Langmusi (Langmu Monasteries)

Langmusi is a Tibetan village at about 3,300 metres on the Gansu-Sichuan border, in Luqu County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, China. The village is divided by a small stream that marks the provincial line, with the Sertri Monastery on the Gansu side and the Kirti Monastery on the Sichuan side. Both are active Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, with golden-roofed halls, white stupas, prayer wheels and fluttering prayer flags, and visitors can see monks at prayer or on the hillsides. Around the village are open grasslands, forested hills and a rocky ridge with a sky burial site, which visitors are asked to treat with respect and not to photograph. The village is small, with a main street of guesthouses, cafes and shops that cater to backpackers, trekkers and pilgrims. The setting is a strong draw, because valley meadows, limestone cliffs and rolling hills lie within walking distance, and short hikes and horse treks can be arranged locally. Visitors usually spend a half day on the monasteries and village, or stay one to two nights to walk or ride on the surrounding grasslands. Admission to Kirti Monastery is about 30 yuan, and Sertri may charge a similar fee or nothing depending on the season, so visitors should check at the gate. The best time for green meadows and comfortable walking is June to September, while winter is very cold and snowy, with limited facilities. At this altitude, visitors may feel breathless and should take time to adjust, drink water and avoid heavy exertion on the first day. Mornings and evenings are cool even in summer, so warm layers are needed. Visitors should dress modestly in the monasteries, walk clockwise around sacred structures and ask before photographing monks or ceremonies. Access is by bus from Xiahe to Hezuo and then to Langmusi, or via Zoige in Sichuan, and the journey takes three to four hours in total.