Karub District Overview
Overview of Karub District
Karub District (other spellings: Karuo District (after Chinese name), Kharro District (after THL transliteration of Tibetan)) is a district in Qamdo, the district is synonymous referred to as Chamdo, Qamdo, or Chengguan in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, and the seat of government of Qamdo. Karub has an area of 10,700 km² and a population of 78,000, of which 90% are Tibetan. The average temperature is 7.6 °C, with average temperatures of −2.3 °C in January and 16.3 °C in July. The average precipitation is 467 mm per year.
Popular with tourists are the Galden Jampaling Monastery in the capital and the salt mines and hot springs at Yangjing.
Highlights of Karub District
Galden Jampaling Monastery: Galden Jampaling Monastery was constructed between 1436 and 1444 by a disciple of Tsongkhapa, Jansem Sherab Zangpo. It is also known as the Changbalin or Qiangbalin Si Monastery.
Karub Ruins: Karub Ruin mean “cattle” in Tibetan dialect,has an elvevation of 3,100 meters and cover an area of 10,000 square meters. It's one of the three large primeval cultural ruins in Tibet and from the New Stone Age with a history of 4,000 years with a close relationship with the ancient culture of Yellow River Valley.
Qamdo Folk Custom in Tibet
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.
Special Local Product
Schizothorax Fish in Nujiang River(怒江裂腹鱼)
Schizothorax is a genus of cyprinid fish from Central and East Asia. Their scientific name means "cloven-breast".
Tibetan Pigs(藏乳猪)
Tibetan Pig is a must dish with a good taste to serve for guests.
Qamdo Drunk Pear(昌都醉梨)
The pear smells good, even you can’t taste its vinosity when you eat, but after a while you will be drunk, it is said that the god used pear rather than wine in order to greet the group of Wen Cheng princess, this is Qamdo drunk pear.
Tibetan Medicine – Qamdo Saussurea Involucrata
The Saussurea Involucrata is also named snow rabbit, snow lotus, thumb flower etc. It is the plant in Composite family. In Tibet, there are 83 kinds Saussureae plants with alpine plant characteristics. Among them, there are 30 kinds named Saussurea Involucrata. The Saussurea Involucrata is cespitose herb which stem is about 1cm to 30 cm. The stem is straight, with withered petiole on the base part. The leaves of Saussurea Involucrata is very dense and in the shapes of long circle or cochlear, with blunt apex and serrulate edge. The base part gradually becomes narrower and forms petiole. The bud is on the end of the stem, in the shape of wide tube. The bracts of the bud are ovate-lanceolate or linear-oblong. The apex of the bract is acute. The small flowers in the bud are amaranth, about 10mm long. The pappus is hazel. The achene is black, about 3cm to 4cm long.
Want to Know More about Qamdo Karub District !
There are few more things that you need to know that will make your travel more fascinating and smooth. Like in all other parts of Tibet, the temperature here is also close to 100 C and summers is the best time to plan a trip to Qamdo city. The city is the best place in entire Tibet to shop for traditional and modern clothing. Women and youngsters alike, are attracted a lot to these garment shops. Art lovers will find a paradise in Garma Town, which produces few of the most stunning thangka paintings. And for people more into sculptures, Chaidui Wendangang Village is the best spot for purchasing marvelous Buddha sculptures. The city is one of the most developed city in Tibet, so options for entertainment are also very vast. In the evening time, catch a live performance of the famous Repa dance in the Dingqen area which definitely is going to be excellent. The time required to cover the entire city is around 2 days without the nearby excursions. With them, at least keep aside 4 days.
How to Reach There
By Air
Chamdo Bangdad Airport, situated in Chengdu and at an altitude of 4300 m above sea level is the highest airport in the world. It has now started takes traffic from Lhasa airport. Qamdo town is around 128 km away from here that you can travel by road.
By Road
Road transportation is more preferred than air travel. Buses to all the major cities of Tibet originate from here. There is also a connection to cities of China and Nepal.
Local Transport
Taxis are the major mode of transport in the city. You can also avail the services of pedi-cabs that you might more suitable to explore the city.
