They introduced us to the top of the prefecture, who happily changed into a totally friendly Tibetan guy who spoke sufficient English to explain what became taking place. Unbeknownst to us, the chinese language authorities had currently made that part of Gansu off-limits to foreign travelers in light of protests by ethnic Tibetans inside the location.

After treating us to a delectable lunch of vegetarian chinese meals, the pinnacle of the prefecture drove us back across the prefecture border himself and made certain that we were given on a bus back to where we had come from.