552km (342 miles) S of Xining, 525km (326 miles) NW of Aba

Few capital cities are one-street towns, but Maqin, the capital of Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, is just that. Efforts to settle nomads are rarely successful, and the town has a Wild West ambience. Nomads wander around for a few hours, and then amble out again. North of town is a picturesque Mani temple, choked with tar-choks (prayer flags), and the bustling market to the left of the bus station is worth a look. But the main reason to come here is to visit Amnye Machen, Amdo's holiest mountain. Warning: Maqin is the coldest town in Qinghai . . . and Qinghai is a cold place.

Source: Frommer's China, 1st Edition