Things To Do
in Hezuo

A traditional Tibetan tea made with tea leaves, yak butter and salt — very common in Hezuo; try it at teahouses and with local families.

Must-Try!

Roasted barley flour often mixed with butter tea or dairy — a staple Tibetan food that you can find at markets and monasteries.

Slow-cooked meat dishes flavored simply with local herbs and served with potatoes or noodles; common in family-run restaurants.

Chinese-style noodles and bao are widely available in town for a cheaper, familiar meal.

Local market where you can try yak cheese, butter tea, tsampa, dried meat and buy handicrafts — great for street-food tasting and people photography.

Small clusters of stalls near the town center selling skewers, fried dough snacks and simple noodle soups — popular for dinner among locals.

When visiting monasteries remove hats, speak quietly, do not point at religious objects, and follow any photography rules. Walk clockwise around prayer wheels and stupas when joining pilgrims.

Always ask permission before close-up portraits, especially of older people and religious practitioners; small gifts or a bow are appreciated.

Modest clothing is respectful in rural and religious settings; layer for cold nights and cover shoulders when entering temples.

Use the Tibetan greeting “Tashi Delek” for goodwill; when offered food or tea, accept politely and show gratitude.

Tipping is not widely expected in Hezuo; small tips for excellent service are appreciated but not customary. In tourist services (private guides, drivers) a small cash tip is fine; in local eateries staff usually do not expect tips.

Mobile payments (WeChat Pay, Alipay) are widely used in China but acceptance for foreign bank cards can be limited outside major cities. Carry cash (RMB) for markets, rural vendors and smaller guesthouses; major hotels accept cards.

Late spring brings melting snow and early green shoots, but roads can be wet or muddy; temperatures rise but nights remain chilly. Good time for calmer crowds and seeing lambs/calving season on the grasslands.

Short, lush and the most popular season for grasslands and festivals; daytime temperatures are pleasant but afternoon rains are common and the sun is strong at altitude.

Crisp clear days and good visibility for photography with cooler temperatures — an excellent time for hiking and avoiding summer rains. Nights get cold quickly.

Cold, dry and snowy with limited services in rural areas; many passes or roads may be icy or closed, but the landscape is dramatic and crowds are minimal.

Short day hikes across nearby meadows with views of grazing herds, ideal for sunrise and sunset photo sessions.

Trails around larger monasteries that combine cultural visits with light hiking—good for observing pilgrimage routes and prayer circuits.

If you travel further afield, Langmusi and its surrounding hills offer excellent multi-hour hikes and monastery photography; often visited as a day or overnight trip from Hezuo.

Short routes up nearby ridges and hills providing panoramic views of Hezuo and the surrounding valleys—suitable for half-day excursions.

Regional airport serving Gannan Prefecture with limited domestic flights; convenient for reaching Hezuo regionally (check seasonal schedules).

Major airport for Gansu province with many domestic connections; reachable by long-distance bus or private transfer to Hezuo.

Larger national and international gateway with frequent flights; many travelers combine flights to Chengdu with an overland trip to Gannan region.

Another regional airport option to the northwest, used by some travelers heading into Qinghai–Gansu border regions.