Jigzhi County, also known as “Jigdril County” in Tibetan, is under jurisdiction of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and one of animal husbandry production bases in Qinghai Province. It is located in east of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, southeast of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, at junction of Qinghai, Sichuan, and Gansu provinces.
It is adjacent to Aba County of Sichuan Province in southeast, Banma County in south, Darlag County in west, Its northwest is adjacent to Gade County and separated by Yellow River. Its northeast borders Maqu County of Gansu Province. The total area is 8757 square kilometers.
Jigzhi County has a long-standing Tibetan Buddhist culture. There are 11 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries in this county, including Nyingma, Jonang, Gelug sects. Among those, there are 7 Nyingma monasteries in this county, one of which is Baiyu monastery that is with a high reputation and a long history.
Best time to travel June, July, August, September, October
Local climate plateau continental climate
Most popular sites
Baiyu Monastery, also known as “Tarthang Monastery“, is an ancient Nyingma monastery of Tibetan Buddhism, located about 40 kilometers away from sacred site of Eighth Great Ascetic Department of Nianbao Yuze (Nyenpo Yurtse) Holy mountain. The land is a plateau with an altitude of about 3780 meters. Here comes green grass in spring, and gurgling water in autumn, legend has it that this place has reputation of three main practice sites of Manjusri, Vajra and Avalokiteshvara. Its terrain is very peculiar, like spitting rat spirit lying peacefully, it is really a land of auspiciousness where all fortunes gather.
Taklung Gompa is located along De-he-long-gou Majiu Highway in Kangsai Township, 6 kilometers east of Jiuzhi County. It is a monastery of Nyingma pa. It was built in 1865 AD that combines three schools of Gelug, Ningma and Jolong. In AD 1939, the branch of Gelug pa was moved to Ye-he-qiong valley in Mentang, and Nyingma and Jonang Sects still operated together as one temple. In 1950s, Kangsai tribe was divided into two townships, Kangsai and Mentang, so that this monastery was separated into two monasteries.
Nyenpo Yurtse National Geopark is with a total area of 2,238 square meters. Nyenpo Yurtse, also known as Guoluo Mountain, is located in eastern part of Banma County. It belongs to Bayan Har Mountain and is a sacred mountain in Golog Grassland. It is 40 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide. It is composed of countless peaks that are above 4000 meters above sea level. The main peak is 5,369 meters above sea level, with a glacier area of 7-8 square kilometers, and over 360 glacial lakes, all of which have different landscapes. According to legend, it is birthplace of different Golog tribes. (Due to ECO-protection, this national geopark is temporarily suspended from tourism)
Geography and Climate
Jigzhi County is about 136 kilometers long from east to west and 126 kilometers wide from north to south. It is located in eastern part of Qingnan Plateau, with overlapping mountains and undulating peaks.
The Nianbao Mountain of Bayan Har Mountains traverses whole territory. Southern part of the mountain are canyons mostly going from north to south, and northern part of the mountain is wide valleys and basins. Bayan Har Mountain stretches from northwest to southeast, and Nyenpo Yurtse Mountain traverses entire territory to form topographical framework of this county.
The terrain gradually decreases from south and northeast to northwest, and altitude is between 3568 meters and 5369 meters.
Jigzhi county has no four seasons throughout a year, only cold and warm seasons. The annual average temperature is 0.1℃, and the cold period below 0℃ lasts for 184 days, of which severe cold period below -10℃ reaches 131 days.
The annual sunshine hours are 2084-2510 hours, which is this region with least sunshine hours in Qinghai Province. The precipitation is abundant, with an average of 171 rainy days per year and a precipitation of 764.4 mm, which is the highest in Qinghai Province.
Population and Ethnic Groups
As of 2020, Jigzhi County has a population of 30,000, of which Tibetans account for more than 98% of total population, and herdsmen account for 87% of thetotal population. There are mainly Tibetan, Han, Hui, Mongolian, and Tu tribes.
Culture and Custom
Jiuzhi County has a long-standing Tibetan Buddhist culture. Amdo Tibetan clothing is traditional Tibetan clothing of this county. It has a wide collar, fat waist, long sleeves, long hem and no buttons.
Men and women like to wear sheepskin Tibetan robes. In terms of its texture, it is divided into lambskin Tibetan robes and old sheepskin Tibetan robes, but styles of this two Tibetan robes are basically same. There are obvious differences in trimming between male and female Tibetan robes. Generally, 7 old sheepskins or 40 lambskins are used to sew a medium-height Tibetan robe for men or women.
Jigzhi County Tibetan Festivals
Tibetan New Year Festival: The first day to 15th day of the first month of Tibetan calendar is Spring Festival of Tibetan people, commonly known as Tibetan New Year.
Worship of Padmasambhava Festival The first day to 10th day of third month of Tibetan calendar is anniversary of pass-away of Master Padmasambhava.
Mountain God Festival 4th day of 5th month of Tibetan calendar is Mountain God Festival. Tibetan regard mountain gods as local protector.
Horse-racing festival 7th month of Tibetan calendar is for Horse-racing.
Tsongkhapa’s anniversary: December 25th of Tibetan calendar is anniversary of pass-away of Tsongkhapa, the creator of Gelug pa.
Banish evil Festival 29th of 12th month of Tibetan calendar is Banish evil Festival.
Jigzhi County Brief History
In ancient times, it was Qiang people area.
It was part of Jimizhou of Tang Dynastyy, later belonged to Tubo kingdom.
In Song dynasty, it belonged to Tubo kingdom.
In Yuan dynasty, it belonged to Lu Xuan Mansion of Tubo kingdom
In Ming dynasty, it was under jurisdiction of ancient Kham
In Qing Dynasty, it was part of Songpan county, Sichuan Province.
In 1928, Qinghai Government was established by Republic of China, and at same time Administration of Jigzhi was established.
In 1955, Jiuzhi County was established officially
