Kangding is a small city located in the center of Sichuan province. Kangding was once a part of the tea horse road; its location is important as an unofficial border town where the Tibetan and Chinese worlds meet. Kangding was the capital of the province of Xikang, which was dissolved in 1955 and this former province of Xikang is what is now Ganzi prefecture, made up of nearly one million Kham Tibetans.
Kangding in history
Kangding is the subject of a famous love song in China. Jensen Liu, September 6 2010, says Kangding became a folk song in the 1930s and is based on the songwriter’s frustrated love life. Kangding was formerly known as Tachienlu, which is the Chinese translation of the Tibetan name Darzedo; this is sometimes abbreviated to Dardo. Kangding used to formerly be the kingdom of Chakla (kingdom of Chala).
Kangding is capital of Ganzi prefecture
Tibet can be classified into three general Tibetan areas: Amdo (Qinghai province), Central Tibet (TAR) and Kham Tibet (West Sichuan province). Kangding is an important center of Kham Tibet and Kham Tibetan culture. It is the capital of Ganzi prefecture and Tibetans from all over the Kham region come to Kangding for study, work, healthcare and travel.
Traveling to Kangding
Kangding now has a domestic airport, which can be flown to from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province. The alternate mode of travel to Kangding is public bus, which takes about seven to eight hours on a relatively good road. From here, you can travel to Tagong grasslands, to Shangri-La in Yunnan or to Litang, where there is an annual horse racing festival.
Things to do in Kangding
You can take a cable car to the top of Paoma Mountain. 50 renminbi will get you a ride on the cable car and another 50 renminbi will get you into see the monastery at the top of the mountain. Tagong grasslands are located approximately two hours away from Kangding where there are beautiful scenic nomadic grasslands and a small and interesting little village.
Mugecuo Lake in Kangding
Mugecuo Lake is about two hours away and you will need to hire a minivan and pay an entrance ticket. The lake is surrounded by natural forest, which make for interesting hikes. Nearby the lake are some nomadic encampments and the nomads are always willing to invite you in for a cup of yak butter tea. With Kangding at an altitude of 2600 meters (8530 feet) and Mugecuo Lake at 3700 meters (12140 feet), travelers need to be wary of altitude sickness.
Places of worship in Kangding
Kangding has historically had a lot of contact with the outside world. Protestant missionaries settled here in the late 1800s and early 1900s. A three-self Chinese government church can still be seen on the main road of Kangding and there is a mosque located at the south end of town. Being in a Tibetan area, there is of course, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the center of the town of Kangding.
Staying in Kangding
Kangding has some nice up market hotels, but for travelers that want a nice, clean affordable place to stay, there is none better than Zhilam guesthouse. This guesthouse is run by an American couple that keep the place in great order and make good western food. Zhilam guesthouse in Kangding offers clean bathrooms, Internet access and many other convenient services.
Kangding makes for a great spot to base yourself when traveling through the Kham Tibetan area of Ganzi prefecture. Whether you are traveling onto Shangri-La, to the horse racing festival in Litang or just experiencing life on the Tibetan plateau, Kangding is conveniently located and has many interesting things to do in, and around the town.
Sources:
Jensen, L. Kangding love song, accessed online February 2010.
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