Danggar Pedestrian Street

Danggar Pedestrian Street

The former Danggar, now known as Huangyuan, is located on the eastern shore of the famous Qinghai Lake and covers an area of 250,000 square meters. Since ancient times, Danggar has served as the gateway to the Mongolian and Tibetan pastoral areas. Historically, it was referred to as “the strategic stronghold of the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road and the crucial junction of the Silk Auxiliary Route,” and was known as the “Throat of the Sea and Tibet.”

The ancient town of Danggar was first established during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty and boasts a history of over 600 years. Since the Western Han Dynasty, this place has gradually become a key town where diverse cultures such as commerce, military, religion, and folklore converge. During the Tang Dynasty, the Tang and Tibetan regimes set up the first “tea-horse trade market” in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at today’s Riyue Mountain, opening up the Tang-Tibet Ancient Road. In the Song Dynasty, it became a crucial point along the southern Silk Road. By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it had grown into the largest trade distribution center in northwestern China at the time, attracting merchants and craftsmen from cities such as Beijing and Tianjin. Merchants from Britain, the United States, Russia, and other countries also opened shops and conducted business and financial activities here. Meanwhile, a specialized group of “Tibetan traders” emerged, dedicated to ethnic trade. As a result, Danggar earned widespread fame under titles such as “Tea-Horse Trade Capital” and “Little Beijing.” The town’s main street, approximately 6 meters wide and less than a kilometer long, connects architectural complexes such as the City God Temple, Confucius Temple, and Danggar Prefecture Office, showcasing the historical development and cultural characteristics of Huangyuan.