Labrang Wangfu Hotel

Labrang Wangfu Hotel is a mid-range hotel at 9 Renmin East Street in Xiahe County, in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Gansu province, China. Xiahe is a small highland town at an elevation above 2,900 meters, known for Labrang Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. The hotel stands about 1.3 kilometers from the monastery, a walk of roughly 15 to 20 minutes along the main street or a short taxi ride, and it suits visitors who prefer a private room to a simple guesthouse. The monastery's kora, the pilgrim circuit lined with prayer wheels, is a highlight, and the surrounding grasslands of Sangke are reachable by a short drive. The building is a domestic mid-range hotel with a practical layout, giving a more conventional stay than the small family guesthouses common in town. Room types include Standard Room, Twin Room and Suite, and rates run from about CNY 250 to 480 a night, approximately $37 to $71. Amenities include a restaurant, wifi and luggage storage. The restaurant serves Chinese dishes, and visitors wanting Tibetan food such as yak-meat dishes, tsampa and butter tea generally eat at the local restaurants along the main street. No pool, spa or fitness center is listed. The service character is practical and traveler-oriented, with staff used to pilgrims, tour groups and independent visitors, and luggage storage that helps when arriving by bus before check-in. Because of the altitude, mornings and evenings are cold even in summer, and visitors should allow a day to adjust. Visitors who want a private, comfortable room within walking distance of the monastery will find it a sensible base in Xiahe.