Litang is one of the great high towns of western Sichuan: a Tibetan county seat on the open Kham grasslands, sitting at roughly 4,000 metres. The altitude is not a footnote here. You feel it when you walk uphill, when the wind cuts across the valley, and when the evening light turns the surrounding slopes gold.
The town has a stronger identity than most stops on the Sichuan-Tibet highway. Litang Monastery rises above the north side of town and is tied to several Dalai Lamas and major figures in Tibetan Buddhism. Below it, Letong Ancient Town has become the main area for walking through restored Tibetan lanes and old-house courtyards.
Litang is also horse country. In early August, when the horse-racing festival is held, Khampa riders, traders, families, and nomads gather on the grasslands for racing, dancing, and a burst of colour that makes the town feel much larger than it is. At other times, Litang is quieter and rougher around the edges, but still worth the detour if you are crossing western Sichuan slowly rather than treating the road as a race to somewhere else.
Take the altitude seriously. Coming straight from Chengdu or Kangding can be hard on the body, and a spare day here is often as much about acclimatising as sightseeing.