Darlag County, also known as “Dari County “, is located in the southern part of the Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture at the junction of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai. It borders Jigzhi County to the east, Banma County to the southeast, Sertar County of Sichuan Province to the south, Sershul County of Sichuan Province to the southwest, Madoi County to the northwest, and Maqen and Gade County to the north across the Yellow River. The total area of the county is 16,466 square kilometers;
Darlag County is in the core area of the Source area of Three Rivers’ Nature Reserve. It is the second county at the source of the Yellow River. It is also a distribution center for important commodities and Chinese and Tibetan medicinal materials in Guoluo Prefecture, and an important transportation hub at the junction of Qinghai and Sichuan.
Best time to travel June, July, August and September
Local climate Alpine semi-humid climate
Most popular sites
Chalang monastery, also known as “Traling Monastery” in Tibetan, is located in Meishanahe Village of Jianshe Township, approximately 19 kilometers northwest away from Darlag county. According to legend, it was the seat of King Gesar’s Palace. The monastery faces the river beach and Back to the mountains. The huge celestial burial ground is on its right side. It is the largest Nyingma pa sect monastery in Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and it is the sub-monastery of Katok monastery in Pelyul county of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. It was built in 1895 and was founded by Langzhibanma Rangdohe Gyatso. It was originally a tent monastery. In 1913, the construction of a civil-wood structure monk’s house began. In 1920, A sutra-lecturing hall was established
The Guoluo Peaceful Liberation Monument, which started construction in 2008, occupies a total area of 70.56 square meters and the monument is 8.4 meters high, symbolizing the peaceful liberation of Guoluo on August 4; the base of the monument is 2.15 meters high, 8.4 meters wide, and 8.4 meters long. There are three peace doves on the monument.
Guoluo Jianzheng Monument The total height of the Guoluo Jianzheng Monument is 8.66 meters, the base height is 1.35 meters, the middle base is 1.9 meters high, and the main sculpture is 5.41 meters high, symbolizing the establishment of the Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Region in January 1954.
Geography and Climate
Darlag County is located in the southeast of Qinghai Province on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the landform belongs to the Bayan Har Mountains. The county is 162 kilometers long from east to west and 126 kilometers wide from north to south. The county has an average elevation of over 4,200 meters, and the county site of Jimai Town is 3970 meters above sea level.
Darlag County has an alpine and semi-humid climate, with no obvious four seasons, only the difference between cold and warm, and no absolute frost-free period. The cold monsoon has a lot of heavy snow, the climate is cold, lasting 7-8 months, and there are many wind and snow disasters; the warm season has a humid climate, lasting 4-5 months. The highest temperature is 23.2℃, the lowest temperature is -34℃, the annual average temperature is -0.5℃, the temperature difference between day and night is 15-25℃, the average annual precipitation is 595mm, and the average annual evaporation is 1205.9mm. It is one of the “Three Rivers” natural ecological protection and management areas.
Population and Ethnic Groups
As of 2013, Darlag County has a total population of more than 30,000, of which more than 95% are Tibetans. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, a small number of Mongols lived scattered and gradually merged into Tibetans. After 1949, some Chinese Han, Hui, Mongolian, Salar, and Tu nationalities were successively transferred.
Tibetan Religion
There are about 10 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Darlag County, including 8 Nyingma sect and 2 Gelug sect; approximately over 1700 monks;
Brief History
In the Qin and Han Dynasties, it belonged to the area of Xiqiang tribe
After the Southern and Northern Dynasties, it was a herding land for the Dangxiang of Qiang people;
In Zhenguan period of Tang dynasty (AD 627 – 649), It was part of Jimizhou area
In the reign of Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty (AD 649 – 683), Tubo dynasty annexed the Dangxiang tribes, then Darlag became a part of Tubo kingdom
In the Yuan Dynasty (AD 1271 – 1368), it was under the jurisdiction of the ancient Kham;
In the Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 – 1644), it was under the jurisdiction of the ancient Kham,
In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, part of Darlag — the “Darlag Kesong” (Sanda Ri) was under the jurisdiction of Heshuote Mongolian Right-wing;
In the 60th year of Kangxi in the Qing Dynasty (AD 1721), the central dynasty granted the title of this county, which was called “Wang Qing Nine Clan”;
In the eighteenth year of the Republic of China (1929), Darlag was under the jurisdiction of Qinghai Province after its establishment;
In 1949, there were 12 large tribes and more than 50 small tribes living in Darlag County;
In 1954, Darlag County was officially established
