The full name of Huzhu County is Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, which also known as “Gonlung County” in Tibetan. Huzhu County is located in the northeast of Qinghai Province and it is the only Tu people autonomous county in China. The sleeves of the Tu women’s clothes are made of red, yellow, black, green, white and other colors, just like the rainbow in the sky. Therefore, Huzhu County is regarded as the “hometown of the rainbow”.
Huzhu County is adjacent to Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County and Yongdeng County in Gansu Province to the northeast, Ledu District to the southeast, the Ping’an District across the Huangshui River in the south, Datong County to the west, and Xining City to the southwest.
The county is about 64 kilometers wide from north to south, 86 kilometers long from east to west, with a total area of 34,249 square kilometers. The county seat is Weiyuan Town, about 40 kilometers away from Xining City
Best time to travel All seasons
Local climate Temperate continental climate, drought and less rain
Most popular sites
Beishan National Forest Park is located in the northeast of Huzhu Tuzu Autonomous County, Qinghai Province, with an altitude of 2100-4308 meters and a total area of 1127 square kilometers.
Baimasi monastery is also known as “Kanchen Gonpa”. It was founded in 1654 (the Second Propagation of Tibetan Buddhism) and it is located in Baimasi Village, Hongyazigou Township. In 1959, it was listed as a provincial cultural relic protection unit. With a total area of 4,516 square meters, the whole temple is composed of assembbly hall, monk’s dormitory, grottoes, statues of Vajra Buddha, and large stupas in the cliffs of the mountains. It was destroyed three times after the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China, and the Cultural Revolution. It was reopened in August, 1980.
Youning monastery, also known as “Gonlung Jampaling”, is 35 kilometers east of Weiyuan Town. Founded in 1604, it originally governed 49 monasteries and gompas, with more than 20 living Buddhas. During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Youning monastery reached its heyday. There were more than 2,000 courtyards including large and small halls, monk’s dormitory,and Angqian, and more than 7,000 monks. It also has four colleges: Exotoric Buddhism, Esoteric Buddhism , Kalachakra, and Medical. It is one of the most well-known Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in Amdo.
Quezang monastery, also known as “Chubzang Ganden Migyurling”, was built in the sixth year of Emperor Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1649). Temple Lord II, the living Buddha of Quezang monastery was one of the earliest Hutuktu edicts in Qinghai’s religious circles.
Wufeng Temple was built in the fifteenth year of Emperor Chongzhen in Ming Dynasty (1642). It is a Chinese classical temple building and belongs to Taoism
Geography and climate
There are no lakes in Huzhu Tu Autonomous County, and there are 8 natural rivers, all belonging to the Yellow River Basin and Huangshui River System, with a total length of 2,895 kilometers. The Qingshiling of the Daban Mountain Range runs through the entire territory from northwest to southeast, dividing the county into two parts. The terrain unit is generally called Beishan or Houshan as the Tibetan townships of Baza and Jiading; the southwest part of Qingshiling is collectively called Qianshan.
The southern end of the county is the Huangshui River Valley Basin at an altitude of more than 2,100 meters. To the north, there are hills and mid-high mountains at an altitude of 2400-3500 meters. In the north-central area, there are the Longwang Mountain, Xianmi Daban Mountain and Dongyan Mountain at an altitude of 4242-4374 meters. The height difference is 2274 meters.
Huzhu County is affected by the Siberian monsoon and cold current in winter, and the southeast coastal typhoon in summer. The annual average temperature is 5.8℃, the extreme maximum temperature is 30.3℃, and the extreme minimum temperature is -26.9℃;
Population and ethic groups
As of 2011, the total population of Huzhu Tu Autonomous County was 370,000, mainly Han people, of which Tu people accounted for about 17% of the total population, as well as Tibetan, Hui, Mongolian, Manchu, Korean, Dongxiang, Bai, Uygur , Zhuang, Miao, etc.
Brief history
In 221 BC, Qin Dynasty unified ancient China, Huzhu area was under the jurisdiction of the Qin Dynasty
In 121 BC, Huzhu area was under the jurisdiction of Linqiang County.
Around 210 AD, Huzhu area belongs to Xiping County
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Huzhu area was under the jurisdiction of Shanzhou
During the Sui Dynasty, Xiping County was restored and Huzhu area was under the jurisdiction of Xiping County.
In the 23rd year of Emperor Taizong of Tang Dynasty (649 AD), Tang Dynasty set up the Dudu Mansion of Shanzhou. Huzhu area was under the jurisdiction of Shanzhou Dudu.
In AD 1104, Shanzhou was changed to Xining Prefecture. Huzhu area belonged to Xining Prefecture.
During the Yuan Dynasty, Huzhu area was still under the jurisdiction of Xining Prefecture.
During the Ming Dynasty, Xining Prefecture was changed to Xiningwei. Huzhu area was subordinate to Xiningwei.
In the Qing Dynasty, Xiningwei was changed to Xiningfu. Huzhu area was under Xining Prefecture
In the 2nd year of the Republic of China (1913), Huzhu area belonged to Xining Dao, Gansu Province.
In the 18th year of the Republic of China (1929), Qinghai was formally established as a province, and Huzhu area was subordinate to Xining County.
In the 19th year of the Republic of China (1930), Huzhu County was officially established , and it was directly under the jurisdiction of Qinghai Provincial Government.
From 1960 to August 1961, Huzhu County was under the jurisdiction of Xining City.
From 1961 to 1978, Huzhu County was a county directly under the jurisdiction of Qinghai Province.
In 1978, Huzhu County was under the administration of Haidong city, till now
