Diebu County also known as “Tewo County“, means “thumb” in Tibetan , it is said to be a place where mountain god “pressed”. Diebu County is under jurisdiction of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
Location
It is located in western Qinling Mountains, in a valley between Minshan and Dieshan, and borders Zhuoni County in north, Zhouqu County in east, Min County of Dingxi City and Dangchang County of Longnan City in northeast, Zoige County and Jiuzhaigou County in southwest.
It has an area of 5108 square kilometers and a population of 56,400. The forest coverage rate is over 54%, and there are also giant pandas. At present, Gannan Prefecture and Diebu County are actively striving to list here as 14th nature reserve for giant pandas in China
Best travel time
From June to September
Local Climate
Temperate continental monsoon climate
Most popular sites
Nine Dragon valley, It is cut from Bailong River in geological tectonic movement for years that forming a majestic and majestic huge canyon. The cliffs on both sides of north and south are more than 800 meters in vertical height. The cliffs on both sides are only tens of meters wide and separated by Bailong River. The north bank belongs to Dieshan mountain range and south bank belongs to Minshan mountain range.
Ruins of ancient Diezhou City is located in Rannao Village, Dianga Township, its eastern suburbs of Diebu County, on platform on north bank of Bailong River. The city is about 1,000 meters long from east to west and 450 meters wide from north to south. Those walls were built according to terrain, city outline is irregular pentagonal, and an inner city is built in northeast of city.
Zhagana is a natural wonder with peculiar topography at southern foot of Dieshan Mountain. Zhagana means “in a stone box” in Tibetan, and its topography resembles a huge palace on a grand scale and a complete ancient city built of rocks. To its north, there is a majestic pinnacle of main ridge of Dieshan Mountain. Other three sides are surrounded by mountains covering by trees and bushes, which are like tall city walls, enclosing four villages and one temple in Zhagana. Among them, Dongwa Village and Sangla Monastery are located in center of small basin.
Geography and climate
Diebu County is 110 kilometers long from east to west and 75 kilometers wide from north to south. Its terrain is high in west and low in east, sloping from northwest to southeast
Bailong River traverses whole territory from west to east and divides mountains into two parts: north mountains are collectively called Dieshan, and south mountains are collectively called Minshan.
According to topography and geomorphology, Diebu County can be divided into three natural geographic regions with very different geographic landscapes.
Valley area along river in middle, altitude is from 1500 meters to 1800 meters above sea level, the lowest is 1500 meters. This region is main farmland distribution area.
Northern Area (Dieshan mountain) , with an altitude of 3,600 to 4,488 meters and a relative elevation difference of 1,500 to 1,900 meters.
Southern Area (Minshan Mountains), its terrain is high in south and low in north, with large undulations. The altitude is 2400m to 4100m, and relative height difference is 1000m-1700m. It is an eroded structural medium-high mountainous area.
Diebu County is located in transitional zone between continental climate and oceanic climate. Dry and wet seasons are distinct, and monsoon climate features are prominent. Precipitation is mostly concentrated in summer, with little wind and rain in spring, continuous rain in autumn, and there is no severe cold in winter and hot summer along river valley; The annual average temperature is between 8-11°C, the frost-free period is 147 days, and the precipitation is 634.6 mm, mostly from May to September.
Population and ethnic group
As of end of 2017, permanent population of Diebu County was 54,000. There are Tibetan, Hui and Mongolian ethnic groups in Diebu County. Among them, 36,000 are Tibetans, accounting for 72% of total population.
Brief History
During Xia and Shang dynasties, ancient Diezhou area belonged to Liangzhou area recorded in
In Western Han Dynasty, Wudu County was established, and eastern Diebu area was governed by Wudu.
In Eastern Han Dynasty, Diebu area was separated and belonged to different Qiang tribes.
In 6th year of Jianxing of Shu kingdom (AD 227), after Shu captured Wudu and Yinping County, Diebu area was then under jurisdiction of Shu kingdom. The main peak of Die Mountain in north became boundary mountain of Wei kingdom and Shu kingdom
In 1st year of Yanxing of Shu kingdom (AD 263), Diebu was occupied by Wei Kingdom
In Western Jin Dynasty, southern part of Diebu county was under jurisdiction of Yinping County (currently, Wen County).
During Eastern Jin Dynasty and 16 Kingdoms, Diebu area was under jurisdiction of Tuyuhun regime.
In Tang Dynasty, Diebu area was under jurisdiction of central government.
In 1st year of Baoying (AD 762), Diebu area were occupied by Tubo kingdom.
In Northern Song Dynasty, tribe leader “Rgyal Sras (AD 997 – 1065)” established a local regime in areas of Gansu and Qinghai, which was attached to Northern Song Dynasty. Diebu area was within its control.
In 2nd year of Kaixi (AD 1206) of Song dynasty, Diebu area was occupied by Jin regime
In AD 1236, Diebu area was occupied by Mongolian Khanate
In Yuan Dynasty, Diebu area was under jurisdiction of Do-Kham of Tubo kingdom
In 4th year of Hongwu of Ming Dynasty (AD 1371), Taozhou Qianhu were set up, Diebu area of south of Bailong River were under jurisdiction of Songpan county
In 13th year of Emperior Qianlong (AD 1748) of Qing Dynasty, Diebu area belonged to Gongchang Mansion
In 2nd year of Republic of China (AD 1913) Diebu area was under jurisdiction of Lintan County
In 1950, Diebu area belonged to Minxian Prefecture of Gansu Province.
In 1962, Diebu County was formally established,
