New horizon

Tibetan residents entertain visitors with music and dance in Gaxiu village. [Photo by Xing Yi/China Daily]

"A few days ago, two groups of Canadian visitors stopped by and they really liked my guesthouse," Gyakho says.

The renovation of his Tibetan-style guesthouse, with woodwork inside and bricks outside, was completed last year, when modern bathrooms were also installed.

He charges 50 yuan ($7) for a bed each night, and the deal includes breakfast. He expects more tourists to come in the weeks ahead.

People in Xiahe celebrate the Xianglang festival on the 16th day of the sixth month in the lunar calendar, which falls on July 9 this year. Starting from the week before, local people take tents, utensils and food to camp on the lush prairie. The festival also draws people from the neighboring provinces.

The scene is usually spectacular, according to the villagers.

The nearby Sangke prairie is a playground for activities such as horse riding and tug-of-war, with thousands watching the shows or simply enjoying the sun.

The festival originated from an old practice at the monastery when resident monks would camp out in the wild to collect firewood in the summer and store them for the winter.

"Xianglang" is pinyin for the original Tibetan word, which means "collecting firewood".