Things to do in Darlag

Very good, giving people a sense of spaciousness [Value for money] [Interesting] [Scenery] Very unique

A temple that is worth learning about, a place you want to visit again after having been there once.

Online ticketing is very convenient for the attractions along the Sichuan-Gannan Grand Loop! After taking the escalator up to the mountaintop for the view, I recommend walking down the wooden boardwalk for the rest of the journey. However, the parking lot for the escalator is quite far from the entrance! There's no shuttle bus either! Ultimately, we had to split up: one person went down the stairs to get the car, and the other walked down the boardwalk. The experience was just so-so!

The scenery is truly beautiful. The weather was great the day I went, so the scenery was absolutely gorgeous. The lake, the flower-filled lake, and the ecological environment are simply amazing. There's a commercial street right outside with all sorts of food options, which is very convenient.

The scenic area is vast and beautiful, with unique mountains and rocks creating a stunning landscape. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains, a truly magnificent sight. It's definitely worth a visit. The only drawback is the unreasonable crowd control system within the scenic area, resulting in excessively long waiting times.

🌿 What a magical place Ruoergai is! Located in Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province, "Ruoga" in Tibetan means "the happy home of yaks." At an altitude of 3300-3600m, it's one of China's largest plateau wetlands. A "water tower" on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, it contributes over 30% of the river's water resources. The peat bogs act like giant sponges, absorbing water in the rainy season and releasing it in the dry season. In short: low clouds, wild grasslands, and swift yaks. 📸 Must-see attractions: Two stunning views 🌸 Flower Lake: Flowers bloom from June to August, and black-necked cranes are a common sight. Go between 7-8 am for the morning mist, waterbirds, and reflections—a perfect screensaver! 🌊 First Bend of the Yellow River: Climb to the viewing platform two hours before sunset; the Yellow River turns into an orange-red ribbon—a breathtaking sight that will leave your memory running low. 🎉 Culture + Red-themed Surprises 🐎 Ando Horse Racing Festival: July 16-20, 2026, Red Star Town, Re'er Grassland, Sichuan, Gansu, and Qinghai riders race. 🙏 Dujiong Festival: Chanting scriptures for blessings, burning incense for sacrifice, a tradition spanning 1250+ years. 💃 Evening Square Guozhuang Dance: Can't dance? Just sway along and have fun. 🇨🇳 Red-themed Attraction: The Red Army's seven-day, seven-night march across the grasslands in 1935. Visit the "Dawn of Victory" monument in Banyou Village and the Brazil Conference Memorial Hall for quiet reflection and deep respect. 🐎 Activities: Don't just get out of the car for photos 1. 🐎 Horse Riding: 80 RMB/30min, 120 RMB/hour at the scenic area's horse farm. 1. **For a more adventurous experience:** Horseback riding 15km from Tangke Town to the Yellow River (3-4 hours, 200-300 RMB/person). Includes butter tea and tsampa along the way. 2. **Spend a day with local herders:** Milking cows, making butter tea, and herding livestock. Advance booking is required. Wear long pants and long sleeves, and bring candy, stationery, and small gifts. 3. **Hiking:** 8km from the county town to the wetlands. Travel in groups, bring offline maps, water, and snacks. Signal strength is unpredictable; don't go alone. 4. **Stargazing:** Stay in a tent campsite. The Milky Way stretches across the sky between 0:00 and 2:00 AM. Temperatures are below 5℃; bring hand warmers, a thick coat, and a blanket. 5. **Horse Racing Festival:** Mid-July, a grassland version of Fast and Furious. 🍲 Eating in Ruoergai: A Taste Blend on the Plateau 🍲 Yak Hot Pot: Yak meat, cabbage, potatoes, and vermicelli in a copper pot, simmered in a rich broth—perfect for warming you up in the cold wind. 🥩 Hand-Pulled Lamb: Tibetan sheep raised in saline-alkali soil have a mild gamey flavor; dipped in salt, pepper, and garlic sauce, it's delicious to eat with your hands. 🍗 Cumin Lamb Ribs: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a satisfying crunch. 🧈 Butter Tea: Salty, savory, and rich; the first sip is like soup, the second is truly delicious, and it warms you up quickly. 🍵 Sweet Tea: Black tea + milk + sugar—similar to milk tea but more refreshing. 🥣 Yak Yogurt: Initially sour, but adding sugar or honey instantly transforms it into a sweet and sour treat. 🍚 Tsampa: Roasted barley flour and butter tea rolled into a dough—a herder's energy bar. 🍚 Fern root rice: Rice + fern root + white sugar + ghee, sweet but not greasy, a symbol of reunion. 🐟 Yellow River fish: Naked carp makes a delicious soup; the cold-water fish is flavorful with Sichuan peppercorns. 🐖 Fern root pig: Raised on wild mushrooms and ginseng fruit, thin-skinned and fragrant meat, a delicacy of the plateau. 🥟 Tibetan dumplings: Take a small bite to soak up the oil; a distant relative of the soup dumplings. 🍶 Highland barley wine: Slightly sour with a sweet aftertaste, paired with yak meat, the most enjoyable experience on the grassland. ⚠️ Restaurants are scarce outside the county town; bring your own food; during the off-season, shops close around 8 or 9 pm.

