Category: Amdo Businesses

Amdo Businesses of Excellence

Tibetan Business Highlights is part of the heartbeat of Tibetpedia. It is a platform to promote Amdo businesses of excellence that continue seeking to improve their services. We aim to not only help raise awareness of these businesses in Amdo, but also to lend credibility to the businesses profiled here so that foreign travellers will experience the best of Tibetan hospitality.

As this feature of Tibetpedia develops, we hope to have a broad range of services represented throughout Amdo: guesthouses, homestays, restaurants, guiding services, drivers, horse trekking operators, etc. If you are interested in writing a review and recommending we consider a Tibetan business that you have experienced, please write to us and tell us about the virtues of the business you would like to highlight!

Geji Nyima Tribe Homestay

Two and a half hours north of Chengdu, there is a valley. In that valley, there is a village. And in that village, there are nearly 200 Tibetan families. Most of those families open their homes to travelers. One of the best that we’ve found is the Geji Nyma Tribe Homestay. The village is Ganbao Tibetan Village and it’s located between Wenchuan and Lixian, 20 minutes away from Tao Ping Qiang Village. At 192 km from Chengdu, it is the nearest Tibetan village to the city.

Inside Geji Nyima Tribe Homestay

Your Helpful And Knowledgeable Host

Geji Nyima Tribe Homestay is one that our travel company (Extravagant Yak) frequently uses. It was opened by a Tibetan family in 2006. The husband teaches at a local primary school. He is extremely knowledgeable about the local Tibetan history and even wrote an introduction to the village’s history and culture for visitors. He offers village tours to guests. If you want a better view of the valley, take one of the hiking trails around the village. In the fall, experience farm life by helping the family bring in the harvest. You’ll have to really push to lend a helping hand because culturally they have a hard time allowing guests to lift a finger.

Join In The Dance!

The homestay can house around 25 people. Rooms are clean and comfortable, and each room has its own bathroom. It’s easy to explore the surrounding area as the homestay is next to the village square, the stupa, and the market. If you’d like, your host can also arrange a local traditional dance if you want to learn Tibetan dancing in the evening. Local women show up in beautiful traditional dresses. Be careful, they’ll pull you in if you show the slightest interest in dancing! Don’t be shy. You only live once.

Stupa and prayer Wheel Nearby Geji Nyima Tribe Homestay

The Price Includes Laughter

For 120 per night per person, you get a cozy room and two meals a day (breakfast and dinner). Here, the food is completely ORGANIC. They make both local Tibetan and Chinese food, but make sure you try the butter momos at least once—they’re very popular with guests. And jump in on the momo-making process. You’ll at least facilitate good laughs all around.

Ganbao Tibetan village is a quick getaway from the high-paced life of the big city. We highly recommend the warm welcome, the great fun, and the delicious food you can find at Geji Nyima Tribe Homestay.

Ganbao Tibetan Village

Contact Info:

Address: Ganbao Village, Li Xian County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

地址：四川省阿坝藏族羌族自治州理县甘堡藏寨

Phone: 13540997282

April 24, 2019
Taoping Qiang Village & Erma Guesthouse

Taoping Qiang

The Qiang people are the oldest minority in China, with a long and interesting history. They live in Sichuan province and have their own spoken language. They do not, however, have a written language. If you want to learn about the architecture and lifestyle of the Qiang minority, Taoping Qiang Village is the best place to go. The village is known as “Mysterious Oriental Castle” for its unique architecture and distinct flavor. Naturally, the houses are all made of stone and connect to each other by crisscrossed paths, which gives the village a cryptic feel.

Taoping Qiang New Village

Taoping Qiang Village is 130 kilometers (a two-hour drive) away from Chengdu. So, getting there for a day-trip or an overnighter is not out of the question. Once you get there, you’ll discover there are two sections to the village: an old and a new. The new village was built after the Wenchuan Earthquake in 2008 and it is free to wander around. The old village, however, has over 1,000 years of history and requires a 60RMB entrance fee. You don’t begrudge this because you find it worthwhile to see the impressive architecture that survived the earthquake.

Erma Guesthouse

Inside the village, there is a quaint guesthouse run by a local Qiang woman that provides excellent and friendly service to travelers.

The Yard of Erma Guesthouse

Erma Guesthouse is a cozy, 5-story accommodation. Each floor has guestrooms with clean bathrooms and comfortable beds. The 4^thand 5^thfloors have the best view of the village and the mountains. Outside, the courtyard is a great place for a cup of tea or coffee and a book. At mealtimes, they serve up specialty Qiang cuisine. Your lodging fee includes dinner and breakfast.

A Quiet Alley in the Old Village

A brief 5-minutes walk from the guesthouse brings you to a place called “Yangjia Yuan,” where you can see an ancient, underground water distribution system inside an old Qiang house. The house owner will take you on a tour for 30RMB. The tour gives you a better understanding of Qiang architecture, history, and lifestyle.

Another short walk from Erma Guesthouse will take you to a viewing platform overlooking the village. From here, the valley and the village are spectacular. So, be sure to check it out.

Taoping Qiang Village and Erma Guesthouse come with our highest recommendation.

A Happy Employee at Erma Guesthouse Shucking Corn for Guests

June 11, 2018
Norden Camp, Glamping in Amdo Tibet

Glamping Is a Thing

Glamping is a new word to the Oxford English Dictionary (as of 2016). Formed by the combination of the two words glamorous and camping, it describes a new breed of camping experience that blends the simplicity and back-to-earth elements of camping with all of the services, food and comfort more traditionally associated with 5-star luxury resorts. Norden Camp in the Amdo regions of Eastern Tibet is one of the places pioneering glamping in China. Norden Camp is a wonderful nomadic-styled, luxury glamping camp run by Norden Travel. It is located 20 minutes from the historic Tibetan city of Labrang (Xiahe in Chinese) in Eastern Tibet. Labrang is home to Labrang Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Norden Camp is nestled in the strikingly beautiful, rolling Sangke Grasslands, next to a small river that runs around the perimeter of the camp. Waking up to the gurgling sounds of the river and birds singing is a delight to your ears. Norden Camp is situated at 3200 meters in the heart of Amdo grasslands. It is open for 6 months from May to October, during the most beautiful season on the Tibet plateau.

