Dan Dou Monastery, known in Tibetan as "Dan Dou Xie Ji Yang Gong," is one of the birthplaces of the "Later Propagation Period" of Tibetan Buddhism. It is located in Jinyuan Township, Hualong Hui Autonomous County. In the mid-9th century, the "Three Sages of Tibet" once settled here. Lachen Gongparasang, who became a monk under the "Three Sages," took monastic vows and gained fame. He later founded Dan Dou Monastery, recruiting disciples to spread the Dharma, thus reviving Tibetan Buddhism. As a result, the monastery became a sacred site revered by followers of all sects, attracting a continuous stream of practitioners. Although remote, the monastery boasts grand architecture that remains remarkably well-preserved, including the Amitaruka Hall, Rezha Pa Hall, meditation halls of the "Three Sages" and Lachen, the Maitreya Hall, the meditation hall of A'rou Geshe, the main prayer hall, the Wish-Fulfilling Stupa, and monk dormitories, totaling around 200 rooms, housing a wealth of precious cultural relics.
Horticulture Garden Villa is located on the northern bank of the Yellow River in the southeastern part of Hualong County, adjacent to the Gongboxia Hydropower Station—a national cascade hydropower station on the Yellow River—to the west, and bordering Xunhua, the country’s only Salar Autonomous County, to the east. Nearby tourist attractions include the Ma Bufang Mansion, the historic Ahetan Mosque, and the Gongboxia Hydropower Station. Within thirty kilometers, there is the national-level Mengda Tianchi Forest Park...
Gongboxia is located at the exit of the Yellow River outside Gandu Town in Hualong County. Originally known as Gushiqun Gorge, it later took its name from a Qingzhen archway built at the gorge's mouth. Within the gorge, two towering mountains stand opposite each other, creating a narrow river channel through which the water rushes with tremendous force, producing a thunderous roar that echoes across the surrounding peaks. On the northern bank of the gorge’s mouth lies a stretch of flat land where the ruins of an ancient city can be found—the site of the Han Dynasty’s Hanchuan City. …
The Former Residence of Ma Bufang, located in Yeluhu Village, Gandu Town, Hualong County, was constructed in two phases. In 1925, when Ma Bufang served as a regimental commander stationed at Qianchengtai in Hualong, he built a residence in Yeluhu Village covering an area of over 30 acres. The main structure featured a traditional Chinese courtyard layout with a front and back yard, enclosed within four walls and corner towers, and was later referred to as the East Courtyard. In 1946, based on the original residence…
The Site of the Ancient City of Yunwu The Site of the Ancient City of Yunwu is located to the northwest of Xiachuan Village, Machangyuan Township, east of the county town, on a terrace about 40 meters above the surface of the Huangshui River. This ancient city site was the seat of Yunwu County under the commandery of Jincheng during the Han Dynasty. The remaining southern halves of the eastern and western walls, as well as the entire southern wall, are still clearly distinguishable. …
Bihai Leisure Villa is located at the dock of the Kangyang Hydropower Station, beside Provincial Highway 207 in Xiaduoba Village, Yashiga Town, Hualong County, 84 kilometers from Xining. To the west, 30 kilometers away, lies the Kanbula National Forest Park, and to the east is the Mengda Tianchi Lake in Xunhua. Established in 2007, it is a leisure villa integrating dining, entertainment, and sightseeing, featuring green...
Shimao Site The Shimao Site is located on the northern bank of the Yellow River in Shimao Village, southern Guanting Town. It is a large village site from the late Neolithic Age and is a national key cultural relics protection unit. The site reflects the living standards and relatively high social hierarchy of the Shimao village 4,000 years ago, and has revealed unprecedented prehistoric disaster remains. It was listed as one of China's top ten archaeological discoveries in 2000, among which the excavated "King of Stone Chimes of the Yellow River" is currently the largest stone chime ever found in Chinese archaeology.
Ruins of Baitu City The ruins of Baitu City are located in Qingquan Village 1, Zhongchuan Township, in the southern part of the county. Commonly known as Heicheng (Black City) or Danyang City, the site sits atop the highest point of the Zhongchuan Plateau, backed by mountains and facing a river. It lies at a strategic crossroads connecting all directions and boasts an open yet precipitous terrain. Legend has it that the generals of the Yang family built the city overnight here, hence the name Heicheng. Additionally, because the city lies against Phoenix Mountain to the north—so named for its red soil…
The Ruins of Lianchuan Castle The Ruins of Lianchuan Castle are located in Shinaxiang Village, northwest of Chuan Kou Town. They were built by Tufa Wugu, the Grand Chieftain of the Western Xianbei under the Later Liang Dynasty. The surviving structures include sections of the city wall and the castle’s watchtowers. The fortress is backed by Alagu Mountain, faces the Huangshui River, controls the Laoyaxia Gorge on the right, and commands the Xiangtang Gorge entrance and the Haomen River on the left — a stronghold secured by natural defenses. …
Ruins of the Ancient Shanshan City The ruins of the Ancient Shanshan City are located in Gushan Town in the central part of the county. Built during the reign of Emperor He of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the original Longqi City no longer exists. The currently preserved city walls were renovated during the Ming Dynasty.
