Tibetpedia

Tag: Amdo Tibet

  • Diebu ( Tewu) County

    Diebu ( Tewu) County

    Diebu county (or “Tewu” “ཐེ་བོ་རྫོང་།” in Tibetan) is one of seven counties located in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It is primarily a forested region comprising of a diversity of wildlife, peaceful Tibetan villages, and beautiful mountains. The population of Diebu county is around 60,000. It is 2,300 meters above sea level. In Diebu, the mud-sided, wood-frame houses are made with a style unique from other Tibetan areas. You can easily spend a few days in this area following jungle trails, discovering small villages, and exploring local Buddhist temples.

    Top things to do in Diebu

    You won’t have a hard time finding a place to stay in Diebu. There are many clean and friendly hotels at acceptable prices. Out of all of them, Luoke Inn is one of the best. It’s in a good location and has a great view of the mountain. Their rooms are comfortable and clean. There is a variety of restaurants in Diebu, offering Tibetan, Han Chinese, or Muslim food. Diebu is famous for its organic pork and wild vegetables. Make sure you try some. The Muslim noodle restaurant in town makes the best fried-noodles. Don’t miss it.

    Muslim Noodle In Diebu County Town

    Zhagana Rock Mountain

    Zhagana is just 30km away from Diebu county town, though its altitude of 3,400 meters is significantly higher than Diebu. If you have any negative high-altitude symptoms in Zhagana, you can always quickly descend back to Diebu.

    The View of Zhagana

    The Lazikou Pass—Mao’s Last Obstacle

    The Lazikou Mountain Pass (about 90km from Tiebu), carries great historical significance. During the Red Army’s Long March, after their crossing of the Zoige (Ruoergai) Marsh grasslands, Lazikou was the last major obstacle for Chairman Mao and his force before reaching northern Gansu. The pass had been fortified with blockades by the Kuomintang Army. It was finally taken by mountaineers led by Yang Chengdu on Sep 16, 1935. If you are at all interested in Chinese history, the Lazikou Pass is an extraordinary place to visit.

    The Lazikou Mountain Pass

    Bon and Buddhist Monasteries

    There are some quaint Tibetan Buddhist and Bon monasteries around the Diebu area. The Baxi Danka Monastery dates back to 1257; it was founded by Master Rangpa in the Gelug tradition. Zuotsang Monastery is a newer Bon monastery that was founded in 1981. Originally, Bon is a Tibetan religion and many Tibetans still practice it and keep its traditions going. There are a few very ancient Bon monasteries in Diebu that were built during the Tubo Kingdom.

    A Monk Doing Kora at A Bon Monastery

  • Luqu County

    Luqu County

    Luqu county ( ཀླུ་ཆུ་རྫོང་། in Tibetan) is an administrative district and one of seven counties of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Luqu is 3,500-meters-high grassland home.

    For a significant part of the year in Luqu, Tibetans still live in traditional nomad tents. However, more and more of them are being resettled in government-provided, concrete villages. This region of the Tibetan plateau is one of the best places to visit if you are interested in the Tibetan nomadic culture and lifestyle. 

    Nowadays, it’s easy to get to Luqu. Xiahe airport is only 45 km away and road conditions are very good. There is a highway from Lanzhou city to Hezuo. And from Hezuo to Luqu is a well-kept National road. It takes a total of four and a half hours to get from Lanzhou to Luqu.   

    Things to do in Luqu

    Tibetan Dance Competition 

    In 2014, Luqu county town was recognized as “the Homeland of the Guozhuo Dance.” Every August thousands of Tibetans from different regions gather in Luqu to take part in the annual Tibetan dance competition.

    Tibetan Dance Performance In Luqu County
    ZeCha Scenic Area

    ZeCha Scenic Area is the most popular destination in the Luqu region. In 1998, it was recognized as a national treasure and made a nature reserve by the central government. It is around 50 km from town and is roughly 22 km long. Grasslands, forests, and stone outcroppings dapple the stunning landscape. There is a local Tibetan village in the area that offers food, accommodation, and horse riding.

    Zecha Scenery
    Zecha Scenery In Luqu County
    Langmu Monasteries

    Langmusi is a village on the border of Sichuan and Gansu Province. The mountains here are ideal for hiking and horse trekking. You’ll notice that Langmusi is a very inclusive and friendly place. The two Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in town are the Gansu Serti Monastery and the Sichuan Kirti Monastery. Both monasteries have distinctions that make both well worth a visit.

