Zhagana is a hidden gem of natural beauty in China. It is a massif of craggy mountains located in southern Gansu Province in Dieshan Range, a 100km-long sub-range of Bayan Har Range, also the watershed of Yangyze River and Yellow River by their upper ranges. Zhagana is a less-known paradise for hiking. The name Zhagana means "Coffer of Rocks". Villages of Zhagana presents a picturesque fairyland that people live in harmony with nature.

Zhagana Landscape

Hiking in Zhagana brings you not only the experience of the half farming half herding Tibetan live but also the natural beauty of Dieshan including rocky mountains, gorges, forest, grassland. It represents the best of Gannan (Southern Gansu) landscape with stunning views in wilderness. This is a less-walked yet very peaceful and beautiful trek in China. Zhagana is listed as one of the most beautiful places to explore in China.

What to Expect of a Zhagana Trekking

Gannan (Southern Gansu) - An Important Land of Tibetan Buddhism

Gannan literally means the southern part of Gansu. It is located on the east rim of Tibetan Plateau and culturally home to the Tibetan people. Near Zhagana in Gannan there are important Tibetan Buddhist Shrines including Labrang Monastery and Langmu Monastery, both are culturally significant to the Buddhist Tibetan people.

Zhagana Craggy Rocks/Mountains

With elevation mostly between around 3000m and 4000m, Zhagana is home to a massif of rocky peaks and rocks in the heartland of Dieshan Range. There are amazing towers, big rocky walls and small but deep gorges in Zhagana. It is also called a "giant palace made of rocks".

Dieshan Mountains

Zhagana Gorge

Harmonious Lifestyle in Idyllic Land

The foggy weather adds on the ambiance feeling of "fairyland". Zhagana is home to the half farming, half nomadic Tibetan people for generations. Before tourism it is a land of mystery, that life was untouched by the world outside. Today, the peaceful way of live is kept in the villages of Zhagana.

Villages in Zhagana

How to Get to Zhagana

Zhagana is a cluster of village and now also a park located in southern Gansu in Gannan Prefecture in Diebu County. It is 480km south to the capital city Lanzhou of Gansu Province. By driving it takes around 8 hours to get to Zhagana from Lanzhou. There is also an airport in Gannan that is around 220km to Zhagana that takes around 4.5h by driving. Another major town in Zhagana is Minxian County that a fast train is available to get from/to Lanzhou in only 2 hours.

In general Zhagana is far from any major city in China. The nearest airport include Gannan Xiahe Airport (220km), Jiuzhaigou Airport(310km) in Sichuan Province.

Zhagana Trekking Season

The trekking season of Zhagana is from late April to late October. It may get rainy and misty during summer time from late June. From second half of September to October is drier and have better visibility in general. But overall it is a dry place. Winter may not be a good time for traveling given the low temperature but it is always clear.

Zhagana Trekking

Trekking Plannning

The classic Zhagana Trek is a trip from one point to another and doesn’t go back the same way. The usual plan is to walk from Zhagana Tourist Park by the west into the mountains and gorges and coming out by its east. Normally it takes 4 days of walking from west to east. One can also to the other way round. The east exit (or entrance) is located in Dayugou Tourist Park.

A lot of visitors choose to do a day hiking in Zhagana Park instead of the 4-day trek through the Dieshan Mountains.

When making the planning of Zhagana Trek, one needs to see the transportation options to and from this place as well as to know what else is on the way and make the planning in accordance. Southern Gansu itself is an interesting and beautiful place to travel to because of its Buddhist traditions. The Labrang Monastery and Langmu Monastery are two main important Buddhist shrines in Tibetan world and is absolutely recommended for travelers to southern Gansu.

For 4-day trekking plan we recommend you to start by Lanzhou and drive down to Xiahe to include Labrang Monastery and then Langmu Monastery plus one day or two there before starting the trek and ends by Dayugou then drive 2 hours to Minxian County where you can get a fast train back to Lanzhou in 2 hours.

For light hiking lovers you can consider to have one day hiking in Zhagana so your travel will be mainly by the west and south of Dieshan Mountains to better plan your visit around Langmu Monastery or even further south to Sichuan including the famous Jiuzhaigou Park and Huanglong Park. Because the east of Dieshan (Zhagana) doesn’t have easy roads connecting back to Langmu Monastery or Jiuzhaigou Park. If you are planning on a trans-province trip, you are recommended to do a day visit/hiking to Zhagana instead of the long trek.

Zhagana Trekking

Zhagana to Dayugou Trekking Information

It is total 55km with elevation between 3000m and 4000m with multiple passes or high point on this trek. Most of the time you will be walking on trails with some part steep when walking over the passes. There are places with great views of Dieshan Mountains on this trek. The walk over Kalak Pass is strenuous.

Camping is involved in this trek and no shops, lodges are available during the trek. There are plenty of places can be used as camps on this trek. Water source is available by most camps. Phone service is not available during trekking. Porter using is recommended for this trek. You are recommended to have a guide to do this trek. China Adventure arranges treks in Zhagana please contact us for more information.

At the moment no hotels inside the village of zhagana has the license to take foreigners. the nearest place that has hotel can take foreigners is located in the town of Diebu that is around 40 minutes drive away from Zhagana Park.