Garze Facts

Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture is an autonomous prefecture in Sichuan whose capital is Kangding (Dardo). Just located on the southeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it takes about 151,078 square kilometers in the western Sichuan.

Garze was traditionally part of the Tibetan region known as Kham. During the period of rule by the Republic of China (1911–1949), it became nominally part of Xikang province, which included parts of former Kham. In 1930, a Tibetan army invaded Garze, capturing it without much resistance. However, in 1932, the Tibetan army withdrew after suffering defeats elsewhere at the hands of the warlord of Qinghai, Ma Bufang. Chinese warlord Liu Wenhui reoccupied Garze, and signed an agreement with the Tibetans formalizing his control of the area east of the Yangtze River, which corresponds roughly with eastern Kham. In 1950, following the defeat of the Kuomintang forces by the People's Liberation Army, the area fell within the control of the People's Republic of China. Eastern Xikang was merged with Sichuan in 1955, where Garze became an autonomous prefecture.

On this land with an area of 153,700 square kilometers, magnificent mountains and rivers reflect human material civilization. Majestic buildings at the foot of the crystal snow peaks, love songs and dances on the wild land with waves of grass and flowers demonstrate the vitality of mountains and waters on the Kang-Tibetan Plateau, and the true love of the world. Over the ages, the anima of the nature combines perfectly and harmoniously with human wisdom: man of wisdom is endowed with the bold and unconstrained character of mountains and rivers, just as the latter has been gifted with human emotion and intelligence. They together make a wonder world of Kang-Tibetan holy land.

Administrative Division

Climate

Garze Area is in the highland dry valley climate which features the cold and dry air, clean and fine weather, long time sunlight and strong UV days. It is reputed as the small sun city because of the 2,640 hours sunlight per year. The average temperature here is 5.6 C. The highest temp is 31.7 C, while the lowest temp is -28.9 C.
 

Geograhy

With its highest peak touching the heavens at 7,556 meters above sea level, Mount Gongga straddles the three counties of Kangding, Luding and Jiulong. The surrounding land includes a wide range of topography, including virgin forests, snow-capped mountains, pastures, alpine lakes, hot springs, and waterfalls.

At an altitude of 2,850 meters above sea level, the Hailuo Gully Glacial Forest Park lies in a valley carved by glaciers along the eastern slope of Mount Gongga in Luding County. The gully has hot springs, virgin forest, glacier carved peaks, and countless animal and plant resources. Golden Peak and Silver Peak face each other and offer a magnificent view.