    The Gansu Serti monastery still practices the traditional Tibetan sky burial. Unlike some sky burial locations, this one is open for visitors to come and view. Bodies are first prayed over then chopped up by a man with a large ax. He then calls the vultures to come and eat the remains. Please respect the local culture and refrain from taking pictures or speaking loudly. 

    Langmu Monastery in Luqu county

    Getting to Langmusi

    Langmusi is only 89 km from Luqu and takes about an hour and fifteen minutes by bus. There is a bus from Luqu every day. Go to the Luqu bus station to find more information. For a bit more money, you can also hire a small van. Departing Langmusi is also easy. There are regular buses to Zoige, Xiahe, and Hezuo near the Langmusi hotel.

  • Maqu County

    Maqu County

    In Southwestern Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Region (Gansu Province) you’ll find a gem of Tibetan nomad culture and history—Maqu County. རྨ་ཆུ་རྫོང་། in Tibetan. ) Maqu is named after the Yellow River (it literally means “Yellow River” in Tibetan). It is located at the first bend of the Yellow River, whose abundant resource of nutrient-rich water makes the Maqu Grasslands the most beautiful wetlands in China.

    More than 60,000 people reside in Maqu, ninety percent of whom are Tibetans who still live a fairly traditional nomadic lifestyle. In fact, Maqu is probably one of the best destinations to visit if you are interested in witnessing the authentic lifestyle of nomad Tibetans. That said, don’t go in winter! May to October is the best time to travel as the sun and the tents are out in all their glory. Also, make your way up to Maqu slowly. The average altitude is a head-spinning 3,700 meters (12,200 feet) above sea level.

    Top Things to do in Maqu 

    The No. 1 Bridge on Yellow River 

    The Yellow River is the second longest river in China. It is reverently regarded as the mother of the Han civilization. The 270 meter-long Number 1 Bridge was built in the upper reaches of the Yellow River in 1979 and offers a gorgeous view of both the sunset and sunrise. 

    The Yellow River In Maqu County

    Gesar Horse Racing festival 

    The Gesar Horse Racing Festival is held in Maqu County around the middle of August. The festival is not only about horse racing, but also performing Tibetan dances and songs. On August 13th, 2017, more than 600 competitors from different Tibetan areas gathered in Maqu for the dance-off. During the three-day festival, local Tibetans set up their tents, cook delicious Tibetan food, dress up in beautiful local Tibetan dress, reunite with family, and enjoy picnicking.

    Horses on grassland

    Angwang Cang Wetland Park

    Angwang Cang Wetland Park is 57 kilometers away from Maqu. Drive there in the morning and have lunch with nomads. Explore the park in the afternoon and as dusk sets in find a good spot to enjoy the sunset. 

    The Wetland Park in Maqu County

    How to get to Maqu

    Xiahe airport to Maqu: 140 km, 2 hours 20 minutes by bus.

    Lanzhou city to Maqu: 398 km, 5 hours and 25 minutes by bus.

    Langmusi to Maqu: 88 km, 1 hour and 40 minutes by bus.  

    Xiahe County to Maqu: 197 km, 3 hours and 15 minutes by bus. 

  • Zhuoni – Jonê

    Zhuoni – Jonê

    Zhuoni (卓尼）is the Chinese name for the Tibetan county of Jonê（ཅོ་ནེ།） located 2,500 meters above sea level in Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu province. With over 100,000 people, Jonê is a mix of Tibetan, Han Chinese, Hui, Miao, and Tu minorities. Yet, the majority (70%) is Tibetan.

    The History of the Kingdom of Jonê

    Historically, the people of Zhouni (Jonê) were ruled by a chiefdom (“Jonê Gyabo” in Tibetan; “Zhuoni Tusi” in Chinese). The Gatsang family established the Jonê Kingdom in the fifteenth century. At the time, the Ming dynasty emperor of China recognized Chief Gatsang as the authorized ruler of Jonê and gave him the Chinese surname Yang. To this day, many Tibetan families in this area have the Yang surname. The Yangs ruled Jonê until 1949.

