Territory capital · China
Hezuo合作市
Use Hezuo as a transit base for Gannan: one night is enough to see the monastery and Milarepa Lhakhang, then move on to Xiahe or Maqu.
Hezuo is the capital of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, sitting at 2,900 m on the Tibetan Plateau. The main draw is the 17th-century Tsoe Gompa with its 13-storey Milarepa Lhakhang. Most travellers stop here for a single night between Xiahe, Lanzhou or the grasslands of Maqu.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CNY
- Best months
- May–Sep
- avoid Nov–Mar (cold, some services reduced)
- Airport
- GXH
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Hezuo110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Hezuo, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Alipay and WeChat Pay accept Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex cards; single payments over ¥200 (≈ US$30) carry a fee of about 3% on a foreign card (smaller ones…China-wide
- SIM or eSIMA roaming eSIM from outside China routes traffic through its home network, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram work without a VPN — the simplest setup.China-wide
- Tap waterNot for drinking from the tap; bottled water ¥2–5 (≈ under US$1), and kettles and free bottles in hotel rooms.China-wide
- TippingRestaurants: No tip; upmarket hotels add 10–15% service.China-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C/I. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): fits. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.China-wide
- SafetyHezuo is safe for tourists.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPublic toilets are frequent and free; squat toilets outside hotels and malls.China-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire · 120 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums and palaces close on Mondays; the Forbidden City too (outside holidays).China-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckGXH Gannan Xiahe Airport (56 km (35 mi) from Hezuo; Sichuan Airlines from Chengdu, Lhasa, Xi'an and Yinchuan (check)).GXH Gannan Xiahe Airport (35 mi (56 km) from Hezuo; Sichuan Airlines from Chengdu, Lhasa, Xi'an and Yinchuan (check)).
- Getting aroundHezuo is walkable; taxis cost about ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2) within town.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealNoodle bowl¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi within town¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
- Metro or bus rideBus Hezuo–Xiahe¥30 (≈ US$5) (check)
- Budget bedDorm bed in guesthouse, a night, per personCN¥50 (≈ US$7)
- Mid-range bedDouble room in guesthouse, a night, per roomCN¥200 (≈ US$30)
- High-end bedDouble room in guesthouse, a night, per roomCN¥350 (≈ US$50)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget CN¥150 (≈ US$25) · Mid CN¥300 (≈ US$45) · High CN¥500 (≈ US$70)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- GXH Gannan Xiahe Airport (56 km (35 mi) from Hezuo; Sichuan Airlines from Chengdu, Lhasa, Xi'an and Yinchuan (check))GXH Gannan Xiahe Airport (35 mi (56 km) from Hezuo; Sichuan Airlines from Chengdu, Lhasa, Xi'an and Yinchuan (check))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
Feb
Avoid
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
Mar
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Apr
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
May
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jun
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jul
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Aug
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Sep
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Oct
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Nov
Avoid
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
Dec
Avoid
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Nov–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)), coolest Jan (−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C) low), wettest Jul (15 rain days), driest Dec (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Hezuo: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
−14°C (7°F)7°F (−14°C)
3 rd
Feb
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
−11°C (12°F)12°F (−11°C)
4 rd
Mar
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
6 rd
Apr
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
8 rd
May
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
11 rd
Jun
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
14 rd
Jul
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
15 rd
Aug
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
14 rd
Sep
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
5°C (41°F)41°F (5°C)
12 rd
Oct
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
−1°C (30°F)30°F (−1°C)
8 rd
Nov
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
−8°C (18°F)18°F (−8°C)
4 rd
Dec
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
−13°C (9°F)9°F (−13°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Hezuo is walkable; taxis cost about ¥5–10 within town. Buses from the station serve the prefecture.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 2–2.5 h
Bus from Hezuo station, about 2 h
Major Tibetan monastery; combine with Hezuo as a loop.
Maqu (first bend of the Yellow River)
goDoor to door: 3–4 h
Bus from Hezuo, about 2–3 h
Grassland scenery; best in summer.
Luqu (Langmusi area)
goDoor to door: 2 h
Bus via Hezuo or direct from Luqu, about 1.5 h
Gateway to the Sichuan border and further grasslands.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Near the bus station
Most guesthouses and budget hotels cluster here; convenient for onward buses.
Town centre
A few mid-range hotels within walking distance of the monastery.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥150–250 (≈ US$25–35) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥250–400 (≈ US$35–60) excl. bed
- High
- ¥400 (≈ US$60)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room in guesthouse1 × 1 night × CN¥200 | CN¥200 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × CN¥300 | CN¥600 |
| Bus Hezuo–Xiahe, one way2 × CN¥30 · check | CN¥60 |
| Bus Hezuo–Lanzhou, one way2 × CN¥80 · check | CN¥160 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | CN¥102 |
| Trip total≈ CN¥561 per person per day, bed included | CN¥1,122≈ US$160 |
2026 estimate in yuan; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Noodle bowl | ¥10–20 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Bus Hezuo–Xiahe | ¥30 (≈ US$5) (check) |
| Bus Hezuo–Lanzhou | ¥80 (≈ US$12) (check) |
| Taxi within town | ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2) |
| Guesthouse double room | ¥120–350 (≈ US$17–50) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Altitude around 2,900 m: take it easy on arrival, drink water.
- Last buses to Xiahe and Linxia leave by late afternoon; check the schedule at the station.
- Tsoe Gompa may have entry fees and photography rules: ask at the gate.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire
- 119
- Ambulance
- 120
Pocket card
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Hezuo合作市
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
请到这个地址To this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire119
- Ambulance120
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Bus Hezuo–Xiahe: about ¥30 (≈ US$5), 2 h (check)
- Bus Hezuo–Lanzhou: about ¥80 (≈ US$12), 5 h (check)
- Taxi within Hezuo: ¥5–10 (≈ US$1–2)
Say or show
- 你好 — Hello (nǐ hǎo)
- 谢谢 — Thank you (xiè xiè)
- 多少钱？ — How much? (duō shǎo qián?)
- 汽车站在哪里？ — Where is the bus station? (qì chē zhàn zài nǎ lǐ?)
- 我不明白 — I don't understand (wǒ bù míng bái)
Mandarin is widely understood; Tibetan is spoken locally.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Hezuo. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep · avoid Nov–Mar (cold, some services reduced) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages for Tsoe Gompa and Milarepa Lhakhang with verified hours and fees.
- Bus schedules from Hezuo to Xiahe, Lanzhou, Linxia and Maqu with departure windows.
- Altitude acclimatisation note and clinic contact.
Sources
Ask about Hezuo
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