Zhagana Scenic Area in Tiebu County, Gannan

🌄 Overview of Zhagana (扎尕那)

Zhagana (扎尕那) means “Stone Box” in the Tibetan language. It is located in Yiwa Town, Diebu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province (甘南藏族自治州迭部县益哇镇). Recognized as one of the Best Tourism Villages by the United Nations and described by National Geographic as an outdoor paradise, Zhagana is one of the most spectacular natural and cultural destinations in Gannan.

Surrounded by enormous limestone mountains, Zhagana forms a natural stone fortress. Scattered throughout the valleys are four traditional Tibetan villages: Dongwa Village (东哇村), Yeri Village (业日村), Dari Village (达日村), and Daiba Village (代巴村). Tibetan wooden houses, highland barley terraces, forests, alpine meadows, sacred mountains, and deep valleys blend together to create a landscape often described as a “Shangri-La on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.”

The famous American explorer Joseph Rock (洛克) once conducted research here and left highly positive descriptions of the region’s scenery and culture. The villages are located at elevations of approximately 2,900–3,300 meters, while the highest surrounding peaks reach about 4,500 meters.

The entrance ticket costs 80 RMB and allows multiple entries within 48 hours. Students and seniors aged 60–69 can purchase half-price tickets for 40 RMB, while visitors over 70 years old and children under 1.2 meters can enter free of charge with valid documents. The sightseeing shuttle bus to Yixiantian Canyon (一线天) costs 40 RMB for a round trip and is optional; it is only needed for visitors planning to visit Yixiantian.

The village areas are open throughout the day, while hiking walkways operate from 08:00 to 18:00. During the peak season, visitors must make advance reservations through the official WeChat account “Zhagana Scenic Area (扎尕那大景区)”. The scenic area has two entrances: the South Gate (Diebu County direction) and the North Gate (Rock’s Road / Luoke Road direction). Make sure to select the correct entrance when booking.

🌿 Best Times to Visit Zhagana

Seasonal Recommendations

June to August is the summer peak season and the best period for visiting Zhagana. Alpine meadows are covered with wildflowers, morning valleys often fill with clouds and mist, and temperatures usually range between 15–25°C, making it an ideal summer escape. However, accommodation becomes limited, so advance reservations are strongly recommended.

September to October offers magnificent autumn scenery. The forests turn golden, the weather is comfortable, and fewer visitors make this season especially suitable for landscape photography.

November to April of the following year brings severe cold and strong winds. Some hiking routes may be closed. This period is more suitable for experienced self-driving travelers and is not recommended for ordinary visitors.

Best Visiting Time

The best photography opportunities are early morning sunrise (around 06:00–07:00) at Dari Viewing Platform (达日观景台), where visitors can see seas of clouds and golden sunlight illuminating the mountains.

The Rock Viewing Platform (洛克观景台) is ideal for sunset photography, while Fairy Beach (仙女滩) offers beautiful evening scenery.

A quick visit can be completed in one day, but travelers who want to experience village life, hiking, and sunrise landscapes are recommended to stay overnight and reserve 1.5–2 days.

🚗 How to Get to Zhagana

By Self-Driving

Navigate to Zhagana Scenic Area (扎尕那景区). It is approximately 28 kilometers northwest of Diebu County town, taking around 40 minutes by car.

Private vehicles can only park at the scenic area parking lot and are not allowed to drive into the village areas. The famous Rock’s Road (洛克之路, Jiangdie Highway 江迭公路) leads to Zhagana, but some sections are rough and narrow, so drivers should be cautious during rainy weather.

By Public Transportation

Visitors can take long-distance buses from Lanzhou South Bus Station (兰州汽车南站) to Diebu County, then transfer to shared vehicles or chartered cars to reach Zhagana.

Travelers joining a Gannan loop tour by private vehicle can combine Zhagana with Langmusi (郎木寺) and Gahai Lake (尕海湖).

Recommended Travel Combination

Zhagana is one of the highlights of the classic Gannan travel route:

Langmusi → Gahai Lake → Zhagana

This route combines Tibetan culture, alpine landscapes, grasslands, and mountain villages.

⭐ Core Attractions and Highlights

🌅 Dari Viewing Platform (达日观景台) — Best Sunrise Spot

Dari Viewing Platform is the highest sunrise photography location in Zhagana. From here, visitors can overlook all four Tibetan villages surrounded by dramatic stone mountains.

At sunrise, clouds rise through the valleys, golden sunlight shines across the cliffs, and the “golden mountain” landscape creates one of the most iconic scenes of Zhagana.

