Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture is a hidden gem on the Western Sichuan Plateau, a world-class concentration of natural landscapes. Must-visit: Jiuzhaigou ("one who visits Jiuzhaigou never looks back at other waters", with colourful ponds, waterfalls and snowy peaks forming a fairy-tale water scenery), Huanglong (travertine ponds like the Jade Pool of the Heavenly Queen, set against snow-capped mountains), Siguniang Mountain (Queen of the Sichuan Mountains, a paradise for hiking and snow mountain photography), and Ruoergai Grassland (China's most beautiful wetland grassland, with wildflowers in full bloom in summer). The cuisine blends Tibetan and Qiang flavours: Tibetan yak hotpot is rich and warming, butter tea paired with tsampa is a Tibetan daily staple; the potato glutinous rice cake is soft and chewy, and Qiang sour vegetable noodle soup is sour and spicy, appetising; Jiuzhaigou mushroom stew and Songpan beef offal soup are full of the flavours of the wild.