Tibetan Grasslands

Gansu Province

China

September 5, 2016

Hello,

Readers Choice... Click on the "Grasslands Links" or scroll down to the end of the letter and join a Yak Herd.

Please enjoy my photographs of the vast expanse of the Tibetan Grassland, the gazing livestock, and a monastery enroute to the nearby mountains:

Located in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, southwestern Gansu Province, the Gannan Grasslands cover an area of 37.58 million mu (2.51 million hectares) (6.2 million acres) and primarily stretch out through Gansu's Maqu, Xiehe and Luqu counties.

Lanzhou

(pop 2.1 Million)

Gansu Province

China

September 2, 2016

Hello,

When I return to China, I will head straight for Lanzhou and then directly to the Night Market.

The Muslim Halal Night Market is crowded and fun.

At one stall I purchased a portion of seasoned potatoes that were the best I have ever eaten.

Next time I'll try the fish and vegetable stir fry.  

Or maybe a lamb kebob or two

Jan

On the Road

Gansu Province

China

September 4, 2016

Here's the thing I love about Independent Travel:

When I’m On the Road, I’m on the Road.  I never know what I'll find.

Early today, it's a Livestock Market.  Herders transport their cows or sheep or goats for sale or trade.  Others come on a motorbike and buy a chicken for dinner.

Later today, I find two Minority Villages somewhere in the remote hills of Gansu Province. 

Tongren (pop 257,000)

Qinghai Province

China

September 9, 2016

The Longwu Tibetan Temple and Monastery is the main site in Tongren.   I saw very little of it.  In fact, I almost missed it. 

I stroll from my hotel towards the Temple along the main street but as usual, I am seduced by shops and shopkeepers and the local population at work or at leisure.

Xining

Qinghai Province

China

September 10, 2016

Xining is a city with a history of more than 2000 years.  It was a vital link to Tibet to the south and to the city of Lanzhou to the east. 

Xining lies in the Hexi Corridor and served as a transportation and trading hub for the ancient Northern Silk Road route.  The city now serves as a hub for the Modern Silk Road providing connections to multiple-lane highways and bullet trains in all directions.

Qinghai Province

China

September 11, 2016

Kumbum Monastery (Ta’er Si) lies just south of the city of Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province.

The Monastery was built in 1577 at the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Further south, on the road to Qinghai Lake, lies a lovely scenic spot  and a Tibetan version of a Petting Zoo.  The official name is Sun and Moon Mountain or Sun and Moon Pass.