Darlag County, also known as “Dari County “, is located in southern part of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture at junction of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai.
Location
It borders Jigzhi County to east, Banma County to southeast, Sertar County of Sichuan Province to south, Sershul County of Sichuan Province to southwest, Madoi County to the northwest, and Maqen and Gade County to north across the Yellow River.
Darlag County is in core area of Source of Three Rivers Nature Reserve. It is second county at source of Yellow River. It is also a distribution center for important commodities and Chinese and Tibetan medicinal materials in Golog Prefecture, and an important transportation hub at junction of Qinghai and Sichuan.
Best time to travel
From May to November
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 seat of King Gesar’s Palace. The monastery faces river beach and Back to mountains. The huge celestial burial ground is on its right side. It is the largest Nyingma pa sect monastery in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, and it is a 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
Golog 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 peaceful liberation of Golog on August 4th; the base of 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 Golog 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 establishment of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Region in January 1954.
Geography and Climate
Darlag County is located in southeast of Qinghai Province on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with size of 16,466 square kilometers; Its landform belongs to Bayan Har Mountains. The county is 162 kilometers long from east to west and 126 kilometers wide from north to south. It has an average elevation of over 4,200 meters, and 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 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 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.
Local 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 Qin and Han Dynasties, it belonged to an area of Xiqiang tribe
After Southern and Northern Dynasties, it was a herding land for Dangxiang of Qiang people;
In Zhenguan period of Tang dynasty (AD 627 – 649), It was part of Jimizhou area
In Tang Dynasty (AD 649 – 683), Tubo dynasty annexed Dangxiang tribes, then Darlag became a part of Tubo kingdom
In Yuan Dynasty (AD 1271 – 1368), it was under jurisdiction of ancient Kham;
In Ming Dynasty (AD 1368 – 1644), it was under jurisdiction of ancient Kham,
In late Ming and early Qing dynasties, part of Darlag — “Darlag Kesong” (Sanda Ri) was under jurisdiction of Heshuote Mongolian Right-wing;
In 60th year of Kangxi of Qing Dynasty (AD 1721), central goverment granted title of this county, which was called “Wang Qing Nine Clan”;
In 18th year of Republic of China (1929), Darlag was under 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