🌄 Rock Viewing Platform (洛克观景台) — Best Sunset Location

This is the classic photography location associated with explorer Joseph Rock.

Facing Guanggai Mountain (光盖山), the viewing platform offers a panoramic view of Tibetan villages, barley terraces, forests, and mountain peaks. The warm evening sunlight creates a peaceful and cinematic atmosphere.

🏯 Lasang Temple (拉桑寺)

Lasang Temple is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located above Dongwa Village.

With red and white buildings, colorful prayer flags, and traditional Tibetan religious architecture, it provides an excellent opportunity to experience local culture. Visitors can walk clockwise around prayer areas and enjoy views overlooking Dongwa Village.

Visitors should remain quiet inside the temple and respect local religious traditions.

🌸 Fairy Beach–Fairy Lake Hiking Route (仙女滩–仙女湖徒步线) — Most Popular Hiking Route

This is the most popular hiking route in Zhagana.

The wooden walkway gradually climbs upward through open alpine meadows, where wildflowers bloom across the landscape in summer. Fairy Beach (仙女滩) is an ideal place for photography and relaxation.

Continuing deeper into the mountains for about 1.5 hours leads to Fairy Lake (仙女湖), a quiet alpine lake surrounded by forests.

The round trip takes approximately 2–3 hours. The route is relatively easy and suitable for families and older travelers.

🏞️ Yixiantian Canyon (一线天峡谷)

Yixiantian features steep cliffs, flowing streams, and narrow canyon landscapes connected with local legends of King Gesar (格萨尔王).

It is suitable for a short hiking experience. The sightseeing bus only reaches the canyon entrance; visitors who do not plan to visit Yixiantian do not need to purchase the 40 RMB shuttle ticket.

🌲 Runwu Valley (润吾沟)

Runwu Valley is a lesser-known local canyon featuring streams, stone formations, and peaceful mountain scenery.

Visitors can drive to the valley entrance and enjoy a relaxed walk away from the crowds.

🏡 Four Tibetan Villages (四大藏寨村落)

The four traditional villages are:

Dongwa Village (东哇村) — the entrance village with the largest number of guesthouses and convenient transportation.

Yeri Village (业日村) — a traditional Tibetan settlement surrounded by mountain scenery.

Dari Village (达日村) — offers the best panoramic views and is popular among photographers.

Daiba Village (代巴村) — maintains a quieter atmosphere and authentic village scenery.

Walking through these villages allows visitors to experience Tibetan wooden houses, barley terraces, and the traditional lifestyle of local communities.

🥾 Hiking Tip: The back mountain stone forests and long routes toward Guanggai Mountain (光盖山) require strong physical ability and experience. The terrain is complicated, so visitors must hire local guides and should never explore alone.

🏨 Accommodation and Local Food

For accommodation, staying inside the villages is the best way to experience Zhagana.

Dongwa Village (东哇村) offers convenient transportation and generally has the mildest altitude adjustment experience. Dari Village (达日村) provides the best mountain views and is preferred by photography lovers.

During the busy July–August season, accommodation should be booked 1–2 weeks in advance. Travelers can also choose hotels in Diebu County town.

Local Tibetan specialties include Hand-Pulled Lamb (手抓羊肉), Juerma Rice (蕨麻米饭), Butter Tea (酥油茶), and Tsampa (糌粑), as well as local potato dishes.

Restaurants inside the villages are limited, so visitors should bring some snacks and drinking water when entering the mountains.

⚠️ Travel Tips and Safety Information

Zhagana has an elevation of approximately 2,900–3,300 meters, with day-night temperature differences reaching 15–20°C. Even during summer, visitors should bring outdoor clothing such as a windproof jacket or light down jacket. Ultraviolet radiation is extremely strong, so sunglasses and sunscreen are essential.

When arriving at high altitude, avoid intense exercise during the first period of adjustment. Do not immediately take a hot shower if you feel uncomfortable, as this may increase altitude sickness symptoms.

Visitors should respect Tibetan customs. Do not make loud noises inside temples, step on Mani stones (玛尼堆), or photograph local residents without permission. Always ask before taking portraits.

The sightseeing bus only goes to Yixiantian (一线天). The Fairy Beach hiking route does not require a shuttle bus ticket.

Mountain weather changes quickly, so always carry rain protection. Wooden walkways can become slippery after rain, requiring careful walking and proper footwear.

Drone flights can be affected by strong mountain winds. Fly cautiously and prioritize safety.

During peak season, visitor numbers can be very high. Sunrise positions at Dari Viewing Platform are limited, so arriving early is strongly recommended.