Zaxi Qudeng
Nestled in the valley of a tributary of the Nyang River in Bayi District, Nyingchi City, Tibet, lies a hidden gem known as "the First Ancient Town of Eastern Tibet"—Zaxi Qudeng. Located approximately 15 kilometers from Nyingchi City at an altitude of 2900 meters, it sits on a plain surrounded by green mountains. It was an important stop on the ancient Tea Horse Road and a living testament to the Gongbo Tibetan culture, preserving the rustic charm of the eastern Tibetan plateau through the ages.
Zaxi Qudeng's history dates back over a thousand years. As a crucial node where the Sichuan-Tibet and Yunnan-Tibet sections of the Tea Horse Road intersect, the sounds of caravan bells have echoed here for millennia. The town prospered because of its temple. Zaxi Qudeng Temple, built in the 14th century, is a Gelugpa monastery. The temple's existence made the town a religious center for believers from the surrounding area, endowing it with a profound religious and cultural heritage. Despite enduring centuries of weathering and several renovations, the ancient town has retained its original layout from the Ming and Qing dynasties, making it a valuable example for studying the culture of the Tea Horse Road in eastern Tibet and the settlement patterns of the Gongbo Tibetan people.
The town's architecture is a typical representation of the Gongbo Tibetan style. The stone and wood-structured houses are arranged in a harmonious and orderly fashion. The walls, built of local bluestone, are thick and sturdy, providing protection against the cold high-altitude winds while exuding a rustic and majestic charm. The roofs are covered with bluish-gray stone slabs, and colorful prayer flags hang from the eaves. The doors and windows feature exquisite wooden carvings, often depicting Buddhist motifs such as lotus flowers and auspicious knots, combining practicality and decoration. Narrow bluestone paths wind through the houses, their surfaces worn smooth and shiny by time. Ancient Tibetan signs and modern logos on the lintels of shops and teahouses tell the story of the town's past and present.
The folk customs are the soul of Tashi Qudeng. The Gongbo Tibetans, who have lived here for generations, still maintain their traditional way of life and production. At dawn, the ancient town awakens to the aroma of butter tea. Villagers, dressed in traditional Gongbo Tibetan attire, sell Tibetan incense, wooden bowls, and other handicrafts along the streets. In the afternoon, elders gather in teahouses, sipping sweet tea and chatting, occasionally punctuated by the sounds of stringed instruments and singing, creating a leisurely scene of everyday life. Every year in the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar, the ancient town holds a grand "Gongbo New Year" celebration. Villagers dance the Guozhuang dance, sing drinking songs, and worship the mountain god, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere that perfectly preserves the unique festival customs of the Gongbo Tibetan people.
The surrounding scenery of the ancient town is breathtaking. A tributary of the Nyang River flows gently, with willows swaying along its banks. In the distance, verdant mountains rise like dark eyebrows. In spring, peach blossoms blanket the hillsides, and in autumn, the forests are ablaze with color, creating a harmonious pastoral scene with the town's stone and wood architecture. Today, Tashi Qudeng has developed distinctive cultural tourism while preserving its original features. Visitors can stroll through the ancient town's streets and alleys, explore Tashi Qudeng Monastery, experience folk activities such as Tibetan incense making and butter tea brewing, and feel the thousand-year-old charm of the ancient Tibetan road in eastern Tibet and the simple and warm hospitality of the Gongbo Tibetan people.