With its stunning landscape and distinctive ethnic culture, Jiuzhaigou, a sanctuary where nature and culture entwine in the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province, draws innumerable tourists. Jiuzhaigou presents a fantastic chance for Americans to thoroughly explore China’s rich culture, not only a place to relax far from the busy city. This is a thorough instruction on how to enjoy Jiuzhaigou’s local way of life.
I. Appreciating Jiuzhaigou’s background and cultural context
From the Neolithic era, thousands of years ago, Jiuzhaigou’s history begins with evidence of human activity going back to over 7,000 BC. Jiuzhaigou gets its name from the nine Tibetan settlements inside the ditch, which combined with their surrounding natural surroundings monitor one another and provide the special appeal of this enchanted country. Apart from being a residence for the Tibetan and Qiang peoples, Jiuzhaigou is a significant site of Taoist activity hiding numerous old Taoist temples and the remains of monks.
II.Take part in conventional dancing and music events.
Jiuzhaigou boasts a rich intangible cultural legacy, most famously the “Zhou Dance,” (12-phase mask dance). One of the national intangible cultural heritages, this dance is a traditional one of the Baima Tibetans that reflects their respect of the environment and their conviction that spirits reside in everything. The Baima Tibetans will engage in rituals to honor the gods of nature on the fifth day of the first lunar month; among them the “Mask Dance” is especially significant. Visitors can engage in these events and personally discover this old and enigmatic dance.
Furthermore exclusive to Jiuzhaigou is the folk art style Nanping Quzi, sometimes known as “Nanping Xiao Tunes” or “Pipa Playing and Singing.” Forming a distinctive kind of song, this self-playing group rap art combines aspects of the music of the Gan and Shaanxi immigrants with the folk music of the local Tibetans, Han Chinese, and Hui people. Local cultural activities let visitors enjoy this amazing music, and even try learning to play the Nanping pipa.
III. Discover original ethnic celebrations and customs.
Jiuzhaigou’s ethnic background is also shown in its own celebrations and customs. For instance, the Panda Dance (Denga Ganjiao) is a folk dance depicting the panda and thereby conveying its customs. Men and women of Lower Grassland Village in Jiuzhai Grassland Township will choose the youngest and best males in their families to wear “panda masks” and dress as “Denga,” (pandas), for the performance from the fifteenth to the eighteen day of every year. This is a special kind of folk art available for visitors at this period.
The Ink Painting Festival, the carnival honoring Valentine’s Day of the Baima Tibetans, is another celebration worth seeing. The Baima Tibetan people gather annually on the 17th day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar to celebrate this festival by chasing each other and spreading smearing pot smoke ink. Visitors can take part in it and experience this distinctive festival mood.
IV:Touring religious buildings and cultural places
Jiuzhaigou boasts many historically and culturally significant sites and buildings as well. For instance, numerous old Tibetan houses and traditional handicrafts are kept in Dalu Ancient Tibetan Village, a community with normal Tibetan architectural and artistic traits. Here visitors can see the ancient Tibetan-style homes and discover Tibetan people’s way of life and customs.
Jiuzhaigou also boasts numerous Tibetan Buddhist temples including Daki Temple, Northeast Temple, and Zaru Temple. Apart from the core of Tibetan people’s faith, these temples serve as a valuable source of knowledge regarding Tibetan religious culture and art. Visitors can feel the mystery and seriousness of Tibetan Buddhism by visiting the temple buildings, listening to the monk explanations, and so on.
V. Buy handicaps and taste regional cuisine.
How can you skip buying handicrafts and sampling the local cuisine when experiencing Jiuzhaigou? With its distinctive taste and great nutrition, Jiuzhaigou’s Tibetan food draws many visitors. One should not miss traditional Tibetan cuisine like tsampa, barley wine, and ghee tea. Furthermore very unique are Jiuzhaigou’s handcrafted items, like Tibetan knives, thangkas, and costumes; all of which are keepsakes that visitors may buy.
Jiuzhaigou is, all things considered, not only for its breathtaking natural surroundings but also for its own ethnic culture drawing many visitors. Travelers can discover the rich culture of Jiuzhaigou and feel the special appeal of this magical country by engaging in traditional dance and music events, investigating unusual ethnic customs and celebrations, visiting cultural sites and religious buildings, and dining local cuisine and buying handicarticles.
