GANNAN, GANSU, June 10 (WSH) — The 2025 Gannan Cultural and Tourism Global Media Conference, themed “Sacred Gannan: A Journey of the Soul,” was held on June 10 in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province, attracting dozens of journalists from countries and regions including the United States, Canada, Switzerland, and South Korea to experience the mystique of Tibetan culture.
Nestled on the northeastern edge of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, Gannan boasts vast landscapes with forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Visitors can hike, camp, or explore by car. According to official data, Gannan saw a 14% year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals and a 15% rise in tourism revenue in 2024. From January to May 2025, those figures climbed to 19.6% and 24.35% respectively.
At the event, Gannan authorities unveiled the region’s featured travel routes for 2025, offering a panoramic presentation of what has been dubbed an earthly paradise. He Moubao, Secretary of the Gannan CPC Prefectural Committee, described Gannan as a crucial ecological reserve and water conservation area for the upper reaches of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River, playing a vital role in China’s western ecological security. The area is home to unique geological features and breathtaking natural landscapes.
From June 9 to 13, domestic and international media representatives will visit several key locations across Gannan, including Xiahe County, Hezuo City, Luqu County, and Diebu County. Highlights of the tour include the Labrang Monastery—known as the “world center of Tibetan studies,” the award-winning village of Zhagana (recognized as one of the world’s best tourism villages), and Gahai Wetland National Nature Reserve. Visitors will also explore vibrant Tibetan cultural heritage and savor the region’s distinctive cuisine.
Gong Jiajia, Deputy Director of the Gansu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, stated that Gansu has been expanding inbound tourism and actively working to open international flight routes through cities like Lanzhou and Dunhuang. So far, six international routes have been launched. To better serve foreign visitors, most scenic spots, hotels, museums, and theaters across the province now offer foreign card-compatible POS machines, currency exchange points, or ATMs.
