Gemu Scenic Area

Gemu Scenic Area

The Gemu Nature Ecological Reserve is located in Bomi Township, east of the county seat, and comprises attractions such as the Gemu Grassland, Zawala Mountain, Chongbula Mountain, Luocoren Lake, and Genie Mountain. It integrates snow-capped mountains, glaciers, alpine peaks, forests, and grasslands, and is famed for its unique natural landscapes, including glistening modern glaciers, spectacular and elegant peaks, expansive primeval forests, and beautiful pastoral grasslands. The area is known for its “four seasons in one day and different weather within ten miles.”

These natural wonders present distinctive scenic features through their unique climate zones and vegetation belts.

The Gemu Grassland is the largest pastoral grassland in the county. With undulating terrain and snow-capped mountains coexisting harmoniously with forests, it bursts into vibrant life in late spring and early summer. The grassland basks in bright spring sunlight, with lush water and grass, and a profusion of flowers blooming in succession—dozens of varieties such as large-leaf rhododendrons, small-leaf rhododendrons, magnolia, primrose, and lilies. In the height of summer, the boundless grassland is ablaze with colorful wildflowers, resembling a sea of blossoms that captivates and enchants visitors. At dawn, smoke curls from tents scattered across the pastures, wafting the rich aromas of milk, tea, and butter. Watching the herding nomads, one may also hear the distant echoes of melodious herding songs. The Gemu Grassland is also abundant in precious wild herbs such as Fritillaria, Gastrodia elata, caterpillar fungus, Codonopsis, Astragalus, rhubarb, matsutake, and wild ginseng fruit.

The forest resources in the Gemu Scenic Area are also incredibly rich, with forests covering more than one-third of the region. Extending into the lowest parts of the scenic area, they blend primeval forests, grasslands, and rare flora and fauna into a single valley, creating a magnificent and unique landscape. This is the largest, most well-preserved, and never-exploited primitive natural forest ecosystem discovered in the county to date. The dense primeval forests host plant zones ranging from temperate to sub-frigid zones, with various plant species forming distinct yet intermingling forests. These include alpine pine forests, cold spruce forests, alpine oak forests, alpine pine-birch forests, poplar forests, larch forests, and alpine shrublands, encompassing over a thousand plant species. The diverse plant communities provide ideal habitats for wildlife, making it a natural paradise for animals. Over 400 animal species inhabit the area, including rare ones such as argali, black bears, brown bears, snow leopards, Tibetan eared pheasants, blue sheep, white pheasants, Lady Amherst’s pheasants, musk deer, deer, monkeys, and wild boars. Strolling through the woods, visitors can spot various rare birds everywhere, which brings immense joy and excitement.

The scenic area is dotted with numerous peaks of varying heights, with over ten rising above 4,000 meters. The mountains are grand, layered, and rugged with bizarre rocks. Among them is Chongbula Mountain, meaning “Merchants’ Mountain,” located northwest of the scenic area and also called Little Shuo Mountain, which is the left ridge of Big Shuo Mountain. Standing at 5,186 meters, it was once a necessary passageway to Litang. This Little Shuo Mountain, with its towering, steep, and perilous features, pierces the sky and blocks the path before travelers. Locals passing through would often recall the tale of Chongben Ali.

Legend has it that Chongben Ali was a wealthy merchant who frequently traveled between the Tibetan region and Ya’an. Once, while resting and feeding his horses with his cargo carriers, Chongben envied the mules and horses of the carriers. He claimed that although Little Shuo Mountain didn’t look very high, those who climbed it would surely die. Later, Chongben gambled his goods against the carriers’ mules and horses. To avoid offending Chongben, the carriers reluctantly agreed, betting their mules and horses, and it was decided that the carriers would climb first. Using small wooden stakes driven into rock crevices, the carriers managed to scale the mountain. On their way down, they pulled out the stakes and discarded them, returning to the foot of the mountain. Chongben thought, “If that fool can do it, why can’t I?” He attempted the climb but never returned by nightfall. Eventually, the carriers found his lifeless body in the valley. The Tibetan proverb “A whip made of wool strangles a goat’s neck” is a satirical saying about Chongben Ali and serves as a warning to those with ill intentions. Thus, Little Shuo Mountain was renamed Chongbula. To avoid hailstorms, people passing the mountain today hurriedly unfasten the bells from their mules and horses, stow away anything that might make noise, hold their breath, and try to leave the area as quickly as possible.

There is also an intriguing and mysterious legend in the Gemu Scenic Area about the Battle of the Pig and the Snake. It is said that in a valley upstream of the Dingqu River, there lived a demonic pig that often harmed locals, disrupting their lives and work. Midway along the river, a giant serpent caused similar trouble, frequently engaging in fierce battles with the pig over territory and food. Neither could defeat the other, and their clashes shook the earth and split the sky. The local people suffered—some were eaten, others fled, finding no peace. Upon learning of this, Gesar, the god of justice, swiftly arrived, subdued the two fighting demons, eliminated the two local menaces, and pressed white stupas upon their heads to ensure they could never rise again. He then shot a divine arrow through the mountain peak between them, using it as a boundary. To this day, on the plain where they once battled, the shapes of the demon pig and the giant serpent, along with the white stupas atop their heads, remain clearly visible, as does a giant hole piercing straight through the mountain peak at the center. Now, the people live in peace and happiness on this beautiful and fertile land.

The Gemu Scenic Area has many legends, such as the stories of the pipe-smoking old man of Xinchang and Gesar lassoing water with his whip, among countless others.

Due to the nomadic lifestyle of following water and grass, the pastoral areas have no fixed dwellings. Some herders build simple Tibetan-style bungalows on winter pastures, while in summer, to facilitate grazing on the lush grasslands, they migrate frequently and often live in tents that serve as both kitchen and bedroom. In recent years, with the care of the Party and government, some pastoral areas have built more centralized and permanent winter residences, known as “Bangke” houses, constructed with stacked logs. These have become a beautiful feature of the scenic area. The Dingqu River flows from north to south, weaving through the forests and grasslands, complementing the wooden cabins of the pastures to create an ancient and enchanting scene that transports visitors to a realm of simplicity and authenticity.

The Gemu Nature Ecological Reserve is a resource-rich virgin land awaiting development. It is the ultimate destination for adventure, mountaineering, and eco-tourism enthusiasts, as well as a longed-for paradise in the hearts of travelers—a true earthly utopia.