I was a bit skint so no big holiday for me this summer. I looked at a map and decided that Gansu and Sichuan provinces looked interesting. 
So I got a cheap flight to Lanzhou and managed to avoid an overnight there by rushing down to the south bus station and hopping on the 1:30pm bus to Xiahe. Xiahe is famous for its massive monastery as well as its two smaller ones. Nirvana Restaurant and Bar appears to be the only place foreigners stay in the small town.
I was lucky to meet my travelling partner for the following stage of the trip (Langmusi) in Xiahe. Chi and I explored the monastery and then went for a big walk above the town offering panoramic views of the valley below. 
I lost my hat at one stage in a sudden gust which sent it half way down the bank. I’ve had the hat nearly 30 years and so I had no choice but to clamber down to retrieve it.
The walk along the ridge above Xiahe was partially spoilt by the amount of small squares of prayer paper. I guess Buddhist monks care little for the environment.
They may be averse to killing any creature on earth but seemingly happen to scatter litter across the landscape. The majority of people who live in Xiahe belong to the Tibetan ethnic group and look completely different from the Han Chinese and it made a refreshing change to look at them. 
The women had long plaits tied together behind them and colouful clothes. Some had the same pink hats and other had brown hats with large brims to protect themselves from the sun.
Chi and I were fortunate to stumble across a festival going on in the cool of the evening. There was much dancing and singing by multiple ethnic groups watched by huge crowds of locals.
There is a lack of foreign food in Xiahe so I was forced to eat dumplings and yak based dishes. By the time I left there I was craving western food. There’s only so much yak I can eat.
If you have a few days spare and want a cheap getaway from the city, Xiahe is a good choice. It’s just like travelling to another country but without the visa hassles. Jump on an internal flight (or the new fast train to Lanzhou form Shanghai) and in a few hours you will be transported to Tibet… well almost. Try it and see for yourself.