{"id":19506,"date":"2021-09-24T09:50:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-24T01:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/?p=19506"},"modified":"2021-09-24T22:08:40","modified_gmt":"2021-09-24T14:08:40","slug":"jiarong-tibetan-ancient-watchtowers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/sichuan-travel\/danba\/jiarong-tibetan-ancient-watchtowers","title":{"rendered":"Jiarong Tibetan Ancient Watchtowers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Origin of “Jiarong (Gyarong \u0f62\u0f92\u0fb1\u0f63\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f7c\u0f44\u0f0b)”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jiarong Tibetans are one of branches of the ethnic Tibetans,\u00a0and now\u00a0living mainly in Danba area. There are two origins for the word “Jiarong”(\u5609\u7ed2) , also go by “Gyarong \u0f62\u0f92\u0fb1\u0f63\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f7c\u0f44\u0f0b”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One\u00a0means\u00a0“Jia Mo Cha Wa Rong” (\u5609\u83ab\u5bdf\u74e6\u7ed2), or simplified as “Jiarong”, an old\u00a0administrative\u00a0region referring to\u00a0the area surrounding the sacred mountain known as Moerduo Sacred Mountain\u00a0(\u58a8\u5c14\u591a\u795e\u5c71), where Jiarong Tibetans now largely live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other\u00a0means “the Queen of the Valley” referring\u00a0to the lost Danba Eastern Kingdom of Women (\u4e39\u5df4\u4e1c\u5973\u56fd) that once existed in Danba area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suopoxiang & the Eastern Kingdom <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the afternoon of October 19, with much curiosity we drive along the east bank of\u00a0Dadu\u00a0River from Zhangguzhen ( the seat of Danba\u00a0County) and get to Suopoxiang (Suopo Township \u68ad\u5761\u4e61), further to the Muluo Village (Moluocun), about 7km drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suopo Township is composed of several villages perched on the mountain slopes facing west by the east side of Dadu River Valley, including the village known as “Moluocun (Moluo Village \u83ab\u6d1b\u6751)” we are going to visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Drive from Zhangguzhen (Danba) to Moluocun (village) Google Map<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The legend goes that Suopo Township was part of the Eastern Kingdom of Women that once existed during Sui and Tang dynasties (518- 907 AD\u00a0).\u00a0In the Eastern Kingdom, ruled by a queen, men had a secondary rule. The queen lived in a high stone square tower.\u00a0The kingdom was governed by all women, and men only did the farming or went to war. The Eastern Kingdom of Women was later conquered by Tubo Empire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moluocun (Moluo Village) \u83ab\u6d1b\u6751<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Getting to the foot of the Moluo Village in Suopo, we pay 10 yuan to park our Highlander at the parking lot at the foot of the village. A Jiarong Tibetan girl comes up to collect the 10 yuan. We understand she is in charge of the parking lot. Having heard a lot about the beauty of the women in Danba, the descendants of the Eastern Kingdom of Women, I fancy taking a picture of\u00a0a local Jiarong girl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With her permit, I take a photo of the parking lot caretaker. She keeps her long hairs with tired braids covered in her fascinator from her back to the top of her head. Her fascinator is varicolored with beads and pendents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
A Jiarong Tibetan girl<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Home Visit to a Jiarong Family<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Jiarong Tibetan man at the parking lot actively introduces himself as an owner of one of the most magnificent ancient watchtower in the village, eagerly guiding us to walk up the village for a glimpse of the towers.\u00a0He says he works as a security guide in a bank in the downtown Danba. On the weekends or in spare time, he helps his wife introduce tourists to his home for paid visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We agree on the 50 yuan entrance fee for his home watchtower, and we follow him walking up along stone steps to his home. On the way, he says that there are totally about 562 stone watchtowers in Danba, scattered around 15 townships including Suopo Township. There are\u00a0175 ancient watchtowers in Suopo Township, scattered around 13 villages. Most of the watchtowers belong to private families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The original building of the towers <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

He continues to say the original building of the towers was used to suppress demons, later they became fortresses to protect families from aggressive enemies. It also served as warning beacons to help protect local villages from potential attackers. People placed valuable things, jewelry, money inside the watchtowers. He deliberately mentions that Suopo was once part of the Danba Eastern Kingdom of Women. The watchtowers were also the symbols of worshipping a male sex organ during the rule of Eastern Kingdom of Women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting to his home perched high on the mountain slope, he points to the potted flowers in front of his main room in the compound, saying Jiarong Tibetans love flowers, Gasang flowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
Jiarong Tibetans love flowers, Gasang flowers<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The kitchen room is on the first floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"kitchen\"
The kitchen room is on the first floor.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We use an exterior ladder to climb up on to the second floor, the living place for his family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"living
The second floor, the living place for his family<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

