Jiaju Zanghai Tibetan village is located high in the Hengduan Mountains of western Sichuan. Traditional Jiarong Tibetan homes dot the steep incline and beautiful orchards sprinkle color among the intriguing buildings.
The houses are built in traditional Jiarong style with painted bands of yellow, black and white, and white stone towers in the four corners of the roof to represent the four cardinal directions. The homes are well designed for the hilly terrain they stand on, and to accommodate Tibetan culture.
The flat roof functions as a space for a variety of activities including prayer and drying harvested grains. Livestock are kept on the ground floor, with living quarters and a small chapel on the upper floors.
The village is enchanting and the warm hospitality of the local people adds to the magic. The vibrant colors and intricate designs adorning the buildings are not gaudy, but work in harmony with the surrounding nature.
A modest guest house meets the basic needs of visitors, providing a hard bench and a hearty supper. The locals are proud of their culture and land, and often entertain visitors with their traditional Guozhuang dance.
Travel to Jiaju Zanghai - getting there
Daily flights from Beijing reach Chengdu in 2 hours, 25 minutes. A bus departs from Chengdu Cahdianzi Bus Station at 07:00 and takes around 10 hours to travel to Danba. From Danba it is easy to arrange tourist minibuses to Tibetan villages such as Jiaju Zanghai.
In brief
Worth it? It is a very long journey but the scenery is captivating.
What to do: wander around the mountain, meet locals, take photos.
Best time to go: the best months to visit this area are May, June, September and October, as July and August have a high rainfall.
How long? One day.
Jiaju Zanghai attractions
- The mountainside village: a picturesque setting to experience authentic Tibetan culture.