Hezuo Travel Guide

Chinese Name: 合作市 (he zuo shi)
Population: 112,200 (October, 2024)
Area: 2,670 square km (1,030 square mi)
Location: in southern Gansu Province; at the junction area of Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces
Area Code: 623001
Zip Code: 747000

Hezuo, the capital city of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Gansu Province, is located in the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and 276 km (172 mi) to the north of Lanzhou. As the ligament of central plains region and Amdo Tibetan region, the city was once the business exchange center for Tibetan and Chinese. Amdo Milariba is the only temple in Tibetan region that enshrines the Buddhist relics of 9 different sects of Tibetan Buddhism. The temple is about 40 meters high (130 feet), and has a history of more than 200 years. It is said that there are only 2 temples of this shape in Tibetan region, and the one in Hezuo is dedicated to Tibetan Buddhism founder. The Temple has 9 floors, on any of which you can see murals and Buddhist sculptures, mainly Buddha's warrior attendants. There are 1,720 Buddhist sculptures in total displayed inside. In addition, perennial resident monks and lamas study here, thus forming a unique cultural atmosphere. After visiting the temple, it is recommended to have a short walk in the nearby Folk Street and Century Square.

Amdo Milariba Temple

 

Gangcha Limestone Cave

Gangcha is located 26 kilometers (16 miles) north of Hezuo, famous for its fancy cave geomorphology and stone forest. There are total nine attraction spots in this area. Gangcha Temple, which has a history of 400 years, is still attracting Buddhists from all parts of China, and has great value in studying the distillation of the Tibetan Buddhist religion. Other must-sees here are the sculptures of the eighteen Buddhist Arhats, along with the stone beds, chairs, and tables. 
 Located 45 kilometers (28 miles) away from Hezuo, Mount Taizi is 4,332 meters (14,213 feet) above sea level. As the famous holy mountain at Amdo region, Taizi is the boundary of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau. Its summit is covered with snow all year round, so it is also nicknamed “snow mountain”. Its another nickname “Lugu Mountain”, literally means exposing bones, is related to the fact that when the white stones are exposed in the summer air, they look like bones. In Chinese, “Taizi” means the eldest son of the emperor. It was said that the eldest son of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of China, once had a fight here, and the mountain got its name after that fight. 

Mount Taizi

Photographer

 Dangzhou Grassland Beauty Spot is 2.5 kilometers (1.5 mi) south of Hezuo city. It covers an area of 8,600 acres, mainly hold activities like folk performances, Tibetan ceremonial reception, Tibetan food tasting. You can also see the performance of horse-riding and yak-riding.

Dangzhou Grassland Beauty Spot

 Tibetan mastiff breeding field is located in the southern suburb of Hezuo city. Now there are more than 60 Tibetan mastiffs, all purebred. It is a good place for those who’d love to see mastiffs.
 There is neither railway nor airline leading to Hezuo. Usually, you need to go to Lanzhou by train or plane first. Later, take a coach at Lanzhou South Coach Station or Lanzhou Passenger Transport Center Station to Hezuo and the ticket prices are the same, CNY75. Please note that the former would take you 3.5 hours, while the latter 5.5 hours.
 Hezuo’s weather is characterized by a cold and humid climate type, which determines it’s long cold season & short warm season. Its yearly overage temperature range from 0.5℃ to 3.5℃. The highest temperature can each 28℃, while the lowest -23℃. The rainfall in Hezuo is about 545mm and mainly concentrates from July to September. With humid climate in summer, this period is the best time to travel to Hezuo, especially to grasslands.
 It is easy to find a hotel in Hezuo. Shambhala Hotel (+86-19050494845) is located at No. 53, Ren Min Street, which might be the best one in that area. It is the first three-star hotel that receives foreign guests. The hotel was built in 1993 and opens to clients in the year 2000. Another hotel recommended is Jiaotong Hotel (0941-8221300); it is located in the city center with elegant environment and convenient transportation.
 Food in Hezuo, Ganan owns the typical feature of Tibetan flavors: such as the silverweed cinquefoil rice, the sausage, the hand-grasping meat, the glutinous rice cake, the yogurt, the Tibetan barley liquor, the tea with milk. Plenty of Sichuan restaurants scattered in Gannan as well, which will cater to some foreigners' appetite