Jinchuan County, formerly known as “Jinghua County“, is called “Chuchen County” in Tibetan, which means the shore of the big river. It is a county under jurisdiction of Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture
Jinchuan County has a pleasant climate. It is one of the most suitable areas for growing fruit such as pear, apple, pepper, walnut…etc,.
Every spring, blooming pear flower turn the entire county into a sea of flowers, which is very beautiful.
Location
Jinchuan Town, the county seat, is 2165 meters above sea level, about 487 kilometers away from provincial capital Chengdu, and 92 kilometers away from Barkham, where prefecture capital is located.
It borders Xiaojin County to east, Dawu County and Danba County in Garze Prefecture to southwest, Zamthang County to northwest, and Barkham City to northeast.
Best time to travel
From May to October
Local climate
Continental plateau climate
Most popular sites
Guang Fa Temple
Also known as “Tenpel Gonpa” in Tibetan, was a Bon religion monastery with name of “Yungdrung Lhateng“. It is located in Momozha Village about 33 kilometers away from Jinchuan Town (also “Rabden town“). It covers an area of 3107 square meters. According to historical records, it was built around the 2nd second century and became one of the most popular Bon religion sites in the eastern Tibet of Kham and Amdo
In 1776, after the 2nd Battle of Jinchuan, Qing Dynasty forcibly abolished Bon religion, and had this monastery converted to Gelug pa, and renamed it as “Guang Fa Temple”. It became one of the 4 great Royal monastery of Qing dynasty
Guanyinqiao Scenic Area
It covers an area of more than 300 square kilometers, with a maximum elevation of 5,300 meters. Here, there are Five major landscapes and 36 scenic spots, including Tibetan temples, alpine meadows, plateau lakes, alpine valleys, and plateau color forests. In 2012, Guanyinqiao Scenic Area has successfully been declared to become a national 4A level scenic spot.
Guanyinqiao Town is a traffic hub connecting Aba, Serta, Qinghai Province and Labrang monastery in Gansu and other places. The Hotel accommodation business in this town is very developed, and almost all the towns are hotels or inns.
Guanyin Temple (Bodhisattva Temple)
It is one of the core scenic spots. It is named after the four-arms Guanyin in the temple which with history of more than 1,300 years. Legend tells that in the 7th century AD, a naturally-formed, four-arms Guanyin was discovered underground. People firmly believe that this is a naturally formed god, so it is called Tian-cheng Guanyin, and built a temple to worship. Here, Tian-Cheng means formed by nature. The Guanyin Temple in this town is regarded as one holy place and one of the three major Bodhisattva Dojos in China.
“Pear”scenic area
The “pear” planting area in Jinchuan River Valley stretches over a hundred kilometers along the Dadu River, reaching more than 100,000 plants. Every spring is the best period for viewing pear flower. When it blossoms, the river valley shall be covered with snow-white pear blossoms, the roads in and out of the county are all through the snow-pear flowers.
Sha’er Township is 4.7 kilometers away from Jinchuan County. It consists of many beautiful Tibetan villages which are all on the mountains. The winding roads connect all the Tibetan villages together. This county is regarded as the best site for view the snow-pear flowers in Spring in Jinchuan County
The flowering period of Jinchuan’s Snow-pear is about two weeks, in addition, there is another great nature view of “The Red Leaves” in October. In autumn, the red leaves that stretch for dozens of kilometers dyes the whole Jinchuan River Valley to be red
Geography and climate
Jinchuan County is located in Northwestern Sichuan Plateau, southwest of Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, on the eastern edge of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the upper reaches of Dadu River, covering an area of 5550 square kilometers.
The elevation of Jinchuan County is between 1950 meters and 5000 meters, with an average elevation of 2180 meters. The terrain slopes from northwest to southeast.
The northwest part of Jinchuan is mountain plateau with an altitude of about 4,000 meters. The mountain is gentle and lush, it is a natural pasture and animal husbandry area.
The alluvial stepped terraces on both sides of the valley in southeast of Jinchuan county are agricultural land, and there are also cultivated land distributed on the gentle slope of the mountain, which is an agricultural area as well
Jinchuan County is rich in forest resources, with an area of 253,300 hectares of forest land, a forest coverage rate of 47%, and a timber stock volume of more than 12.91 million cubic meters.
Jinchuan County has a lot of sunny weather, large temperature difference between day and night, and dry climate in the valley area.
There is no severe cold in winter and scorching heat in summer, and the climate is mild throughout the year.
Average annual temperature is 12.8℃, average annual sunshine reaches 2435 hours, average annual precipitation is 616 mm, and average annual frost-free period is 184 days.
Population and ethnicity
As of 2016, Jinchuan County has a total population of 72,400, of which Tibetan population accounts for 75% of total population. Other ethnic groups include Qiang, Hui, Han， Miao, Bai people…etc,
How to get Jinchuan County
Jinchuan county is located in the valleys of Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, the closest airport is Kangding airport.
Despite Kangding airport is close to this town, the most chosen transportation of local people is still by vehicle overland to the provincial capital of Chengdu, from which to get to other cities by flight
Kangding Airport
Contact: +86 836 282 7811
IATA Code: KGT
Altitude: 4,238 meters
Chengdu Xin Nan Men Bus station
Add: No. 2, Xin Nan Road
Contact: +86 28 8543-3609
Altitude: 460 meter
Distance from Jinchuan to
- Xinduqiao : 240 kilometers, about 5.5 hours’ drive
- Kangding : 240 kilometers, about 6.5 hours’ drive
- Barkham : 89 kilometers, about 2 hours’ drive
- Kangding Airport : 285 kilometers, about 6.5 hours’ drive
- Dawu county : 254 kilometers, about 6 hours’ drive
- Danba : 95 kilometers, about 2.5 hours’ drive
- Chengdu : 430 kilometers, about 8 hours’ drive
- Litang County : 440 kilometers, about 9.5 hours’ drive
- Zamtang County : 210 kilometers, about 5 hours’ drive
- Sertar County : 290 kilometers, about 6 hours’ drive
Brief history
In Sui Dynasty (AD 581-AD 618), An administrative authority was set up in Jinchuan area
In Tang Dynasty (618 AD-907 AD), Chieftain system of Jinchuan Region was set up
In the middle of Tang Dynasty (618 AD-907 AD), Tubo Kingdom occupied Bailan Area (Jiarong tibetan area) which include Jinchuan, Xiaojin, Barkham, and Garze prefecture
In 14th year of Emperor Qianlong of Qing Dynasty (AD 1749), Gaitu Guiliu was implanted in Jinchuan area
Gaitu Guiliu, also known as “conversion of chieftain system” or “conversion of abandoning chieftain system”, refers to abolition of chieftain who originally ruled ethnic minorities. Instead, officials appointed by the central government. It began in Emperor Yongle’s period at the beginning of Ming Dynasty and was implemented on a large scale during Emperor Yongzheng’s period of Qing Dynasty.
In 25th year of Republic of China (1936), Jinghua County was set up, which means “Comfort, peace, naturalization”, which contains the hope for peace and stability in this area.
In 1950, It was still called “Jinghua County”
In 1953, it was subordinate to Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province and was renamed “Large Jinchuan County”
In 1959, “Large Jinchuan County” was ablokished, and Jinchuan County was estabished
In 1955, “Aba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” was established, Jinchuan County was under its jurisdiction
In 1987, “Aba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture”was ablokished, and “Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture” was established, then Jinchuan County was under its jurisdiction