The Sangke Grassland is absolutely worth visiting on a good day! Under the blue sky and white clouds, the entire grassland is as green as an endless velvet carpet. Sunlight streams in, and cattle and sheep graze leisurely on the grass in the distance—a scene both clean and soothing. The wind carries the scent of fresh grass, and the view is incredibly expansive; every snapshot is a masterpiece. On a clear day, the sky is a crystal-clear blue, and the clouds are so low they seem almost within reach, creating a stunning contrast with the green grassland—no filter is needed. Strolling through it, you completely relax, leaving the hustle and bustle of the city far behind.

A special trip to Longyang Gorge was a delight, far exceeding my expectations! While the Yellow River is known for its silt-laden waters, here I found a tranquil, emerald-green lake. The 33-kilometer-long gorge is majestic and expansive, with an eight-kilometer-long suspended walkway offering breathtaking views. With luck, you might spot argali sheep on the cliffs or golden eagles soaring overhead. The natural scenery is both wild and soothing. A boat trip across Longyang Lake is breathtaking, with the sunset painting the water a shimmering golden light. The adjacent Earth Forest Geological Park, with its millennia-old weathered landforms, features reddish-brown earth pillars under the setting sun, creating a truly atmospheric experience – a natural geological museum. There's also the first dam on the Yellow River, a magnificent and awe-inspiring engineering feat. It offers stunning scenery and insights into hydroelectric history, making it suitable for educational trips, road trips, and family outings. The scenic area boasts excellent facilities, well-maintained trails, clean restrooms, tidy boats, and patient staff. The package ticket is a great deal, and the average summer temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius provides a cool respite from the heat. Unlike other popular tourist destinations, it's not crowded or noisy. With its unique and unparalleled scenery, Longyang Gorge is a must-see when visiting Qinghai!

Seda is a place of yearning Seda, the habitat of the soul In Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in western Sichuan, there is a mysterious and shocking land-Seda. It is a place full of faith and power, like a pure land in the world, attracting countless people to explore the destination of the soul. When you step into this land, the first thing that catches your eye is the red wooden houses all over the mountains. They are like warm fires, shining with unique light under the sunshine of the plateau. These densely packed red cabins are built on the mountain, layer by layer, forming a red ocean, which brings a strong visual impact and spiritual shock to people. The sky of Seda is always as blue as a gem, pure without a trace of impurities. The white clouds float in the sky like cotton candy, and set off against the red wooden houses, forming a picturesque beauty. In this land, time seems to stand still, and everything becomes so peaceful and beautiful. The most eye-catching thing in Seda is the magnificent Larung Gar Buddhist Academy. It is one of the largest Buddhist academies in the world and a holy place in the hearts of countless practitioners. The golden roof shines brightly under the sun, and the solemn pagodas and fluttering prayer flags can be seen everywhere. Every detail reveals a strong religious atmosphere and sacred breath. Here, you can hear the melodious chanting echoing between the valleys, as if it is a call from the depths of the soul, making people involuntarily immersed in this solemn atmosphere and feel the power of faith. Walking in the alleys of Seda, you will meet many practitioners in red monk robes, their eyes are firm and clear, and their faces are filled with peace and satisfaction. They live a simple and pure life here, chanting and practicing day after day, pursuing inner tranquility and spiritual sublimation. Their existence makes this land full of vitality and vigor, and also deeply affects everyone who comes here, and has a deeper thinking about life. The night of Seda is another charming scene. When night falls, the lights of stars light up in the red wooden house, and the whole Seda seems to have turned into a dream castle. Standing on the top of the mountain and looking down, the lights are like stars falling on the earth, blending with the vast starry sky, making it difficult to tell where the sky is and where the earth is, as if you are in a mysterious fairy tale world. Seda is not just a place, but also a belief and a symbol of spirit. It uses its unique charm to attract people to stay away from the hustle and bustle of the world and come here to find inner peace and soul comfort. Here, you can feel the smallness and greatness of life, and experience that the power of faith is endless. Seda, like a bright pearl, inlaid on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, exudes eternal light, and illuminates the spiritual path of everyone who yearns for it.