Staying in Xiahe in the colder season added a beautiful, if bracing, layer to the experience. Xiahe County, located in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu province, China, borders Qinghai province to the west. Upon arriving at the Baoma Hotel, where I stayed for two nights, I was greeted by crisp air and temperatures that hovered near freezing. The hotel’s warm, cozy atmosphere provided a much-needed retreat after being outside in the biting cold, which intensified as night fell over the Tibetan Plateau. The chill in the air seemed to highlight the remote beauty of Xiahe, with mountain views visible from the window, blanketed in misty frost.
One of the most unforgettable experiences was visiting the Labrang Monastery, which is both an active center for Tibetan Buddhism and a stunning architectural marvel. In the early morning, before the crowds arrived, I joined local Tibetan pilgrims who moved along the kora, or pilgrim path, that circles the monastery, spinning prayer wheels as they went. The thin mountain air was even chillier around dawn, but the devotion of the pilgrims seemed undeterred by the cold. Labrang’s intricate structure, with its blend of Tibetan and Han architectural elements, seemed to glow against the winter landscape. I couldn’t help but feel the reverent energy, an almost tangible devotion in the crisp air. After that, a lunch in Gannan—meaning the southern region of Gansu province—became a culinary highlight. Sitting down to a hearty meal featuring yak meat— a staple of the Tibetan diet — was both warming and grounding. The meat itself was rich and flavorful, slightly gamey but deeply satisfying, a taste uniquely suited to the high-altitude environment. The yak not only sustains the people of this region but also speaks to a lifestyle adapted to the rugged terrain and colder climate.
Another adventure was the journey to Bingling Temple, a historical gem set against the stunning cliffs along the Yellow River. To reach the temple, I took a boat across the frigid waters, a journey that offered panoramic views of the cliffs and the surrounding winter landscape. The chill on the river was even more intense, with the wind sweeping across the water. However, the sight of the temple, with its ancient Buddhist grottoes and towering statues carved into the cliffs, made every moment worthwhile. Each statue and mural at Bingling seemed to tell its own story of Buddhist influence along the Silk Road, blending artistic styles from Central Asia, India, and China into a breathtakingly unique aesthetic.
In short, the cold added an unforgettable dimension to each part of the journey, from the sacred serenity of Labrang to the warmth of Gannan’s cuisine and the haunting beauty of Bingling Temple. In Xiahe, the weather, the landscape, and the culture all seemed to intersect, each enhancing the other, making this Silk Road journey feel like stepping back into a world both ancient and alive.
For the first time for one of these blogs, I’m taking on a new challenge: exploring without the involvement of The Beijing Center! This past weekend, I took the chance to take a pre-finals breath of fresh air and vacation for the first time in China, to the city of Tianjin.
I’ve written about my cultural exchange experiences in Beijing and at Minzu University before, but recently, I added something new to my roster: introducing my own culture to others.
If there’s any historical landmark related to China someone remembers learning about as a young child, odds are it’s the Great Wall of China. I have distinct memories of sitting in my third-grade social studies class, learning about this ancient marvel of engineering that was large it could be seen from space.
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven may be one of, if not, the most iconic tourist sites in Beijing. Constructed starting back in 1406, around the same time as the Forbidden City and the other respective temples of the Sun, Earth and Moon.