World Natural Heritage World Geopark The First National Forest Park of China
Tagong Grassland (塔公草原) is a vast expanse of meadow covering an area of 712.37 square kilometers and located at 3900m in elevation. These beautiful grasslands are home to Tibetan nomads grazing their herds of yaks and living in traditional black yak wool tents. Under the blue sky, the yaks flocks in the vast prairie wide. Riding on a horseback and look across the snow-topped Mount Yala, with the magnificent Golden Padoga and captivating grasslands, Mount Yala presents spectacular views for you to admire.
If you are a hiker, you can hike across the grassland to the south to Ani Gompa (nunnery), which offers affordable lodging. To get there, simply proceed from town, make a right on the road 100m past the Tagong Monastery, and you will see the Lhagang Monestery's golden roof in the distance lies at the foothills of scared snowcapped Mount Yala. Then walk toward it. The walk is around 9 km each way, but most of the way the terrain is flat making your hiking more easy. It takes about 3 hours to get there. If you hike from Tagong to west by any of valleys you'll get to very authentic beautiful villages. No tourist visit these places, so you will be absolutely alone. Continuing further on the roads you'll get soon on the plateau where in summer are many nomads and Yaks.
Horse Race Festival is held in the grassland every year at the beginning of the eight month of the lunar calendar. Local Tibetan herdsmen in great numbers get together to watch the sport and attend the Tibetan opera. These festivities are witness to the authentic Kham Tibetan culture.
Type: Grasslands, History & Religious sites
Best Seasons: Summer and Autumn
Altitude: 3700 meters
Opening Time: all day long
Recommended Visiting Time: 1-2 days
Distance from Chengdu: 310 kilometers (6 hours’ driving)
Address: Tagong, Kangding, Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China (四川省成都市甘孜藏族自治州康定市塔公乡)
