Yushu Tibet Autonomous Prefecture is located in southern Qinghai province on the northern Tibetan Plateau. Yushu has a population of 280,000 people and is over 95% Tibetan. Yushu is one of the most remote areas in Tibet being over 500 miles (800km) from Xining (capital of Qinghai) and over 750 miles (1200km) from both Lhasa and Chengdu. Yushu is not connected by air or by train. The only way to get there is by sleeper bus.

Living conditions are harsh as winters are long and cold. Snow can fall in these counties well into summer. These areas average over 270 freezing days per year. Due to the high altitude and freezing temperatures little can grow in this area. Farmers, with the aid of insulated greenhouses, are able to grow a few crops such as barley and potatoes.

Yushu Tibet Autonomous Prefecture is famous across Tibet for containing the headwaters of three of Asia's greatest rivers. The Mekong (Lancang Jiang in Chinese), Yellow River and Yangtze all start in Yushu.

Yushu is one of the best regions of Tibet to see real authentic Tibetan culture. Because Yushu is so remote, the long bus ride and poor conditions keep most travelers away. The Tibetans of Yushu are also famous for their dancing and for their annual horse festivals held each summer, one of the largest in Tibet.

Yushu Horse Festival

The weeklong spectacular Horse Festival commences on July 25, on a grassy plain south of town. Colourful Tibetan tents surround the racecourse where more than 10,000 people converge to barter and enjoy the celebrations at this Horse Racing Festival. Shows of horsemanship skills, including archery on horseback and racing, are the main theme. Of course the Tibetans never call for the day without singing and dancing. The Tibetans bring their traditional nomadic tent made of black yak hair tents and these colourful applique affairs are sometimes bigger than houses.

Best time to visit

Summer. The weeklong spectacular Horse Festival commences on July 25 each year.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1: Beijing / Xining / Maduo
 Take a flight to Xining – the capital of Qinghai
 Lunch and drive to Maduo
 Stay the night in Maduo

Day 2: Maduo / Yushu
 Breakfast at the hotel and check-out
 Drive to Yushu in the morning, visit the Gyanak Mani-stones, Lekpa Valley, and the Tang Dynasty Temple of Princess Wencheng.
 Check into the hotel in Yushu

Day 3: Yushu / Nangqian
 Breakfast at the hotel and check out
 Drive to Nangqian (in the jeep). (This is a very bumping ride and it will take half a day (220km) ). You will tour the Xurong Gar Valley, do a hike in Nangchen, and visit a local family en route.
 Stay the night in Nangqian

Day 4: Nangqian/Yushu
 Breakfast at the hotel and check-out
 Drive back to Yushu
 Lunch
 Visit the Damkar Monastery and the Jyekundo Monastery
 Stay the night in Yushu.

Day 5: Yushu/ Xining
 Breakfast and check-out
 Return to Xining
 Stay the night in Xining

Day 6: Xining/Beijing
 Breakfast and check out
 Fly back to Beijing