's weatherFoggy -2-4℃

Hezuo weather for the next 2 days11/16: -12-1℃, 11/17: -11-5℃

Free things to do in Hezuo

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What travellers say about Hezuo

闻嘉流浪Noel13 August 2026

4.0

This is a well-known Tibetan temple in Hezuo City, Gannan Prefecture. It's quite unique, with white stupas somewhat similar to those in Thai temples, and the red monastery exudes a solemn and dignified atmosphere. Taking photos against the backdrop of blue skies and white clouds would definitely be a great experience. Since I have no religious affiliation, I didn't buy a ticket to go inside; I just wandered around the outside. However, I absolutely respect the beliefs of the Tibetan people.