The Founders

A friendly and capable nomad in Labrang, Amdo Tibet named Yidam is passionate about his community. He and his wife Dechen are model Tibetan entrepreneurs. In 2007, they started Norlha Textiles, which has become a thriving wool textile company creating beautiful clothing and accessories. They employ only Tibetan nomads and use sustainable business practices that support and enrich their communities. Years later, they started Norden Travel to show their beautiful land and culture to the world. With his hard work and family support, Yidam opened Nordam Camp in 2014. This peaceful and extravagant camp helps visitors experience the richness of Tibetan culture. It is a proud example of the Tibetan people’s respect for their community and their environment.

Stylish Accommodations

The accommodations at this camp are a variety of 2-person authentic yak wool nomad tents, a family yak wool tent, and log cabins. The 2-person nomad tents feature comfortable twin beds laden with sumptuous Norlha yak wool blankets and pillows, a cheery wood stove, wash basin and tea pot—all filled and fired up each evening and morning by the gracious Norden camp staff. Each tent has its own private compost toilet nearby. The bathhouse has 6 private, hot shower rooms. Lodging there includes all meals—breakfast, lunch and dinner. The resident chefs have all been trained in Western food preparation. The food is an exceptional mix of Tibetan and European cuisine, using all local, fresh ingredients and beautifully presented.

You will find out the most stunning and innocent smile from their staff at the camp. They are so friendly and helpful. Most of the staff are from local nomad villages. For them, camp is not only place for working, but also for learning skills, such as, cooking, English, Chinese and mixology. In the evening, staff will perform Tibetan dance and songs around the camp for their guests.

Norden Camp will be happy to help you arrange activities if you want to explore the area. You can visit the monastery, nomad families, Norlha Textiles or try your skill at Tibetan horse riding, bike riding and hiking. There is also a very nice gift shop of Norlha products next to the reception room. Buy some yak hair souvenirs for you and your friends. Norden Camp is a must-stay place if you are going to Amdo Tibetan region. Visit their site here: http://www.nordentravel.com/

April 4, 2018
Zang Yuan Qing Tibetan Restaurant

In Maerkang city you will find a small and cozy local Rgyal Rong restaurant called “ Zang Yuan Qing Tibetan Restaurant ”. It’s simple inside but the food is very tasty and delicious. The basic menu offers the best local Tibetan food with fresh pork, yak meat, and organic vegetables. The local butter tea with fresh walnut is the best butter tea we have ever had (so if you’re going to try it anywhere, here’s the spot!). The menu doesn’t have any English translations, but you will find the most popular foods if you take a quick look at the other customer’s tables. There will be Tibetan noodles with pork and vegetables, momos (Tibetan dumplings) with butter, corn bread, local green vegetables, and of course, the yak butter tea. Even if you end up simply pointing at another diner’s food to order, you won’t regret it.
The owner is a local Tibetan couple by the name of Yeshi Mutso and Ajie. They are a very hard working and nice couple, and they opened the restaurant in June of 2014. Previously, both of them were local farmers, but they couldn’t make enough money to support the family and send their kids to school in the village at the same time. So instead, they decided to open a restaurant in the city. Even though they started with nothing, now their restaurant is doing well and their kids are being educated at the school in town.

Inside the Zang Yuan Qing Tibetan Restaurant

The wife, Yeshi Mutso, is the chef and her husband, Ajie, serves as one of the waiters. There are not only a happy couple, but they also make great business partners, as is evidenced by the growth in their business!

When looking for the restaurant, you will find a fruit and vegetable market in front of the restaurant and on the rest of the street as it curves around. There are also a few shops that sell local clothing and handcrafted products along this street. The purple interior of this restaurant will stand out if you are looking in the doors of the right restaurant. (We couldn’t get the name of the street, but if you hop in a taxi, or ask at your hotel, hopefully you will find it. It’s worth the search.)

If you walk along the left side of the same street (heading away from the river), you will find Maerkang square where the locals usually gather around 7:00pm to start Tibetan circle dancing. If you’re interested, they do this for two hours every evening and you are always welcome to join. The best way learn the moves is to watch other people.

Local Tibetan noodle at Zang Yuan Qing Tibetan Restaurant

Maerkang is a place where most Rgayl Rong peole live. It’s a nice place to explore, and choosing to experience their local food will be one of your trip highlights. We encourage you to try some local food at Zang Yuan Qing Tibetan Restaurant if you have chance to visit Maerkang.

Address: Gaoyuan Yingcheng, Maerkang City.

Phone: 13540995161

地址：马尔康市高原影城，藏缘茶餐厅

电话： 13540995161

September 1, 2016
De Le Tibetan Restaurant

There is a beautiful Rgyal Rong Tibetan town on the way to Maerkang Town, named Zhuo Ke Ji town. Zhuo Ke Ji is well-known place because the Zhuo Ke Ji Tusi Official Manor (a chieftain house) and the Xisuo Tibetan villages are located there. The town is just across from the Tibetan village, with easy access via the bridge connecting the village and town. It is a small but very nice town, and when looking for a meal, you can find Chinese, Muslim, and Tibetan food. As you are travelling through Tibet, take this opportunity to try the local Tibetan food. If you choose to go this route, alongside the river you can find the De Le Tibetan Restaurant. It’s easy to recognize the restaurant with the prayer flags strung between the restaurant and river.
When entering De Le’s you will be warmly welcomed by the restaurant’s owners. The restaurant has two stories and is decorated with wooden furnishings. It is simple, but well organized, and internet is available and very fast in the restaurant. They also have a few tables outside if you want to enjoy your meal beside the river with a view of the mountains.

