You must go to Gannan once in your life to see the "paradise" you can see when you are alive.

Gannan.

These two words,

This will be the shortest love poem you have ever heard.

It will also be the most beautiful scenery you have ever seen.

Written by Xiong yang

Photography: Mu Zi

20 17 meet a new friend,

Opening remarks:

"Hi, where are you from?"

"I am from southern Jiangxi."

"Oh, where is that?"

"Gansu, Gannan."

Mount Taizi in Gannan after heavy snow in May.

When I first heard about this place, I was probably curious or curious. Maybe it's a distant place I want to go when I hear the name. Since then, a dream has been planted (Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, referred to as Gannan Prefecture for short, is an autonomous prefecture under the jurisdiction of the people of China and Gansu Province).

Mount Taizi shrouded in mist

Two years later, because of an opportunity, I set foot on the land of Gannan. Fortunately, I have never been disappointed here. Everything looks like "wanton growth", beautiful without modification.

Cooperative city, the capital of Gannan before the rainstorm

Kagani Stone Mountain, Hezuo City, Gansu Province

There are temples in Gannan.

Sunrise nine-story Buddha pavilion

In midsummer, on an ordinary evening, I finally left Sichuan in a rickety car and came to langmusi, Gannan. Langmusi, because of a small stream named "Bailong River", let Sichuan and Gansu face each other across the river.

Langmusi town before sunset.

When I first arrived in langmusi, this small town was quiet, unlike those similar "ancient towns": shops full of signs, bustling crowds and vendors who kept selling. Here, you will see familiar neighbors sitting outside chatting; The ancient stone road is crowded with travelers from all over the world, and they walk very comfortably; Occasionally, I will meet the Lama in red who just finished class in the temple. Mysterious and holy, quiet and natural town, I feel that time stops here and the sunshine is more brilliant here.

Labrang Temple in the early morning of winter

We started from Lanzhou, and the first stop was Labrang Temple, the political and educational center of Gannan. Labuleng Temple was founded in the forty-eighth year of Qing Emperor Kangxi (1709). It is one of the six monasteries of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism and is known as "Tibet University of the World". At present, Labrang Temple has the best Tibetan Buddhism teaching system in China.

When I first came to Labrang Temple, I was lucky enough to meet local devout Tibetans delivering yogurt at the entrance of the temple, or giving it to monks or Tibetans, or passing tourists like us.

Gannan has grasslands, lakes and wetlands.

After the snow, A Mu went to Hubei.

Ganges grassland, a place full of sheep. It may not be as famous as the legendary Sankoh Grassland where King Gelsall worships the gods, but I like it very much. I am driving on the vast grassland, accompanied by blue sky and white clouds, and I am relaxed and happy all the way.

The famous "Ganjia sheep" was also cultivated in Ganjia grassland. It is not only rich in meat, tender and nutritious, but also of high technical value, and is an excellent carpet wool.

Ganges grassland in the afternoon

In Ganjia grassland, not only do the fat lambs make me happy, but the secrets of Ganjia are even more fascinating. The history of the ancient city of Bajiao can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago. According to the Records of Baishi County, "Baishi County was established in Zhao Han in 8 1 year BC", and "Baishi County" is today's Bajiao ancient city.

A bird's eye view of the ancient city of Ganjia Bajiao

The ancient city wall is octagonal, and the horse face has twenty horns. In this design, all the external places are within the range of archers on the wall, and there are no dead ends. In the eyes of local Tibetans, the shape of the ancient city of Bajiao is strikingly consistent with Tancheng, a holy place to defend against evil invasion, and even confirms the origin of the universe and the world structure. Bajiao ancient city, which has rich historical value and religious belief, is one of the existing ancient cities in the world, and its characteristics are also the epitome of Ganjia's history and culture.

Cloudy days in the ancient city of Ganjia Bajiao

There is a cave at the bottom of the Ganges White Cliff.

Legend stretches for hundreds of miles,

You can reach Xunhua County, Qinghai Province.

Early morning in the courtyard of Baishiya Temple in Ganjia.

Hezuo Ren Mei Grassland

Ren Mei grassland,

Located on the Ye He Highway,

I was surprised when I first saw it,

At first glance, it is full of ups and downs.

Later, I learned that this is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Unique alpine meadow grassland landform.

Ren Mei prairie dogs are fighting.

Sheep on Gannan grassland

Cattle about to graze in Luqu, Gannan

Two vultures are fighting for a dead calf.

The Milky Way in Ren Mei Grassland

20 19 shooting Perseid meteor shower in Ren Mei grassland.

There is a small village on the grassland, which is extraordinarily beautiful and tidy. It is said that all the former nomads lived here. They often live in a tent, live with a group of cattle and sheep, and wherever they go on the vast grassland, they are home. Times are changing, life is progressing, and they don't have to be cosmopolitan anymore.

Gannan first ecological village Gaxiu village

Here, the lake is rare. Gahai Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Gannan and an important wetland in the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is known as a pearl on the plateau. We were just passing by and took a photo as a souvenir.

Gahai Lake, the only freshwater lake in Gannan.

Speaking of wetlands, it's a pity that I couldn't go to Awancang, the most beautiful grassland wetland in Gannan, which is a place full of vitality. The Yellow River came here from Bayan Kara all the way through the vast wasteland. Due to poor drainage, many tributaries and swamps were formed, which made this vast grassland rich in aquatic plants and fat cattle and sheep. The mother river nourishes it here, and at the same time gives her more strength to the east.

Gannan has mountains and forests.

Qinling Mountain is an east-west mountain range that runs through central China. When it comes to Qinling Mountains, I may think of Huashan, Zhongnan and Taibai in Shaanxi, as well as the Qinling-Huaihe boundary line highlighted in geography books. But it was not until I walked in here that I realized that the area and geographical scope of the Qinling Mountains were far beyond our imagination.

The Dieshan Mountain in Gannan is actually the mysterious West Qinling. Zhaike (Cuomei Peak), the main peak of Dieshan Mountain, is 4920 meters, which is also the highest peak in Qinling Mountain, but few people know it.

Pine forest after rain in Dayugou, Zhuoni, Gannan

Joseph Charles Francis Rock once wrote in the book "Living in Zhuoni Temple": "The overlapping part is so magical that if I don't photograph this wonderful place, I will feel a sin." We not only recorded this magical place with our lenses and eyes, but also measured it with our feet. We walked all the way into Diebu Mountain, crossed Zhaga and walked in the mysterious and unknown wonders of the western Qinling Mountains.

Sunrise in Zhagana

Panorama of Zagana

Zhaga 'na is one of the top ten "unnamed peaks" in China, and the crossing route here is also little known. All the way is steep peaks, magnificent canyons, beautiful forests and quiet pastures. The crossing end point is Triangle Stone, which is located in the forest eco-tourism area of Dayugou, Zhuoni.

Autumn scenery in Dayugou

Gannan,

I want to go to a distant place,

I have traveled all over western Sichuan and been to Tibet.

Finally, I came to Gannan, a unique hiding place.

Gave birth,

It is a different "world".