The Most Familiar Stranger||Qiang Village

||Qiang Village. DieXi Haizi, it doesn't sound very famous, and it took me 4 or 5 times passing by to really get to know her. At the end of the year, once again passing in front of her, Gongsa felt a bit carsick, so we pulled over to let him get some fresh air, and that's when we discovered this inconspicuous yet jade-like Haizi. Thus, Gongsa's father began to tell the story about DieXi Haizi... Originally, this was a Haizi that swallowed a whole city. The place used to be called DieXi City, an ancient frontier fortress. It was a strategic pass from the Western Sichuan Plain to Songpan dry land and the communication fortress of Qinghai and Gansu, heavily guarded by troops through the dynasties. Later, it was merged into Mao County and renamed DieXi District, bustling with merchants and traders. However, after August 25, 1933, everything vanished. That day marked the historic 'China DieXi Earthquake.' With a magnitude of 7.5, the epicenter collapsed almost in a straight line within a few minutes of the violent shaking, annihilating DieXi City and the nearby 21 Qiang villages. Mountain peaks collapsed, the Min River was blocked, forming 11 barrier lakes. The destruction of the entire city was exchanged for the more than 3.5 million square meters, 12 kilometers long DieXi Haizi. The disaster destroyed a city, blocked a river, and turned into this string of plateau barrier lakes as compensation. DieXi Haizi mainly consists of two lakes, one large and one small, connected in series, resembling intestines but actually a section of the Min River's main stream. The lake is not wide but very long, surrounded by green mountains that blend with the water. This is the essential route from Chengdu to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, a gathering place for the Qiang people. Compared to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, DieXi Haizi is wilder and more majestic. It's like naturally embedded in the mountains, too peaceful, as if a green avenue stretches into the distance. This World Natural Heritage site can be both salty and sweet. At the mouth of the upper DieXi Haizi, there is a continuously erupting hot spring, never ceasing year-round. Nearby, there is a wide variety of plants, animals, and medicinal materials. In autumn, colorful flowers set against this green ribbon are overwhelmingly beautiful. After the rain clears, the lake surface sparkles, and in winter, the white lake is crystal clear like jade. Now it's February, very cold, and we didn't see the thin ice on DieXi Haizi, but the water is still as clear as jade. It's okay not to see it; coming here in winter is too challenging, experiencing what it means to shiver. After the sun sets, the temperature drops a lot, tonight it's minus 15 degrees. Generally, homes here, apart from the main house, have no heating, and we had trouble booking hotels because many of them had frozen pipes and were not available for stay. This kind of experience, once is enough! But the great beauty of Aba is not to be underestimated at every step, and the stories behind each scene are even more exciting and shocking. If you visit Aba, DieXi Haizi is well worth a look, and not far away is the Qiang Village City, rich in folk activities. The Qiang people's clothing is particularly colorful, and their houses are also very distinctive, like two chimneys, one high and one low, side by side. There's also the Wa'er Ozu Festival, which holds an important place in Qiang national culture and reflects the outline of Qiang culture more completely. Next to it is the rebuilt Mao County Qiang Ethnic Museum after the Wenchuan earthquake, recording the glorious agricultural and pastoral culture of one of China's oldest ethnic minorities, the Qiang people. Unfortunately, there are always many regrets. During the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, nearly 20,000 Qiang compatriots were lost, and the vibrant Qiang culture did not escape unscathed. It was not until 2012 that Qiang cultural relics, kept by other regions, gradually returned to their home. Mao County is the only county that has survived two major earthquakes, indicating that the Qiang people are a tough and resilient nation. The slogan in the museum reads: 'The Qiang nationality is a blood-donating nation, many ethnic groups have Qiang blood flowing in them!' Some say that the Qiang people are barbaric and cold-hearted, but my memory can never erase the sorrowful 'Why should the Qiang flute lament the willows.'

Inside the Ancient Qiang City in China

The Ancient Qiang City scenic spot in Mao County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, is a place that reflects the traditional culture and historical civilization of the Qiang people. Although it is called the Ancient Qiang City, the houses here are newly built, and the architectural style and craftsmanship also have a modern feel, while still retaining the basic characteristics of Qiang architecture, such as watchtowers and brick walls. The Ancient Qiang City has many rooms and a dense network of passages. It is said that in ancient times, the Qiang tribal fortresses were designed with many secret passages to defend against enemies and facilitate evacuation. The Ancient Qiang City is located in the county town of Mao County, with convenient transportation, and next to it is the Qiang Ethnic Museum.