    Summer in Jonê County

    Jonê Monastery

    The predominant religion of Zhouni ( Jonê) is Tibetan Buddhism. The six Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in the region all follow the Gelug tradition. On a hillside half a kilometer northwest of the county seat sits Jonê Monastery. As one of the oldest monasteries in Amdo Tibet, it was originally founded in 1269 by Drogon Ghogyel Phakpa in the Shakya sect. Shortly after the birth of the Gelug sect by Tsongkhapa, the Jonê Monastery became a Gelug monastery (in 1459) and was led by the Gelug master Renqing Lunpo. Unfortunately Jonê Monastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution but was later rebuilt. At one point, it housed over 5,000 monks. Today, there are only 200.

    Jonê County Seat

    Cheba Valley

    Quaint Tibetan villages pop up along the road that winds through the beautiful Cheba valley. People here make a living from both farming and raising livestock. The youth herd yaks, sheep, and horses in the pasture, while the elderly tend farms. Houses in the Cheba valley are built with wood and are closely connected to defend against thieves and invaders. Nyiba is the largest village in the valley with over 300 households (in Tibetan, Nyiba means “sunny slope”). 

    One of the Villages in Cheba Valley
    Traditional Tibetan Dress In Cheba Valley

    Dayu Valley

    The Dayu Valley is an eco-tourism area. Nine gullies come together and form a spectacular landscape. Dayu is not a well-known tourism destination (far lesser-known than nearby JiuZhaiGou), but it still offers an abundance of fascinating places to visit. Primitive forests, mountains, rivers, ancient temples, and grasslands are abundant. You can walk and hike to your heart’s content. One trail will take you on a four to five-hour adventure. If that’s too long, there is a shorter trail that is less than half the distance. Wood cabins inside the valley offer cozy accommodation where you can spend a night or two. Entrance tickets are 68 RMB per person. The average elevation of the valley is around 2,500 meters.

    Inside Dayu Valley

  • Zhagana

    Zhagana

    Zhagana, “Rock Box”

    Zhagana བྲག་སྒམ་ནང་། in Tibetan )

    Zhagana is in Yiwa Township, Tiewu County, Gannan (Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture), Gansu province. It’s mountain regions on the northeastern rim of the Tibetan plateau, with an average altitude of 3,200 meters. Zhagana means “Rock Box” in Tibetan language, which is fitting as it is surrounded by large rocky spires on all sides. Lush, verdant villages fill the space between the mountains. The morning sun reveals the beauty beneath the rocky surface of the mountains. When the clouds come in, a different kind of beauty emerges. The rocky mountain fortress has historically segregated this precious place, but it also bestows pride to the community within, as it continually communicates what they have is special and ought to be protected. Something deeply mystical and almost magical glitters on the surface of this hidden land. To pay homage to the beauty of this natural setting, the residents burn incense. They believe in and practice a harmonious existence between mankind and nature.

    Lush Valley

    The stunning landscape, primitive forest, local Tibetan villages and unique culture will make you feel you never want to leave. The locals really haven’t for thousands of years. People do both farming and pasturing work in Zhagana. The best season to visit is from May to October. Summer is the best time to go as everything turns to green and flowers bloom. In autumn, you can find people harvesting in the fields and also witness the changing colors of the trees. Breathtaking.

    Hiking Trails

    It’s only been a few years since Zhagana has been open for tourists. Visitors must pay a 20RMB entrance fee to go in and explore the village. Local Tibetan people provide homestays and guesthouses for visitors to experience the authentic culture. Zhagana is also an ideal place to hike. Many hiking trails have been developed to enjoy and explore the beautiful vistas. Hike to the monastery if you are interested in knowing more about Tibetan Buddhism, or if you love taking photos, hike to the top village and get the whole view of Zhagana from there.

    The altitude in Zhagana is 3,000 to 3,300 meters (9,800 to 11,000 feet) above sea level. To prevent altitude sickness, remember to drink lots of water and not over-exert yourself. However, if you do feel severe symptoms of altitude sickness, the quickest way down is to return to Diebu County (only 34 km away).

    Zhagana is a must-stay if you are headed to Eastern Tibet’s Amdo region. If you are anywhere in the neighborhood of Labrang monastery, Langmusi monastery or Zogi grassland, make sure you add Zhagana to your itinerary!

