Barkham is also “Ma Er Kang” with elevation of 2,670 meters above sea level and running in a long stretch along the Suo-mo Rive. It is the capital of Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, lies 360 kilometers northwest of Chengdu, about 6 hours drive to cover this distance. It is an area rich in pasture land, forest and arable alpine valleys, with a cool temperate climate. Approximately more than 56,000 (2012 yr) people live in this county, most of them are Tibetan, the other people are Chinese Han people, Qiang People and Hui People;
The language here is almost unintelligible to the Amdo populations further north, and the Khampas to the west and south. Most of local women wear multi colored embroidered headscarf and elaborate belts and aprons. There are almost 40 monasteries in this county including Nyingma, Sakya Gelukpa (Jonang branch), and Bon traditions;
Most of the town is composed of administrative buildings and compounds, of which are mostly large high-rise concrete apartments. Villages around the township are still built in the traditional ways of 3-stories building that is made of stone and wood. Most of those are Jia-Rong architecture.
A small Gelukpa moastery overlooks the town that gives a perfect angle for a panorama view of the whole town; another Nyingma sect of Gyidruk Monastery is located on the high mountain on the southwest of the town, which takes about 2 and half hours to reach at, it offers a terrific view of the valley as well.
Barkham Hotels
Its accommodation supply is good to compare other regions of county as to be the capital of Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, the best hotel is 4 star hotel, and there are numerous hostel and guesthouse, the following below are the recommended hotels
How to get there
The closest airport to Barkham city is Hongyuan airport, approximately 128 kilometers Northeast,
By flight
Aba Hong Yuan Airport
Add: 48 kilometers from Hong Yuan county
Contact: +86 837 7735566
Airport code: AHJ
Altitude: 3,535 meter
By bus
Chengdu Cha Dian Zi long distance bus station
Add: No. 289, Section 5th, West Third ring road;
Jin-Niu district, Chengdu
Contact: +86 28 87506610
Altitude: 460 meter above sea level
Barkam Passenger Transport Center
Address : No. 213, Meigu Street
Phone : +86 837 282-5802
Working Hour : 06:00 am – 21:00 pm
Altitude : 2560 meters
Distance from Barkham to
- To Chengdu : 340 kilometers, about 6 hours’ drive
- To Langmu Si : 400 kilometers, about 6.5 hours’ drive
- To Labrang monastery : 580 kilometers, about 9.5 hours’ drive
- To Aba County: 250 kilometers, about 4.5 hours’ drive
- To Huanglong: 420 kilometers, about 8 hours’ drive
- To Garze (Kanze): 360 kilometers, about 6.5 hours’ drive
- To Serta: 280 kilometers, about 5.5 hours’ drive
