Zagana 5 Days 4 Nights In-Depth Tour

🌄Zagana｜The Ultimate Guide to the Tibetan Secret Land｜Stay in the 5 Days 4 Nights Featured on National Geographic!🚶♂️✨ 📍 Location: Diebu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu (Navigate to "Zagana Visitor Center") 🎫 Ticket: 80 RMB/person (including insurance), free entry within 3 hours (quick check-in via North Gate) 🚗 Transportation: ▫️ Self-drive: 6 hours from Lanzhou (G316 new highway), 10 hours from Chengdu (G213 national road), SUV recommended for stability ▫️ Car hire: Shared ride from Lanzhou/Chengdu costs 300-500 RMB per person, Tibetan drivers familiar with the route (Recommended: Master Zhaxi: 138XXXX5678) ▫️ Inside the scenic area: Electric cart 40 RMB/person (walking on boardwalk possible), horse riding 100-200 RMB/segment (One Line Sky → Fairy Beach) 🌟 Must-Visit Highlights 1. Dari Viewing Platform · Golden Mountain Sunrise Arrive before 6 AM, capture the Tibetan village and snow mountains framed together amid rolling sea of clouds, use telephoto lens to shoot the "Stone City" silhouette, after sunrise when fog clears, shoot panoramic views. ✨ Hidden tip: Use time-lapse photography to record light changes, drone shooting allowed after registration (apply to scenic area management one day in advance). 2. Fairy Beach Light Hiking · The Wizard of Oz 2-hour wooden boardwalk leads straight to Fairy Lake, wildflowers bloom from June to August, ride horses in Tibetan costumes (50 RMB/hour) galloping on the meadow, afternoon portrait shots with backlight are super healing. 🌿 Bonus: At the end of the boardwalk, buy freshly squeezed yak milk (15 RMB/bowl) from herders’ hut, warm and sweet! 3. One Line Sky Secret Realm · Canyon Adventure 3-hour hike through fir forests and streams, the stone forest at the end looks like an alien landscape. Experienced adventurers can challenge Guangai Mountain Pass (guide needed, 200 RMB/day). ⚠️ Note: Some sections muddy during rainy season (July), wear anti-slip shoes and bring trekking poles. 4. Stargazing Camping · Milky Way Falls Summer-only tent camp (1200 RMB/night) offers yak meat hotpot, the Milky Way arch is visible to the naked eye. Use tripod for long exposure (ISO3200, 30 seconds exposure), avoid full moon on the 15th lunar day. 5. Century-old Tibetan Village · Local Life Evening smoke rises over terraced fields in Yeri Village, occasionally see marmots peeking out; in Dongwa Village, century-old stone houses offer butter tea making experience (50 RMB/person). 🗓️ 5 Days 4 Nights In-Depth Itinerary Day1: Lanzhou → Zagana (6 hours) → Dari Viewing Platform sunset → Tibetan hotpot Day2: Fairy Beach hike → Picnic at Fairy Lake → Stargazing camping Day3: One Line Sky adventure → Visit Tibetan family in Dongwa Village → Circumambulate Lasang Monastery Day4: Essence section of Rock Road (Zagana → Niba Village) → Explore Gongba Monastery Day5: Runwu Valley Waterfalls → Return trip (stop by Langmu Temple) 🍜 Food Recommendations and Warnings ✅ Must-try: • Yunju Tibetan Restaurant (Dongwa Village): Yak meat hotpot + wild mushroom soup, about 80 RMB per person • Zabina Tibetan Homestay (Yeri Village): Butter tea + tsampa, owner sings traditional toasting songs • Chuandiexian Restaurant (scenic area entrance): Sichuan cuisine + Tibetan stir-fry, about 50 RMB per person, reliable ❌ Avoid: • "Internet-famous restaurants" inside the scenic area with overpriced dishes, yak meat fried rice 40 RMB/portion but small servings • Avoid buying "wild mushroom dried goods" at the scenic area entrance, mostly cultivated ⚠️ Pitfall Avoidance Guide 1. Accommodation: ◦ Peak season (July-October) book 1 month in advance! Recommended: Xisa Hidden Mountain Residence opening in 2025 (oxygen supply + floor heating, facing Thumb Mountain) ◦ Avoid: Some guesthouses advertise "view rooms" but actually have no windows, confirm room layout before booking 2. Altitude Adaptation: ◦ Avoid showering on the first day, choose guesthouses with diffused oxygen supply (e.g., Shixiazi Inn) ◦ Oxygen tanks cost 30% more inside the scenic area, buy in Lanzhou or Diebu town (25 RMB/can) 3. Cultural Taboos: ◦ No photography inside temples, spin prayer wheels clockwise ◦ Do not photograph local elders or monks without permission 📸 Photography Tips • Portraits: Use telephoto lens at Fairy Beach to compress background, wear solid color long dresses (white/red preferred); use wide-angle lens in Tibetan village to capture stone houses and snow mountains together • Starry sky: Use large aperture lens (e.g., 24mm F1.4), manual focus to infinity, settings ISO3200, 30 seconds exposure • Time-lapse: Fix phone on Dari Viewing Platform to record cloud movement (shoot for over 1 hour recommended) 🎁 Interactive Giveaway Comment "Zagana must experience" to enter a draw for 3 Tibetan hand-painted postcards + blessing khata! Follow me for more secret Gannan travel tips～ (💡 DM "Zagana" to get the latest 2025 hiking map + Tibetan phrasebook!)