Maga Township, Shiqu County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province

Maga Township

Maga township is under the jurisdiction of Shiqu County, Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The township is located in the northwest of Sichuan, with a total area of 438.28 square kilometers and a total population of 2350 (2017).

Regional overview

The county people's government is located in NIGA Town, postcode: 627350. Code: 513332. Area code: 0836. Pinyin: shiquxian.

Maga township was established in 1958. It was changed into a commune in 1974 and returned to the countryside in 1983. Shiqu County has two towns and 20 townships: NIGA Town, luoxu Town, Zhenda Town, Benda Town, Zhengke Town, Maga Town, derongma Town, erdoma Town, Changsha GONGMA Town, gayI Town, Gemeng Town, Mengyi Town, Xinrong Town, yiniu Town, xiazha Town, Qiwu Town, arizha Town, changxugongma Town, Changsha Ganma Town, changxuganma Town, Wenbo town and waxu town.

Shiqu is the county with the highest altitude, the largest area and the most remote location in Sichuan Province. Beyond Shiqu, you can reach Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. Shiqu, the Tibetan name "zhaxikawa", means the source of Yalong River. Shiqu system is a Tibetan translation of "Sesu", which is named after the Yellow Sect Temple "Sesu Gongba" built in 1760.

ethnic customs

Shiqu is located in the northwest of Ganzi Prefecture, bordering Chengduo, dari and Maduo in Qinghai, 696km away from Kangding and 1054km away from Chengdu. The average altitude here is 4250 meters, more than 600 meters higher than Lhasa, and the climate is very bad. Because of its special geographical location, there are 18 primitive nomadic tribes, the sun tribe. The herdsmen in the tribe have little contact with the outside world, so they are relatively closed and still retain some of the rules and customs of the primitive tribe. The Tibetan name of Shiqu is zhaxika, which means the source of Yalong River. Shiqu system is a Tibetan translation of "Sesu", which is named after the Yellow Temple "Sesu Gongba". The annual average temperature here is - 7 ℃, and the coldest is - 45 ℃. The unique plateau climate and nomadic tribal culture shape the beautiful and splendid natural landscape and cultural landscape of Shiqu.

Shiqu also has a unique custom, where men and women are not bound to fall in love. The wedding custom here is a bit like the "walking marriage" by Lugu Lake. As long as both parties are willing, they can be together.

social development

Shiqu County is located in the snowy plateau, and it is very cold in winter, so it is not suitable for tourism in winter. The best season of the year is from June to October. There is no direct bus from Chengdu to Shiqu. You have to get to Kangding first and then transfer from Kangding to Shiqu. It takes three days and two nights to get there.

There is an agricultural bank in Shiqu County, which can connect mobile phones in the county. It is not easy to find long-distance calls on the street, and the telecommunication bureau can make long-distance calls. You can go online.

Shiqu's hotels and guest houses generally do not have hot water bath. Accommodation can also choose to live in Tibetan tents, where people are very hospitable. The cost of food and housing for one person a day is 20 yuan.

The price of Shiqu is relatively high. Five yuan for a bowl of noodles. Sichuan cuisine is available in Shiqu County. But the local people mainly eat Tibetan food. The main food is yak meat. If you need to inquire about something, you can ask the Han owners who open restaurants there. They are usually local know it all. If you have any questions, it should be right to ask them.

Accommodation and food in Shiqu are not expensive, but fruits, vegetables and daily necessities are relatively expensive. Shiqu has quite a lot of special items to buy. There are all kinds of beautiful Tibetan costumes and handicrafts, and wild medicinal materials are also very rich. Saussurea and ginseng fruit can be bought here at a reasonable price. In addition, Shiqu grassland produces a small white mushroom, which is very delicious and can be eaten from July to August.

Chaga tribe

There are many nomadic tribes in Shiqu County. They live by grass. They migrate freely on more than 25000 square kilometers of land and live a self-sufficient life. Although the government has set aside settlements for them, the free nature of nomads makes it difficult for them to settle down.

