Derong
County Seat Songmai
Derong county, located southwest of Sichuan, 1030km to Chengdu,
and 144km to Zhongdian, Yunnan province, Hengduan Mountain area.
The complex geological formations of the Hengduan Mountain Range
and of the plateau have given the area its unique geographical
features, characterized by range upon range of tall mountains and
deep valleys, numerous crossing rivers. Derong, in Tibetan, mean
gorge or canyon, the Yarlung Tsampo Grand Canyon. So, there are
serveral rivers such as Jinsha, Dingqu (Dingchu), Suoqu (Sochu),
Maye and Gangqu (Kanchu) within less than 3000sq kms,alt from1990M
to 5545M, county seat Songmai township 2420M, and with
its various attractives, different scene from one another. Song
& Dance style as: Xianzi in the north as in Palyu county,
Xueqiang in the south, the robust Nine-step Guozhuang, the Reba,
Zanie etc, all full of life and typically Tibetans.
Jinshajiang
Canyon (Sun Canyon) and the 1st Bend of Jinshajiang River.
Each river has its one attractive gorge and ravin, 10km to county
seat northern is the Feiniao Gorge (Bid-flying gorge) in the deep
valley of Dingchu river which flows through the entire county area
from the north to the south; and collect the waters from Mayi
river and Sochu river before into Jinshajiang river. From
there little down, the Jinshajiang river flows more abundant and
the valley more expansive, and sooner it relax a bit, and slows
down its pace and makes a horseshoe curve around the pyramid-like
peak of Rizhui. Jinshajiang Canyon and 1st Bend located between
Gyashul (Jiaxue) and Muyong village, 60km to county seat, its
deepest over 1000M
Mayi
Gorge & Momgou Valley Nature Reaerve
Mayi gorge is charming and graceful, no transportation to be there
but only horse riding. There are many lakes, waterfalls with
natural scenery and grassland.
Xiayong
(Shayong) Nature Reserve
40km to the county seat, and also to be there by horse
riding or trekking, located area around Sochu river after entering
Sochu Gorge. This fairyland holds 10 lakes, many snowy peak,
grassy marshlands, primitive forests, waterfalls, glaciers
and rare mountain animals with Tibetan wooden houses dotted
around. The famous and most attractive as: Burogatsong Snowy Peak,
Damenri (Tamshi) Holy Mountain, Cirencuo Holy Lake (Qirentso) with
length 1000M+ width 500M and alt 3900M, Cuolancuo Lake (Tsonantso)
alt 4000M and Yanggongcuo (Yamkongtso) alt 4100M, Yangliecuo (Yamnytso)
lake alt 4100M, Lanzirong with its mountains around
and a little lake, Langlong Valley about 10kms with its primitive
forests, Selazha (Seratsa) Limestone Caverns.
Gajin
(Kyachen) Snow Mountain
Located at the northwestern of and 40km to Songmai town, alt
4921M, and there are Front Gajin Mountain and Back Gajin Mountain,
between them is the grassland for Tibetan herding with its tent
dotted among the snowy mountains, forests, grass, and herds.
Wenjia
(Wingkya) Monastery and Holy Mountain.
Wenjia Mountain regarded as a holy place in Tibetan Buddhism,
legends say that there lees the golden key which can open the
gates of 108 holy shrines in the Tibetan-inhabited areas, the peak
about 4769M, and many prayers be there trekking round the holy
mountain for their pilgrimage. Wenjia monastery is built against a
limestone cavern half way up the mountain slope, probably the only
temple architecture of such design as it merged into this holy
mountain, with a spring in the cavern gushing all year round which
is believed to be sacred water and pilgrims drinking, watering for
the good fortune, in the stone cliff of the main temple are
hundreds of natural charaters as "Wen" in
Tibetan.
Longrong
Monastery.
One of the 13major monasteries of the Yellow sect in thd Kham
area, located in Rilong township, its featured wooden and clay
carvings with vivid Falun, figure etc, covers about 10 hectoares
and houses 500 monks with 10000 volumes of Buddhist scriptures.
and its affiliated monasteries more than 12. In the Tibetan New
Year, it holds the Sorcerers' Dance ceremony to drive away evil
spirits, eliminate disasters and pray for good fortune, many
Tibetans vome to attend the ceremony which goes on for three days
and nights. In day time devoted to watching the sorcerers' dance
and night time Gala parties with singing and dancing and lots of
drinking of wine with buttered tea.
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