Seda: A Journey of Faith and Plateau Charm in the Red Houses

I. Best Travel Time April - October offers moderate temperatures, suitable for outdoor activities, and better traffic conditions; early July, the grasslands bloom with flowers, creating picturesque scenery. It is recommended to avoid the peak summer season in July - August for off-peak travel. II. Transportation Guide By Plane: You can fly to Kangding Airport and then transfer by car (about 6 hours); or fly to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport/Chongqing Jiangbei Airport, and then transfer by long-distance bus or shared car to Seda. From Kangding Airport to Seda, you need to charter a car or return to Kangding and transfer by scheduled bus. Upon arrival, you need to transfer by airport shuttle bus (30 yuan/person) or shared car (about 50 yuan/person) to the county town, which takes about 1 hour. By Car: Starting from Chengdu, the whole journey takes about 10 - 13 hours. The classic route is Chengdu → Wenchuan → Barkam → Guanyin Bridge → Seda; the scenic route is Chengdu → Ya'an → Kangding → Xinduqiao → Luhuo → Seda. The scenery along the way is beautiful, but pay attention to road conditions, especially during the rainy season and after September, as the mountains are steep and there may be mudslides and rockfalls. Inside the Buddhist Academy: External vehicles are prohibited from entering the Buddhist Academy. You need to park your vehicle in the Buddhist Academy parking lot and transfer by internal shuttle bus to enter. The fare is 3 yuan/person (the internal bus service of the Buddhist Academy is suspended daily from 12:00 - 14:00). You can also take a sightseeing bus from the Visitor Center and get off at the parking lot behind the Mandala to start your visit. III. Itinerary Suggestions (I) Three-Day Tour Day 1: Chengdu - Wenchuan - Li County - Barkam - Guanyinqiao Town. Along the way, enjoy the scenery of western Sichuan and experience the Tibetan and Qiang ethnic customs. Stay overnight in Guanyinqiao Town, Tibetan-style guesthouses are recommended. Day 2: Guanyin Bridge → Wengda → Seda Larung Gar Buddhist Academy → Sky Burial Platform. Arrive in Seda in the morning, head to Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, take a sightseeing bus from the Visitor Center, and get off at the parking lot behind the Mandala to start your visit. You can hike along the hillside to enjoy a panoramic view of the Buddhist Academy. From the observation deck, the vast expanse of red monastic dwellings is spectacular. Have lunch at a restaurant within the Buddhist Academy and taste local vegetarian dishes. In the afternoon, continue to visit the Buddhist Academy, interact with monks, and gain a deeper understanding of Buddhist culture. From 13:00 - 15:00 in the afternoon, go to the Sky Burial Platform to watch the sky burial ceremony (respect local customs, remain quiet, and prohibit photography and videography), then return to the county town. Accommodation options include Seda county town or Larung Hotel within the Buddhist Academy (need to arrive early, no reservations accepted). Day 3: Seda → Luhuo → Kangding → Chengdu. Along the way, you can enjoy the scenery of Luhuo Grassland and Zheduo Mountain. (II) Four-Day Tour (In-depth) Day 1: Chengdu - Kangding - Zheduo Mountain - Yuzixi - Xinduqiao. Cross Zheduo Mountain, enjoy the stunning sunset at Yuzixi, and stay overnight in Xinduqiao. Day 2: Xinduqiao - Tagong Grassland - Moshi Park - Seda. Experience the grassland scenery at Tagong Grassland, visit the unique landforms of Moshi Park, and arrive in Seda in the evening. Day 3: Full day tour in Seda, delve into Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, circumambulate the Mandala, walk the long stairs, feel the religious atmosphere, and head to the Sky Burial Platform in the afternoon. Return to the county town to rest in the evening. Day 4: Seda - Distant view of Mount Yala - Danba - Chengdu. View Mount Yala from a distance along the way, then return to Chengdu to end the journey. IV. Accommodation Recommendations 1. Seda County Town: Accommodation conditions are better, with more choices of hotels and guesthouses. Economy hotels like Seda Jinma Hotel, about 150 - 300 yuan/night; comfortable hotels like Seda Holy Land Lotus Hotel, priced around 300 - 600 yuan per night; characteristic guesthouses like local Seda guesthouses, with a price range of 200 - 500 yuan per night. 