Jiuzhai: Picturesque Fairyland
Updated: 2007-04-28 09:00
Mt. Siguniangshan and the Tibetan and Qiang Ethnic Customs
(Children at Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture by Fatty1219.)
Situated on the edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Mt. Siguniangshan (Four Maidens' Mountain) is noted for its unusually shaped landforms and abundant eco-environment plateau vegetation. The natural environment is extremely well preserved in the area and it offer ideal habitats for approximately 100 rare animals. Because of the vast quantities of raw natural resources, the area is praised by experts as being a "Gene Bank" of southwestern China.
As with all typical plateau climates, the best time of the year to visit is between May and October, when the average temperature is a comfortable 13 degrees centigrade. Mt. Siguniangshan consists of four snow covered mountains of more than 5,000 meters high and the Four Maiden's Mountain, standing at a height of 6,250 meters, is the tallest of the four. The four mountains stand shoulder by shoulder on the Northwestern Sichuan Plateau, attracting both Chinese and foreign mountain climbers. Because of the thick forests at the foot of the mountains, the verdant grasslands, and the murmuring streams, Mt. Siguniangshan has been called the "Alps of the Orient. "Indeed, traveling in the area certainly does bring to mind certain Alpine destinations of southern Europe.
The main tourist attractions are distributed along the several branches to the north of the Worihe River, to the south of the mountains. These include Shuangqiao Valley, Changping Valley and Haizi Valley, and each has its own charming characteristics. The whole of Shuangqiao Valley is accessible by tour bus, and tourists often visit this valley for a convenient nature sightseeing trip. In Changping Valley, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking and camping, whereas visiting Haizi Valley is for those with experience in adventure sports and mountaineering. The main Tibetan inhabitants cohabit with people of some several other ethnic groups, including Qiang, Hui and Yi, as well as Han people. Visitors here always appreciate taking in simple local ethnic customs.
