Dengqen County Overview
About Dengqen County
Dêngqên County, (Tibetan: སྟེང་ཆེན་རྫོང་ Chinese: 丁青县; Pinyin: Dīngqīng Xiàn) is situated in Chamdo Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region. It not only has excellent natural resources, but also has great transportation advantages and awesome cultural relics. For example, G 317 National Highway pass through it.
Administrative Division Code : 542129;
Post Code : 855700
Phone Area Code : 0895
The Prefix of Motor Vehicle License Plate : 藏B
The Prefix of Citizen Identity Card Number: 542125
Area Coverage: 11562 square kilometers;
Population : 84, 774 persons (by the end of 2014);
Dengqen County Climate
In Dêngqên, the climate is cold and temperate. The summers are much rainier than the winters in Dêngqên. The average annual temperature in Dêngqên is 4.1 °C. The rainfall here averages 633 mm. The warmest month of the year is July, with an average temperature of 12.9 °C. The lowest average temperatures in the year occur in January, when it is around -6.0 °C. The difference in precipitation between the driest month and the wettest month is 138 mm. The variation in temperatures throughout the year is 18.9 °C.
Dengqen County Attractions
Cultural relics of Dengqen County
▪ Zezhol Monastery（孜珠寺）is situated on the famous sacred Zezhol Mountain rising 4800 meters above sea level, at Dengqen County of Qamdo prefecture in Tibet. It is one of monasteries with highest elevation in Tibet, as well as one of oldest and most important monasteries of Tibetan Bon Religion, the oldest indigenous religion in Tibet. Zezhol Monastery boasts a history of over 3,000 years. It was then rebuilt by an eminent hierarch in 14th century when it began to take shape with scriptures and Buddha statues. Today it is presided by the 43rd Zezhol Living Buddha, the abbot of the monastery.
▪ Naizha Momani Stone Heaps（乃查莫玛尼堆）is one of the largest and most famous Mani Heaps in Tibet, which is located 30 km southeast of Dengqen County.
Natural Landscapes of Dengqen County
▪ Bujia Snow Mountain（布加雪山）, located in western Dengqen County, 180 km away from the county seat with an altitude of 6328 meters. Bujia Snow Mountain is the most famous Tibetan Bon religious land, and the highest mountain in east Tibet, which has a peculiar terrain features and different shapes looking from different directions.
▪ Butuo Lake（布托湖）is located about 25 km north of Dengqen County, and is a general term for the two alpine lakes, "butuocuoqing"（布托措青） and "butuocuoqiong"（布托措穷）, which are upstream of Lancang River（澜沧江）.
Dengqen County Festivals and Activities
Qamdo Folk Custom in Tibet – Dressing
Qamdo dressing is representative a regional culture and spirit. People in Qamdo Prefecture are called Kangba people. Men dress themselves very vigorous and unrestrained, bold and uninhibited. They prefer to wear long Tibetan knife, or other weapons. Their clothes are usually made of the silks and satins, cloth, and fabric, etc, and the edges are usually embroidered with otter's skin, tiger's skin, or leopard's skin, etc. Ladies dress themselves very graceful with as many gold and silver as possible, such as red coral earrings, coral, agate, and amber. They usually wear red coral which embroidered the silver and bronze on their forehead. It is said that the red coral was once wore by the imperial concubine of King Gesar. It looks very luxuriant and beautiful.
Qamdo Folk Custom in Tibet – Festival
Most of the festivals in Qamdo Prefecture are the same with other regions in Tibet Autonomous Region. But some festivals in Qamdo Prefecture are unique and distinctive. For example, the Shoton Festival and Wangkor Festivals are highly celebrated in Lhasa city and other regions in Tibet, but both of them are not available in Qamdo Prefecture.
With the age-old and profound history and tradition, Qamdo folk customs related to the business activities in Qamdo Prefecture are very popular and famous, such as Tsongqyue Festival. In 1326, one great master of Kagyu Sect appointed June 15th according to Tibetan calendar to celebrate the completion of the ancestral monastery of Kagyu Sect. The religious ceremonies were greatly held at that time. It is said that people would transact their business very successfully if they worship during Tsongqyue Festival. Therefore Tsongqyue Festival gradually became a very popular and splendid festival in Qamdo Prefecture in Tibet.
