Zhugqu County 舟曲县

Setting and landscape

The county lies in the mountains of the southern Qinling, with the Min Mountains (岷山) running through it from northwest to southeast. Heights range from 1,173 metres to 4,504 metres: the Bailong valley floor is at about 1,200 metres, while peaks on either side pass 4,000 metres. The county government describes a classic high-mountain gorge landscape of steep slopes, thin soils and fast water, prone to debris flows and landslides.

History

In the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods the area was home to the Baima, Di and Qiang peoples, and a Qiangdao county (羌道县) was set up before the Qin. From the Song to the Republic the place was called Xigu (西固), and the Ming gazetteer of Gongchang (巩昌府志) lists eight views of Xigu. Xigu county moved to Tanchang (宕昌) in 1954, when Zhugqu County was formed; it was renamed Longdie (龙迭县) in 1958 and took back the Zhugqu name in 1962.

The county seat is the old Xigu walled town on an alluvial fan on the north bank of the Bailong, first walled in the Song and enlarged in the Ming; a 21-metre piece of wall survives at the west gate. The Guazan (瓜咱城) and Fengdie (峰迭古城) sites are Han-era or later walled towns on the river. At Shimen Gorge (石门沟), 20 kilometres southeast of the seat, a cliff inscription of 1052 (皇佑四年) records an inspection of the frontier passes, and a Song tomb there has painted walls.

What to see and eat

Lagashan (拉尕山), at an average of over 2,600 metres, was rated a national 4A scenic area in 2010. Daxiagou National Forest Park (大峡沟国家森林公园), on the southwestern edge of the county town, covers 4,968 hectares; its main valley, Mogou (磨沟), is 7.5 kilometres from town and the park has more than 20 waterfalls.

On the 19th day of the first lunar month the county town holds Yingpopo (迎婆婆, "welcoming the grandmothers"), a provincial intangible heritage festival said to date from the Sui dynasty, in which 16 statues of the Holy Mother are carried through the streets in decorated sedan chairs. A local staple is choufan (稠饭), a thick porridge of maize, soybean, pea or buckwheat flour eaten with pickled vegetables and chilli oil.

Highlights

• Lagashan 拉尕山: Mountain scenic area averaging over 2,600 m; national 4A scenic area since 2010.
• Daxiagou National Forest Park 大峡沟国家森林公园: 4,968-hectare park on the edge of the county town with more than 20 waterfalls.
• Yingpopo festival 正月十九迎婆婆: Provincial intangible heritage procession of 16 Holy Mother statues on the 19th of the first lunar month.
• Choufan 舟曲稠饭: Thick coarse-grain porridge of maize, bean, pea or buckwheat flour, eaten with pickles and chilli oil.