The Yungwu Pear Blossoms are located in Xiachuan Kou area of Machangyuan Township, east of the county town. This was the site of Yungwu County, the seat of the Han Dynasty's Jincheng Commandery. The land here is fertile, the climate mild, and it is abundant in melons, apricots, peaches, pears, and apples. "Yungwu Pear Blossoms" is a scenic attraction in Minhe. Around the Grain Rain solar term each year, pear blossoms, fruit blossoms, and peach blossoms bloom across the valley in a profusion of layered blooms, like gorgeous brocades stretching as far as the eye can see...
Donggou Waterfall Donggou Waterfall is located 40 kilometers southwest of the county town, in the valley on the northern slope of Xiaojishan Mountain. The valley is covered with dense forests and flanked by towering cliffs, presenting a spectacular sight. On the right wall at the valley entrance, "Horse Head Cliff" rises with its head held high, as if ready to take flight; on the left peak, "Parrot Beak" juts up from the ground, shrouded in mist. The waterfall plunges 84 meters down, its roar thunderous and its descent as majestic as crashing snow. During...
Niangniang Tianchi
Qilisi Medicinal Spring is located at the entrance of Qilisi Gorge, southwest of Gushan Town in the central part of the county, with a daily flow of 50 tons. Authenticated by national authoritative mineral water institutions, this water is a composite natural drinking mineral water rich in strontium, metasilicic acid, and carbonic acid, containing over 40 trace elements beneficial to the human body. It has significant therapeutic effects on various conditions such as gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and skin issues...
The Minhe Peach Blossom Garden Rural Leisure Resort is a national 2A-level scenic area, initially developed in 1997. It is an agricultural eco-tourism destination integrating archaeology, sightseeing, leisure, and vacation, covering a total area of 20 square kilometers. The area has an elevation of 1,700 meters, an annual precipitation of 500 millimeters, abundant rainfall, and a moist climate…
The Yaquan Mountain Cultural Scenic Area is located at the foot of the Xiao Jishi Mountains in Gushan Town, south of the county town. Locally known as "Qili Temple," it is 160 kilometers from Xining City and over 50 kilometers from the county town, adjacent to the Chuan-Guan Highway. Qili Temple was formerly called "Cili Temple" and is referred to in Tibetan as "Manqu Dajierichao," meaning "Hermitage of Flourishing Medicinal Waters." The...
The Machangyuan Site is located in Minhe County, Qinghai Province. It is a site of the late Neolithic Majiayao Culture from the upper reaches of the Yellow River in China. In the autumn of 1924, two tombs were first discovered and excavated. Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the archaeological team of the Qinghai Provincial Cultural Relics Bureau has conducted multiple surveys of the site. The Machang type of the Majiayao Culture was named after this site...
Hehuang Valley refers to the fertile triangular area between the Dabanshan and Jishishan mountain ranges on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, within the drainage basins of the Yellow River and the Huangshui River. It is located in the eastern agricultural region of Qinghai Province. From east to west, it includes the Huangshui River basin counties of Minhe, Ledu, Ping'an, Huzhu, Xining, Datong, Huangzhong, Huangyuan, and Haiyan, as well as the Yellow River basin...
Wildflower Mountain, also known as Wild Fox Mountain, is located in Xigou Township in the southwestern part of the county. This is a treasure mountain, boasting not only beautiful natural scenery but also abundant natural resources. It encompasses about 100,000 acres of primeval forest, where over a hundred species of trees and shrubs grow, along with various precious Chinese medicinal herbs such as Codonopsis pilosula, Gastrodia elata, and Angelica sinensis. The area is home to more than ten types of wild animals including sika deer, wild goats, and foxes, as well as a variety of rare birds such as Tibetan snowcocks, rock partridges, blood pheasants, and larks. Within the mountain lies Hongshan Temple, which still houses an imperial plaque inscribed with “Ci Yun Hall” (Mercy Cloud Hall) written by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. In addition, Wildflower Mountain features natural attractions such as Tianjing Gorge, Mirror Wall Peak, and One-Line Sky.
Ancient Yellow River Ferry The Ancient Yellow River Ferry is located in Guanting Town in the southern part of the county. Historically known as "Linfeng Pass," it was one of the key crossings connecting Gansu and Qinghai provinces. In the fifth year of the Daye era during the Sui Dynasty (609 AD), Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty entered Qinghai from this area. In the past, crossing to the other side relied on leather rafts. After the liberation, a large boat approximately 15 meters long and 10 meters wide...