Gannan Attractions

Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (甘南藏族自治州) lies on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where Gansu meets Qinghai and Sichuan. Often marketed as “Nine-Colored Gannan” (九色甘南) and the “Window to the Tibetan Plateau,” it combines Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, immense alpine grasslands, wetlands, sacred lakes, limestone peaks, forests, canyons and some of the most important Red Army Long March heritage sites in western China.

As of July 2026, Gannan has 41 A-rated tourist attractions. A current prefecture-wide report gives the structure as 1 National 5A, 11 National 4A, 24 National 3A and 5 National 2A attractions. Yeliguan Tourist Area is the prefecture's only 5A attraction, while Zhagana, Labrang Monastery, Langmusi, Daqiugou, Awancang Wetland and other major destinations form the core of the wider tourism network.

There is one very recent rating detail worth noting. The July 2026 prefecture-wide count still reports 11 4A attractions, while a July 18, 2026 Xiahe government notice explicitly identifies Ganjia Secret Lands as a National 4A attraction. This suggests the county-level upgrade information is newer than the prefecture-wide statistical breakdown, so the exact 4A/3A totals may be in transition.

Top Tourist Attractions in Gannan

The following ranking is a recommended travel ranking rather than an official government ranking, based on cultural significance, landscape quality, uniqueness and importance for first-time international visitors.

Hezuo City Attractions

Hezuo (合作市) is the capital and main transport hub of Gannan. Its tourism resources combine urban Tibetan culture with nearby grasslands. The municipal government highlights Milarepa Buddha Pavilion, Dangzhou Grassland, Meiren Grassland, Lexiu Tao River scenery, Gangcha Cave and Ani Nianqing Mountain among the city's principal attractions.

Dangzhou Grassland remains a confirmed National 4A attraction and is also the main venue for major events such as the Nine-Colored Gannan Shambhala Tourism Art Festival.

Xiahe County Attractions

Xiahe (夏河县) is Gannan's most important destination for Tibetan Buddhist culture. Labrang Monastery is a confirmed National 4A attraction, while Ganjia Secret Lands is now explicitly described by the Xiahe government as a National 4A attraction. Sangke has also developed into a provincial-level tourism resort.

Visitors should stay on officially opened routes. Xiahe prohibited unauthorized hiking, camping and exploration in undeveloped parts of Ganjia, Baishiya, Sangke, Darezong Lake and other remote valleys in 2026 because of altitude, rockfall, flood and rescue risks.

Luqu County Attractions

Luqu County (碌曲县) has one of the strongest concentration of high-quality attractions in Gannan. Its tourism triangle traditionally centres on Langmusi, Zecha Stone Forest and Gahai, while Gaxiu Tibetan Village adds a strong cultural element. Current tourism promotion also highlights Guomang Wetland and Gaxiu Cloud Valley.

The 2024 provincial A-rated list confirms Langmusi, Zecha Stone Forest and Gaxiu Tibetan Village as National 4A attractions.

Gahai and Zecha belong to the wider Gahai–Zecha National Nature Reserve, an important ecological zone supporting extensive plateau flora and fauna.

Diebu County Attractions

Diebu County (迭部县) combines some of Gannan's most spectacular mountain landscapes with major Long March sites.

Zhagana

Zhagana (扎尕那) is the county's defining attraction. Its Tibetan villages sit inside a natural amphitheatre of towering rock peaks, forests, farmland and alpine valleys. In 2023, Zhagana Village was selected as a Best Tourism Village by UN Tourism, giving the destination international recognition for rural tourism and community development.

Long March Heritage

Lazikou Scenic Area and Ejie Conference Site are both confirmed 4A attractions in the provincial list, alongside Zhagana.

Maqu County Attractions

Maqu County (玛曲县) lies at the great bend of the upper Yellow River and is Gannan's most expansive wetland and grassland destination. The county government promotes the First Bend of the Yellow River, vast wetlands, Gesar culture and horse-racing traditions as its major tourism brands.

Awancang Wetland is a National 4A attraction, while the county's 2025 government report confirms that Hequ Horse Farm and Oulakqiong Lake have entered the 3A category.

Zhuoni County Attractions

Zhuoni County (卓尼县) is one of Gannan's strongest destinations for forested valleys and self-driving. Daqiugou is a confirmed National 4A attraction, while newer 3A development includes Hongse Boyu Wellness Tourism Area and Ink-Zhagulü. The county is also actively preparing Daqiugou for a future 5A application.

Unauthorized entry into undeveloped sections of Daqiugou and its protected core areas is prohibited because of flood, landslide, wildlife and rescue risks.

Lintan County Attractions

Lintan County (临潭县) has undergone the biggest tourism upgrade in Gannan. On December 26, 2024, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism officially designated Yeliguan Tourist Area as a National 5A Tourist Attraction, making it Gannan's first 5A site and Gansu's eighth at that time.

Yeliguan is not a single lake or mountain. It is a composite scenic area centred on Tianchi Yehai and Chibi Yougu, integrating alpine lakes, forests, Danxia cliffs and meadow landscapes.

Zhouqu County Attractions

Zhouqu County (舟曲县) lies lower and wetter than much of Gannan, creating a landscape of steep forests, deep valleys and warmer mountain villages. Laga Mountain is the county's principal nationally rated attraction and was listed as 4A in the provincial A-rated directory.

Gannan's Most Important A-Rated Attractions

The last complete provincial directory published in June 2024 listed the following Gannan attractions as 4A at that time: Labrang Monastery, Yeliguan, Daqiugou, Dangzhou Grassland, Zecha Stone Forest, Laga Mountain, Langmusi, Gaxiu Tibetan Village, Zhagana, Lazikou, Ejie Conference Site and Awancang Wetland.

Since then, two major changes are confirmed: Yeliguan was upgraded to 5A in December 2024, while Ganjia Secret Lands is identified as 4A by Xiahe authorities in July 2026.

Because current prefecture statistics still report 1 5A + 11 4A + 24 3A + 5 2A, individual rating changes appear to be moving faster than consolidated prefecture-wide lists. Travellers and tourism websites should therefore use the latest attraction-specific government notice when an exact rating is important.

Best Gannan Attractions by Interest