Litang

Surrounded by snow-capped peaks and resting on open grassland at an altitude of 4680 m, Litang will leave you breathless in more than one way. This is Sichuan's wild west, where tall fur hats and silver embossed knives are the on-going fashion rage and where neighboring herdsmen can be seen kicking up a trail of dust at dawn. Tibetan culture abounds here. Markets are filled with yak-skin coats, wooden and silver teacups and brightly colored woven cloth. 'Tashi delek', the Tibetan greeting, is more commonly used than 'Li Hao' and traditional stone and dirt homes fill the northern half of the town.

Litang has a fantastically relaxed and friendly atmosphere. While there may not be much in the way of sights, this an excellent small town to spend a few days hanging out with the local people under a blazing sun and starry night skies.

There are also some spectacular walks into the surrounding hills. Be sure to allow yourself time to acclimatize to the altitude before you set out. If you do find yourself suffering from altitude sickness and can't get out of town, there is a local treatment consisting of medicated pills and re-hydration drinks. The woman running Xianhe Bingguan may be able to help you out; however, this shouldn't be considered a remedy and you should still descend to a lower altitude as soon as possible.