Jiudian Gorge

　　Introduction       Situated within Zangxiabawa Township of Zhuoni County, this over 10-kilometer-long gorge sees the Tao River flowing from south to north through it. Owing to its precipitous terrain and historical role as a passage between Gansu and Sichuan, it has long been known as a “formidable path.” The gorge gets its name from the nine peaks rising within it. Legend also has it that in ancient times, when trade between Gansu and Sichuan was bustling, a local elderly woman opened an inn inside the gorge. Travelers would stop here to drink a few cups of liquor to muster courage before braving the gorge, hence it is also called “Inn Gorge.”

　　      Entering Jiudian Gorge from Yanziping in Hanbakuo Township of Zangba Wa, the eastern side of the gorge is flanked by Baishi Mountain, which rises 3,888 meters above sea level, while the western side features the foothills of Lotus Mountain at 3,578 meters. The Tao River is squeezed between the steep cliffs, and due to the narrow channel, the water rushes and roars like a wild horse gone loose. Within the gorge, massive boulders in the river are piled up in threes and fives, resembling reclining oxen, stirring up thunderous waves and towering spray.

　　      In ancient times, people went through untold hardships to open up trade routes—drilling holes in cliffs, chiseling stone in midair, constructing plank roads, and building wooden bridges and zip lines, thus turning this natural barrier into a passable thoroughfare. The holes carved in the stone walls for ancient plank roads are still clearly visible today, and traces of the old bridges and cables remain in many places. Several sections of the surviving plank roads stand as witness to the perilous paths and daunting journeys of the past.

　　      Within the gorge lies the ruins of an ancient fortress called Qiaodaocheng. Nearby cliff faces have been hollowed out to create cave niches for Buddhist statues, some of which still remain. The rock walls along the plank roads feature several cliff inscriptions, preserving historical records of bridge and plank road constructions from various dynasties.

　　 Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province