Explore Subei: A Hidden Gem in Gansu

It's not about lacking the money to visit Switzerland, but rather that Subei offers better value for money.
This summer, come explore Subei with me! ✨

This little-known county in Gansu is a hidden gem, occupying a significant portion of the province. ✨ Nestled at the foot of the vast Qilian Mountains lies Subei Yugur Autonomous County, the only Yugur autonomous county in China and a dazzling pearl along the Silk Road.

✨ Be a "city shepherd" for a day. Subei's grasslands are the ancestral home of the Yugur people, and the pastoral experiences here allow you to deeply immerse yourself in the traditional lifestyle of "living by water and grass." In Subei, follow local herders as they guide their flocks across the grasslands, experiencing the freedom of "boundless skies and endless plains." Learn traditional Yugur milking techniques and use fresh milk to make butter tea. At the intangible cultural heritage workshop, join local women in crafting handmade wool products.

💡 Ma Ti Temple
Founded during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, this temple combines Han and Tibetan Buddhism. Over 1,600 years later, the grottoes carved into the cliffs of Song Mountain still gaze upon the majestic Qilian Mountains.

💡 Jin Ta Temple
Located in Ma Ti Tibetan Township, Jin Ta Temple's red Danxia cliffs are a symphony of nature and human effort. The stone cave pathways wind through lush greenery at the base of the mountain, leading to grottoes carved into the middle of the cliff. The eastern and western grottoes are ingeniously built along the cliff's recesses. Above the grottoes, horizontal rock layers protrude like "brims," shielding them from years of wind and rain.

💡 Balz Snow Mountain
A rare snow-capped mountain on the Gansu-Qinghai loop. From the viewing platform, you can admire the glacially eroded terrain beneath the snowy peaks, with vast grasslands stretching behind you.

💡 Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon
A masterpiece of geological wonders 👍👍👍:
Danxia formations: Featuring red cliffs and steep slopes, the landscape is vibrant and colorful, showcasing typical arid-region Danxia landforms. Strong winds have intricately sculpted the relatively soft rock layers 🌹, creating castle-like wind-eroded formations and stone pillars reminiscent of a ghost town, highlighting the rugged and mysterious beauty of the Yardang landforms. Water has continuously carved through structural fissures and weak rock layers, eventually shaping this deep, spectacular canyon with its crisscrossing ravines. 💕

🌈: Simplified Itinerary:
D1 Various locations—Zhangye—China Yugur Museum—Shambhala Quco—Stay in Subei
D2 Zhangye—Kangle Grassland 🍃—Colorful Danxia 🌈—Stay in Subei
D3 Zhangye—Ma Ti Temple Grottoes—Jin Ta Temple Special Grottoes—Stay in Subei
D4 Zhangye—Balz Sacred Mountain 🏔️—Hongwan Temple—Stay in Subei
D5 Zhangye—Ping Shan Lake Grand Canyon 🌹—Khar Kha Town—Stay in Subei
D6 Zhangye—Return to various locations