Situated at the northeast side of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture covers 45,000 square kilometers and is inhabited by 24 ethnic groups. The total population of the prefecture is 677,900, of which 360,900 are Tibetans, accounting for 53.2% of the total.

Xiahe and Hezuo are tourist centers of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the folk custom of Tibetan people, Tibetan Buddhist art and architectures and pasturelands are mainstay of the tourism in Gannan, the Tibetan Buddhist culture is best reflected by 121 Buddhist monasteries here, including Chanding monastery, first built in 1295, Labrang Monastery and the affiliated Xicang Monastery, are the religious and cultural center for Tibetans in Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan provinces. Other important monasteries include Gongba monastery, considered by local Tibetans as an auspicious place. Langmu Monastery is particularly famous for its magnificent natural environment; Labrang Monastery has the third largest Buddhist pagoda in Asia—the Gongtang Pagoda. Gannan is also known for Sangke and Gahai Pasturelands.