The Qiang Nationality Museum of China

The Qiang Nationality Museum of China, located in the county town of Mao County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, features Qiang watchtowers as its main characteristic. The architecture under the blue sky and white clouds always appears magnificent. The museum has a collection of over 7,000 cultural relics. During the '5·12' Wenchuan earthquake, the museum building was damaged, and more than 1,000 items in the collection were destroyed. The rebuilt museum has become a national-level museum and a research center for Qiang culture. It is also the largest cultural facility constructed in the Aba Prefecture region since the post-disaster reconstruction. Next to the Qiang Nationality Museum is the cultural attraction of the Ancient Qiang City, and together they form a tourist route of Qiang culture.

Entrance to the Ancient Qiang City in China

The Ancient Qiang City is located in Mao County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, adjacent to the Chinese Qiang Ethnicity Museum. Aba Prefecture is the largest Qiang ethnic settlement in the country, where Qiang culture has been well preserved and passed down. The Ancient Qiang City is not a historical relic, but its architectural features and layout design are all completed according to Qiang traditions, with tall watchtowers visible from a great distance. At the entrance, Qiang ethnic performances are scheduled to welcome visitors into the sacred and solemn site of the Ancient Qiang City.

【Sichuan Maoxian ~ Ancient Qiang City of China】

⛰【Attractions Guide】 The Ancient Qiang City of China, a AAAA-level scenic spot, is located in Pingtou Village, Fengyi Town, Maoxian County, covering an area of more than 3,000 acres. It is mainly composed of the Chinese Qiang Nationality Museum, the Intangible Cultural Heritage Training Center, the Qiang King's Official Residence and other scenic spots and characteristic buildings. Apart from the first floor of the official residence, which displays some of the Qiang King's administrative functions, the rest of the structure and displays are no different from the daily life of the Qiang people. Re Jie Wa: means the public hall, where the local chieftain enforces the law and handles various criminal cases. Ju Kuo: means the money shop, where gold and silver currencies are exchanged and cashed. In the Qiang area, the money shop also has the function of pawn, which can barter goods. As well as the chieftain's bedroom, the daughter's boudoir, etc., the 1:1 restoration of the owner's life in it is very interesting. On the second floor corridor, the walls are full of various paintings and old photos, which vividly display various scenes of the Qiang people's sacrifices, family gatherings, weddings, farming, etc., which are very interesting. The third floor is Shiba Xiji, which means the hall that connects to the sky. It is a mysterious place where Shibi prays and performs rituals; it is also a place to display Shibi culture. The Ancient Qiang City theme hotel in the scenic area is built against the mountain, which is quite spectacular from a distance and has distinctive ethnic characteristics up close. Every morning at nine o'clock, there is a city gate opening ceremony in the scenic area, which is worth watching!

Gao Tie Maoxian Station|A day trip of eating, drinking, and playing under the snow mountain

|A day trip of eating, drinking, and playing under the snow mountain. In the busy urban life, I chose to escape and embarked on a journey to Maoxian. Maoxian, a mysterious place with a profound historical background and magnificent natural scenery, has healed my tired soul with its unique charm. But all the weather forecasts on the plateau are inaccurate, which is quite magical and unpredictable. The sudden 🌞 today is also a pleasant surprise. From Mianyang Gardening Mountain, it takes an hour to drive 🚗 to Jushui Town High-speed Railway Station in Anzhou District. Take the earliest high-speed train and arrive at Maoxian at about 11 o'clock in the morning. I took a yellow minibus into the county town. When it is full, it will go. Adults are 10/💰. It takes half an hour to enter the city. The driver directly pulled to a street where you can eat steak copper hot pot. The time is just right for lunch. There are many people on weekends and you have to queue up if you go late. After lunch, walk to the Ancient Qiang City. You need to cross the Fengyi Bridge (suspension bridge) to reach the opposite bank. The museum and the Ancient Qiang City are quite close and can be visited together. Then take a taxi to the city gate cave pedestrian street for a walk (starting price 6💰). The farmer's market is just across the street. Go through the underground tunnel. If you want to buy yak meat, it is recommended to go earlier. In the afternoon, only steak bones are left, 35💰 a catty. Apples 🍎 are sold all over the city, with prices of 2💰, 4💰, and 5💰, mainly depending on the size of the 🍎. Local specialty foods include potato cold noodles (glutinous rice cakes), 'Minxin noodle shop' on the left of the water alley makes it fresh every day, Qiang pickles, bacon fried wild mushrooms. Finally, there are yellow minibuses at the farmer's market 🉑 returning to the high-speed railway station. 🔚 A happy day is full and exciting!!!

The monkey skin hat and the sheepskin drum seem to be knocked down from the northwest along the Lancang River. The sound is endless, and the millennium is endless. Like other ancient peoples, the Dai peoples interpretation is also the sacred possession of the supreme mysterious power, such as watching the weather. Look at feng shui, the most amazing is to use a sweater needle to pierce the two still do not hurt, do not bleed to continue dancing.