We rented shoddy bikes from Xiahe (don't go to the hotel next to the Monastery, but the travel agent - we heard of someone getting ripped of before our hotel manager went over to get their money back) The bike ride was lovely 40km round trip at 3000ft. A local in Sangke even helped me put my bike pedal back on! The grasslands have a touristy 'circus' for the Chinese but if you bike past that you will see beautiful blue skies and wonderful green hills.

These grasslands are spectacular, wild and extremely vibrant with nomadic life. But you have to get past the disgusting Chinese 'resorts' in order to experience this. We took a tour from Nirvana hotel (amazing hotel!). Drove for about 2 hours past the winter grasslands into the much higher summer grasslands and saw stunning scenery. Spent time with a nomad family and took a light trek. You can see a lot of nomadic families and their tents...you really do need a guide though as it is far. Without a guide you cannot experience time with the nomads...