Qamdo Folk Custom in Tibet – Dance
Zhuo Dance
Qamdo "Zhuo Dance" is also called Qamdo "Guozhuang Dance". Qamdo "Guozhuang Dance" is showed by large numbers of people together. It is characteristic of the movements of the foot. It is the most welcomed dance in Qamdo Prefecture.
Tingqying Repa Dance
Tingqying Repa Dance is a comprehensive performance of speaking, singing, dancing, acrobatics and breathing technique. Wuto Repa Dance is most age-old dance in all the schools of Tingqying Repa Dance.
Mangkang Chord Dance
Mangkang Chord Dance is performed by many men and women together. A man will dance while play the urheen. The women will dance with the tune and chime in with men's songs together.
Qamdo Folk Custom in Tibet – Religion
Tibet Buddhism was greatly learned in Qamdo Prefecture since the 11th century. Before the introduction of Tibet Buddhism, Qamdo people mainly believed the natural deities. They thought that the deities exist everywhere in their life and fight with the devils for them. Hence they highly respected the deities and worship them very much.
Besides, people also believed the huge rocks, especially the white rock. They believed that the white rock is the essence of the snow mountain. They usually put the white stones on their roof, Manidui, or windowsill, etc.
Qamdo Folk Custom in Tibet – Taboos
The marmot was said to be the pet of the gnome's. Hence hunting the marmot is not allowed in Qamdo Prefecture. They do not eat dogs, monkeys, bears, and other animals which have the paws.
Dengqen County Specialties
The main specialties of dingqing county which are known for the traditional Chinese hebal medicines are cordyceps（虫草）, musk（麝香）, cartialgenous（鹿茸）, rheum officinale（大黄）, rhizoma anemarrhenae（知母） and all kinds of animal products.
Dengqen County Travel Tips
1. As well as the Tibet Entry Permit, you also need to apply for Border Permit for traveling as this destination lies near the Chinese territory boundary.
2. Owing to the long distance and circuitous route, it is better to head for the attraction in the early morning.
3.There are inns and restaurant, where you can have a rest and a bite to eat. you can also take a picnic if you like.
4. The best time to visit Dengqen County is May, June, September and October with the pleasant and lively weather, and we usually suggest that visitors travel to Dengqen County for 2 days.
5. As there is a large temperature gap between daytime and night, it is highly recommended to take along one or two pieces of thermal clothing.
6. High Altitude Precaution. Although Qamdo is at a relatively lower elevation area, some places of high elevation may easily cause altitude reaction. Better take some medicines for relief and keep warm all the time.
7. Prepare Food and Drinks. Since tourists have to spend 8 hours on travelling from Lhasa to Dengqen County, you are suggested to get some snacks, fruit and water ready before the long riding journey. Bring your warm cloths and rain gear is always a good idea if you go to Dengqen County in summer.
Dengqen County Transportation
By air
Qamdo Bangda Airport, also known as Bamda Airport, is located about 174 km from downtown Chamdo, about 3 hour’s drive. It is the world’s highest civil airport, has the longest airport runway, and is influenced by bad weather. At present, it has air connections to Lhasa and Chengdu (on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday). In addition, the flight from Lhasa to Chengdu departs Bangda Airport on Tuesday noon. The flight from Chengdu to Lahsa departs Bangda Airport on Thursday morning. Shuttle buses to the town are available. A taxi from the airport into the town costs around CNY250 to CNY300.
It is said to be very hard to buy an air ticket from Chengdu to Chamdo. Apart from buying via travel agency and at the ticket office of Civil Administrative of China in Chengdu, tourist can also buy at the Tibet Office Stationed in Chengdu (3 Hengjie, Wuhou Temple, Chengdu), or at the Chamdo Office Stationed in Chengdu (Chamdo Hotel, Chengdu).
By long-distance bus
Chamdoo can be reached by bus from Chengdu, Lhasa, Mangkang, Chayu, Nagqu, Nyingchi, Bowo and other places, vice verse. Then visitors can have a shuttle bus to Dengqen County.
Local transportation
- Public bus
Most of the public bus are midibus and charge CNY1.
- Car rental
A SUV charges normally CNY1000 per day and CNY1500 in peak tourist season, both excluding gas fee.
