Zhuoni County, also known as “Cho-ne County” in Tibetan, is a county under Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province. It covers an area of 5694 square kilometers.
Location
The county seat is Liulin Town. Zhuoni County is located in southern Gansu province, in southeast of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, on eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is home to ethnic minorities with beautiful scenery.
Best travel time
From June to August
Local climate
Plateau continental climate
Most popular sites
Dayugou National Tourist Attraction is located in Dayugou, some 30 kilometers away from county seat with a total area of 10,5214 hectares and a forest coverage rate of over 90%. It is a relatively concentrated tourist resource in Gannan Prefecture, with high grade and representative scenic spots. Natural scenery integrating mountain, stone, water, and forest.
Cho-ne Gonchen is also called “Cho-ne Gonchen Ganden Shedrubling“. It is about half a kilometer northwest of Zhuoni County and was built in 1295 AD. As the oldest Tibetan Buddhism monastery in Amdo area, Cho-ne Gonchen is with history of more than 400 years longer than Labrang Monastery. In very beginning, it was Nyingma pa monastery, and then transfer to Sakya pa monastery, and finally converted to be a Gelug pa monastery; architecture of this monastery is typical Tibetan-Chinese combined style, and it holds more than 10,000 Buddhist scriptures.
Geography and climate
Zhuoni County is adjacent to Min County and Zhang County in east, Diebu County in south, Zoige County in Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province in southwest, Luchu County and Hezuo City of Gannan Prefecture in west, and Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture in north, and its central area is connected with Lintan County of Gannan Prefecture.
Zhuoni County is mostly hilly terrain which is high in southwest and low in northeast, tilting from southwest to northeast. There is only one main mountain range called “Xiqing Mountain”, which is western of Qinling Mountains. The highest peak is located on southern county border with an altitude of 4,920 meters. The lowest point is located in Eastern Zangbawa village with an altitude of 2,000 meters.
Zhuoni County is cold and humid, and four seasons are not distinct. Its climate is with short sunshine, small temperature difference, abundant and uneven precipitation, high land and many forests, and high humidity. Annual average temperature is 5.6℃, the highest temperature is 33.5℃, the lowest temperature is -19.2℃, annual precipitation is 487 mm, and frost-free period is 114 days.
Population and ethnic group
As of end of 2018, Zhuoni County has a total population of 110,700. Zhuoni County is a multi-ethnic settlement area dominated by Tibetans;
Brief History
During Neolithic period, it was Qiang tribes area
During Xia, Shang and Zhou periods, Zhuoni area belonged to Yongzhou region.
During Chun, Qiu and Warring States Period, Zhuoni area was a land of Qin dynasty.
In period of Emperor Wu of Western Han Dynasty, Zhuoni area was under jurisdiction of Longxi County
During period of Three Kingdoms, Zhuoni area belonged to Wei State,
During period of 16 Kingdoms, northeast of county was under jurisdiction of Lintao County, and northwest was occupied by Tuyuhun regime.
In Tang Dynasty, Zhuoni area was under jurisdiction of Longyou region
In 1st year of Emperor Suzong of Tang Dynasty (AD 758), Zhuoni area was governed by Tubo kingdom.
During Song Dynasty, it was taken back by central government
In Jin Dynasty, Zhuoni area was under the jurisdiction of Taozhou on Lintao counties.
In Yuan Dynasty, Zhuoni area was under jurisdiction of Do me (Amdo)
In te Ming Dynasty, huoni area was under jurisdiction of Taozhou Qianhusuo
In Qing Dynasty, Tusi(chieftain) system begun to rule this region, and it was under the jurisdiction of Taozhou Qianhusuo
In 26th year of Republic of China (1937), Zhuoni governance bureau was set up
In 33rd year of Republic of China (1944), the first non-tusi system of national administration began to be established in Zhuoni
In 1950, Zhuoni Autonomous Region Working Committee and Zhuoni Autonomous Region Administrative Committee were established, under Minxian Prefecture of Gansu Province.
In 1953, Zhuoni County was established, under Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Gansu Province.
In 1958, Zhuoni county was merged together with Lintan county to be Lintan County.
In 1961, Zhuoni County was restored.
