Cities > Daocheng County
Overview
Chinese Name: 稻城县English Name: Daocheng County
Climatic Conditions: Continental monsoon plateau climate
Airport: Daocheng Yading Airport
Background
Daocheng County, under the jurisdiction of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, is located in the southwestern part of Sichuan Province, in the southern part of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It lies at the crossroads of two provinces (Sichuan and Yunnan) and five counties, situated between latitudes 27°58' to 29°30' and longitudes 99°56' to 100°36'. The region has a continental monsoon plateau climate, with indistinct seasons and a rainy season concentrated from June to September, covering a total area of 7,323 square kilometers. The southern part of the county features the Yading Scenic Area, known as the "soul of Shangri-La" and "the last pure land on the blue planet."Climate
Daocheng County is located in a subtropical region and is influenced by the complex terrain of the Tibetan Plateau, presenting characteristics of both Tibetan plateau climate and continental climate. Due to significant elevation differences within the area, features of the Hengduan Mountains are prominent, and various climates coexist including subtropical, temperate, cold temperate, and alpine climates. It has been said since ancient times that "one mountain has four seasons, and ten miles have different skies." The climate in Daocheng is complex and variable, with longer sunlight hours. Rainfall is concentrated, coinciding with heat; the rainy season is primarily from June to September. In 2021, the average annual temperature in Daocheng County was 6.8°C, and the total annual precipitation was 628.9 millimeters, which is 5% less than the historical average of 660.1 millimeters. The annual sunlight hours were 3,542.8 hours, which is 39% more than the historical average of 2,544.6 hours.Religious Culture
The predominant religion in Daocheng County is Tibetan Buddhism, with a variety of sects and numerous temples, mainly including the White Sect and Yellow Sect, as well as Flower Sect and Red Sect. The county has 13 temples, with Xiongdeng Monastery and Gongga Ridge Monastery being the most famous.Ethnic Dress
The Daocheng Tibetan people belong to the Kham Tibetan ethnic group, known for their luxurious and splendid attire. Both men and women adorn themselves from head to toe with decorations of different colors, shapes, and patterns, typically made from gold, silver, copper, agate, jade, coral, and pine ear stone. The Tibetan dresses from Daocheng give an impression of antiquity, solemnity, richness, and mystique.Hospitality Customs
Offering Khada: Offering Khada is the most common form of etiquette among the people of Daocheng, often used in greetings, gift-giving, worship, and daily interactions to express respect and congratulations.Prostration: The prostration ceremony is mainly seen in temples. When pilgrims visit temples or meet living Buddhas, believers demonstrate their loyalty and sincerity through prostration.
Offering Alcohol and Tea: The Tibetan people of Daocheng are warm, sincere, and hospitable towards relatives and friends.
Other Etiquette: Upon reuniting with long-lost friends, Daocheng inhabitants press their hands against their cheek affectionately; when encountering respected individuals, they drape their open sleeve over their shoulder and bow with arms outstretched or thumbs raised in salute; sticking out one’s tongue upon meeting is also considered a sign of respect; when friends embark on a long journey or arrive, they will hold their horses as a gesture of respect.
