Xinduqiao is a picturesque small Tibetan town and famous for its plateau pasture scenery, with vivid green grassland, streams, mountains, and Tibetan counting houses surrounding it. It is called the paradise of photographers, due to the wonderful natural lights and stunning landscape here.
Features
- Amazing natural lights for photography
- A great place for hiking
- Changeable weather
- Picturesque scenery
- Food specialty and special local products
- Unique ethnic customs and age-old minority cultures
The paradise of photographers: The best time to do photography during the year is autumn. The first wisp of the dawn's sunshine, or the twilight's last gleam, accompanied with some slow-flying clouds will undoubtedly burnish all the amazing photos you take here.
The altitude of this town is about 3,300 meters. Though there are no obvious bounds among different attractions, there is a "gallery for photographers" lasting 10 kilometers.
Architecture: The small-sized blockhouse, home to local Tibetans, is the most ethnic and typical architecture in Xinduqiao. Usually a blockhouse is built into 2 or 3 floors, in a simple and unsophisticated style.
Food: Sichuan cuisine and Tibetan foods are the staple of the local people in Xinduqiao. Besides Sichuan spicy and hot food, the diet here consists mainly of butter tea, Tsamba (made of highland barley), beef and mutton.
Possible Altitude Sickness
Xinduqiao is in the region of more than 3,000 meters above sea level. The plateau climate, changeable weather and large temperature difference may cause altitude sickness. Therefore, tourists had better keep warm and have rests, refrain from doing intense physical activities, and drink more water during the tour. Medicines like antipsychotic, headache powders, cold medicine and aspirin are also much-needed.
Location
Xinduqiao is located on the only route between Tibet and Kangding. It is in the west of Kangding County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province (四川省甘孜藏族自治州康定县境西部), with a distance of 81 kilometers from Kangding County, and 437 kilometers from Chengdu. Besides, the 318 National Way is passing through it.
Transportation
XinduqiaoTo hire a taxi with a local driver might be the best choice for tourists to get to Xinduqiao. In fact, Xinduqiao is not a typical tourist attraction and, because its transportation and road conditions are not so good, an experienced local driver can be a great guide for the tour. After arriving at Kangding County, tourists can easily get a taxi on the opposite side of the Walking Street. The cost of a taxi for a whole day is usually less than 100 RMB, and it takes about 3 hours from Kangding to Xinduqiao.
Accommodation
You can choose to stay overnight in a hotel or just in a local family house. Food specialties and special local products are provided in both of them. Two great hotels are recommended below:
Xinkangzhu Hotel (鑫康珠酒店): It is a three-star hotel which is beside the 318 National Way in Xinduqiao County. Call 0836-2867581 if you want to book a room. The lowest price of a room is about 100 yuan.
Muya Backpacker's Inn (木雅背包客栈): This inn is run by a local Tibetan called Mr. Chen. He offers his own blockhouse as a hostel for tourists. It is a special family inn with strong ethnic customs in Xinduqiao, providing you with the warm hospitality of local Tibetans. A bed here costs only 30 yuan a night. Tel: 028-2866565.
Recommended Tour
Chengdu to Shangri-La Driving Group Tour: You will see giant pandas in Chengdu, enjoy breathtaking scenery and experience local Tibetan culture in the western part of Sichuan Province, and explore the lost horizon in Shangri-La.
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