Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture is one of the ten Tibetan autonomous prefectures in China. It is located at the junction of the three provinces of Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan at the meeting point of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the Loess Plateau. The Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture is divided into three natural types, the Diedie Mountain in the south, viewed as one of China's "six green treasure houses"; the hills and mountains in the east; and the vast meadows and grasslands in the northwest, one of the "five big pastoral areas" in China. Gannan prefecture has been called by Fei Xiaotong "the window of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau" and "the springboard for Tibetan modernization", and has been identified as a national ecological main function area and an advanced demonstration area of ecological civilization.

The total area of Gannan prefecture is 45,000 km2. At the end of 2019, the resident population was 723,200. It was one of the first units to establish a comprehensive tourism demonstration zone in China; it was selected as "the most attractive tourist spot in the west" by the West Development Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; and named as one of the "50 Outdoor Paradises in the World That Make Life Feel Free” by "Horizon" and "Adventure”, the most authoritative travel magazine in the United States. Furthermore, it has been rated as one of the "50 Places to Go in Your Lifetime" by China National Geographic and Fashion Tourism. It is also "China's most national tourist destination" and "China's most beautiful tourist destination" according to United Nations Habitat and Environment Development Promotion Association and the World Chinese Federation, and was given the honorary title of "China Photography Creation Base" by the China Photographers Association.

In Gannan prefecture, there is Xiahe Labrang Monastery, one of the six major Buddhist temples of Chinese Tibetan Buddhism, and two national nature reserves, Erhai Lake and Zecha National Nature Reserves. Lotus Mountain and Yeliguan National Forest Park are in the prefecture, as are dozens of natural beauty spots such as the Sangke Grassland, the first return of the Yellow River, and the Datonggou. There are more than ten historical sites such as the natural barrier of Lazikou and the Russo-Russia Conference site that played a role in the Long March, and there are dozens of folk festivals such as the Xianglang Festival, the Sun-Buddha Festival, the Flower Picking Festival, and the Flower Club. Therefore, Gannan prefecture is also known as "little Tibet of China, and the back garden of Gansu".

Mainly located in Maqu county, Xiahe county, and Luqu county, the Gannan grassland covers more than 40 million mu. As the largest ecological wetland in the Shouqu Natural Reserve of Yellow River, it is also a paradise for Hequ horses, black-necked cranes, white swans, and Tibetan gazelles. During summer and autumn, Gahai Lake, the largest lake in the Gannan grassland, presents beautiful scenes of budding grass, flying birds, and blooming wild flowers where bees fly and butterflies dance, just like a gem on the grassland. Every summer, the Sangke grassland where the Daxia River flows through is covered with green grass and looks like an emerald carpet. Colorful flowers in full bloom compete with each other in beauty, and the cattle and sheep are clustered under the blue sky and white clouds in this natural pastoral scenery. The Sangke grassland has always been regarded as a natural pasture for the Tibetan people.

In 2018, the Diebu Zhagana Agriculture-Forestry-Animal Husbandry Composite System was inscribed in the protection list of Globally Important Agricultural Cultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

The Sho Dun Festival in Gannan Tibetan autonomous prefecture, also known as the Buddha Displaying (Liangfo) Festival, the Buddha Admiring (Zhanfo) Festival, or the Buddha Bathing (Yufo) Festival, is the largest one among the Gannan Tibetan Buddhist rituals. On the thirteenth day of the lunar New Year, the monks in the temple take out the large Thangka paintings that are usually rolled up and protected when not on display for followers to admire and worship outdoors. People are amazed and impressed by the gorgeous colors of the Thangka paintings as they view them in solemnity.