The De Le Tibetan Restaurant is run by three Tibetan siblings, Wangxi Mutso, Luoyi Jia, and Tsering Lhamo. Coming from a local Tibetan village, they opened the restaurant in May of 2014. All of them went to vocational schools and majored in hotel management and accounting, but they decided to start a restaurant with their education and skills instead.

The De Le Tibetan Restaurant is a colorful place to enjoy a meal.

They started the business because more and more tourists are coming to their hometown to visit Zhuo Ke Ji Tusi Official Manor and the Xisuo Tibetan village, but there was not a single Tibetan restaurant in the town. So they took the opportunity, and decided to let visitors taste local Tibetan food. The local pork, corn bread, local vegetables, yak meat, momos (dumplings), and noodles with local sour vegetables are their most popular dishes. For drinks, their butter tea with walnut is popular.

While the owners don’t speak English, they are happy to provide travellers with the best local food. If you find yourself travelling through Zhuo Ke Ji town, stop by the De Le Tibetan Restaurant for a meal, and a quaint slice of Tibetan hospitality.

Guests can also enjoy their meal outside of the restaurant beneath the prayer flags leading to the entrance.

Contact Info:

Address: Zhuo Ke Ji Town, Commercial Town, Dele Tibetan Restaurant. (Walk along the river and look for the prayer flags leading to the door.)

Phone: 18990444272

地址：马尔康县卓克基镇商业街德勒藏餐。

电话： 18990444272

September 1, 2016
Huahu Daqian Shijie

Ruoergai grassland is the second largest grassland in the Tibetan regions and it is also one of the most beautiful marshland in China. This grassland is home to yaks, sheep, and horses, while the marsh is officially recognized as the homeland of the black necked crane. Ruoergai is one of the best places to learn about and experience Tibetan nomadic life. The boundless grassland, blue sky, and gorgeous black and white tents will make you want to look over and over again. You may even want to try to ride a yak or a horse when you see the local shepherds riding their horses on the beautiful grassland. Or maybe you will want to help local nomads milk and make their butter and cheese? Whatever the grasslands stir inside of you, we really don’t want you to miss a visit to this very fascinating place if you have any chance to travel here. While you travel the Ruoergai Grasslands, we would recommend a visit to “Huahu Daqain Shijie”. Huahu Daqian Shijie will bring you authentic local Tibetan nomadic life.
Huahu Daqian Shijie is located next to the famous tourist place HuaHu (“Flower Lake”). Only a five-minute walk across the street, it was founded by Langmu Monastery in April of 2015. Many people visit this area because of its proximity to Flower Lake, so in order to educate visitors on local nomadic culture, and to provide jobs to the young people who didn’t get a lot of education, Langmu monastery built the complex system that makes up Huahu Daqain Shijie.

While owned by Langmu Monastery, the day to day management of the site is run by locals. Dolma Tsetan is one of the main managers at the hotel, and he is a kind and caring man whose education is mostly self-taught. In the past few years in particular he has spent a lot of time joining managerial and skills training seminars to enrich his knowledge of business.

Dolma Tsetan has proved himself to be a very capable man, and he works with more than 40 employees. The majority of his employees are local nomads and farmers who have not received a lot of education, but he has trained them to work as servers and other staff to welcome their guests warmly.

Huahu Daqian Shijie is a fascinating place to experience nomadic life.

The lodging here is very different from what you have probably had before. All of their lodgings are white ger/yurt (tents) holding a total of about 300 beds. You can choose your tent based on your budget and the number of features you would like it to include. There are VIP types of ger which are quite luxurious (particularly considering you’re in a tent), gers with double beds and private shower rooms, or ger with double rooms but which share a public bathroom. The beds are comfortable and clean, and built to stand up to the weather on the Tibetan plateau.

In the center of the site you will find a small lake and island. Guests are welcome to take a stroll around the lake, enjoy the sunshine under the shade of the circular gazebo roof, or enjoy a spot of yak milk tea by the lake. Every evening, people gather together to dance in the traditional Tibetan style. Another place to check out while here is to take a quick peak into the tent which is set up like an education center about the artifacts of Tibetan nomad life.

With food, you have option of having Chinese food along the street, or Tibetan food at the restaurant hotel. We would recommend you to have Tibetan food (would your Tibetan experience be complete without it?). The hotel restaurant is probably one of the most unique restaurants you have even eaten in before. When coming off of the road, the restaurant is on the left side of the front gate and is pretty recognizable as it is situated in a big black yak wool tent.

Heading inside the tent (once your eyes have adjusted a little), you will find a Tibetan style fireplace which will be using the authentic firewood – yak dung. Choose one of the low tables and sit cross legged on the beautiful sheep skin mats. While it might be hard for you to sit on the ground in this manner for the entire meal, enjoy the experience of how the nomads truly share life. Yak meat and yak meat sausage, fresh yogurt, lamb, momos (dumplings), and milk tea are the most popular food on the menu here.

Huahu Daqian Shijie black tent restaurant is a nice place to enjoy local nomadic food.

The staff at Huahu Daqian Shijie warmly welcomes people from all over the world to experience the authentic Tibetan nomad’s lifestyle. If you choose to stay here or even just drop by for a meal, we think you will have a rewarding and pleasant stay.

