• Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling Monastery (Lithang Gompa, Litangsi) - The monastery is just on the northern edge of town and belongs to the Gelukpa sect of Tibetan Buddhists. In 1956 the monastery came under siege and them bombing from the PLA, following resistence to the attempt to impose communist reforms in Kham. This was a critical turning point in the Tibetan uprising, when some Khampa decided as a result to begin guerilla warfare. Other monasteries in the region may have similar histories- eg at Xiangcheng there a lot of ex-monastic rubble - but where they did not play such an important historical role as a specific site, this is harder to uncover. What you see is therefore substantially reconstructed, as much of the monastery was destroyed. As usual, you are not allowed to take photographs of holy relics inside. The friendly monks will guide you through the main buildings, including some breathtaking views from the temple roofs. The monastery was founded in 1580 by the third Dalai Lama Sonam Gyatso on the site of an older Bön-monastery. There are three main temples in the compound, of which one is currently under construction. The oldest seems to be the one on top of the hill, still featuring the wooden construction of the upper rim of the buildings. Inside, you can view several chambers and a bedroom in which the 7th Dalai Lama is said to have resided. Many more famous and influential personal figures were born here, including the 7th Dalai Lama, 10th Dalai Lama, the most influential Zebutsundaba Lama of Mogonia, the 7th Gyamuyang Lama, the 7th, 8th and 9th Pabalha living Buddha of Chamdo monastery and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Xianggen living buddha.

Public bus

The Bus Station is at the eastern end of town, near the crossroads between Kangding- and Xiangcheng-bound roads. Buses arrive daily from Batang, Kangding (9 hours, ¥81), Xiangcheng (4 hours, ¥61, difficult to get tickets), and Daocheng (3 hours).

Private minibus

Xinlong is accessible by private minibuses that leave from the main street, near the bus station. Expect to pay around ¥80 per person.

You can easily visit the town on foot.

• Typical Tibetan clothing and jewelery and accessories needed by the herdsmen frequenting the town are available in small shops downtown.
• Supermarkets on main-street sell food and toiletries, you can also buy bottles of beer and decent Chinese wine to make up your own nightlife.
• In the market you can buy sliced-and-dried apples and pears for a healthy snack.

Plenty of small restaurants are to be found on the main road, some with English menus.

• Tian Tian Restaurant, 189 Happy East Road, ☎ 13541467941. Next door to the Crane Guesthouse in the direction of the bus station is a little restaurant sporting an English menu. The owner, Mr. Zheng, is very friendly and happy to indulge in some chat with his very basic English, and is always willing to learn more and keeps a handwritten journal to document new words learned. He can often be seen most mornings returning from the market with fresh vegetables and meats and if you are a Westerner will likely find you before you find him and will give you his rather professional business card. He and his wife cook and specialize in mostly Sichuan and continental Chinese food, though also makes a fine yak butter tea, made a little sweeter to appeal to western tastes. He also provides an informal travel informtion service with maps and useful advice.  edit

There is an excellent dance club on the same side of the street as the Crane Guesthouse towards the bus station. There is a neon sign lit entrance to a courtyard, where the club is inside and to the right. There are also a number of karaoke-style bars in town, or KTV as they are known locally.