Gade County, also known as “Gabde County ” or “Gande County “, means good luck, peace and happiness in Tibetan. It is a county under jurisdiction of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. It is located in middle of Golog Tibetan Prefecture and on north bank of Yellow River. There are many Tibetan monasteries in Gande County. Both men and women wear braids, amber, agate, and pine otoliths as accessories. Local residents mainly eat meat, and “Fu” tea is local special drink.
There are wild animals living in this county such as deer, musk deer, snow leopard, lynx, bear, wild donkey, yellow sheep, rock sheep, snow cocks, etc. There are also monasteries built in Qing Dynasty. Murals and sculptures in those monasteries are exquisite in artistic modeling.
Best travel time From May to October
Local climate Plateau, continental semi-humid climate
Most popular sites
Banma Rentuo mountain is well-known for its towering mountains and flocks of stone sheep. It is located in east of Ganglong Township, its main peak is 4896 meters above sea level.
Guancang Gorge is 3 kilometers away from Banma Rentuo Mountain. The bottom of Guancang Canyon is 3400-3600 meters above sea level, and the canyon is about 4 kilometers long. Due to better natural conditions, primitive forest areas dominated by Qinghai spruce, Qilian juniper, birch and aspen are formed on hillside on its shore, and there are a large number of plateau wild animals inhabiting grassland and forests.
Lungkya Gompa located about 40 km from county seat, in Xiagongma village, it belongs Jonang sect, and affiliated to Dzamtang Tsangpa Gompa, being found in Qing dynasty
Tashi Choling monastery is located at entrance of Tashi Choling valley, about 75 kilometers away from county seat. It belongs to Jonang sect, and affiliated to Dzamtang chode
Trayaklung Gompa is the largest monastery in this couty, it is a branch of Lungkya Gompa with location in a side valley of Jiangqian county
Gade County Geography and Climate
Gade County is adjacent to Maqu County of Gansu Province in east, Darlag County and Jigzhi County in south, and Maqin County to west and north. Kequ Town, county seat, is 526 kilometers away from Xining.
Gade County is located in transition zone from alpine gorge to plateau surface of Qingnan Plateau. Amnye Marchen Mountain branch runs through central part from northwest to southeast, and its terrain slopes from northwest to southeast. Landform is alpine mountainous. The main rivers Dongkequ and Xikequ basins form two large valleys with flat and open terrain
Gade County is with an average annual temperature of -2°C and annual precipitation of 550 mm. It is windy all year round, the average wind speed is of 2.2 m/s, and there are many strong wind days that approximately 69 days of strong winds above level 8, and most of them are paroxysmal, especially in winter and spring. In summer and autumn, wind is relatively weak. Generally, wind is weak in morning and evening, and wind is strong in the afternoon.
Population and Ethinic Groups
As of 2012, Gande County had a population of 33,000, inhabiting 7 ethnic groups of Tibetan, Han, Mongolian, Salar, and Manchu. Among them, Tibetan account for 90% of total population.
Culture and Folk Custom
Tibetan in Gade County are mainly dressed in sheepskin materials, and both men and women wear Tibetan robes with large breasts, long sleeves, fat waist and no pockets. Men’s robes mentioned knees, and women’s robes were aligned with feet, and then tied with hemp or satin long belts. When work, baring right arm and hang right sleeve behind back. belongings are hold in arms, and wearing in daytime and using it as a cover in night, which is convenient and comfortable.
Both men and women of Gade keep braids, but most people have fluffy hair without braids. They like to wear knives, waist knives, and bullet bags. They have a delicately crafted scythe on front, rings on their fingers and big earrings. Women’s hair is combed into many small braids, which are wrapped around back belt with braid sleeves, amber jewelry is tied on braid sleeves, and there are also double braids. Necklaces made of coral, agate, and pine otoliths are worn on neck, and a silver saddle bridge ring is worn on hands, with turquoise and coral inlaid on them. There is a belt called “Chama” on waist. It is a belt made of red cowhide with width in the middle and narrow ends. It is decorated with several flower silver bubbles. Some of silver bubbles are embedded with red coral and are made of silver. belt buckle. Both men and women have a “Gawu” wearing on their chests, which is exquisite silver square amulet with scriptures inside, and some Buddha statues are painted on front of box to avoid evil and protect for safety.
Gade County Brief History
In ancient times, it was an area ruled by “Qiang” people.
In Tang Dynasty (AD 618－907), it belonged to “Jimozhou” and later belonged to Tubo kingdom.
In Yuan dynasty (AD 1271－1368), it belonged to Tubo kingdom
In Ming dynasty (AD 1368 – 1644), it belongs to Heshuote Mongolian regime
In Qing Dynasty (AD 1636 – 1912), it was under jurisdiction of Zhongguoluoke Thousand Households and Shangguoluoke Hundred Households
In Republic of China, a governing bureau was established, and it was revoked in 1946
In 1954, Gade County was officially established, under jurisdiction of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture
