I was there in 2002 and had a great time. You will be well rewarded to take a hike up into the hills to the north, or visit the 2000year plus mud walled city beyound the plane towards the white hills where if you have a local guide will arrange for the gaurdian of the cave to guide you down in to its precipitus dephts, but be warned to take a torch as the gaudian does not need one as he can travel without light! Out on the road out past the other monastry leads to further grass lands that lend to be explored on a flying pigion! Xiehe is a great place to chill out to, useualy starting with the children running and singing on mass to school.