Marriage Customs
Before liberation, Daocheng County predominantly practiced monogamy, with a rare occurrence of polyandry or sister-sharing. Marriages typically required the consent of the bride's family and were infrequent. There were four forms of marriage: free marriage, arranged marriage, exchange marriage, and abduction marriage. After liberation, the county abolished arranged marriages and polygamy, allowing complete freedom of marriage.Famous Attractions
Yading Scenic Area: Located in Yading Village, Shangri-La Town, Daocheng County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, the Yading Scenic Area is primarily composed of three sacred mountains—Xian Nairi, Yala, and Xian Nuo Duoji—along with surrounding rivers, lakes, and alpine meadows. Due to its unique landforms and pristine natural beauty, it is referred to as the "soul of Shangri-La" and "the last Shangri-La," celebrated by international friends as "the last pure land on the blue planet." "Yading" means "the land of sunlight" in Tibetan. The three snow-capped peaks in the sanctuary—Xian Nairi, Yala, and Xian Nuo Duoji—run north-south in a triangular formation, collectively known as "Nianqing Gongga Ritsong Gongbu," signifying three sacred protector mountains that remain snow-covered all year round. In Tibetan Buddhism, they are referred to as the "Three Incarnation Snow Mountains," regarded as a sacred land by Tibetan people.Haizi Mountain National Nature Reserve: The largest ancient glacier relic in the Tibetan Plateau, known as the "Daocheng Ancient Ice Cap." The average elevation is 4,500 meters, featuring unique landscapes including stony rivers and lakes formed by gravel of various sizes. The main vegetation types include deciduous broadleaf forest, mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest, coniferous forest, shrubs, alpine grasslands, and stony alpine meadows. Key attractions include Mofangou, Xingyicuo, Rubuchaka Hot Springs, Sangdui Town, Bangpu Temple, Zhigong Temple, Xiongdeng Temple, and Zhalang Temple.
Zilong Characteristic Folk Culture Experience Village: Located in Zilong Village, Banghe Township, Daocheng County, this is a national 3A-level tourist attraction with unique natural and cultural resources, where Tibetan culture is prevalent. The Zimai Jingtang, which has over 600 years of history, is the main attraction, famous for the harmonious coexistence of two different sects (the Yellow Sect Gelugpa and the Flower Sect Sakya), a rare phenomenon in Tibetan regions, thus qualifying it as one of Daocheng Yading's "Five Wonders." The architecture features characteristics of ancient Daba style blended with royal architectural style. The walls are adorned with Tibetan murals of white pagodas and Buddha images, possessing high historical, cultural, and scientific value, making it a profound religious and cultural art venue.
Local Specialties
Butter Tea: Butter tea is made from butter and strong tea, usually consumed as a staple food together with tsampa. A suitable amount of butter is placed in a special bucket, seasoned with salt, then mixed with boiled strong tea using a wooden handle until it forms a creamy consistency. Butter tea is highly caloric, rich in flavor, refreshing, and effective in replenishing energy and alleviating altitude sickness. There are certain etiquettes in drinking butter tea among Tibetans, generally, it is consumed while adding more, not to be finished in one go, hence the guest's teacup is always kept full.Tsampa: Tsampa is a staple food for Tibetans. It is made by first drying and roasting highland barley (which has white and dark purple varieties), then grinding it into fine flour without removing the husk. The tsampa is placed in a bowl, and a bit of butter tea is added, and mixed with water until it forms a dough (the term "ba" refers to the act of forming it into a ball). Tsampa is easy to carry, suitable for nomadic lifestyles, requiring only a wooden bowl, a waist pouch, and a "Tanggu" (tsampa bag) along with some tea without needing to cook food. It can also be mixed with meat and wild vegetables to create a "porridge," known in Tibetan as "Tuba."
Highland Barley Wine: Known as "qiang" in Tibetan, highland barley wine is made from a major grain produced in the Tibetan Plateau—highland barley—divided into high-alcohol and low-alcohol varieties. Before brewing, high-quality, shiny kernels are selected, cleaned, soaked overnight, boiled for two hours in a large flat pan, and then drained. After cooling, a fermentation starter is sprinkled on the cooked barley and mixed thoroughly, and finally stored in a jar to seal. If the temperature is high, it can be ready for consumption in one to two days. Highland barley wine is highly nutritious, fragrant, smooth, and sweet, making it an essential beverage for the Tibetan people during festivals, weddings, childbirth, and welcoming friends and relatives.
Tibetan Fragrant Pig: Tibetan fragrant pigs, also known as ginseng pigs, are renowned for being "the highland breed." They have low fat content, thin skin, flavorful meat, and are nutritionally rich. The Tibetan fragrant pigs from Daocheng Yading are considered one of the excellent pig breeds.
