Jiegu Town

　　Jiegu Town is situated in the canyon area on the southern bank of the Tongtian River in southern Qinghai Province. It serves as the seat of the People's Government of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Yushu County Government. Accessible via National Highway 214, it lies 818 kilometers from Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, and is a historical and cultural as well as scenic tourism destination.

　　As a vital transportation hub and distribution center for goods between Qinghai and Sichuan or Tibet, Jiegu has since ancient times been a key route connecting Tibet, Sichuan, and inland China, and was an important town along the ancient Tang-Tibet Road. Historically, it was the essential passage for cultural and trade exchanges, religious dissemination, and diplomatic missions between the Tang Dynasty and Tubo (Tibetan Empire). Over 1,300 years ago, Princess Wencheng, who was married off to Tubo, and later Princess Jincheng both passed through Jiegu, leaving behind numerous historical relics. Before liberation, Jiegu was a major trade and distribution hub among Qinghai, Sichuan, and Tibet. Every year, 90,000 loads of tea shipped from Xiazhou would arrive in Jiegu, then be dispatched onward to Lhasa in Tibet and various Tibetan areas in southern Qinghai. Goods imported from India via Lhasa—such as items from Britain, Germany, and India—were also distributed from Jiegu to Xining, southern Qinghai Tibetan areas, eastern Tibet, and western Sichuan Tibetan regions. The buildings lining the streets feature strong ethnic characteristics, while shops and malls offer a dazzling array of tourist souvenirs, such as Tibetan knives, thangkas, and masks of Tibetan Buddhist deities and spirits. Jiegu is also the largest trading market for caterpillar fungus and Tibetan mastiffs in the Tibetan region. The central square of Jiegu is an iconic landmark of the town. In the wide and tidy square stands a magnificent 24-meter-tall bronze statue of King Gesar riding his horse. The Jiegu Horse Racing Ground is located on the open grassland of Zhaxikuo, 3 kilometers west of the town. On July 25th each year, traditional local festivities are held here. During the seven-day event, various equestrian performances, folk songs and dances, religious dances, and recreational activities take place. The tent city, Khampa songs and dances, Khampa costumes, and traditional equestrian events are known as the four highlights of the festival. About 99% of Jiegu’s residents are Khampa Tibetans, whose clothing, food, housing, transportation, language (accent), and lifestyle differ significantly from other Tibetan regions. The world-renowned Khampa songs and dances, colorful Khampa attire, and the mysterious and profound culture of Tibetan Buddhism together form the magical landscape of Khampa Tibetan culture. The nearby Jiegu Monastery and Changu Monastery attract devout worshippers from far and wide, further enhancing Jiegu’s fame.