Xiahe Homestays

On the Gannan Great Ring Line, if you go straight through it, Xiahe is the first stop. If you go through it backwards, Xiahe is the last stop. This time I went through it backwards. After being beaten by various hotels and B&Bs along the way, I stayed in Xiahetian. Zhu International Hotel gives you the feeling of surviving a disaster and returning to civilized society. . This should be the best hotel in Xiahe, right? In addition, although there are several so-called ”wild luxury” hotels in Gannan, it is not recommended to stay in them. I have seen almost all of them along the way. The location is just like that, there is no exclusive view, the facilities are not good, and the price is extremely high. Before departure I originally wanted to experience a few of them, but I found that it was completely unnecessary. Gannan does not need to live in a scenic spot like Ili. You can enjoy the entire scenic spot to yourself in the evening and morning. The best scenery is on the road. . The hotel is very close to Labrang Monastery and you can walk there. It is of 4-5 star standard in terms of hardware and decoration. There are many hidden-style decorations. The room price of about 400 in the off-season is acceptable, and it also comes with breakfast. . The interior of the room is a relatively old-school business hotel configuration, but it doesn't feel very outdated. The double bed room is more than 30 square meters, with floor-to-ceiling windows. The view outside the window is not bad. There is a chaise bed by the window and a standard work desk. It is suitable for everyone during the journey. For me, who has to organize videos and photos at night, this is very important. . The room comes with free ice water and two bags of loose tea. The bathroom has a single basin and no bathtub. The shower room is okay for bathing. At least you don't have to worry about not having enough hot water. . The breakfast the next day was okay, the best among so many hotels in Gannan. The cold dishes included pig ears and chicken feet, at least there was meat. The hot dishes were all vegetarian, but it was necessary to add some green leafy vegetables. There were also a few The Chinese dim sum can fill your stomach. It seems strange that there is no freshly cooked noodles stall, but there is no problem if you are full. . Generally speaking, this hotel is convenient for traveling, has good hardware, and has no issues with hygiene. If you are in Xiahe, I recommend staying there.

My stay at Nirvana Hotel was very pleasant and certainly different to other places I have stayed in the past. Wandhi Khar, the owner, is very welcoming. On the first day, he offered to take me to Sangke Grasslands as he was heading to Nirvana Resort. Eventually we started talking and I ended up at his resort which actually overlooks the grasslands. He was kind enough to stop along the way for me to take pictures and at his property, he showed me the path to take to go for a walk and enjoy the grasslands. He even offered me his coat as the temperature was cool. After my walk, we (including Joe) kept talking over a few glasses of beer after which, Joe dropped me back at the hotel in Xiahe. Wandhi Khar invited me back to the resort the following day but after walking all day long around Labrang monastery, I was very exhausted and sadly could not make it. I highly recommend Nirvana Hotel and Nirvana Resort. I’m well travelled (+50 countries) and it’s not often you meet people who will go out of their way. Wandhi Khar is very generous and welcoming. At the hotel, his staff was very helpful. For example she called the bus station to double check the departure time etc. I hope to come back and visit again in the future.

This is the best hotel I stayed in during my trip to Gannan. The room is spacious and very close to Labrang Monastery. The hand-caught mutton in the hotel restaurant is good, as are the fried lilies and wood-fired turkey. The hotel is only about 500 meters away from Nabuleng Temple. After dinner, you can go around Labrang Temple.