After completing this 5-day trip, I can sum it up in one sentence: It’s worth it, but I don’t recommend rushing into it blindly. This route isn’t the typical Gannan loop; I went specifically for Zhagana, Nianbao Yuze, and Lianbao Yezhe. The scenery is incredibly dense, but the demands on your vehicle and road conditions are also high.
⚠️ Sincere Advice: Don’t drive a regular sedan; it’s best to hire a private car or a 4WD SUV. There are plenty of potholes, gravel roads, and steep slopes along the way—staying safe and steady will save you a lot of trouble.
🗺️Daily Itinerary
Day 1 Lanzhou → Rock Road → Zhagana | 500 km / 7 hrs
Day 2: Zhagana → Ruoergai → Manzetang → Jiuzhi | 400 km / 7.5 hours
Day 3: Round trip from Jiuzhi to Nianbao and Lianbao | 220 km / 5 hours
Day 4 Jiuzhi → Awanchang → Nyama Temple → Langmu Temple → Xiahe | 300 km / 6 hours
Day 5 Xiahe → Labuleng Monastery → Ganjia Secret Paradise → Lanzhou Airport | Approx. 310 km/5 hours
✨Firsthand Details on Attractions
1️⃣ Zhagana: In summer, early morning fog typically appears around 7 a.m. (Fig. 2). Consider staying at a guesthouse near the Dari Viewing Platform. My secret spot, Wanhuatan (Figs. 3–4), is completely free of tourists and offers a direct view of vast grasslands set against the deep mountains—the wild, natural atmosphere is absolutely breathtaking.
2️⃣ Manzetang: You can drive directly to the observation deck; there are very few people there. After looking at some comparison photos, the scenery here shouldn’t be much different from the First Bend of the Yellow River (see Photo 5).
3️⃣ Nianbao Yuzhe: The top highlight of this trip—highly recommended!!
Depart from Jiuzhi County at 6:30 a.m. and arrive directly at the entrance to the wooden boardwalk at 7:20 a.m. (Location: Mentang, First Bend of the Yellow River). Hike while enjoying the scenery; it takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top. If you don’t want to hike, you can ride a herder’s motorcycle for 50 yuan per person. You absolutely must visit the lake! After navigating to “Yak Park,” turn onto a small dirt road. Although the entire route is riddled with potholes, you’ll see the most breathtaking “Lord of the Rings Mountain” of the entire trip (Photos 6–9). However, the high-altitude ecosystem is extremely fragile, so please be sure to take all your trash with you to protect the environment!
4️⃣ Lianbao Yezhe: After leaving Nianbao, take the national highway—the drive takes about 2 hours. If you go in the afternoon, there’s usually no line, and you can drive directly into the scenic area. Visitor Center → Heyuan Service Station → Panyangping; take the shuttle bus to the 4,520 Viewing Platform; if you have the stamina, you can continue on to the summit. Photos 10–12
5️⃣ Langmu Temple: Consists of Saichi Temple on the Gansu side and Geldi Temple on the Sichuan side. If you’re interested in temple culture and architecture, visit Saichi Temple—you can find a tour guide at the entrance. Gerdie Temple itself isn’t very large; behind the temple lies the Namo Grand Canyon. A 40-minute to 1-hour hike will take you to the grasslands at the foot of the mountain, where you can even feed marmots. Photos 13–14
6️⃣ Ganjia Secret Spot: If you’re short on time, we don’t recommend entering the scenic area. About 5 minutes before reaching the destination on your navigation, pull over to the side of the road. Climb a small dirt hill to see the entire expanse of white cliffs—this free viewpoint is just as impressive as the scenic area. Photos 15–16
Every day is a tough journey, but the scenery is totally worth it!! If you have any questions, head to the comments section ⬇️