2. Luoruo Town: Conditions are relatively poorer, but it is closer to the Buddhist Academy. For example, Larung Hotel (standard room 200 yuan/night, no heating, need to bring your own warm supplies). V. Food Recommendations 1. Tibetan Cuisine Tsampa: Made from roasted highland barley flour, can be mixed with tea, butter, cheese residue, etc., for consumption. Yak Meat: The main meat ingredient in the area, can be boiled into large chunks for consumption, such as the yak meat at Yamu Re Tibetan Restaurant. Blood Sausage: Made from sausage casing, blood, spices, and yak meat (or pork), it is a top-grade food in the Tibetan diet. Yogurt: Local yogurt has a rich texture and is a daily Tibetan drink. Highland Barley Wine: A low-alcohol wine brewed from highland barley, with a mellow taste. Butter Tea: A characteristic Tibetan drink, made by mixing butter, tea leaves, salt, etc., it can warm the body and alleviate high altitude sickness. 2. Other Foods: Seda county town also offers snacks, Sichuan cuisine, hot pot, etc., to meet various taste needs. For a big meal, it's best to go to Jinma Square in Seda county town. Several Tibetan restaurants and hot pot restaurants around there are quite authentic. VI. Cultural Experience 1. Religious Culture Visit Monasteries: In addition to Larung Gar Buddhist Academy and the Sky Burial Platform, you can also visit Dongga Monastery (the largest monastery in the Seda area, with luxurious decorations and a thangka of Buddha drying from the late Qing Dynasty), Letong Buddhist Academy, Tagong Monastery (an important monastery of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, with a brilliant golden roof, complementing Mount Yala), etc. Attend Dharma Assemblies: The Buddhist Academy holds four dharma assemblies a year: the Chimey Dharma Assembly starting on the first day of the first lunar month, the Vajrasattva Dharma Assembly starting on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, the Samantabhadra Cloud Offering Dharma Assembly starting on the first day of the sixth lunar month, and the Sukhavati Dharma Assembly starting on the eighteenth day of September. To listen to Buddhist lessons in the scripture hall, it is best to contact the General Affairs Office of the academy in advance or consult practitioners for the specific time and location of the Buddhist lessons. Circumambulation and Prostration: Every morning and evening, you can see many elderly Tibetans and monks turning prayer wheels and walking around the circumambulation path circle by circle. Some even perform prostrations to express their devotion to Buddhism. 2. Folk Culture Gesar Culture: Seda is a prevalent area for Gesar culture. You can visit the Gesar Culture and Art Center to learn about the story of King Gesar and related culture. Tibetan Family Visit: You can book a family visit in the county town to gain a deeper understanding of Tibetan life customs and culture. 3. Special Experiences Wearing Tibetan Clothes for Photos: Tibetan clothing rentals are available at the entrance of the Buddhist Academy and in the county town, costing about 50 - 100 yuan/day. Paired with the plateau blue sky and red houses, the photos are highly photogenic. Attending Sutra Debates: Every Wednesday and Friday afternoon at 3 pm, lamas debate Buddhist teachings within the academy using body language and voice. Tourists can observe (need to arrive early to secure a spot). VII. Notes 1. High Altitude Sickness: Seda county town is at an altitude of about 3900 meters, and the highest point of the Buddhist Academy is around 4000 meters. Some people may experience high altitude sickness. For mild symptoms, rest more and inhale oxygen. For severe symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Avoid strenuous exercise and prepare Rhodiola and oxygen bottles. 2. Respect Local Customs: Do not touch the heads of local children. Do not photograph the interior of monasteries, monks, or Tibetans without permission. When visiting the Buddhist Academy and the Sky Burial Platform, respect local customs and beliefs, and do not make loud noises. When entering scripture halls and Buddha halls, dress appropriately, remove your hat, and possibly your shoes. When circumambulating under stupas and Mani piles, follow the clockwise principle (the opposite in Bon monasteries). The prayer wheel held in your hand should also not be turned counterclockwise. If unsure, just follow the local people. 3. Others: Tickets for the Buddhist Academy need to be purchased in person. The same ID card cannot be used to purchase tickets again within 15 days after a successful purchase. Pay attention to sun protection and keeping warm, and carry necessary medicines and warm clothing.