Langmusi

Langmusi Town is a town under jurisdiction of Luchu County of Gannan prefecture and Zoige County of Aba (Ngawa) Prefecture

The town of Langmusi is named after Langmusi monastery, which was built in 1748 AD. It is adjacent to Maqu County to west and Gahai Township to northwest.

Langmusi was also called Taktsang Lhamo in Tibetan. It is a small village on the border of Sichuan and Gansu provinces. Benefited by rapid developied tourism, it is now a large township.

A small stream flows through Langmusi Town. Although the small stream is less than 2 meters wide, however, it has a very grand name “White Dragon River”. It also translated as as ” White color river” in Tibetan. The north bank of the stream is Langmusi, and the south bank belongs to Zoige County

The province boundary is very clear on the map, however, the people of the two provinces live together and it is not easy to define which part is Gansu or Sichuan.

The part of Langmusi in the south of the river is administrated by Zoige county. The monastery on this side is called “Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Gompa” which was found by one of disciples of Tsongkhapa who came around 1413 AD. The current buildings were founded by the 53^rd throne holder of Ganden in 1748 AD.

The north of the river is administrated by Luqu county. The monastery on this side is called “Taktsang Lhamo Monastery” which is a branch of Drepung monastery in Lhasa, and has some impressive buildings, such as Protector Temple (Gonkhang) and the residence of Alak Chetsang. In the rare of this monastery, there is one Sky-funeral site above the monastery which is the only one that is allowed to visit. The red rock cliff is a landmark that leads the trail to this site,

Tibetan name of “Taktsang Lhamo” is usually called only “Lhamo” in short; “Taktsang” means “Tiger Nest” and “Lhamo” means “Fairy”in Tibetan. So that the complete meaning of this name is “Tiger Nest Fairy“. This toponym is widely spread and used in Amdo and with a long history.

Langmusi is indeed chinese pronunciation, “Langmu” is pronunciation of “Lhamo” in Chinese Pinyin, “Si” is Chinese with meaning of “temple” or “monastery”. Here, “Langmusi” means “Langmu Temple”

Best travel time From June to October

Local climate Plateau humid climate zone

Geography and climate

Langmusi Town is located in southeast of Luqu County, on the edge of Zoige Wetland on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, at the junction of Gansu and Sichuan, with an area of 571 square kilometers.

Langmusi Town is located in a high mountain valley with a gentle terrain. The terrain is divided into middle-high mountainous areas and mountain basins
area.

The highest altitude in this town is 3780 meters; the lowest altitude is at the main street of the town with 3302 meters above sea level

Average temperature in Langmusi Town is 1.2℃, average temperature in January is -9.1℃, and average temperature in July is 12.4℃. Annual average frost-free period is 54 days, the longest is 88 days, and the shortest is 19 days.

Annual average sunshine hours is 2396 hours, and the duration is 182 days above 0℃ (usually from April 12th to September 19th of the following year).

Average annual rainfall is 782 mm, and average annual rainfall days are 152 days. Rainfall is mostly in the months from May to September each year, with the most in July and August.

Population and ethnicity

As of 2018, the total population of Langmusi Town is 4,694, of which Tibetans account for 91% of total population. Other ethnic groups include Han, Hui, Miao, Salar, Dongxiang …etc,

Local culture

Tea is a necessity for the lives of Tibetans, but there was no tea-planting in Tibet; and Good horses were absolutely needed by the Ancient china warlord in hinterland during the ancient civil wars. Tibetan plateau provides a great number of good horses. So a trade of Tea and horse began. In 1047 AD, Song Dynasty (AD 960-AD 1279) officially set up a “Tea division” in Sichuan and a “Horse division” in South of Gansu in order to manage business of tea and horse trade. Hence, Langmusi became one important site on the ancient “Tea-Horse Trade route”

With the prosperity of commerce. In 4^th year of Emperor Tongzhi of Qing Dynasty (1865 AD), Hui merchants from Gansu and Ningxia provinces came here to do business,and settled here. Then after, more people including Islamic Hui, Dongxiang people, Salar people came here, and villages were gradually built up. A mosque was built at Langmusi in 1943. Now there are two mosques belongs to two difference sect of Islam

How to get Langmusi

The closest airport to Langmusi is Hongyuan airport, approximately 240 kilometers and 4.5 hours’ drive south of Langmusi.

Shuttles to Langmusi

From Hezuo to Langmusi, there are 3 buses a day,departing at 06:30, 07:20， 12:00 with rate RMB 50 per person

From Xiahe to Langmusi, there are 2 buses a day, departing at 06:40 am, 07:40 am with rate RMB 71.5 per person

From Lanzhou South Bus station, departing at 08:20 am with rate RMB 150 per person, Note, this bus would stop at a distance of 5 kilometers from Langmusi; It is recommended to get to Hezuo and then switch to another bus to Langmusi

From Zorge to Langmusi, there is one buse,departing at 14:30 pm with rate RMB 25 per person

From Jiuzhai valley, there is one bus, departing at 07:00 am with rate RMB 120 per person; Note, this bus is to go to Lanzhou that has one stop near Langmusi (approximately 5 kilometers)

Distance from Langmusi to

• Chengdu : 565 kilometers, about 9 hours’ drive
• Hongyuan Airport : 240 kilometers, about 4.5 hours’ drive
• Labrang monastery : 190 kilometers, about 3.5 hours’ drive
• Aba County: 255 kilometers, about 4.5 hours’ drive
• Huanglong: 268 kilometers, about 4.5 hours’ drive
• Lanzhou: 390 kilometers, about 5.5 hours’ drive
• Xining: 430 kilometers, about 7 hours’ drive