  • Zö ( Hezuo)

    Zö ( Hezuo)

    A lot Packed into Two Letters

    Zö (གཙོས་) means “antelope” in Tibetan. It also signifies the city of Zö (or Hezuo in Chinese). As the capitol of Gannan Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, Zö is naturally the economic, political, educational, and cultural center of the prefecture. Zö lies on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan plateau at an average elevation of 3,000 meters. In 2015, its population was 90,000 people and it represented 24 ethnic groups. The vast majority of residents, however, are Tibetan.

    Good lodging and great dining are easy to find in Zö. Want good entertainment? You’re in luck. Zö is home to the largest Tibetan opera theater in Gannan Prefecture. If you want to see professionals dance and sing in traditional Tibetan performances, make sure you go to the opera in town. It is open nightly, except in the winter season. Remarkably, the opera troupe from Zo performed in Israel in December 2017.

    Gannan Breakdown

    Gannan Tibet Autonomous Prefecture was founded in 1953 with seven counties and one city. Those counties are Lintan county ( Tibetan:ལིན་ཐན་རྫོང་།, Chinese:临潭县), Jonê county ( Tibetan:ཅོ་ནེ་རྫོང་།  Chinese: 卓尼县, Luqu county ( Tibetan:ཀླུ་ཆུ་རྫོང་། Chinese: Luqu 碌曲县), Maqu county ( Tibetan:རྨ་ཆུ་རྫོང་།, Chinese: 玛曲县), Tewo county( Tibetan: ཐེ་བོ་རྫོང་། Chinese: 迭部县)，Zhouqu county ( Tibetan: འབྲུག་ཆུ་རྫོང་། Chinese: 舟曲县), and Xiahe county ( Tibetan: བསང་ཆུ་རྫོང་། Chinese:夏河县) with Hezuo (Zö གཙོས་གྲོང་ཁྱེར) being the city. 

    Zö – Hezuo Century Square

    Right in the middle of the city, as in many other Chinese places, is a town square. Hezuo Century Square was built in 2000 and has become the cultural and communal heart of the city. People gather there in the morning for exercise. Local shows and other forms of entertainment pop up in the square from time to time. Most importantly, every evening at 7:00 pm people of all ages come to the square to dance the traditional Tibetan circle dance. Anyone can jump in.

    Milarepa Fame

    The famous Milarepa Temple towers above the main road toward Xiahe, about two kilometers from the bus station. Milarepa lived in the twelfth century and stands out among Tibet’s most famous Buddhist teachers (of the Kagyu tradition). The temple in his name was built in 1777. It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution but was rebuilt in 1988. Each of its nine floors displays many varieties of Buddhist statues, deities, and scriptures. Local Tibetans circumambulate the temple daily.

    Gansu Normal University for Nationalities is located in southwest Zo, about two kilometers from the center of the city. Founded in 1984, the university is renowned for its beauty. Presently, there are over 10,000 students and 700 faculty.

  • Norden Camp, Glamping in Amdo Tibet

    Norden Camp, Glamping in Amdo Tibet

    Glamping Is a Thing

    Glamping is a new word to the Oxford English Dictionary (as of 2016). Formed by the combination of the two words glamorous and camping, it describes a new breed of camping experience that blends the simplicity and back-to-earth elements of camping with all of the services, food and comfort more traditionally associated with 5-star luxury resorts. Norden Camp in the Amdo regions of Eastern Tibet is one of the places pioneering glamping in China. Norden Camp is a wonderful nomadic-styled, luxury glamping camp run by Norden Travel. It is located 20 minutes from the historic Tibetan city of Labrang (Xiahe in Chinese) in Eastern Tibet. Labrang is home to Labrang Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Norden Camp is nestled in the strikingly beautiful, rolling Sangke Grasslands, next to a small river that runs around the perimeter of the camp. Waking up to the gurgling sounds of the river and birds singing is a delight to your ears. Norden Camp is situated at 3200 meters in the heart of Amdo grasslands. It is open for 6 months from May to October, during the most beautiful season on the Tibet plateau.

    The Founders

    A friendly and capable nomad in Labrang, Amdo Tibet named Yidam is passionate about his community. He and his wife Dechen are model Tibetan entrepreneurs. In 2007, they started Norlha Textiles, which has become a thriving wool textile company creating beautiful clothing and accessories. They employ only Tibetan nomads and use sustainable business practices that support and enrich their communities. Years later, they started Norden Travel to show their beautiful land and culture to the world. With his hard work and family support, Yidam opened Nordam Camp in 2014. This peaceful and extravagant camp helps visitors experience the richness of Tibetan culture. It is a proud example of the Tibetan people’s respect for their community and their environment.