Contact Info:

Address: Across from Flower Lake just outside of Ruoergai (5 minutes walk)

Phone: 13568788822

地址：花湖斜对面（走路5分钟）

电话：13568788822

September 1, 2016
Nima’s Homestay

Muni valley is located in Huanglong National Park, 36km west of Songpan County Town, and ranges in altitude between 2800m at the entrance to 4070m on the mountain peak. You will find a very nice local Tibetan homestay called “Nima’s homestay ” in the beautiful Muni valley. Nima’s homestay is one of the most comfortable local homestay in Muni valley.
Muni valley has a stunning landscape, charming local Tibetan villages, and Buddhist monasteries. The most spectacular scenery is found at Zhaga Waterfall and Erdao Lake in Muni valley. When compared with Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, there won’t be as many tourists, so you can walk around and enjoy the beauty of nature in relative peace. Most importantly, while exploring this quiet valley, travelers can stay with a local Tibetan family at Nima’s Homestay. Staying at this cozy and comfortable Tibetan house in such beautiful valley, is guaranteed to be a very special part of your travels.

Nima is the local Tibetan farmer who runs the homestay. Nima means, “sun” in Tibetan, and is a very common name amongst his people. The homestay is convenient to find beside the road and it is very easy to get to. Nima has been running his homestay business for a few years, and he is very interested in receiving visitors. He opened Nima’s homestay because the scenic spots in the area became more developed, thus meaning the extra visitors needed a place to stay.

Nima’s homestay is very clean and comfortable.

While Nima and his wife don’t speak English, they have experience receiving Western clients, and they have done this long enough that they usually know what you want. They will use their body language to greet you and ask if you would like anything to eat or drink. Nima’s wife (Liuhai Yin) is also a very friendly and hardworking lady, and they both try their best to make you happy and comfortable. Your presence will attract friendly and warm smiles, so make sure you smile in return!

There are 12 beds on their second floor which are soft and comfortable. The bathroom is located just outside the house, and is shared among all guests in a simple dormitory style. On the first floor, there is a very nice living room with wood decorations, and a small kitchen where Nima and his wife will prepare the meals. Nima’s wife is the cook and you are welcome to help her as she makes her best traditional Tibetan dishes. If you want to try your hand at Tibetan cooking, Liuhai Yin is happy to be your cooking instructor. If you visit in the summer or fall, you may even be able to help Liuhai Yin pick vegetables from her own farm and vegetable garden to round out the meal with fresh, home grown food.

A great hiking place near the Nima’s village.

There are several great hiking places near the village, including the mountain that rises directly across from the village. On the mountain you will see payer flags, and will be rewarded as you climb with the whole view of the village. If you get up early, travelers may choose to join the kora (walk around the temple) with the local people, or a few minutes of mediation in the temple.

Muni valley is a good place to see some of nature’s beauty and to experience authentic Tibetan culture. If you are traveling to Muni Valley, we recommend you visit Nima’s family at their homestay in order to experience a piece of the real Tibet.

Contact Info:

Address: Shang Zhai Cun (village), Muni Township, Songpan County.

Phone: 13678372526

地址：松潘县牟尼乡上寨村

电话： 13678372526

September 1, 2016
Snow Land Tibetan Massage Center

We all know that traveling can be fun and exciting, but sometimes it can be a very tiring experience. This can be especially true when traversing over some of the more rugged terrain that can be found on the Roof the World – Tibet. Thankfully, to help you relax, refresh, and recuperate from an exhausting trek or hike there is the option of getting a massage. In the town of Songpan, one can find the Snow Land Tibetan Massage Center.
Songpan is one of the popular tourist destinations in the Amdo Tibetan region. Songpan is also very close to the UNESCEO park – Jiuzhaigou Valley. The town itself is full of Tibetan culture and history, making it a beautiful place to explore and experience a piece of Tibet.

The Snow Land Massage Center is a tiny and simple place in the center of Songpan, but a wonderful place to stumble into if you are looking to relax. It was founded by a local Tibetan man named Tenzin Wang Gyal, and it is the first massage center in the town. His father was a Tibetan doctor, so he was able to study some Tibetan medicine and massage from his father. He also learned some about the operating a massage center in Mainland China.

Enjoy Tibetan Massage at Snow Land Tibetan Massage Center

In Songpan tourists like to hike and take horse treks in his hometown, and Tenzin Wang Gyal realized that some horse treks take 3 to 4 days, which can make it a very tiring journey. He thought it would be wonderful if he could offer these visitors a massage center. So he put his idea in practice in 2002 and founded Snow Land Tibetan Massage Center.

In the past years, he has received costumers from all over the world. When scanning his guestbook, his costumers provide him with positive and encouraging feedback. A lot of the commenters agree that they find Tibetan massage to be a wonderful way to relax after siting on bus, trekking, or hiking for hours.

If you are missing a little western food, you can enjoy some comfort food after your Tibetan massage as the neighboring building is a western restaurant, which is run by a friendly Chinese lady. Going by the name of Emma, she speaks fluent English. This restaurant is also pretty well known, making getting to Snow Land that much easier.

Snow Land Tibetan Massage Center is Next to Emma’s Guesthouse

The biggest difference between Chinese and Tibetan massage is the technique. There are several different services at the massage center: Tibetan massage (full or partial), Tibetan treatment for kidneys, Tibetan medical footbath, flower and milk footbath, pedicure, cupping, and electrotherapy. We chose to go with a half hour of massage, because we had never had a Tibetan one before. Obviously we weren’t disappointed, and we ended up wishing we had gone for longer!

Tenzin Wang Gyal has trained more than 20 local massage therapists since 2002. He hopes he can continue to train more Tibetans, and wants to open a branch center in a different Tibetan area.

If you find yourself in Songpan, we encourage you to try Tibetan massage if you have the chance to travel to here.

Contact Info:

Address: Next to Emma’s Kitchen in Songpan, Sichuan, China.

