Langmusi (Tibetan: Taktsang Lhamo) is a village on the border of Sichuan and Gansu provinces.

Understand

A sleepy village in a remote breathtaking location inhabited by a mix of Han Chinese, Hui and Tibetans. It is said that the provincial borderline runs through the middle of town with Sertri Gompa in Gansu and Kirti Gompa in Sichuan. The power struggles between the two Gompa may have been the reason for the border location.

Get in

There is only one bus every day from Xiahe direct to Langmusi leaving at around 7 a.m. from the Xiahe Bus Station.

If you miss this bus, or if you can't get tickets, you can take any early morning bus to Hezuo (1 hour from Xiahe) and then take one of the Hezuo_i_____jbuses to Langmusi. There are a couple buses from Hezuo to Langmusi each day. There definitely is one leaving at 10:20AM.

When you get to Hezuo, you will need to take a taxi across town to the South Bus Station (Nan Zhan ? ____) where the buses leave for Langmusi.

If you were thinking of hiring a car to take you directly from Xiahe to Langmusi, be ready to pay a lot of money. It will cost you at least 350 RMB to hire a car for the trip. The bus is only 30-40 RMB per person.

There are also direct buses Zoige (Ruo'ergai) in northern Sichuan. There is currently no direct bus to Songpan but the situation may change, as a new highway was completed in 2007.

Get around

Your own two feet, a bicycle or maybe a pony.

See

  • '''Sertri Gompa''' (Dacanglangmu Saichisi) - temple where traditional Tibetian sky-burials are still practiced (last rites are private), located on northern hill.
  • '''Kirti Gompa''' (Dacangnama Ge'erdisi) - temple on the southern hill
  • Do

    It's worth hiring an English speaking guide to explain the monasteries, sky burial ground and gorge to you. Ask around in Leisha's restaurant. You should look for guide Rabga (means 'Crazy' in English), he speaks British English. His cell phone No: 13893936303 / 0941 6671628 / email : rabga8818@yahoo.com. Langmusi Horse Trekking also offers anything from 1 to 3 day horse treks where you can stay with Tibetan nomads. The lady at the horse trekking place speaks excellent English.

    The end of the village closest to the main road is more Westernised, and closer to the monastery it becomes less so. Passing through the monastary takes you up into the surrounding mountains, and there are various possible routes available to reach the summits, though take care not to stray too far from a used trail or else you may have to retrace your steps to rejoin a viable route. Wild dogs live in the area and you may spot some while walking. A school can be found near to the monastary, with private housing and a small playground.

    If walking in the other direction from the village - towards the main road - one encounters an interesting sandstone formation whose top is accessable. Prayer flags are present here, and on the aforementioned higher peaks.

    Buy

    "Local artificial stuff", or craft items, are available from a number of shops, though as with many places in China, many are not particularly 'authentic' and you can find the same products over a very wide region. One or two shops towards the monastary end of town sell knives and you can watch the craftsman producing them.

    '''AmdoCraft Cafe''', opposite Langmusi Monastery Hotel has a good selection of locally made Tibetan Handicrafts, mainly made from yak- and sheep wool. You can also get here a good cup of coffee, Tibetan yoghurt and milk tea. Local Monks have visited and thoroughly enjoyed the cafe, saying that it "feels like home." It is closed in the winter months. [http://www.amdocraft.com AmdoCraft]

    Eat

    There is a new cafe opening up in April, 2008, called Snowy Mountain Cafe[http://www.snowymtncafe.com]. The owner is an American named Eugene and they will serve authentic Western and Local dishes. Eugene can also provide all kinds of helpful info for travellers in this region. They will be opening right next to the Langmusi Hotel.

    Lesha's Restaurant has been open for more than a decade here. It is ok, but the advertised Western food is nothing at all like what you will be expecting (except for the desserts!).

    Drink

    Sleep

  • '''Dacanglangmu Saichi Monastery's hotel''' on the road to Maqu. Owned by Saichi Lamasery, it is very clean. Shared bathrooms, hot water in the evening or on request.
  • '''Langmusi Binguan''' faces the main street but is in a courtyard.
  • '''Sana Hotel''' on the main street. Owned by a Muslim family. Very clean doubles cost 50 RMB. Shared toilets and showers, hot water in the evenings or on demand.
  • Get out

    You can go south to Zoige and Songpan, or north to Hezuo and Xiahe.