Atlas of China
Jiaju Tibetan Village 甲居藏寨Jiǎjū Zàngzhài
Painted Gyalrong Tibetan farmhouses on a mountainside, in a valley of ancient towers
- Best time
- Late Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Time needed
- 1–2 days
- Days to budget
- 1½ days
- Stay in
- Danba
- Region
- Sichuan
- Type
- Culture
- Listed as
- 4A scenic area, National heritage site
Why go to Jiaju Tibetan Village
Jiaju is a village of about 140 Gyalrong Tibetan families, its stone houses whitewashed and banded in red and black and scattered among fields and orchards on a mountainside about 8 km from Danba town. Stay in a family homestay to see the village at dawn and dusk, then visit Suopo, a few kilometres south-east of town, where dozens of tall stone watchtowers rise among the houses. In 2005 Chinese National Geography magazine named Danba's Tibetan villages among the most beautiful in China.
The story
Danba is nicknamed the 'kingdom of a thousand towers': thousands of stone watchtowers once stood here, some up to 60 metres high or star-shaped in plan, and about 160 survive. Nobody is quite sure why so many were built, and defence, signalling between villages and family prestige are all suggested; the surviving towers are protected as a national heritage site.
What to see at Jiaju Tibetan Village
- Jiaju viewpoints 甲居藏寨: Whitewashed houses with red and black bands climb the slope among orchards; dawn and dusk give the best light from the village paths.
- Zhonglu Tibetan Village 中路藏寨: A quieter, less commercial village about 12 km from Danba town, with houses stepping up the hillside opposite the Moerdo snow peaks.
- Suopo Watchtowers 梭坡古碉群: Danba county keeps 166 stone watchtowers, and Suopo has 84 of them, standing tall among the houses about 3 km from town.
- Beauty Valley 美人谷: A scenic valley in Badi township, roughly 21 km south-west of Danba town, with more Gyalrong villages and mountain views.
How to visit Jiaju Tibetan Village
Use Danba town as the hub: Jiaju is about 7–8 km away, Suopo about 3 km and Zhonglu about 12 km. Taxis or a hired car link the villages. Spend a night in a Jiaju homestay for the dawn and dusk light, with a half-day for the Suopo towers and Zhonglu; a day trip from town covers the highlights more quickly.
How to get to Jiaju Tibetan Village
Buses from Chengdu take 6–7 hours, and many travellers arrive via Mount Siguniang or from Kangding (3–4 hours). Jiaju is about 8 km from Danba town, a short taxi ride up a winding mountain road.
Where to stay
A homestay in Jiaju village gives the best light and a taste of Gyalrong home cooking. Danba town has more choice and makes an easier base if you plan to visit Suopo, Zhonglu and Beauty Valley.
What to eat
- Yak offal soup 牦牛杂汤: A hot soup of yak organ meats, sold in Danba town and a warming meal after a day on the hillsides.
- Yak beef noodles 牦牛肉面: Noodles with braised yak meat, a hearty local bowl.
Tips for visiting Jiaju Tibetan Village
- Book a homestay in the village: Jiaju is at its best early and late, and rooms fill up around Chinese public holidays.
- At around 2,000 metres Danba is lower than Kangding, but its roads run through steep gorges prone to rockfall and landslides in the summer rains; check conditions before you travel.
- Garzê is open to foreign travellers without a special permit, but rules for some areas can change at short notice; carry your passport, which hotels and road checkpoints ask for.
Nearby
- Tagong Grassland 塔公草原 80 km
Yak pastures, a revered monastery and the snow peak of Zhara Lhatse on the horizon - Mount Siguniang 四姑娘山 90 km
Four 'sister' snow peaks above three alpine valleys of forest, meadow and lakes - Kangding 康定 100 km
An old tea-trading town where Tibetan and Han cultures meet, made famous by a love song
On the map
Open Jiaju Tibetan Village on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Jiaju Tibetan Village on the map