Phone: 189090443172

地址：中国四川松潘县顺江村小欧洲西餐厅旁

电话： 189090443172

September 1, 2016
Zhuan Jing Bridge Hostel

“Xisuo Local Residence” is a small Rgyal rong Tibetan village located in a Zhuokeji in Maerkang. The village was built in the middle of the Qing dynasty, and even today maintains the architecture of these early settlers. On the outside the village houses are made of stone, making it look like an ancient castle town set on the hill. There are approximately 72 local Tibetan families, and they rely primarily on farming. The village is one of several villages that was ruled by the Zhuokeji Chieftain, and the village is only a five-minute walk to the Zhuokeji Tsui Official Manor. This is a gorgeous place to explore and learn local history, culture, and architecture. Located in this village, travelers can find a welcoming and cozy local hostel called ” Zhuan Jing Bridge Hostel “.
While almost every family in the village receives visitors today, Luyekang (a local farmer), was the first person to open a hostel in the village. Together, Luyekang and his wife have been running the Zhuan Jing Bridge Hostel since 2002. Both of them are about 70 years old, and they are very friendly, kind, and they treat their guests as their family members. While neither of them speak English, they use their sign language to communicate with their guests, which means there is always a warm smile to be had. Their hostel was the first place in the village that had permission to receive foreign guests. Most of their foreign guests are introduced by the local tourism bureau because they provide such good services. If you stay here, you will quickly understand why the government favors them with business.

Entrance to Zhuan Jing Bridge Hostel

Zhuan Jing Bridge Hostel is very easy to find. The hostel is the first house across the prayer wheel bridge, on the right corner of the alley. A Tibetan grandpa and grandma will welcome you and be ready to take you to your room.

The hostel has three floors. The first floor is the kitchen, the second floor is for both family and guests, and the third floor is more guestrooms. There are about 24 rooms in total, and the hostel is very clean and nicely decorated. Most of the house is made of wooden walls and furniture, and the mural in the second floor lounge definitely deserves a second look! The hostel has two shower rooms on the third floor, and hot water and internet are available. While they don’t offer food in the hostel, you can easily find a place to eat in the village. (However, if you visit the hostel in the fall, you can buy fresh walnuts from your hosts!)

Inside of the Zhuan Jing Bridge Hostel

The local Buddhist temple is next to Zhuan Jing Hostel, so if you want to visit the temple or walk a kora, this is very convenient. It is also fascinating to walk around the village to take photos and enjoy Rgyal rong architecture.

If you are exploring the area, we highly recommend you stay with this lovely older couple at the hostel just across the prayer wheel bridge.

Contact Info:

Address: Right side of the Prayer Bridge, Xisuo Tibetan village, Zhuokeji Township.

Phone: 0837-2829162

地址：马尔康卓克基乡西索居民转经桥右边第一家。

电话：0837-2829162

September 1, 2016
Wrangler Hotel

In Ruoergai County Town, you will find the Wrangler Hotel. As a local nomadic family runs the hotel, the managers – Dorjie and Gengden – are both family. Both brothers are friendly people who are very passionate about social entrepreneurship. They have been helping a lot of local people make their livelihood as they currently have more than 30 employees. Previously, Duojie was fortunate to receive a little bit of training on ecotourism and social entrepreneurship in United States. The training helped him to reshape business in such a way that he provides jobs and training to his staff to raise the quality of Wrangler Hotel in a responsible and sustainable way.
The hotel was opened in April 2015. The family built the hotel because tourism is developing very fast in Ruoergai, and both domestic and international tourists visit the beautiful grasslands to get a glimpse into nomadic life. As a result of this surge in tourism, the hotel wants to provide a nice and comfortable place for visitors to stay. There are single rooms and double rooms each with nice bathrooms attached and complete with wonderful showers and western toilets. The rooms are very clean and the beds are very comfortable, with each of the rooms having their own wifi.

Inside of Wrangler Hotel

You will find a cozy teahouse located on both the 4^th and 5^th floors of the hotel. The 4^th floor teahouse is classical in style and it has a mix of decorations common to both Chinese and Tibetan style teahouses. If you have never gone to tea ceremony, it’s worthwhile to take the time to visit while you are here. The tea table is very nice and you have the option of either making your own tea, or for the authentic experience, the waiters will make it for you if you wish. There are different kinds of Chinese tea available, and while you sip some oolong or green tea, the soft background music is designed to calm and relax you. If you are looking for something a little stronger instead, wines and beer are also available at this teahouse.

The second teahouse on the 5^th floor is decorated as a garden style teahouse. There are many plants, and the height gives you a nice view of Ruoergai town. If you are a little more budget conscious, the tea on this floor is a slightly cheaper than the 4^th floor teahouse, although the selection is not quite as wide. If you get hungry, either tea house provides a range of Chinese dishes for you to choose from.

Wrangler Hotel’s Tea House

If you find yourself visiting Ruoergai County Town in the Aba Prefecture, mosey on over to the Wrangler Hotel for a little shut eye or to enjoy a nice cup of tea.

Contact Info:

Address: Chunxi Road, Ruoergai Town, Aba Prefecture.

Phone: 0837-8966789

地址：四川阿坝若尔盖春熙路

电话： 0837-8966789

September 1, 2016
Black Tent Restaurant

While it’s easy to find a restaurant where you can have authentic Tibetan food, it is hard to find a restaurant in Hong Yuan town, in the Amdo Tibetan Region, where you can experience the local Tibetan style. However, at the Black Tent Restaurant, guests experience both. Run by a young local Tibetan nomad Gasang Gun who only has primary school education, the restaurant stands as a testament to his hard work and dedication to his culture. The restaurant was found in 2007, and it was one of the earliest Tibetan restaurants in the town. As yak meat, butter, cheese, milk, and yogurt are some of the main foods for nomads, Gasang Gun decided to bring a little nomad life to the town.
There are a few restaurants in the town, but on observation Black Tent Restaurant is the most popular among the local people. While many tourists visit Hong Yuan, most are not lucky enough to know about the place. Instead, most of Black Tent’s customers are local nomads who know what the real authentic food tastes like. If you visit the restaurant, it’s not uncommon to see entire Tibetan families – from the grandparents to the toddlers – stopping by for a meal.

