Yushu
Understand
In the morning of 14 April 2010, the town was struck by 7.1 magnitude Earthquake. Around 2,000 people died.
Get in
By bus
A few buses depart daily from Xining and Yushu. Fare is ¥207. As of February 2016, the bus station for buses to and from Xining is about 2 km south of the T-junction and central square. From the bus station, if you walk west about 300 m you will find the main street, from there head north and you will get to the central square.Buses going further South in Qinghai, to Zadoi or Nangqen for instance, pass by Yushu Town on their way.
From Ganzi buses are available in summer only, and the station is allegedly at the midpoint between the Xining bus station and town, around 5 km outside the latter, on the G214.
By plane
Yushu Batang AirportThere is one daily flight from Xining at a cost of $249. A bus is available into town as well as negotiable taxi services.
Get around
See
Jyekundo Dondrubling Monastery
Jorang Monastery
Qiulindo Monastery
Zomda Monastery
Temple of Princess WenchengWorth a visit. If you wander around the monastery at the left of the temple, you may find an English-speaking monk who lives there and will be very happy to welcome you and show you around.
Mani Temple(Manishicheng)Worth a visit.
Do
Horse FairLocal townspeople and nomads from far and wide come. Exciting displays of horsemanship, and traditional Tibetan singing and dancing.
Buy
There's an ATM where you can withdraw money on the Construction Bank of China, south of town on the main street, right side.
Eat
Ya RestaurantTraditional Muslim noodle cuisine. The ganban, similar to spaghetti and just as delicious, is especially recommended. However, one traveller experienced food poisening from this restaurant.
Yak RestaurantThe best restaurant in town.
Drink
There are a few drinking establishments often referred to as "Tea Houses", but do not expect a pub atmosphere. There are also a couple of night clubs, which are worth going to just to experience young people in a disco all lining up and doing traditional dances which they all seem to know. There is also often traditional Tibetan folk singing in these clubs which is also worth seeing. The tradition is to reward the singer with a silk scarf (called a Khata) for their song. Many people will approach them during their song to place Khata on their neck.
Sleep
Budget
Since the earthquake, most hotels were rebuilt as temporary corrugated-iron boxes, some of them unexpectedly dirty, and extremely cold in winter. Many of them can be found on the G214 to the East of the T junction. Expect to pay around ¥50 for a bed (winter price) in a dirty one without electricity.
About 250 meters east of the T junction, there is an easy to find L-shaped and green-coloured budget hotel that survived the earthquake. The price is ¥35 for a bed in a double room (winter price), it has electric blankets but no heating. Toilets are outside the building. Because of the wide windows in the common area, the hotel is surprisingly warm in winter. Ask the restaurants around to point you the tent where the reception is located.
Mid-range
Yushu HotelBy far the nicest hotel in town with the flushing toilets and 24-hour hot showers. The old Yushu Binguan sits in front of this brand new hotel, and there are no longer dorm rooms available. The staff are helpful, although only a few speak some English - a friendly female manager has the best fluency. By Chinese government standards the hotel is 3 star, but by Western standards it could possibly be 4 star. Avoid the complimentary breakfast.
YHA Yushu Youth Hostel
Go next
There is also a sleeper bus a few times a week to Chengdu in summer, which takes 32-36 hours. On the route to Chengdu the scenery is fantastically dramatic with vast mountains and river gorges. Be prepared for delays due to small avalanches temporarily blocking the roads on the way to Chengdu.
Regular collective minivans to Nanqen leave from Shengli Rd (G214) about 500 m south of the T junction. The trip takes three to four hours for the 170 km and costs ¥50 (2012).
Collective taxis to Ganzi and Dege wait for passengers on the G214 about 250 m east of the T junction. Price per person to Ganzi is Y180 in a minivan or ¥150 in a smaller car (2012). You might have to wait a long time for the taxi to be full, and that may include spending one more night in Yushu.