On the\u00a0rooftop of\u00a0the second floor, he introduces his watchtower attached to his blockhouse and encourages us to climb up\u00a0the tower. A ladder takes you to a window\u00a0in the tower meters high above the rooftop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside the tower, there are wooden ladders carved with steps easy for\u00a0 visitors to climb up. The inside levels of the tower are accessible through the several wooden ladders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Suopo
A window on the tower meters high above the rooftop<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Chen takes the risk of climbing up step by step along the wooden ladders leading to the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Climb
Mr. Chen takes the risk of climbing up step by step along the wooden ladders<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Standing on the rooftop of the second floor, he points to the neighbouring blockhouses attached with four watchtowers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"four
Neighbouring blockhouses attached with four watchtowers<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The rooftop on the third floor is for storing grain. Taking a picture of the watchtowers nearby from the third floor rooftop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Suopo
The rooftop on the third floor is for staring grain<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

More ancient watchtowers in Suopo Town.\u00a0 The ancient watchtowers here\u00a0remind me of the Kaiping Diaolou <\/a>(watchtowers) im\u00a0Kaiping County, 130km southwest of Guangzhou.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Suopo
More ancient watchtowers in Suopo Town<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Add-On<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drive from Hanzhong to Ya\u2019an<\/a>
Ya\u2019an Night View<\/a>
Most Beautiful Sky Road in China<\/a>
Moxi Old Town ( Tips, Photos & Map)<\/a>
Hailuogou Glacier Camp No.04 (Tips,Photos & Map)<\/a>
<\/a>Hailuogou Glacier Camp No.03 (Tips, Photos & Map)<\/a>
Kangding (Tips, Photos & Map)<\/a>
Drive from Kangding to Xinduqiao<\/a>
Drive from Xinduqiao to Danba<\/a>
Jiarong Tibetan Blockhouses<\/a>
Jiarong Tibetan Ancient Watchtowers<\/a>
Drive from Xinduqiao to Yajiang<\/a>
Drive from Yajiang to Litang<\/a>
Drive from Litang to Daocheng<\/a>
Drive from Litang to Batang<\/a>
Drive from Batang to Mangkang<\/a>
Drive from Shangri-la to Daocheng<\/a>
Drive from Daocheng to Yading<\/a>
Yading Brings You Inner Peace<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hassle-free Chengdu & Sichuan Guided Tours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you don\u2019t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Chengdu and Sichuan guided tours:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chengdu tour<\/a>
Chengdu Car Rental with Driver<\/a>
Create My Chengdu Trip<\/a>
Jiuzhaigou Tour<\/a>
Sichuan Tour<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further Readings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Top 10 Attractions in Chengdu<\/a>
Best Time to Visit Chengdu<\/a>
Chengdu Airport<\/a>
Railway stations in Chengdu<\/a>
Chengdu Taxi<\/a>
Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Tips, Photos <\/a>& Map)<\/a>
How to visit Wuhou Shrine<\/a>
How to visit Du Fu Thatched Cottage<\/a>
How to visit Jinsha Site Museum<\/a>
How to visit the tomb of Wang Jian in Chengdu<\/a>
How to Visit Wangjiang Pavilion Park in Chengdu<\/a>
How to visit Qingyang Palace in Chengdu (Tips, Photos & Map)<\/a>
How to Visit Jinli Street<\/a>
How to visit Kuan Alley and Zhai Alley<\/a>
Qintai Road, Qintai Gujing Chengdu (Tips, Photos & Map)<\/a>
Shaoling Road Bar Street Chengdu (Tips, Photos & Map)<\/a>
<\/a>Jiuyanqiao Bar Street in Chengdu (Tips, Photos & Map)<\/a>
The Old Teahouse in Pengzhen Town, Chengdu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bipenggou is a fairyland in Autumn<\/a>
When is the best time to visit Jiuzhaigou?<\/a>
Best Places to Visit Autumn Leaves in Sichuan<\/a>
Top 10 Places to Visit in Sichuan<\/a>
Ruoergai Grassland, my first trip to Ruoergai Grassland<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any questions,  just drop a line.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Origin of “Jiarong (Gyarong \u0f62\u0f92\u0fb1\u0f63\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f7c\u0f44\u0f0b)” Jiarong Tibetans are one of branches of the ethnic Tibetans,\u00a0and now\u00a0living mainly in Danba area. There are two origins for the word “Jiarong”(\u5609\u7ed2) , also go by “Gyarong \u0f62\u0f92\u0fb1\u0f63\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f7c\u0f44\u0f0b”. One\u00a0means\u00a0“Jia Mo Cha Wa Rong” (\u5609\u83ab\u5bdf\u74e6\u7ed2), or simplified as “Jiarong”, an old\u00a0administrative\u00a0region referring to\u00a0the area surrounding the sacred mountain known…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3171],"tags":[3269,3270,3271,3272,3273,3965,3967,3966],"class_list":["post-19506","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-danba","tag-danba-ancient-watchtowers","tag-danba-stone-towers","tag-eastern-kingdom-of-women","tag-moluo-village-watchtower","tag-moluo-watchtower","tag-suopo","tag-suopo-township","tag-suopo-village"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19506"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19506"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19506\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27731,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19506\/revisions\/27731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19506"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19506"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tour-beijing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19506"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}