Momos at the black tent restaurant

Hong Yuan is known for their yak dairy products, so if you are looking for Tibetan yak meat and yogurt, Black Tent restaurant is one of the best places! While here, we tried their momos, rice with yak meat, yogurt, and yak milk tea, and Gasang Gun’s cooking does not disappoint!

Gasang Gun was able to expand his restaurant in the past few years with his hard work, and passion for food and culture. He opened two more restaurants in both Hong Yuan town and Aba town, and currently employs 13 Tibetan staff between his 3 restaurants. He is the main chef and manager for the Black Tent Restaurant in Hong Yuan, with his other chefs being trained by him. Gasang Gun said that it usually takes a few months to train each of his chefs properly, but he is very happy to take the time to do it for the quality of the food, and the education of his staff. In the future, Gasang Gun wants to open more restaurants in some of the other Tibetan towns to let more people experience the flavors of nomad food.

The road to the black tent restaurant

Contact Info:

Address: East Road of Jiangxi, Honyuan County town.

Phone: 0837-2661055

地址：红原县绛熙东街13号（民政局附近）

电话：0837-2661055

September 1, 2016
Xiangxiong Guesthouse

Songpan ancient town is the best place to learn and explore local history and culture in the entire county town. As the Ancient Town was first built in the Ming Dynasty, the old city walls and the building architecture still maintains charm from this period. Today visitors will find many small shops, restaurants, teahouses, and guesthouses in the area, giving it a very quaint feel perfect for a casual stroll or a little shopping. You will also notice that there are three visible people groups in Songpan: Han Chinese, Muslim, and the local Tibetan people. If you are looking to stay in the midst of the beautiful old Songpan, we are happy to recommend the Tibetan owned Xiangxiong Guesthouse where you will be cared for by locals, and where your business is supporting a very hardworking entrepreneur.
Xiangxiong Guesthouse is located in the old town, which is close to the North gate. Only 2-3 minutes walk from the gate and easy to find, the location of the guesthouse is very good as it is situated on one of the quiet side streets of old Songpan.

A very capable Tibetan lady – Aheng Tso – founded the guesthouse in October of 2015. She used to run another hotel in Chuanzhusi, which is approximately 20 minutes drive from Songpan county town. This hotel did good business during the busy tour seasons. However, the hotel didn’t have any Tibetan flavor and she also had to close the hotel each year for a few months of the winter as there are not tourists during that period. So instead, she decided to build a Tibetan style guesthouse in Songpan. Her guesthouse is popular among local Tibetans, with her often receiving good feedback from her Tibetan customers that they like the Tibetan decorations and flavor. (If the locals themselves like it, you know it’s good!)

Room with two beds at Xiangxiong guesthouse

You can ask the staff if you need any information on the town. While they are not the most fluent English speakers, they will readily try understand what you are asking for and to provide the information you that might helpful to you.

Xiangxioang guesthouse is the most unique and beautiful guesthouse in the town. With all the Tibetan wooden furniture, decorations, and other aspects of the colourful culture on display, this hotel is lovely and filled with unique aspects. The hotel has three floors. The first floor is used as a lobby and has a small shop attached to it, a tea room, and a breakfast area. The hotel provides both Chinese and Tibetan style breakfast. The Chinese breakfast includes porridge, eggs, steamed bread, and a few other dishes, while the Tibetan breakfast includes tsampa (barley), butter, dried yak cheese, and yak milk. The second and third floors are guestrooms which contain a total of 36 rooms, each with a nice bathroom attached. Of these rooms, 21 are double rooms, while 15 of them are single bedrooms. All of the rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable.

You also can enjoy at Xiangxiong guesthouse

So far, most of her costumers are Tibetans and Chinese, but she hopes more westerners will visit her hometown and enjoy staying at her beautiful Tibetan guesthouse. If you are looking for a hotel in Songpan, you needn’t look far as Xiangxiong Guesthouse was one of our highlights when staying in Songpan!

Contact Info:

Address: 2-3 minutes walk from North gate if the ancient town, Songpan county town.

Phone: 18782171308

地址：松潘县顺城北街12号象雄客栈

电话： 18782171308

September 1, 2016
Aba Zang Feng Hotel

In Aba, you will find the Aba Zang Feng Hotel where travelers go to experience a little bit of the local Tibetan hospitality and kindness. You will also find that the hotel is one of the most comfortable and cleanest in town. A local Tibetan couple Nima and his wife Norbu Tso run the hotel, and they welcome guests from all over the world as they have the legal permission to accommodate both domestic and international visitors. Opened in 2015, this was the first locally-owned Tibetan home-style hotel in the town of Aba.
Both Nima and Norbu Tso are teachers at the local Tibetan middle school. Their polite and warm service will make your journey easier and more enjoyable. They are always happy to help you out if you want them to assist you with anything. For example, they will help you if you need to rent a car to drive around the town or visit any of the scenery in Aba. Nima has a small car, so he may even offer to drive you himself if he is not busy. As locals in the area, they have a host of information up their sleeve which they will willingly provide to you as you need it.

The Aba Zang Feng Hotel has single, double, and triple rooms, and one “family style” room to accommodate their guests. The Family Style room is a big space with a comfortable sofa/lounge area, bathroom, and a private kitchen, making this perfect if you are traveling with your family or friends and want a little more space. Internet is available at the hotel, along with plenty of hot water, so your stay at their hotel should be relatively refreshing.

Aba Zang Feng Hotel’s family style room.

The entire hotel has Tibetan decorations, although the architecture is not quite in the Tibetan style. The top floor of the hotel gives a great view of the entire town, allowing guests to appreciate their surroundings. If you ask for it, the couple is happy to provide you with local milk tea or green tea. The stairs leading to each floor open onto a hallway landing complete with a quaint set of table and chairs perfect for enjoying your tea, or waiting for a friend. The hotel location is also conveniently located near the supermarket, antique market, and the Kirti Monastery.

