China's Gansu Province

Xiahe and the Labrang Monastery:
Next we flew to Lanzhou, then took a long bus journey to the remote town of Xiahe, located on the Tibetan grasslands in a beautiful mountain valley. Xiahe is home to the Labrang Monastery, one of the largest Tibetan working monasteries outside of Lhasa and a major pilgrimage site. It's a stunning place to just sit and watch Tibetan nomads come into town on horse and cart, devoted Buddhists on pilgrimage dressed in their finest traditional attire, and monks of all ages dressed in saffron robes.

The prayer circuit forms a complete circle around the entire Labrang Monastery and it was exhilarating to be able to accompany the monks and pilgrims on the circuit as they turned the prayer wheels in each circuit room, sending their prayers up to heaven.

I thoroughly enjoyed our days in Xiahe. It’s a magical place that provided an unforgettable glimpse into the Tibetan way of life.

Gansu Nomads:

Rural Walled City:

And...we met this couple. This woman has bound feet.  What?