Kanding

Kangding is also known as Dartsendo and as Dardo in Tibetan (like a lot of places in this area have more than one name) is the capital of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is a small mountain city lying at an altitude of 2600m. Historically Kanding has always been the gateway to the Tibetan world (as is now almost literally illustrated by the statues place near the old city gate). Kanding is about evenly mixed Han Chinese and Tibetans. Everything west of Kangding is inhabited primarily by Tibetans while everything east Kangding is predominantly Chinese. Going west from Chengdu you'll pass trough Kanding. If you have the time there is enough to see in and around Kanding. I only spend two late afternoons and evenings after busstrips.

Tagong

Tagong, or Lhageng in Tibetan, is a wonderful place to spend a few days. The main attraction of this Tagong are the Tagong grasslands a vast vista of rolling hills with the beautiful snow capped peak of Mt. Yala (Zhara Lhatse in Tibetan) in the backdrop. Unfortunately part of the grasslands are fenced off nowadays to keep the livestock contained but most of the times you can climb over the fence quite easy.

Walking west you'll find small villages and nomads with yaks. And not much other tourists. However wacht out for the dogs, they actually can be dangerous. Another good walk is the one tot the Gyargo Ani Gompa, a big nunnery. Climb the small hill in Tagong and from there you will see big monastery college under the mountains. The nunnery has a prayer hall and a huge pile of Mani stones. There are cheap and good places to eat and there is also lodgings.

The Lhagang Monastery is at the hearth of the city. On the right there is a hall with a very important Buddha statue (no pictures allowed) on the left a prayer hall with some nice decorations including erotic ones (lift the covers).

And Tagong is the place to arrange further exploration of the region. Short or multiday treks, staying with Nomads or in a very remote small guesthouse, taking long horseback-rides over the high wide grasslands. As with more places in the region: I wish I had the time and will return for more.