None of the hotels in Aba town are fully Tibetan in style, so Nima and Norbu Tso are planning to build another hotel in Aba that will be designed and decorated in the traditional Tibetan architecture. As teachers, both of them are very passionate about education, so they also hope to support poor students with their school fees in the future. We hope to see Nima and Norbu Tso continue to fulfill their dreams as they are a very sweet and hardworking couple.

The hall of the hotel is a very nice place to enjoy local tea.

We strongly believe that by staying at the Aba Zang Feng Hotel you will have a culturally rewarding and pleasant stay. When we visited here, the couple continued to go above and beyond our expectations, continually offering us services we didn’t even know we wanted, but really ended up thankful for! We walked in their front door as complete strangers, and after the couple of days we spent at their hotel, we left feeling as if we had just made a friends with their family.

Contact Info:

Address: 40 meters on the right side of Aba Township Government Building, Aba Town.

Phone: 13568799927

地址：阿坝镇政府新办公大楼旁

联系电话：13568799927

August 24, 2016
Hua Hai Hotel

Hong Yuan is a very good place for travelers to explore the Tibetan nomadic life. When staying in the area there are a few tent hotels available but this option often means a private shower is not possible. However, if you are looking for a nice and comfortable bed with a private shower and pretty good internet, we are happy to recommend you Hua Hai hotel. The hotel itself is about what you would expect in your average hotel, but we appreciate the young entrepreneurial spirit of the ownership.
The hotel is located just off of Hong Yuan’s main road, meaning it is not one of the most visible places to stay in town. Still, it is a wonderfully quiet street, and conveniently located close to the grasslands. We also like that the price is reasonable for guests, and with 24 double rooms in the hotel, there should be plenty of space for you and your traveling companions. If you are traveling with a vehicle or bike, guests are also able to park these inside the hotel’s gates each night for a little added security.

Inside of the Hua Hai Hotel

Founded in May of 2016 by a young local Tibetan guy named Lengzhou, Hua Hai Hotel is his first crack at the entrepreneurial can. Lengzhou has been volunteering for an organization since he graduated from college where he is mainly in charge of sponsoring local low-income students and taking care of vulnerable seniors. Lengzhou enjoyed his work but at the same time he was hungry to become an entrepreneur. He opened the hotel with his family’s support, and while currently there are only 2 employees now, he is hoping to hire more local staff in the future.

Lengzhou also said that he would like to build another hotel with Tibetan style and decoration after he has gained some experience running and managing the Hua Hai Hotel. We wish him success in his entrepreneurship journey that he may help more local people and the travelers who find their way in his front door!

Front desk of Hua Hai Hotel

Contact Info:

Address: East of Gangre street of Qiongxi town, Hongyuan county town.

Phone: 18227711633

地址：四川省红原县邛溪镇岗热街东侧

电话： 18227711633

August 19, 2016
JiLi Long Yangqin Tents Guesthouse

Many colourful tents are set up on the broad grasslands surrounding Hongyuan, in the Amdo Tibetan region. Here, one can see herds of yaks, sheep, and horses spread over miles of grassland spotted by the black tents of nomadic herders. In this guesthouse, you are welcome to stay as a guest with local nomads.
Colorful tent option as a rainbow shines in the background

Ciwang Danzhen is an educated nomad. He is very happy with his nomadic life, where he spends his days herding yaks, sheep, and horses, but he feels happier when he has the chance to show his nomadic life and culture to friends from all over the world. So Ciwang and his family opened the tent guesthouse on the fascinating Hongyuan grasslands in 2015. Named JiLi Long Yangqin Tents Guesthouse. Currently, there are 12 employees at the guesthouse. 5 of them are family members and the rest come from the surrounding local communities.

Hotel room option for guesthouse

As a guest, you have the option of staying in their hotel, but for those wanting a little more authentic experience, you may stay in one of their guest tents made with the traditional black yak wool. While you stay, enjoy the healthy food, because everything you eat is organic with nomads! For example, fresh milk, tsam pa (barley flour), yoghurt, yak meat, etc., might find its way to the bowl in front of you. If you are interested, you can even help the guesthouse prepare the food that you and the other guests will be served. When you are ready for a drink, the guesthouse has a very nice teahouse, where you can go to drink yak milk, black tea, and yak butter tea.

One-bed hotel options with beautiful view

You are also welcome to join and enjoy the local Tibetan entertainment, such as, traditional games, dancing, singing, horse riding, and archery. In Tibetan tradition, people hold outdoor parties, where they hold hands and dance around the campfire. Maybe you will be lucky enough and find yourself learning to dance like a nomad!

As the sun sets, take a moment to stop and stargaze. In such a vast sky, the moon and the stars seem brighter, and you might lose yourself for a quiet moment before you retire to your tent or hotel room for a good night’s sleep.

Night sky over the tent houses

Chiwang Danzhen hopes that he can bring a positive impact to his local economy, and he hopes that more and more young Tibetans can stand on their own two feet by starting their own small business.

We recommend Jili Long Yangqing Tents guesthouse if you have chance to visit the Hongyuan Tibetan area. We are confident that you will have a pleasant stay living with local Tibetan nomads and experiencing the rich culture that they have to offer.

Contact Info:

地址：红原县霞穹中街红原牦牛肉食品公司东北400米

手机: 赤旺丹增13438791502

前台：0837-2661119

Address: Xia Qiong Zhong Jie, Hongyuan County, Nearby the Hongyuan Yak Meat Food Company.

Phone: Ciwang Danzhen: 13438791502

Front desk: 0837-2661119

June 7, 2016
City Nomad Guesthouse

In the city of Xining, you will find a cozy and welcoming guesthouse called City Nomad. While you won’t be staying in the grasslands with sheep, yaks, and horses, you will experience a taste of the nomadic spirit in the midst of the city. In this sweet and comfortable guesthouse, one can experience the nomadic passion and enthusiasm for life.
This guesthouse is run by a young, educated, and knowledgeable Tibetan nomad named Tashi. He opened City Nomad guesthouse in April 2015.