    Stylish Accommodations

    The accommodations at this camp are a variety of 2-person authentic yak wool nomad tents, a family yak wool tent, and log cabins. The 2-person nomad tents feature comfortable twin beds laden with sumptuous Norlha yak wool blankets and pillows, a cheery wood stove, wash basin and tea pot—all filled and fired up each evening and morning by the gracious Norden camp staff. Each tent has its own private compost toilet nearby. The bathhouse has 6 private, hot shower rooms. Lodging there includes all meals—breakfast, lunch and dinner. The resident chefs have all been trained in Western food preparation. The food is an exceptional mix of Tibetan and European cuisine, using all local, fresh ingredients and beautifully presented.

    You will find out the most stunning and innocent smile from their staff at the camp. They are so friendly and helpful. Most of the staff are from local nomad villages. For them, camp is not only place for working, but also for learning skills, such as, cooking, English, Chinese and mixology. In the evening, staff will perform Tibetan dance and songs around the camp for their guests.

    Norden Camp will be happy to help you arrange activities if you want to explore the area. You can visit the monastery, nomad families, Norlha Textiles or try your skill at Tibetan horse riding, bike riding and hiking. There is also a very nice gift shop of Norlha products next to the reception room. Buy some yak hair souvenirs for you and your friends. Norden Camp is a must-stay place if you are going to Amdo Tibetan region. Visit their site here: http://www.nordentravel.com/

  • T.Lhamo Studio

    T.Lhamo Studio

    Tashi Lhamo was the founder of T.Lhamo studio. She is a passionate and hardworking fashion designer who has a cool and cozy shop in Chengdu where she keeps herself busy designing and selling clothes to her customers.

    Tashi Lhamo was born into a nomadic family, in Hong Yuan County of the Ngawa Prefecture of the Sichuan province in 1989. At a very young age she found her interest in sketching, and she was often the only girl in her school who would take multiple awards in different sketching competitions.

    The founder of T. Lhamo Studio
    Tashi Lhamo: The founder of T. Lhamo Studio

    In 2009, she completed high school and enrolled in Pearl Academy of Fashion – one of the best design institutes in India. Although she was the only Tibetan in her class, she was always considered a bright and hardworking student, and on several occasions her professors even assigned her to work with senior students. During her 4th (and final) year, her portfolio was widely recognized as one of the best collections among her peers.

    In 2013, she had an opportunity to intern for two months in which she designed a collection for SAA in Chennai, India, and where she also got to work backstage at Cochin Fashion Week. In 2014, she also worked under a Chennai based designer, Karishma, for a short time.

    Inside T. Lhamo Studio
    Inside T. Lhamo Studio

    After studying, and getting further experience and skills, she decided to open her own fashion studio and brand in Chengdu where her dream of being a fashion designer and bringing Tibetan fashion to the world all began. Chengdu is the main gateway city to Tibet, so more and more young Tibetans are coming to Chengdu to study or run a business. Chengdu is also the biggest and most important city in Southwest China. Tashi opened T.Lhamo Studio on April 9th, 2016 with her confidence and passion brimming. In the same year, she successfully organized her first fashion show in Charu’s Co-Working Space in Chengdu.

    T. Lhamo Studio's product on Fall collection in 2016
    T. Lhamo Studio’s product on Fall collection in 2016

    Tashi’s products are unique and stunning, and with each piece you know there is a beautiful story behind the hands that made it. We hope Tashi Lhamo will achieve her dreams of bringing Tibetan fashion to the world stage. When you visit Chengdu, we gladly invite you to visit T.Lhamo Studio if you are interested in knowing about Tashi while also getting yourself a fashionable Tibetan dress.

    T. Lhamo Studio opened a new shop in Lhasa in 2019 and you can get her Tibetan products there.

    Lhasa T. Lhamo Studio  shop Address: 

    Cross the Yak hotel , No. 20 Beijing East Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa City.

    拉萨市城关区北京东路20号亚宾馆正对面

    Contact Info for Chengdu T. Lhamo Studio:

    Building A Unit 1, Rm 103 No .19 First Ring Southern Section 4, Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan,China.

    成都市武侯区一环路四段19号高升桥北街成都A 区5栋1单元103

    Phone：13730883502