Who understands this, family! Hidden in Western Sichuan is a real-life "Daughter Kingdom," the Yaqing Temple where men are strictly prohibited is absolutely amazing! A sacred land of faith at 4,000 meters on the plateau, after visiting, your mind will be full of awe. I've put together this complete guide for eating, lodging, and transportation—girls, just go for it~
🚗 Transportation: No hassle on the plateau journey
Super convenient to start from Chengdu! There’s a direct bus from Xin Nanmen Station to Ganzi at 6:30 AM, ticket price 231 RMB. Sleep one night in Ganzi, then the next day take a carpool for 45 RMB per person, 3 hours straight to Yaqing Temple. Ask your accommodation host to help arrange the carpool, very reliable. For self-driving travelers, just navigate to "Yaqing Temple," take the Yakang Expressway then switch to National Highway 317. The snow-capped mountains and grasslands along the way are breathtakingly beautiful. The scenic area also has free parking, so no worries about parking. Important reminder: The plateau roads have many curves, prepare motion sickness medicine in advance, don’t run or jump with the sudden altitude rise to avoid altitude sickness!
🏔️ Attractions: The faith shock of the "Daughter Kingdom"
The Changqu River divides the temple into two parts: outside the island is the male monk area, inside the island is the Nuns’ Island where adult males are strictly forbidden. It’s truly a sacred land exclusive to women! The "matchbox" style nun dormitories are densely packed with 20,000 nuns living there, all built by hand. Within just one square meter lies the purest faith. The 108 days of harsh winter practice is truly moving to tears.
Must-see highlights: The statue of Master Padmasambhava is spectacular, shining golden under the sun; the prayer wheel corridor must be walked clockwise for good luck; you must remove hats and sunglasses before entering the main scripture hall, and once the chanting starts, your heart instantly calms down. Temple visit tips: It’s free and no reservation needed, but you must ask permission before photographing the nuns. If refused, quickly put your camera away; after 7 PM nuns cannot go out, don’t disturb their quiet practice, respecting the faith is key!
🏨 Accommodation: Warm stays on the plateau, choose wisely to avoid pitfalls
Not recommended to stay in the simple temple guesthouses, conditions are limited and no private bathrooms! Recommended is Kangwaluori Hotel, very close to Yaqing Temple, with floor heating and smart toilets, warm even in winter. The vegetarian restaurant tastes great, plus there’s a café and supermarket, very convenient. Budget-friendly option is Mailajiangcuo Hotel, 15 km drive away, with elevator and free parking. The owner even gives Rhodiola to guests suffering altitude sickness. Breakfast porridge and steamed buns are top-notch for the Tibetan area. If staying in Ganzi County, choose Shambhala Hotel, with strong Tibetan style, rooms with views of snow mountains and white pagodas, and a 5-minute walk to the Yaqing shuttle bus stop, super convenient.
🍵 Dining: Satisfying vegetarian food on the plateau
All restaurants around the temple serve vegetarian food, focusing on light and healthy dishes! Must try butter tea, a magic drink to fight cold and altitude sickness, salty and rich, the more you taste, the more addictive it gets; tsampa with curd, dipped in butter tea, carbs that make your brain happy. Also Tibetan noodles and barley cakes, hearty and filling, essential for energy after temple visits.
If you want a change of flavor, rush to Ruyi Linka Tibetan Restaurant, freshly sliced yak meat is incredibly tender, Tibetan-style mixed rice with Tibetan milk tea is so fragrant you’ll lick the plate. Important reminder: Digestion is slow on the plateau, don’t binge eat, bring some high-calorie snacks, drink plenty of water to combat the dry climate, or you might get hypoglycemia while exploring~
The "Daughter Kingdom" on the 4,000-meter plateau offers both stunning scenery and pure faith. Girls must experience it at least once! Remember to wear warm, windproof clothes, bring sunscreen and altitude sickness medicine, and respect local customs. This trip will definitely be unforgettable for life~
AYDEN LUNA443