While a little crowed for some foreigners, City Nomad provides a nice place to rest and sleep for groups of travelers.

Tashi started the business, first, because he wanted to support his family financially. Secondly, as a Tibetan, he felt strongly that it was his duty to introduce Tibetan culture and places to people from all over the world. Tashi believed that people would have a better understanding of perspectives from different cultural backgrounds if they had a better platform and opportunity to exchange ideas and share stories.

City Nomad has 3 Tibetan staff who are very helpful, friendly, and who want to ensure you have a pleasant stay. The two-story guesthouse is very comfortable and clean. In fact, it might just be one of the cleanest in the area, and shoes are not allowed to be worn inside. While they don’t provide food, they do offer drinks for guests to purchase.

For those looking for a nice bed, City Nomad also offers beds with more of a home feel.

Tashi himself speaks fluent English, and would be very happy to help you if you have questions related to travel in Xining or other Tibetan areas. Tashi has direct contacts with many Tibetan communities across the plateau, and sometime he can also be found leading trips to other communities. These trips bring benefit to both his guests and fellow Tibetans.

Tashi wants City Nomad to become a successful and sustainable business, providing a model that other young Tibetan entrepreneurs can learn from. He hopes that his guesthouse might become a leader in the hospitality industry in Tibetan areas, and that City Nomad may make a positive contribution to the wellbeing of the Tibetan economy.

We highly recommend city nomad guesthouse to travelers stopping in Xining. In the words of one of his clients: “Dear Tashi, Thanks for the best experience I could have asked for in Xining. You are the kindest, most gracious host I have ever had, I really enjoyed getting to know you and your friend. – Enka”.

Contact Info:

Address: 南山路建新巷陇原叠翠小区 6号楼 3单元 11 楼 3111室

Address: Room 3111, 11th floor Unit3 Building 6 Nanshan road Jiaxin street. Long yuan die cui pinnacle lane commun Xining city Qinghai Province, China.

Phone: 15897141336

June 3, 2016
Zhongde Tan Cafe

Zhongde is located in town of Ruoergai, Aba prefecture, of the Sichuan province. For the past year, two Tibetan university graduates have been running their unique coffee bookshop here – Zhongde.
Yangtan and Pabazu are are full of passion, pride, and love for their culture. These brave grads decided to stand on their own feet instead of working for others. both went to a university, yet they dreamed of being entrepreneurs. They dreamed of introducing and preserving their culture and Tibetan heritage. Now, they are making their dreams a reality.
Lecture taking place in the cafe. Come enjoy learning and educating yourself with the locals and fellow travellers.

There are 4 employees in the coffee bookshop so far. The company is very unique in Ruoergai because it is the first coffee shop that provides books, Tibetan food, coffee, and opportunities to study and receive training, all in one spot.
If you visit Zhongde, you can enjoy coffee, local milk tea, and books – a book lovers favorite thing! You also can join workshops and training to exchange ideas and share you own stories with others. Discussions in this bookstore range from cultural preservation to environmental protection. The hope for Zhongde is that people can learn different skills and ideas through their platform. They want more and more local people to join them, and to learn and share with one another. Isn’t that the fastest way for knowledge to spread?

With such a relaxing setting, you will forget the outside world.

They invite friends from all over the world to enjoy food and coffee with them. They will be happy to serve you, and encourage guests to come, to share, and to continue learning with them. They hope that they can be model entrepreneurs for local people and encourage young Tibetans to start their own small businesses too!

Contact Info:

地址：若尔盖文明市场.

电话： 18894562777

Address: Wenming Market, Ruoergai County Town.

Phone: 18894562777

May 31, 2016
Tsering’s Homestay

Situated on the top of a mountain in the Amdo Tibetan Region, travelers can find Tsering’s Homestay. Overlooking a quiet valley, the farming community is a peaceful place to visit. With only 34 families in the village, one is never far from a pure view of the mountainside.
High on a mountain, you will find a small village in a valley

Tsering received both her bachelor and master’s degrees at a university in Chengdu. She is the only one who has gotten a master’s degree in her village. She values education and has seen the many benefits that she has received as a result of her studies. With this in mind, Tsering has organized workshops in her village to share the importance of education, and to encourage parents to send their kids to school. Tsering has also been assisting a few students in her village with their tuition by helping them to find sponsorship. Tsering loves her village, and by using her education, she wants to help her village flourish.

Tsering is very passionate about introducing Tibetan culture to people. When she was a student at university, she took some of her foreign friends and students to her village. Over the years, her friends and students (to whom she teaches English) have enjoyed staying with her family, exploring the village, hiking, and learning local culture. As a result, her and her family have experience in hosting tourists in their home. So far, her family is the only house in her village that receives tourists. Her hometown is a popular tourist destination, but not her village just yet. Although her house is not fancy, you will have a pleasant stay if you get the chance to visit.

Such breathtaking images shows an amazing landscape, who wouldn’t want to come here?

Tsering hopes that she can bring a positive impact to her community through her small business by educating the local people, encouraging young people to start their own small businesses, and by helping more students with their educational dreams.

By staying with Tsering’s family and having her as your tour guide, you will have the opportunity to experience authentic local Tibetan culture. Guests who have stayed with her family before have had a great time getting to know her family and some of the other villagers. Tsering’s parents think that it is their honor to have guests from all over the world, and they are happy to share their life and home with all of their guests.

Contact Info:

四川阿坝若尔盖县铁布麦刚村。

电话： 13882198591。

Address: Maigang Village, Conger Township, Ruoergai County, Aba Prefercture and Sichuan Province.

Phone: 13882198591

May 30, 2016