Travel Tips
Attractions:
Vernacular Dwelling
Ancient Architectures
Opening Hour: Admission Fee: CNY
How to get there:
It is advisable to go by mini-public bus. The bus ticket is RMB1.5-2
Best Travel Season:
Horse-racing Festival held on the 5th of the 5th month of lunar calendar every year, is the big feast of Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.
Map:
Dukezong, a Tibetan town located in Shangri-La, situated at an altitude of 3,200m above sea level, and is 700km from Kunming, offers sanctuary to all those seeking refuge from the busy city life.
View Dukezong Ancient Town 獨克宗古城 in a larger map
Brief Introduction
:
The authentic Tibetan dwellings in Dukezong, gilded
prayer halls and pagodas, and lanterns of various shapes lighting the
way along narrow, winding lanes are permeated with the grace as well as
the mystique of antiquity that enchants visitors the moment they set
foot in it. Dukezong was a key stop on the Ancient Tea-horse Road and a
focal point for Han-Tibetan exchanges. It is the largest and
best-preserved Tibetan city among China 147 Tibetan counties. It is also
site of the largest ancient Tibetan community. There was human life in
Shangri-La at the Paleolithic Age, and a tribal society inhabited it
during the Western Zhou Dynasty (1100-771 BC). It was in the 7th century
that the Tubo Regime conquered Deqin, and then built Dukezong. As one
of the oldest towns in the region, it is also known as the 'footstep of
Shangri-La'. According to Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, there is a lost
city called Shambhala in the Snow Mountains, shaped like an eight-petal
lotus flower. The 1.6-square-kilometer Dukezong Town is also laid out in
this design. All 1,084 of its houses radiate out from Turtle Hill at
the center, arranged in conformity with Tibetan Buddhist geomantic
theory.
The town has a
history of 1,300 years, during which it has experienced both the flames
of war and prosperity of frontier trade. Tibetans regard the shade of
white as a sign of respect for their forefathers, the ancient Qiang
people, who worshipped white stones. Shortly after the town was
established, craftsmen found white clay in the region that could be
ground down and used as paint. All dwellings were accordingly painted
white. This is why Dukezong was named white stone city. On a clear
night, the ancient town reflects a silver sheen. This has engendered to
another epithet: moonlight city. Its counterpart is Niwangzong Town by
the Naizi River, known as the sunshine city. The Sun and Moon cities
gave rise to the song 'Sun and Moon in the Heart', which Tibetans have
sung for more than 1,000 years.
The old Tibetan way of life, as well as dwellings,
are well-preserved in Dukezong, as each barley wine-redolent lane
testifies. Tibetan chess is played in local households as it has been
for the past 1,000 years, and horse bells still tinkle along the ancient
caravan path. Bonfires that are lit in the town square every night
illuminate local musicians as they sing to and play traditional stringed
instruments.
Photo:Video:
Reference:
