Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, (甘孜藏族自治州), also known as Ganzi, is located in western Sichuan Province, China. It is set amongst the scenic high alpine mountains of the province and it is historically part of the Tibetan region of Kham(ba) making the area interesting for both culture and landscape.
The area is characterized by long mountain ridges, with river valleys running between them. In the lower areas (roughly speaking, below 3000 meters), the landscape consists of lush forest, while the upper reaches (roughly above 5000 meters) are comprised of rocky peaks. Most of the region, which sits in between these elevations, consists of alpine grasslands.
Permanent settlement has taken place mostly in the valleys, especially the river valleys, where one sees numerous villages and towns consisting of traditional stone houses in a style that is endemic to the region.