Hezuo sits near the northeastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at roughly 9,711 feet (2,960 meters). Yihe Hotel anchors the main commercial strip of this capital city of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Gansu province of China.
I visited Hezuo as part of a two-week trip with the Chinese Tourism Board, during which we stayed at several hotels. This was certainly not the newest or fanciest hotel we stayed at, but it had some features that made it one of my favorites.
Public Spaces
The lobby of the Yihe Hotel is rather large and sparse. It has room for a large tour group to gather, but lacks seating in the main lobby area to relax. There is a seating area off to the left, towards the breakfast room. What it does have is a container with tea, which is very nice in this high elevation. It also has a soft-serve ice cream machine to the right of the front desk, which is unique.
- Get a Car Rental
- Get an eSim to be able to use your smartphone abroad.
- To get to facebook and other sites from China you will need a VPN.
- Get a universal plug adapter
- Buy Travel Insurance
Room Features
I love it when a hotel room catches you by surprise. This one was so large that it was a delight. My double on the seventh floor spanned thirty square meters with a dedicated sitting vestry facing floor-to-ceiling windows. I only wish we had been staying longer so that I would have had more time to just relax in my room.
Décor blends neutral colors and wood, and a single wall picture of the nearby grasslands. The mattress lands slightly firmer than Western chains. Heavy drapes mute sunrise if you wish; I preferred pulling them back to wake up with the sun.
The bathroom was decorated with granite tile, a black marble floor, and a rainfall shower that delivers consistent pressure.
Special Features
One unique feature of the hotel is that the wing I stayed in had light wells outside the door in the interior hallway, so the seating area had natural light, even though it was on an interior wall. The light wells are on the left wing as you face the hotel and go from the 9th floor down to the 3rd floor, with the 9th floor being the brightest.
Food and Dining
Yihe’s restaurant offers a surprisingly broad breakfast spread, mainly focusing on a Chinese breakfast but with dumplings, buns, and eggs included. Coffee was available, which is not a given in hotels in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
Facilities and Amenities
The hotel has extensive conference facilities, including a large ballroom.
Milarepa Buddha Pavilion
Things Nearby
- Milarepa Buddha Pavilion – Visit at dusk when prayer wheels glow under lantern light and the rooftop offers city views. Or visit in the early morning when pilgrims are walking the circuit around the pavilion.
- Dangzhou Grassland – Locals picnic on summer evenings while foxes dart between ridge shadows.
Practical Advice
The best travel months for the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture are late May through mid-October. Altitude means hydration: carry a one-liter bottle and sip steadily. Cash is still useful at street markets, though the hotel accepts major credit cards.
Verdict
Yihe stands out as a dependable, character-rich base, even for a longer stay. It was my favorite of the hotels we stayed at in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
I stayed at the Yihe Hotel on a press trip to the Gansu Province with China’s Tourism Board. They covered the cost of my stay, but the opinions expressed are my own.