In the process of migration, we can't forget the dialogue and communication with God. Therefore, among the vast army, there are a group of monks. They work everyday and live in mobile tent temples when they do things. In the tent temples of more than 100 square meters, there are Buddha statues, magic implements and five colored scriptures. The atmosphere is no different from that of fixed temples, and the protection of believers should be the same. This mobile temple was founded in 1791 by kawaz rincheb. It is called Chajia temple and belongs to Ningma sect (red religion).

Around Lishan, there are still a few primitive nomadic tribes, which are not yet illuminated by the light of modern civilization. People there are still following their own inherent cultural traditions and are in a relatively closed and backward state of production and life. Like living fossils, it provides a living specimen for human beings to understand their own history. In other words, people in modern society can return to history and "childhood". Because of this, its research value in cultural anthropology has aroused great interest of relevant experts and scholars. In the past, nomads on the grassland were always called tribes. Today, Shiqu has undergone earth shaking changes, but people here still like to call themselves "zhaxikawa", that is, "the tribe at the source of Yalong River". Just like we call ourselves the descendants of the Yellow River, we have a sense of national pride, which shows the deep influence of tribal culture on them. There is also a legend in zhaxika Grassland: it is said that a long time ago, a god yak was imprisoned by ice and snow on the winter snow mountain of gladan. A group of brave Kangba men climbed the snow peak and drew fire from the sun. Finally, the ice and snow melted, and the God yak Su woke up. A clear stream of snow gushed out of its nostrils. From then on, there was a trickle on the grassland The Juanxi River and the Qingqing River, also has the fat long cattle and sheep and the melodious pastoral As a result, the sun and fire have become the totems worshipped by Kangba Tibetans, and zhaxika has a more resounding name - the sun tribe.

Historical evolution

Shiqu County was established in the late Qing Dynasty. It's a good name. In Tibetan, it means a shallow and rocky river (Yalong River).

In 2000, Shiqu County governed two towns and 20 townships: NIGA Town, luoxu Town, xiazha Township, Qiwu Township, yiniu Township, Xinrong Township, Mengyi Township, Wenbo Township, Wasu Township, changxuganma Township, changxugongma Township, Ariza Township, Changsha Ganma Township, Zhenda Township, Benda Township, Zhengke Township, Maga Township, derongma Township, Gemeng Township, gayI Township, Changsha Gongma Township, erdoma township. According to the data of the fifth census: the total population of the county is 63489, among which the population of each township (person): NiGa town 4476, luoxu town 2743, Zhenda town 2251, Benda town 1308, Zhengke town 2979, Maga town 2092, derongma town 2408, erdoma town 5662, Changsha Gongma town 2874, gayI town 4402, Gemeng town 2662, Mengyi town 3033, Xinrong town 2473, yiniu town 2612, xiazha town 2651, Qiwu town 2799, arizha town 2769, changxugongma town 2598 Changsha Ganma Township 2369 Changxu Ganma Township 2338 Wenbo Township 3064 waxu Township 2926

In 2004, Shiqu County had jurisdiction over two towns (NiGa and luoxu) and 20 townships (xiazha, Qiwu, yiniu, Xinrong, Mengyi, Wenbo, Wasu, changxuganma, changxugongma, Ariza, Gemeng, gayI, Zhenda, Benda, Zhengke, Maga, derongma, erdoma, Changsha Gongma and Changsha Ganma).

On June 17, 2020, the people's Government of Sichuan Province decided to abolish Maga township.

products

Maga township is rich in Cordyceps sinensis, Fritillaria, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, notopterygium, rhubarb and other traditional Chinese medicine, as well as wild animals such as Swertia deer and argali.

Chinese PinYin : Si Chuan Sheng Gan Zi Cang Zu Zi Zhi Zhou Shi Qu Xian Ma Ga Xiang